Walgreens, lock and key

Walgreens CEO says locking up products hurt sales
Walgreens’ plan to combat increasing theft by locking products up at their stores has hurt sales, the company’s CEO said in a recent earnings call.
Locking up products to combat shoplifting is bad for business, drugstore CEO reports
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- While many big-box chains now lock up merchandise as a means of combatting theft -- requiring shoppers to buzz for help in releasing a stick of deodorant or pack of disposable razors -- at least one retailer has publicly admitted that the practice is bad for business.
Walgreens CEO reveals anti-theft measures of locking up products had the opposite effect
CEO Tim Wentworth admitted in a recent fiscal report call that combatting shoplifting by locking up items has led to customer dissatisfaction.
Walgreens CEO says locking up merchandise harmed sales
"When you lock things up … you don't sell as many of them. We've kind of proven that pretty conclusively," Wentworth said. "I don't have anything magnificent to share with you today. It is a hand-to-hand combat battle still,
Walgreens says locking up products from shoplifters hurt sales
Keeping products under lock and key dissuaded customers from purchasing them, Walgreens said in earnings call.
Walgreens CEO Says Anti-Shoplifting Strategy of Locking Up Products Hurt Sales
The policy of locking up items at big stores was supposed to curb shoplifting in the U.S. in the wake of the pandemic.
Walgreens CEO just now realizes locked shelves were a bad idea
Walgreens’ strategy of locking up merchandise — from deodorants to bags of M&M’s — to deter theft has backfired, according to CEO Tim Wentworth. “It is a hand-to-hand combat battle still, unfortunately,
Walgreens CEO on shoplifting strategy: 'Lock things up ... you don't sell as many'
Retailers have been faced with increases in shoplifting and retail theft. But anti-theft prevention can hurt retail sales, says the CEO of Walgreens.
Walgreens CEO Admits Locking Up Products Backfired, Sales Decreased
In a Q1 2025 earnings call, Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO Tim Wentworth admitted that its approach to tackling shoplifting at its stores has backfired. Per Fortune, Wentworth spoke about the state of the company,
Walgreens CEO Admits Locking Up Products Had Negative Effects
Despite efforts to prevent retail theft, Walgreens reported a 32% in "shrink," or a loss of inventory that can’t be accounted for through sales.
Walgreens CEO Says Locking up Items to Deter Theft Not Effective
Some retailers, like Walgreens, report that locking items behind displays to deter shoplifting may not be effective. Walgreens CEO Tim Wentworth recently described theft prevention in stores as an ongoing and challenging struggle.
New shoplifting data explains why they’re locking up the toothpaste
Shoplifting rates in the three largest U.S. cities — New York, Los Angeles and Chicago — remain higher than they were before ...
Some N.J. schools are already locking up cellphones as gov pushes for classroom ban
In his annual State of the State address this week, Gov. Phil Murphy backed a plan to direct New Jersey school districts to ...