ROYAL, Mich. (CBS Detroit) — Retailers across the country, including a small shop in Royal Oak, are taking steps to combat shoplifting.
Julia Manzella, a buyer at Rail and Anchor, a general goods store in Royal Oak, said that a few years ago, the small store noticed declining profits and product shortages and decided to take action.
“We had to put money back into the store to stop theft,” Manzella said, “so we spent thousands of dollars on security systems.”
In an effort to catch shoplifters, stores have begun posting photos and videos of shoplifters on social media.
“Right now we're actually finding people, and they're not coming back,” Manzella said. “We're actually taking a stance on this.”
Bloomberg reports that retail giant Target has also taken a stance, citing people inside the store who say the chain has instructed employees to lower the minimum amount they will charge shoplifters from $100 to $50.
“A big company like Target taking a stand could solve the problem,” Manzella said, “but it's going to take a lot of local agencies to prosecute repeat offenders.”
“I have a lot of friends who have had to close their stores because of this,” Manzella told CBS News Detroit, “but we're not a little marijuana store and they can't mistreat us. We have to stay open and stay in business.”
As of publication, Target had not responded to CBS News Detroit's request for comment.
