It’s hard to pin down how much the market forces that prompted the closure of 200 Walgreens nationwide was a factor in the local closures and how much theft contributed — or if it was a combination of reasons.
In February, the local news website Hoodline reported that an employee at the Market Street store said the store couldn’t cope with the shoplifting, which was costing the company $1,000 a day.
“Organized retail crime in San Francisco has increased the challenge for all retail, and Walgreens is not immune to that,” company spokesman Caruso said.
Jay Cheng, public policy director for the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, said the rising incidents of shoplifting and worsening street conditions have made it difficult for all neighborhood retail stores to continue to operate in San Francisco.
“We’ve already seen California Attorney General Xavier Becerra uncover a major Bay Area retail theft ring with over $8 million in stolen merchandise,” Cheng said. “These crimes make it dangerous for businesses, employees and customers, and need to be addressed.”
