‘It’s definitely a letdown’: Repeat thefts cause another CVS in DC to close

WASHINGTON ( DC News Now ) — Another CVS in Washington, D.C. is officially closed and a representative with the company has a theory why: repeat thieves.

It’s unclear if thefts contributed to the closure of the shop on Kennedy Street NW , which has been slated to close for more than a month and officially shut its doors on Tuesday. However, it appears thefts are a contributing factor in many store closures in the District.

That’s no surprise to some locals who frequented the CVS, for reasons ranging from small shopping to prescriptions.

“It’s definitely a letdown because we had a lot of senior residents that live in the community and this was very convenient for them to come in and get their medication,” Jackie Strange, who used to work at the Kennedy Street store, told DC News Now.

“We do see the same people come in and take stuff and then even if they do get caught we will see them the next day come in and take some more stuff,” Strange said. “They’re not really afraid of law enforcement. Yeah, they’ll keep on doing it.”

CVS told DC News Now that as part of a 2021 initiative, 14 standalone CVS stores have closed — three additional pharmacies located within Target stores have also closed. However, it said the reasons for the closures include “population shifts,” “consumer buying patterns” and the “store’s density.”

While it did not mention thefts, a representative from the company did attribute thieves to closures in front of a judge.

At a sentencing hearing for a man who repeatedly stole items from a Southeast CVS, a representative for the company gave a victim impact statement.

According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in D.C., which described testimony, the representative said:

“Thefts committed by repeat offenders… have caused several stores within the district to close. This not only deprives community members of access to necessities like prescriptions, but it also deprives the hardworking staff members of their jobs as more and more CVS locations close.”

Darryl Kelly, who told DC News Now theft is in his past, offered a warning for those perpetrators.

“You’re gonna get caught one day like I got caught,” he said. “Three or four years in jail. You’re going to learn the hard way.”

Strange guessed that thefts were not the only reason why the Kennedy St NW location closed — citing busier CVS shops nearby. She did offer a hope that CVS would improve security at its still-open locations.

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