We work to invigorate the First Amendment by advocating for greater diversity in the press and by scrutinizing media practices that marginalize public interest, minority and dissenting viewpoints. The original KGO report (6/15/21) that sparked hundreds of followup stories. Posted on Nov 18, 2020 Updated on Nov 18, 2020, 8:55 am CST. This puts the health and lives of both Walgreens employees and other customers in danger. New York, NY 10001. A look at the changing global population. In May, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Walgreens had closed 17 San Francisco stores in the last five years due to the "cost of business and shoplifting.". FAIR identified 309 published pieces on the 21-second video, using a combination of Nexis and Google advanced search to find every article published by a news outlet, from the videos publication on June 14 to July 12a 28-day timeframe. Please consider donating. Minyvonne Burkeis a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News. Hart was walking toward an exit when Ciota, who had a Taser and a gun, allegedly grabbed his weapon, yelled "freeze" and then fired a shot, according to the lawsuit. The video starts with a man in a Walgreens being confronted by two West Covina police officers saying hes being put out of the store for being suspicious. They say that I was stealing next door; that I fit the description.. Do Walgreens Employees StopAndSearch Suspected Shoplifters? Shoplifting is definitely cutting into store margins. drug injury lawsuits and product liability lawsuits. The incident occurred at 10 a.m. on Sunday, according to a t weet. The shoplifting itself, the chain claimed both then and now, stems from "organized retail crime," in which teams of thieves execute smash-and-grab robberies and then resell the stolen merchandise online. Posted on Nov 18, 2020Updated on Nov 18, 2020, 8:55 am CST. Intervening with shoplifters and trying to stop or confront them may lead to escalations and physical altercations. The suit accuses Walgreens of staffing armed guards in stores located in predominantly African American and Hispanic communities or with a high homelessness rate. Because of theft I cannot shop freely because I must ask an employee to open a locked cabinet just to get one item. The San Francisco Police Departments data on shoplifting did not support Walgreens explanation for the store closings, according to an October 2021 analysis by The San Francisco Chronicle. Lawyers for the plaintiffs in that case did not immediately respond to requests for comment. But the wage theft settlement is also one example of a widespread issue: Employers stealing from their workers is a $15 billion a year problem that gets little attention. Here's why. If a customer is offended because they were perceived to be shoplifting by the staff, they may end up filing a lawsuit against Walgreens. Three years ago (after Boots Alliance bought out Walgreens) all bonuses were taken away. Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting124 W. 30th Street, Suite 201 Walgreens has a no-chase policy regarding shoplifting. Walgreens is one of Americas largest drugstore chains, with 8000+ stores spread over 50 states. "We are fully committed to providing a safe environment for our employees and customers in the communities we serve.". This is happening Walgreens does this to weed people out. Hes predictably stunned at how he could be removed from one place because of an event at another store. ", "Recent news stories describe a shoplifting surge, but this narrative conflates an array of very different offenses into a single crime wave said to be cresting right now, all over the country, in a frenzy of naked avarice and shocking violence," The Atlantic's Amanda Mull wrote in December 2021. If we confront them, try to stop them, walk out after them, photograph them or their vehicle we are at risk of logout job. Investigators with the agencys Wage and Hour division said Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals failed to pay overtime and legally-mandated breaks. The analysis said that while not all shoplifting incidents were reported to the police, one of the stores that closed had only seven reported shoplifting incidents in 2021 and a total of 23 since 2018. If you liked this article, please donate $5 to keep NationofChange online through November. Ascourt documentsexplained, Walgreens agreed to create a common fund after allegedly violating Californias Labor Code: Plaintiff alleged that defendants rounded down employees hours on their time cards, required employees to pass through security checks before and after their shift without compensating them for time worked, and failed to pay premium wages to employees who were denied legally required meal breaks. On a broader level, [s]hoplifting has been used to justify a resurgent law-and-order politics that has energized GOP campaigns over the past couple of years," Henry Grabar writes for Slate. However, they are required to report this incident to the police, providing the video footage of the shoplifting and any details about the person involved. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly. Basically all you're supposed to do is let management know, and that's it. We expose neglected news stories and defend working journalists when they are muzzled. Californias Supreme Court has ruled federal laws allowing companies to. QuerySprout is a team of dedicated consumer advocates that aims to help customers find answers to their service, product, and brand-specific questions. In that context, to treat an individual stealing a few hundred dollars from a corporation worth $150 billion as infinitely more newsworthy than that same company stealing millions from its employees is to enlist the media on the well-funded side of the class war. According to the lawsuit, Hart and his friends had allegedly complained to a Walgreens employee prior to the shooting about Ciota's "aggressive and hostile manner.". Susoeff, 77, who sometimes uses a cane, now goes six blocks for medication and other necessities. Additionally, you can read our guide on Walgreens statistics and trends, and learn how Walgreens is combatting online competition. But the wage theft settlement is also one example of a widespread issue: Employers stealing from their workers is a$15 billion a yearproblem that gets little attention. However, they are required to report this incident to the police, providing the video footage of the shoplifting and any details about the person involved. He and the other plaintiffs in the Walgreens employee class action said their in-and-out times were being rounded down, shorting their pay. The video purports to show a man apparently filling a garbage bag with items before riding a bicycle out of the store, as two people, one of whom seems to be a store security guard, record him. Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Throughout the pandemic, major retailers have warned about surging theft and a rise in brazen shoplifting attempts. On-duty meals are required under certain circumstances: If a meal break is missed in California, a worker is entitled to an extra hour of pay and has up to three years to claim. As of 2020, the states minimum wage ranks among the highest in the U.S. Walgreens no-chase policy regarding shoplifting requires that employees do not interfere with people who are known to be shoplifting. Californias Supreme Court has ruled federal laws allowing companies to short employees pay this way cant do so if the work in question is substantial. But a top Walgreens executive now says the freakout may have . Walmarts chief executive, Doug McMillon, told CNBC in December that an increase in shoplifting could lead the company to close stores. No sign of the criminals! Hes also a journalist, copywriter, and host of Discovery with Kahron Spearman on KAZI 88.7. The video, which was posted to Twitter by. Rite Aid says the problem cost it $5 million last quarter in New York City; Walgreens claimed to have closed stores in San Francisco as a result. Privacy Policy. The "1619 Project" author, Nikole Hannah-Jones, complained about drug stores locking up merchandise without recognizing the threat of shoplifting in a tweet on Tuesday. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. But with his recent comments, Kehoe seems to have at least somewhat walked back those claims. But as FAIRs Julie Hollar recently noted, the amount of attention given to a topic does not always reflect the seriousness of the situation. Susoeff, 77, who sometimes uses a cane, now goes six blocks for medication and other necessities. Walgreens did not specify how much of its shrinkage could be attributed to theft. An alleged crime surge at Walgreens drugstores in San Francisco was a hot topic for Bay Area news outlets in the early months of 2021. That changed in March when the Walgreens, ravaged by shoplifting, closed. The City of Long Beach last year was facing a class action lawsuit over employees claiming they werent being paid a minimum wage. But not only is this context consistently brushed over in news reports, much of the coverage connected to this video could lead one to believe the complete opposite, as in theSan Francisco Chronicle(5/20/21): For years, John Susoeff walked from his home two blocks to the Walgreens at Bush and Larkin streets to pick up prescriptions for himself and for less mobile neighbors, to get a new phone card, and to snag senior discounts the first Tuesday of the month. ", was charged in January with one count of murder. Why do so many people steal at Walgreens. The challenged statements concerned Walgreens' outlook for its 2016 fiscal year, the first full year after the Deerfield, Illinois-based company expected to complete the merger. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. He describes his situation; however, she details another person wearing a completely different outfit. If you really want to reduce retail shrinkage or retail theft, it ultimately comes down to the employees, Dr. Su said. to address crime. Kehoe also said that Walgreens' so-called "shrinkage" or the term used to reflect inventory losses due to theft or damage, among other factors had "stabilized" and was around 2.5 percent of sales, versus 3.5 percent at the same time last year. Walgreens data breach class-action lawsuit $180,000. You want to measure economic success? This included any instances of shoplifting at or below $950. Keep on reading to find out why this is the case! As for theft, my store has three individuals that walk into the store fill a basket then walk out the door, usually the back door setting off the alarm. Walmart CEO Doug McMillonsaid theft was higher than it has historically been, and prices would be higher and/or stores will close.. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Its a situation that occurs to Black men all over the country, sometimes with terrible consequences. Hung-Chung Su, an associate professor of operations management at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, said that while Mr. Kehoe spoke positively about the decrease in theft, 2.5 percent shrinkage is still a problem for the company. Walgreens Employee Class Action Lawsuit Reaches $4.5M Settlement, Abbott baby formula recall lawsuit investigation, American Tuna false advertising class action lawsuit investigation. Some people are upset at the way iPhones charge. As a progressive group, we believe that structural reform is ultimately needed to break up the dominant media conglomerates, establish independent public broadcasting and promote strong non-profit sources of information. Customers walk by products locked in security cabinets at a Walgreens . and our Walgreens' rivals include CVS Health Corp (CVS.N) and Rite Aid Corp (RAD.N). For Californians, Top Class Actions can help with an investigation into possible wage theft claims. Required fields are marked *. Walgreens received national attention in October 2021 when it announced that it was closing five stores in San Francisco, citing shoplifting as the reason for the closures. But it appears that another factor may also be at play: tipster Al Andarin told Hoodline that he spoke to an employee at the 730 Market store, who said the closure was due to shoplifting.. In other words, per dollar stolen, the June 14 petty theft received nearly 1.5 million times as much coverage as the wage theft settlement. The recent closings bring to 22 the number of stores that Walgreens has shut in the city since 2016. And it's not like Walgreens is alone in sounding the alarm executives from other chains, like Target and Walmart, have also done so in recent years. For example, Washington state classifies shoplifting into three categories as described below: Other states follow a similar classification that is based on the total value of the goods stolen. Walgreens and other retailers have sounded the alarm in recent years about the threat of organized shoplifting to their bottom lines as viral videos of brazen shopliftingraidshave swept the internet. Here are the ten most impactful Walgreens lawsuits in its history. We aim to provide in-depth, well-researched, and accurate information in easy-to-follow guides and articles. Records show that Ciota is being held at a Los Angeles jail on $3 million bail. Shortly after that employees with months worth of PTO were told they had a very short time to use them or lose them. Learn more here. San Francisco Walgreens shoplifter seen filling bag with stolen goods arrested while 'clearing shelves': cops Police said they were able to link him to 6 prior shoplifting incidents from May 29 . They had to spend uncompensated time in security checks when leaving for their shifts. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. Carl Douglas, an attorney for the man's family, said Hart, who was in his early 20s, gay and homeless, was hit in the neck and died hours later at the hospital. Thanks to a 2014 referendum which essentially makes paying for retail goods in California optional, thefts are out of control and stores are struggling. However, Walgreens does implement measures to deter people from shoplifting while inside the store. "Add to that the declining urban foot traffic brought about by remote work, a period of aggressive expansion, competition, and consolidation, and some pharmacy-business headwinds, and you have a recipe for downsizing," Grabar posits. But as FAIRs Julie Hollar recently noted, the amount of attention given to a topic does not always reflect the seriousness of the situation. Steven Keehner is a Stony Brook University student and a writer from Long Island, New York. However, video footage from 24/7 CCTV cameras and details are provided to the police to investigate once the shoplifter has left the store. Go to the kitchen tables of America. Lucas stocked shelves in a California Walgreens distribution center for about two years. I left the store around 30/45 seconds later and there was an empty cart. Top Class Actions is a legal news source The cameras work 24/7 and are monitored by a central security service. We rely on your support to keep running. Leverage your professional network, and get hired. What Journalists, Scholars and Activists Are Saying. It was agreed to in writing by the employee. If you were forced to work off the clock or without overtime pay within the past 3 years in California, you have rights and you dont have to take on the company alone. Ridiculous policy!! Shes sorry that poor guy wasnt just jailed anyway. As workers hold on to their precarious jobs, some can be left fearful of losing work if they say anything. I refuse to shop at a store that is repeatedly robbed, that doesnt have some kind of police presence at their store, only to cry poor-mouth later and raise their prices to compensate for these blatant acts! Shoplifting in San Francisco became a viral story after the wide circulation of a video in June showing a man grabbing items from shelves in a Walgreens at 300 Gough St. and stuffing them into. Thats not true for mass shootings. Theft in the Bay . UPDATE: After the publication of this post, a Bloomberg Law story (11/25/20) covering the Walgreens wage theft settlement was pointed out to us, bringing the total number of wage theft stories to one. June 24 (Reuters) - Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (WBA.O) agreed to pay $105 million to settle a long-running class-action lawsuit accusing it of misleading shareholders about how rising generic drug prices and reimbursement pressures would hurt its pharmacy business. Added Alex Karakatsanis, founder and executive director of criminal justice nonprofit Civil Rights Corps: "I think unfortunately across the United States, the reporting on this issue really lacked this kind of skepticism for a long time," he recently told the Times. But "the deeper you search for real, objective evidence of an accelerating retail crime wave, the more difficult it is to be sure that you know anything at all.". In November, Targets chief financial officer, Michael Fiddelke, said shrinkage had reduced the companys profit margin by more than $400 million in 2022. Even as retailers tout a shoplifting crisis that threatens business, shrink hasremained largely unchanged industry-wide in the last five years, according to the National Retail Federation. And in the case of Walgreens, journalists leaned into the "sensationalist" crime coverage they often find themselves drawn toward, allowing the drug store's "dubious narrative" to resultingly "spread unchecked by some of the largest news organizations in the country. Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. Meh. Shareholders said Walgreens inflated its stock price in 2014 by concealing bad news about drug prices and reimbursement rates, so investors could focus on its then-pending merger with Switzerland's Alliance Boots GmbH. Click the button below! You must contact the Walgreens also press charges on shoplifters. The policy is to not assume that anyone is shoplifting bc that could then be discriminating, and that no amount of product is worth an altercation. A woman in Alabama, who has said she was wrongly arrested for shoplifting at a Walmart and that she was threatened by the retail giant after the dismissal of her case, has been awarded $2.1m in . Target similarly reported a $400 million loss due to shrinkage in November. And in New York, Republican Lee Zeldin was recently able to hold his own in a historically close race for governor, fueled in large part by voters' concerns about crime. Marques Thomas graduated with a MBA in 2011. While San Francisco admittedly has a higher crime rate compared to many major cities in the United States, this rate has been decreasing, even amidst a global pandemic (San Francisco Chronicle, 4/2/21): While San Franciscos crime rates did deviate from previous trends in 2020, most types of violent crime actually plummeted and all violent crime rates remain near their lowest levels since 1975. But during the pandemic, the employee turnover at retail stores increased. IE 11 is not supported. U.S. District Court Judge William Shubb approved the deal Nov. 24, marking the end of a two-year battle over time card punches and compensated time. I was on the line paying and then this lady/man just said fuck it and walked out of the store. Writing Massas laws, indemnifying the wealthy, while indenturing, incarcerating, enslaving we the peons, certainly predates 1619, here. DataSFscrime databaseincludes the June 14 incident, listing it as Theft, Shoplifting, $200$950meaning that the maximum possible cost of the merchandise allegedly stolen was $950. Walgreens CFO James Kehoe on Thursday admitted the pharmaceutical chain may have "cried too much last year" over its presumed shoplifting problem, on which it blamed the high-profile closure of. Walgreen Co, as the company was then known, lowered its forecast for that year on Aug. 6, 2014. DataSF's crime database includes the June 14 incident, listing it as "Theft, Shoplifting, $200-$950"meaning that the maximum possible cost of the merchandise allegedly stolen was $950. I think unfortunately across the United States, the reporting on this issue really lacked this kind of skepticism for a long time, Mr. Karakatsanis said. This may also lead to damage and liabilities of other items in the store, adding to the overall loss faced by Walgreens. Do something, Walgreens. Maybe we cried too much last year, James Kehoe, the companys chief financial officer, said during a Walgreens earnings call with investors. Ken Giddon, co-owner of Rothmans, a menswear shop near Union Square, said his store was hit twice by the same crew of boosters in a three-week period in 2021. Section 230 reform isnt going to solve our problems. He was unarmed and did nothing to cause defendant Ciota to believe he was confronting an imminent threat to his life or anyone else's life," the lawsuit states. The lead plaintiff worked at a Walgreens distribution center. Shameless shoplifters: Retail thefts getting bolder in California and beyond Last year, Walgreens closed one store where the chain said it was losing $1,000 a day to thefts. I have the people on (flash drive) driving up showing license plate, walking in and stealing just before walking out. an October 2021 analysis by The San Francisco Chronicle, and like-minded liberal prosecutors succeeded. "These are gangs that actually go in and empty our stores of beauty products. The suit, filed with the Los Angeles County Superior Court on April 26, states that Jonathan Hart was "maliciously, wrongfully, intentionally, negligently and/or carelessly" shot in the back of his neck and killed in December 2018 by armed guard Donald Vincent Ciota II. Reproduction isnt unilateral/ And sex delivers huge collateral. The shoplifting video is supposed to represent multiple examples of retail theft, but the wage theft settlement is also one example of a widespread issue. While shoplifting might not have hurt Walgreens' bottom line as much as it once thought, the company said it suffered a $3.7bn loss in its first quarter, partly relating to litigation over the. When violations do occur, our enforcement ensures employees are paid the wages they have earned, and levels the playing field for employers who play by the rules.. Texas governor says most gun crimes involve illegally owned weapons. Some employees alleged skipping breaks and not getting paid. The chain is also now relying on law enforcement for security, rather than "largely ineffective" private companies, and is "quite happy with where we are." Walgreens denied wrongdoing, but settled to avoid the uncertainty, burden and cost of further litigation, settlement papers show. Mr. Boudins policies remain popular, according to polling, and like-minded liberal prosecutors succeeded in primary elections in California and nationally the same week that Mr. Boudin was ousted. Other corporate giants have also complained about the effect of retail theft on profits. An employee-filed class action lawsuit out of California against Walgreens has reached a $4.5 million settlement over allegations of wage theft and violation of California labor laws. This included any instances of shoplifting at or below $950. In California, for example, the Walgreens store closures proved "a flash point in a stinging criminal justice debate that helped electrify the recall of former San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin," who was removed from officeby voters in the summer of 2022, the Chronicle writes. Jonathan Hart, 21, was shot inside a Hollywood Walgreens after being accused of shoplifting. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. As Walgreens was shutting down drugstores in the Bay Area and across the country and struggling with a theft problem, it fired three Black security managers without giving them the severance. Since it has a no-chase policy, employees do not intervene when the person is walking out with stolen goods. The suspect continues even as. And it's a real issue." Jonathan Hart's family claims in a lawsuit that he "committed no crime or other act to justify the use of deadly force. We encourage all employers to reach out to us for compliance assistance so that violations like these can be avoided.