The closures are reportedly due to an untenable rise in shoplifting.
Author’s Note
This article is based on corporate postings and accredited media reports. Linked information within this article is attributed to the following outlets: CaliforniaGlobe.com and Fee.org.
Introduction
I write extensively about the Walgreens Pharmacy chain for NewsBreak. Earlier today, NewsBreak published “One Month Following Governor Newsom’s Threats Against Walgreens, California Prescription Holders Remain Concerned,” my piece regarding a political stance by the state’s Governor that has caused some anxiety among prescription holders.
My article set out to reassure readers that as yet no state actions have been taken against the chain; as such, prescriptions have not been impacted.
As excerpted from “The Possible Effects Of California ‘No Longer Doing Business With Walgreens’” from CaliforniaGlobe.com: Following Walgreens decision last week to no longer sell abortion pills in the 20 states where they are illegal at the state level due to a threatened lawsuit, Governor Newsom fired back by tweeting out “California won’t be doing business with Walgreens or any company that cowers to the extremists and puts women’s lives at risk. We’re done.”
Scant hours following the publication of my NewsBreak piece, I was informed reports had surfaced of five Walgreens locations closing due to a wholly unrelated matter — shoplifting. In this instance, prescriptions will be impacted.
Let us explore further.
Walgreens, 2023
According to a report from Fee.org, entitled “Walgreens is Closing 5 San Francisco Stores Thanks to This Failed California Policy,” a 2014 ballot referendum is to blame.
As excerpted from the report: “Organized retail crime continues to be a challenge facing retailers across San Francisco, and we are not immune to that,” Walgreens spokesman Phil Caruso said. “Retail theft across our San Francisco stores has continued to increase in the past few months to five times our chain average. During this time, to help combat this issue, we increased our investments in security measures in stores across the city to 46 times our chain average in an effort to provide a safe environment.”
The report goes on to elaborate on what it considers the likely reason behind the ongoing issue: The city isn’t just experiencing a run of bad luck — its rampant shoplifting problem is directly rooted in its terrible policy choices. As I’ve previously explained, “In 2014, a ballot referendum passed that downgraded the theft of property less than $950 in value from a felony charge to a misdemeanor. In the years since, enforcement of shoplifting charges has waned significantly.”
Prescriptions will be transferred to other locations. Contact your local store for details.
Conclusion
This is a developing story. In the event of pertinent updates to this matter, inclusive of official announcements of further California Walgreens store closures, I will share them here on NewsBreak.
Thank you for reading.
Comments / 112