Walgreens

An incident occurred while I was checking out at my local Walgreens at Abrams and Royal in Dallas, TX, September 8, 2015 that I would like to share.

The person in front of me did not pay for her items after they were scanned and placed into a bag, but instead calmly walked out the door and on to her car that was parked in clear view of the front door. I took her license number and gave it to the clerk who told me that there was nothing they could do and that it happens all day. He said the police will not come because it is a misdemeanor crime. But, a crime, yes, I told him and that by allowing it to continue with no consequences, Walgreen's is encouraging it to continue.

Another employee who over heard this conversation said that she wished I would tell the manager what I had just said because they witness this behavior all day long and there is nothing they can do. She said I would not believe what they have to put up from the residents in the apartments across the street coming over drunk or on drugs to harass the employees and to steal.

I spoke to the manager and his response was less than reassuring that he had things under control and that his store is a safe place to shop. I have a reasonable expectation that when I enter the store that I am safe and Walgreens has a duty to provide a safe environment for both shoppers and employees. I understand when he said that the employees are instructed by Corporate for their own safety not to try to pursue or apprehend shoplifters. I asked if security guards would discourage this behavior and was told that they are not able to do anything either. Then I asked about hiring off-duty Dallas police and the manager said that it was too expensive.

All during this, the manager smiled as he assured me that this is just the way it is now and that things are even worse in the 24 hour Walgreen's stores. My question is do I choose another Walgreens where I feel safer or if this a corporate-wide policy to condone this behavior, do I take my business elsewhere. I have lived in this nice neighborhood (except for apartments near this store) since 1982 and shopped exclusively at this Walgreens for my prescriptions since it opened. So, just shoplifting today, yes. That sets the tone for the store and sends the message that this is a store where you can go and take whatever you want. To the neighborhood, it sends the message that this is not a safe store where if shoplifting is allowed with no consequences and that more serious crimes may be a possibility in the future and best to stay away. Then we lose control of our neighborhood Walgreens and the bad element wins.

After reading other complaints and comments, it seems that Walgreens does not care and is not a safe place to shop. We can leave and take our business elsewhere and just leave it with the thieves who are free to take whatever they need. Or we, the paying customers, can organize and demand security.