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‘Everything’s Locked Up’: Shoppers Turn to Amazon as Big-Box Retailers Combat Theft

  • Amazon is poised to benefit most from consumer rebellion
  • Retail larceny has worsened dramatically since the pandemic

Like many shoppers, New Yorker Sarah Henry is accustomed to retailers locking up products to thwart thieves. But when she saw a Manhattan CVS had put Oreos behind glass, she took a photo to document the insanity.

“It’s just crazy, everything’s locked up,” she said. “You can’t even get Oreos without ringing a bell, let alone cleaning supplies.” To sidestep the hassle, Henry has taken to ordering groceries and medication online from Stop & Shop Supermarket and Amazon.com Inc.