CVS breaks silence on backlash over locked up products as experts warn retail chains have ‘broken shopping in America’

CVS has shared an explanation for its use of the controversial anti-theft measure that has seen stores lock up certain items.

A spokesperson for the chain broke their silence as a growing number of complaints from customers have been put to the retailer .

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CVS has been one of the many companies to implement a new range of security measures in stores.

One of the most contentious has been stores locking up certain items behind plexiglass.

This has included individual goods being locked in a see-through box or rows and aisles covered by plastic doors.

A customer would have to call over an employee to unlocked these items.

This practice has become common at many CVS stores and a spokesperson for the chain, Amy Thibault, told Axios why the retailer has resulted to using this measure.

She explained that CVS used “a variety of different measures to deter or prevent theft and locking a product is a measure of last resort.”

“Different products experience different theft rates, depending on store location and other factors, and our product protection decisions are data driven,” Thibault added.

EXPERT WARNING

Some shopping specialists have claimed these measures have had a huge negative impact on customers.

A Bloomberg report has claimed that stores locking up items “broke” shopping.

Customers across the country have shared their anger and complaints on social media , The U.S. Sun has previously reported.

One person questioned how effective this measure was against theft.

“I don’t get CVS’ anti-shoplifting attempt by locking everything behind glass,” a customer wrote on X .

“Like, once an employee unlocks something for you, couldn’t you just walk out?”

Customers at other retailers have also raged about their experiences with this.

Anti-theft measures rolled out by retailers

Retailers across the US and Canada have rolled out strategies designed to combat theft. The U.S. Sun has compiled a list of measures that have been implemented at stores.

• Locking items in cabinets.
• Security pegs.
• Security cameras.
• Signs warning about the impact of theft.
• Receipt scanners.
• Receipt checks.
• Carts with locking technology

A Walmart shopper ranted about the length of time it took them to purchase a basic hygiene product.

“This Walmart is so annoying they made us wait forever for DEODORANT and put it in a dumba*s security box,” a X user wrote in their post .

“The entire place was busy with employees running around trying to adhere to these stupid anti-theft policies it actually p****d me off,” they added.

SHOPPERS’ FURY

Locked up items have not been the only anti-theft measure to make shoppers rage, The U.S. Sun has previously reported.

Some customers at the Canadian grocery store chain Loblaws have been angered by its use of new security gates at some stores.

These plexiglass barriers have been placed between self-checkouts and the store’s exit.

Shoppers must scan their receipts to open these gates.