In the wake of a rise in retail thefts, Giant Food has moved to impose a new policy aimed at curbing theft at two of its Baltimore locations. Commencing this Thursday, August 22, the grocery chain will prohibit individuals under the age of 18 from shopping unaccompanied by an adult after 6 p.m. at the Waverly and Frankford stores, according to CBS News Baltimore.
This measure is introduced as part of a broader effort to tackle a problem that, Giant says, has reached unsustainable levels. The affected stores, located at 601 East 33rd Street and 5150 Sinclair Lane respectively, have reported high shrink – an industry term for loss due to theft or other errors. The new initiative mirrors practices at certain malls and shopping centers that restrict access to minors during specific times, particularly on weekends, as WMAR-2 News reported.
Earlier measures at these stores have included a pilot program initiated in May that bans customers from bringing larger bags while shopping in hopes of minimizing theft. "Retail theft in our market area affects everyone. It limits product availability, creates a less convenient shopping experience, and, most critically, puts our associates and customers in harm’s way," Giant explained in a statement cited by WMAR-2 News.
Opinions on the policy among shoppers are mixed. One shopper at the 33rd Street store, Elizabeth Baltierra, signaled her support, "I think it should have been in effect, way before this." In contrast, Tanya Lewis expressed concerns at the Sinclair Lane store: "I don't necessarily like it," and suggested a lower age threshold might be more reasonable. She said, "Because you can't send your 17 year old to the store unless you're with them. So no, I don't necessarily agree with 18," Lewis stated, as per WMAR-2 News report.
In response to rising crime within their stores, Giant has indicated that it will continue to invest in safety measures to protect workers and customers. The grocery retailer's chains have been scenes of several violent incidents over recent years, some linked directly to theft.
