Two Giant grocery stores in Baltimore are implementing a youth supervision policy to combat what the company calls a recent rise in theft.
Starting Thursday, shoppers younger than 17 will not be allowed without an adult after 6 p.m. inside the Waverly Giant on East 33rd Street and the Frankford Giant on Sinclair Lane.
The same two Giant stores implemented a ban on large bags at the end of May, citing retail theft. The ban, like the curfew, does not appear to apply to other Baltimore-area locations.
Some shoppers told WJZ the policy is a good idea in theory but they don’t see how it will be enforced.
In a statement to WJZ, Giant said they initiated the policy at select stores that “are experiencing high shrink to mitigate the unprecedented levels of product theft that have become unsustainable.”
The company said retail theft limits product availability and puts associates and customers in harm’s way.
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“I think it might be hard to enforce,” shopper Kandace Graham said.
Giant shoppers told WJZ it’s not just young people who are stealing.
“The prices are too high, people are going to steal,” a shopper who gave his name as Ronald said. “I see adults walking through all the time with a cart full, no bags and I know they didn’t go through the line.”
Giant told WJZ they will continue to invest in improving safety for workers and customers.
WJZ is a media partner of The Baltimore Banner.
Baltimore Banner reporter Cody Boteler contributed to this article.
