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CVS has taken drastic measures against thieves after shelves have been left empty in rafts of shoplifting.
In one Washington, DC store along H Street, photos of toilet paper have replaced the actual product.
Instead of having shelves lined with toilet paper and paper towel products, CVS shoppers have to call for a store associate for assistance, according to WTOP News.
Employees are then sent to a storeroom to retrieve the item for the customer.
Sources told the outlet that the homeless have been among those stealing from the store.
One tourist visiting the area, Mark Davis of Yorkshire, England, told WTOP News: “It seems to be a case that people don’t care about laws or respect that anymore.
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“In the United Kingdom, we are seeing shops closing down because they’re losing so much money from people shoplifting, which is obviously having an impact on the economy in general.
“I just think society is starting to change. And it’s a deeper thing that we need to look at altogether.”
Data from the Metropolitan Police Department revealed that reports of robberies in Washington, DC are up by 68% in 2023 versus 2022, according to Fox Business.
More than 3,000 robberies have taken place so far in 2023, data also revealed.
At this time last year, only 1,791 robberies had occurred.
Ben Atanga, owner of a Maryland-based wellness studio who has shopped at the H Street CVS, did point out that shoplifting is on the rise nationwide.
When it comes to the specific products being stolen from this particular CVS, Atanga said: “Maybe those are things that we don’t increase or maybe as a community we provide that … ‘Hey look, you can come pick up toiletries and stuff like that, so that you can take care of yourself.’
“H Street has always had a huge homeless population,” he added.