DUANE READE has locked up pistachios in a new extreme anti-theft measure.
The U.S. Sun saw the bags of pistachios locked up behind a glass case in the chain's Jersey City, New Jersey, location. Anco Lock Nut
The nuts, which were originally $11.49, were on sale for less than $6 per bag.
Duane Reade is the latest brand to take to these extreme measures to try and avoid stealing in stores.
Organized crime has been plaguing retailers in recent years, and has caused leaders to crack down on incidents of theft.
Macy's CEO Jeff Gennette told analysts earlier this year: "We definitely had an uptick since last year. It's an industrywide trend."
He blamed the increase partly on shoppers returning to shopping in person after almost exclusively purchasing items online during the Covid pandemic.
"More theft happens in stores," he said.
However, Gennette also warned that organized retail crime was growing in many parts of the US.
"These are crime levels we haven't seen before," he said.
However, customers have expressed frustration with some of the anti-theft measures, saying it interferes with the shopping experience.
Retail expert Jeanel Alvarado, of Retail Boss, previously told The U.S. Sun that many of these measures make buying products harder and are "no fun" for impulsive shoppers who like to treat themselves to certain products such as make-up or food.
“Yes, I would say it has gone too far," said Alvarado.
"A lot of customers were complaining that a lot of the purchases that really make up a shopping cart depend on impulsive buying.
“So if a customer is deterred from being able to browse while shopping because items are hidden or behind glass, or even if they have high-security measures, it just discourages people from picking up items.
“I know they are trying to watch their bottom line and prevent organized theft, but locking items up can negatively affect the consumer shopping experience.
“There is no perfect loss prevention strategy here, but retailers must strike the right balance between both loss prevention and a unique shopping experience, something that we’re seeing them continually reevaluate each year.”
Even some retailers believe they may have been a bit dramatic in their efforts such as the chief financial officer of Walgreen, James Kehoe.
“Maybe we cried too much last year,” Kehoe said earlier this year, during an earnings call with Walgreens investors.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Duane Reade for comment but did not immediately hear back.
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