Walgreens in San Francisco has already been forced to shutter in San Francisco due to rising crime. Now, grocery chain Safeway is following suit by reducing the hours of one of its 24/7 locations. The store’s new hours will be 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Safeway released a statement saying:
“Safeway has been proudly serving San Francisco since 1926, and we continue to invest in the community with new and remodeled stores. Recent changes at the Market Street store were made to maintain a safe and welcoming shopping experience for our customers and associates given the increasing amount of theft at the store.”
The San Francisco police department reported an 11.1% increase in larceny-theft from January 2021, to October 24, 2021, compared to the same range in prior years.
Safeway spokesperson Wendy Gutshall noted that they often reevaluate and adjust store operations based on various factors. The Castro’s Safeway will not be closing at 9 p.m. due to increased theft.
She added, “We have also made some operational changes to the front end of the store to deter shoplifting.”
San Francisco’s supervisor, Rafael Mandelman, responded to the situation by tweeting that he was working with the police department, the SFDA, and Safeway to address the unsustainable levels of theft. He emphasized that this is an equity issue, impacting residents who rely on the chain for affordable groceries. Many who shop at this location are low-income, seniors, and people with disabilities. According to Mandelman, who spoke to Safeway employees, police rarely make arrests when they reach the stores.
I am committed to working with @SFPD, @SFDAOffice, and @Safeway to address the unsustainable level of theft at the Castro Safeway and preserve access to one of the last sources of affordable groceries in the area. This is a serious equity issue for residents who rely on Safeway. https://t.co/dQDAGY3OwT
— Rafael Mandelman (@RafaelMandelman) November 1, 2021
Customers were surprised by Safeway’s announcement and new hours.
One local shopper told CBS SF:
“I feel like it’s definitely an inconvenience, not everybody can make it to the supermarket between those hours, so it’s a little frustrating, especially for me personally. I like to shop later on.”
In September, the city announced a new initiative to cut down on shoplifting and theft. The San Francisco police department dedicated more police to its Organized Retail Crime Unit.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced, “We care about criminal justice reform. We care about second chances. We care about making sure that people are not wrongly accused. But don’t take our kindness for weakness, our compassion for weakness.”
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