Target employees in San Francisco have raised the alarm over the escalating trend of thefts in the store, alleging that shoplifting incidents occur approximately every ten minutes.

This unsettling claim comes amidst an exodus of retailers from the city’s downtown area, spurred by rampant theft.

The employees, who wished to remain anonymous, detailed how they regularly observe individuals brazenly filling bags with merchandise before making swift exits.

Everyday items such as shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes, and certain food items have now been safeguarded behind barriers, necessitating staff intervention for customer access.

However, other product categories, including lipstick trays and nail polish collections, fall prey to shoplifters daily.

This ongoing theft has incited concern that their store might become the latest casualty in San Francisco’s rapidly depleting retail scene.

A store employee at the Metreon, a shopping center near Union Square, told the San Francisco Standard, “Every 10 minutes, you witness it. Scan any corner of the store, and you’ll find individuals hastily stuffing items into bags – food, cosmetics.”

Another staff member lamented the desperate circumstances that drive some individuals to theft. “It’s heartrending to see someone stealing diapers for their child,” the employee shared.

According to the staff, many of the perpetrators appear to be homeless, often consuming stolen food items within the store premises.

Further evidence of in-store consumption is found in discarded candy wrappers, soda cans, and occasionally, liquor bottles.

One worker empathized with the thieves, saying, “I understand; they need to eat.”

Certain products, including aluminum foil and over-the-counter contraception pills, are particularly coveted by shoplifters.

Employees speculate that the stolen foil is employed by drug users to smoke fentanyl.

Social media footage corroborates the workers’ accounts, showcasing the extensive barriers now protecting a significant portion of the store’s inventory.

Similar protective measures have been implemented in other city stores, indicating the severity of the theft problem.

One worker estimated an average of at least ten thefts per day, with an incident every ten minutes.

This alarming rate of theft adds to the mounting challenges facing San Francisco retailers.

The retail exodus from the city, which began with Nordstrom’s announcement of shuttering all its locations due to the city’s “changing dynamics,” has since snowballed.

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In April, Whole Foods followed suit, closing all their outlets, a move replicated by Anthropologie and Office Depot.

This growing list of retailers abandoning the coastal city includes T-Mobile, Coco-Republic, H&M, Marshall’s, Gap, and Banana Republic.

The significant flight of retailers presents a dire outlook for San Francisco’s retail landscape, further exacerbated by the unabated theft plaguing stores like Target.

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