A LONG-TIME business is rolling out a new bag policy in a few weeks, with customers being warned by a sign on the door.
The new measures never before rolled out by the retailer will impact all of its customers which it has been serving for over four decades.
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The Greene County Damaged Freight and Food Sales store has been part of the Springfield, Missouri community for 45 years.
The store once dubbed the area’s “most random grocery store” by Springfield News Leader is operated by Nancy Heape after she took over the business from her parents.
However, she revealed that the store is implementing a no-bag policy to crack down on theft within the store.
“The theft has just become so much greater that we just decided that all the, just any big bags, backpacks, diaper bags, it’s just too easy to stuff those bags full,” she told KY3.
“It makes it hard on all your good people, and we’ve just had to go to a no-bag policy in our store because the theft has gotten so bad.”
According to Heape, they had a no-large-bag policy for some time, but it was time to update it, so they posted a sign on the door and on their social media page.
The hand-written sign greeting customers reads: “Starting June 1 purses larger than this will no longer be allowed.
“Thank you for your cooperation.”
Hanging above the sign was an example purse that appears slightly smaller than an A4 piece of paper.
Heape said most people understand the change.
“They understand about what’s happening, but you get those that just they don’t want to understand, so they’re they’re aggravated,” said Heape.
“We’re sorry for that. But at some point, we must take our own steps to protect ourselves.”
The policy shift highlights a broader issue: the store has endured theft, vandalism, and even broken windows after an April 29 storm left it powerless for four days.
The fallout has seen it become an increased target with batteries being stolen regularly from delivery vehicles.
Anti-theft measures rolled out by retailers
Retailers across the US and Canada have rolled out strategies designed to combat theft. The U.S. Sun has compiled a list of measures that have been implemented at stores.
- Locking items in cabinets
- Security pegs
- Security cameras
- Signs warning about the impact of theft
- Receipt scanners
- Receipt checks
- Carts with locking technology
“We’ve got our batteries stolen, probably all our trucks would get hit once or twice a year, and every time it’s at least $500,” said Wayne Heape.
Most recently, someone cut through the fencing around the building’s AC units and broke in to steal copper.
“I just hope that this story brings light to all the other stores that have the exact same problem we do because it’s all over this city,” said Nancy Heape.
Customers love visiting the “most random” store known for it’s unusual deals and never-the-same shelves.
Huge deals are routine at Greene County Damaged Freight and Foods, which stocks products rejected by traditional stores for reasons ranging from past sell-by dates to shipping damage.
You won’t find the same items on the shelf week after week – store brands from obscure chains sit next to upscale labels, with handwritten price tags and stacks of boxes in lieu of shelving.
After 28 years in its current location, Greene County Damaged Freight and Foods is constructing a new 30,000-square-foot building down the street.
With most customers supportive of the new anti-theft measure, the supermarket is sure to remain popular.
But it is not the only retailer forced to roll out new measures to prevent theft.
A Grocery Outlet location in Hemet, California, about two hours east of Los Angeles has also banned reusable bags and personal purses of a certain size.
Meanwhile, Walmart abandoned one of it’s theft prevention measures which left onlookers asking if “anyone else’s store [has] given up”.
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