WASHINGTON — Much like concert venues and TSA lines, Giant stores in the DMV are implementing baggage policies, but for very different reasons.
WUSA9 has been reporting for months that Giant Food has been experiencing high levels of theft, which even resulted in a Southeast D.C. location removing items from shelves. The company has been working to add new security measures to help shrink theft.
As of May 23, Giant Food has initiated a new policy to continue tackling the problem, saying "unprecedented levels of product theft that have become unsustainable for our business." The policy states that customers cannot bring suitcases, duffel bags, or bags larger than 14” x 14” x 6” while shopping in these stores, which are all locations in D.C. and some additional ones throughout the region. A spokesperson did not clarify how many stores will implement the ban.
This does not include open reusable shopping bags, they clarified to WUSA9 Tuesday evening.
"The retail theft we are experiencing across our market area is a problem that affects everyone," Giant Food said in a statement. "It limits product availability, creates a less convenient shopping experience, and, most critically, puts our associates and customers in harm’s way."
The store continued by saying that the tactic is being used as only one of the solutions to help solve the problem. They say they are invested in improving safety for associates and customers, along with reducing theft.
Tuesday afternoon, WUSA9 asked Mayor Muriel Bowser her thoughts on the new policy.
"I think that makes sense," she said. "What we call on all of the retailers to do is everything within their power to strengthen security in their stores".
She went on to say that retail theft is a serious crime, and that "the council has my permissions in Secure D.C.".
"Shoppers want to be able to use their stores without having everything locked up. So, the people who are stealing from stores, we have to make sure that this message is loud and clear, that they threaten the whole community by doing that," said Mayor Bowser.
Tuesday night, shoppers outside the Giant on Wisconsin Avenue in Cathedral Heights, weighed in.
"I kind of understand it," said Allan Rivlin. He told WUSA9 he could understand why store employees might be concerned if they saw someone carrying a giant bag through the store.
"It's definitely annoying but if you think about it you get it," said Kesha Casimir, who lives in Upper Marlboro, but works nearby.
Other shoppers told WUSA9, they did not agree with the new rules and were concerned about how it could impact parents.
"What if somebody came with a stroller or had a baby bag? What are you gonna do? Turn the person around for getting food? What if the baby needs formula and stuff? What are you gonna do leave your bag outside? I feel like that's not fair," said DeRian Mize who lives nearby.
This news regarding Giant comes as other grocery stores also seek out security measures to combat retail theft. In April, Harris Teeter announced they'd be requiring customers to show their receipts before walking out of stores.
In February, Safeway added new security gates at some of their stores.
WUSA9 asked shoppers if they felt that these safety measures would actually help cut down the shoplifting and theft.
"I hope it does. I really hope it helps. Because it's beginning to get crazy to the point that I may just start doing online shopping now," said Casimir.
But others told WUSA9 they worry it'll just cut down business for these stores.
"What they're doing is making it much more difficult for the consumers to buy things as you go to the store, there's nothing there to buy. So you end up buying things online. So I think in a way I think it's really impacting the stores. They're not able to control the theft. It's a cyclical process," said Katherine Fox.
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