A domestically owned grocery retailer fed up with an increase in theft in its Inland Empire neighborhood is attempting to crack down on the issue by proscribing the usage of massive private procuring luggage within the retailer.
On a Fb put up in April, Matthew and Allison Whitlow introduced their possession of the Grocery Outlet on East Florida Avenue in Hemet. Lower than a month later, the house owners famous on social media {that a} private bag coverage will likely be strictly enforced citing “an inflow of theft.”
Within the put up, the Whitlows requested that prospects depart their reusable procuring and private luggage — together with something bigger than a small purse — within the entrance of the grocery retailer with a cashier.
“Whereas this has all the time been posted on our entrance door, we’ve got had some take benefit and stroll out of retailer with out stopping by the register,” in accordance with a Fb put up.
The Whitlows declined to talk with The Instances in regards to the incidents that led to their determination.
However asking prospects to go away their reusable luggage on the entrance of the shop might create confusion for customers who’re attempting to comply with state regulation and assist the surroundings.
Since 2014, California has labored to remove single-use plastic luggage from grocery shops and have just lately taken a step additional by passing laws that may eliminate the thicker plastic luggage made from high-density polyethylene, or HDPE. Grocery shops have been providing the thicker HDPE luggage to customers as a substitute of the banned skinny plastic luggage.
In response, customers throughout the state have stocked up on reusuable grocery luggage, made from canvas or fabric.
The brand new bag coverage is in response to an uptick in retail theft throughout the state, a difficulty so problematic that state officers have dispatched California Freeway Patrol officers to assist native police get a deal with on retail crime and automotive theft and assist bolster site visitors enforcement.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has despatched officers to Oakland and Bakersfield, cities which have had immense points with smash-and-grab retail crime.
Prospects who depart their massive luggage on the entrance are allowed to take out and carry their smartphones and wallets whereas they store.
The Whitlows are encouraging their prospects to make use of store-provided hand baskets as a substitute.
“With us being domestically/independently owned, when theft happens, it not solely hurts us, however the neighborhood,” the put up acknowledged. “We all know that is inconvenient for everybody, however we need to make sure that we’ve got merchandise for you all in addition to not lose any so we are able to hold pricing reasonably priced.”
Quite than resort to theft, the house owners prompt within the put up that customers who’re struggling to make ends meet ask for assist.
“Please ask for one of many house owners, Matt or Allison, and we are going to see what we are able to do to assist,” the put up acknowledged.
