Southern California Rite Aid taking extreme steps to prevent theft

Shoplifting has become so bad at one Rite Aid store in Southern California that nearly all products have been locked in glass barricades.

It’s not unusual for customers at stores like Walgreens, Walmart or Target to have to call for assistance to get some of the higher-value items out of a locked case, but a Rite Aid in Compton has taken the practice to another level.

A look inside the store on Long Beach Boulevard showed almost every item from cereal to coffee to candy under lock and key, leaving some customers frustrated that they now have to wait on staff to access everyday items.

“Like many in the industry, we are seeing a higher level of brazen shoplifting and organized retail crime,” Rite Aid said in a statement. “We are taking an active role in helping law enforcement in their pursuit of shoplifters, as well as continuing our efforts to educate community leaders on the impact of retail theft and advocate for solutions.”

Despite millions being allocated by Gov. Gavin Newsom to cities and counties targeting organized retail crime, and the launch of a new task force by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, shoplifting crimes continue to be an issue.

A study by the Council of Criminal Justice , a nonpartisan research organization, showed shoplifting incidents in New York and Los Angeles had increased by over 60% between 2019 and the middle of 2023.

It was unclear exactly when the Compton Rite Aid began locking up its merchandise but a store employee said it was during the summer, possibly around July.

Meanwhile, California is preparing to vote on a measure to roll back the controversial Proposition 47 and stiffen penalties for retail criminals.

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