Harris Teeter, in response to a recent surge of thefts throughout Washington, D.C., has implemented new policies that it hopes will discourage shoplifters.
On Wednesday, the grocery store implemented several safety protocols. One of them requires that customers in the District show their receipts before leaving the building.
“Harris Teeter’s commitment is to provide the freshest, highest-quality products to our customers in all the communities that we serve,” The company said, “It is important to provide a safe environment for customers and employees.”
Harris Teeter also bans the use of a variety of bags including large backpacks, duffels, and suitcases.
These measures will allow us to continue offering our customers the best possible service and products at affordable prices. The company thanked its valued employees and customers for their patience and cooperation.
The rise in retail thefts in D.C. prompted several prominent establishments to implement new measures.
In February, A Safeway in Columbia Heights built new safety gates after three suspects destroyed an ATM in the store and fled the store with cash.
ABC 7 News reported that a CVS Pharmacy closed in the same neighborhood after multiple thefts of retail items. Residents were outraged by this.
Giant announced they would cease selling certain brands in several locations throughout Washington, D.C. by September 2023. The company told officials that it lost a half-million dollars due to theft.
Theft is on the rise in the District. The Washington Post reported in 2023 that the Police had logged 13,000 crimes, not including vehicle or car thefts. This is a 23% rise over last year.
On March 5, the city council passed the Secure DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2024 with a vote of 12-1. The act included over 100 proposals for fighting crime, such as increasing gun violence penalties or adding punishments for organized retail theft.
On March 11, Mayor Muriel Bowser enacted the Crime Bill into law.
Bowser recently defended the reputation of the city in an interview with Axios. She said that crime in D.C. has decreased this year. According to police statistics, violent crime dropped by 17 percent and overall crime fell by 12 percent.
