“It’s rough out here.” That’s all a woman had to say to go viral across various social media platforms. The Chicago woman went into a Walgreens only to find Lunchables, sour cream, cheese and other food items sitting behind a locked double refrigerator.
Historically, stores across America reserved locking display cases for high-value items such as razor blades, designer cosmetics or small electronics. But over the years, theft data has revealed to retailers that people are targeting a far wider variety of goods.
In the video that went viral, the woman adds, “Y’all, I’m at Walgreens in Chicago. Look at this.” And there you see items such as ice cream and large candy bars behind a chain and a huge lock.
The locked-up items are causing Walgreens’ sales to dip
One user on X commented, “The way to stop this is only to be able to order outside the store and pay for the product and behind closed doors. Have the employee shop for the customer and then give them the food this way you can stop a theft wouldn’t that be good? This way they get the food they want and the theft is controlled.”
The way to stop this is only be able to order outside the store and pay for the product and behind closed doors. Have the employee shop for the customer and then give them the food this way you can stop a theft wouldn’t that be good? This way they get the food they want and the…
— Ron Melancon (@RonMelancon) July 30, 2026
There has been some friction reported from the growing trend of locking up inventory behind glass, chains and locks. According to a report by CBS, industry data revealed that one in three customers will actually take the time to find a retail clerk to unlock low-cost items. Most just prefer ordering online, which means lost revenue for retailers.
Walgreens CEO Tim Wentworth explicitly admitted to investors, “When you lock things up… you don’t sell as many of them.” The company is reportedly discussing how this aggressive strategy has been counterproductive to its stores’ performance.
According to KPAX News, in January 2025, when the company first introduced the strategy, they admitted that frustrated shoppers were abandoning their purchases at Walgreens, contributing to an operating loss of $245 million in a single quarter. That was shockingly high compared with just $39 million from the same quarter the previous year.
Store formats could end up changing
USA Today revealed that Walgreens is experimenting with new store formats that ensure both safety and fewer customers walking out without making purchases. Chicago is central to these experiments yet again.
In 2023, the retail chain launched a radical digital-first retail space where the digital storefront consists of just two aisles of basic essentials. The other items are completely hidden in back rooms, and customers are expected to browse through digital touchscreen kiosks before waiting for staff to fulfill their orders.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker also raised penalties for retail theft, according to the Chicago Tribune. He said, “This is how we protect store workers and customers, prevent militarized storefronts and empty commercial corridors, and across the board, make communities safer for all who call them home.”
Obviously, this is a major issue in the city. But clearly, all hands are on deck to ensure that law-abiding citizens don’t end up paying the price for the stringent measures criminals have caused.
