INVESTIGATORS at Inside Edition have tested out the time it takes for retail employees to assist customers with opening the locked doors.

With theft soaring, more stores have been forced to put their products behind locked windows.

Some customers are growing frustrated, complaining that their shopping experience is slowed down by the extra security step.

A wide range of products are subject to lockdown, including baby formula, laundry detergent, razors, toothpaste, and even underwear.

A few shoppers told reporters at Inside Edition that they were fed up with the extended wait times.

“I ended up waiting about 13 to 14 minutes, and then I just kind of gave up,” one person admitted.

“It can be discouraging to a customer,” another woman added.

In response to the frustrating problem, an Insider reporter set out to find out exactly how long it would take to receive assistance.

They first stopped at a Target in Manhattan, where they pressed the help button which responded, “An associate with be right with you.”

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Supposedly, the reporter had to ask for assistance three times. It took seven minutes before any help arrived.

When help finally arrived, the employee’s key did not work to unlock the window.

In another aisle, they had to wait almost 11 minutes to buy vitamins.
Service was a bit better at a CVS in New York City. The team waited only 20 seconds for body wash, and 30 seconds for razors.

A Walmart in New Jersey proved to be the worst location for waiting for help.

The reporter claimed that they pressed the help button three times and waited 15 minutes to purchase baby formula, and 24 minutes for an electric toothbrush.

The manager did apologize for the prolonged wait times, but the team was still disappointed with the nearly 40-minute shopping experience.

A retail expert weighed in on the retail conundrum, noting that employees are just as annoyed with the locked-up windows.

“For retailers, it’s just as frustrating as it is for us shoppers,” he suggested.

“If the store is busy and there are two or three people pressing the button all at the same time, you can be there 10, 15, 20 minutes,” he concluded.