‘Customers are treated like criminals,’ angers Walmart shopper after finding anti-theft policies just for buying socks

A WALMART customer has expressed his fury after being unable to buy essential items due to anti-theft policies.

Walmart is among other major retailers that have decided to lock products behind plexiglass to prevent theft.

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One shopper shared their story on X after asking an employee to unlock socks for them to buy.

“So I had heard about this and saw what I THOUGHT were photoshopped images but actually saw it with my own eyes today… SOCKS locked in glass cases at @Walmart,” they he wrote.

“Brick and mortar stores are so worried about losing business to places like @amazon, yet they treat customers like criminals!

“DO BETTER @Walmart. #notacriminal #socksshouldnotbelockedup #freethemerch.”

UNLOCK THE SOCKS

The Walmart shopper isn’t the only one who encounters plexiglass when trying to buy socks at Walmart.

Another shopper recently shared a similar experience on social media, writing: “Walmart has all their socks locked up.

“I can’t be the only one leaving the stores because they don’t want to have to wait for an item to unlock before purchasing…”

Other retailers have also begun to crack down on theft by locking up items.

Often, customers will have to press a button and wait for an employee to help them in the aisle.

Target and CVS have also implemented this policy to negative customer reactions.

“@Target used to be my happy place. Now it’s a shame,” said one customer on social media after shopping at the store.

“Half the store is locked, there aren’t enough employees to unlock it when you need it, and the price is double what it used to be.

“Almost everything I bought there, now I get it from Amazon.”

Another CVS shopper expressed similar thoughts, although he sympathized with the employees.

“Standing in line at CVS, working here is officially the most horrible job in America,” the customer shared on social media.

“Intercom announces every 30 seconds where a customer ‘needs assistance’ because they have any item over $10 locked up like gold. Pathetic,” they added.

“It’s amazing how many buttons you have to push to get shit now,” agreed another customer.

METHOD TO MADNESS

While the influx of anti-theft measures can be annoying for customers, retailers argue they are necessary to combat theft.

Shoplifting has increased in major cities, with New York recording a 64% increase in incidents and retail theft in Los Angeles increasing 61% from January 2019 to June 2023, according to the Brennan Center.

Despite the increase in large cities, the study revealed that retail crime appears to be falling, suggesting that anti-theft measures are preventing incidents of shoplifting.