Stores are increasingly piling on anti-theft measures, but these efforts can deter legitimiate customers, reports Axios. In Washington, D.C., some Giant and Safeway supermarkets are locking up items and installing security gates while also checking receipts before customers leave the store. New York City drugstores have so many plastic lockup cases that one person had to use a blowtorch to blast one open.
Retailers "know that locking up items does impact their sales," said David Johnston of the National Retail Federation. Striking the right "convenience vs. security" balance is important, and so retailers are looking into "various technologies" to get it right. New AI cameras use facial recognition tech to spot known offenders, and RFID systems help track stolen items. Stores may also develop TSA-like system in the future, where verified customers can have full access to the store. Although using this new technology saves time by flagging suspicious behavior faster, stores must be mindful about privacy concerns, and some consumers complain that stores are scaring away patrons with too many security measures.