Walmart stores are installing plexiglass doors to deter theft of merchandise.
By Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (46765)
July 28, 2025 2:37pm CST
Most Dollar General stores around here have had those doors for about a year. They first installed them in the over-the-counter medication area. When you lift the plexiglass flap, a very loud and annoying noise that is supposed to be music, blares out and stays on until the person shuts the flap. Very loud, and very annoying. I do understand that people steal things, especially small, pricier items. I did notice Walmart didn't do this--until recently.
Sometimes, if our pharmacy is out of son's meds or if they just plain can't get something he needs, they transfer the med order to Walmart. So over the course of the last year, I have become very familiar with Walmart's pharmacies. We have one Walmart not far from us at all. Within a radius of about 15 miles, there are 4 Walmart stores, so I have of course been sent to each one of those in the past year to get him a prescribed medication if it's not available close by.
The Walmart closest to us is now madly installing the plexiglass fronts over their small items in the pharmacy that are pricey. Oh, the sing-song racket and the cussing and swearing of the customers, etc...I realize that money or no money, people need some items and maybe they just don't have the money to buy them. I hate even lifting the flap, as it sings so loudly and weirdly, I think that people will think that I might be trying to steal from them.
From this article on MSN, it appears that it will soon be a thing and it will happen in many locations.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/retail-theft-surge-forces-walmart-to-lock-merchandise-making-shopping-slower-and-more-expensive/vi-AA1Jn9O6?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=6887124847714f6f8608faf862377e2b&ei=73
16 people like this
16 responses
@celticeagle (177780)
• Boise, Idaho
28 Jul
Thieves have become so aggressive over the years. We have had to go to Walmart once and to another place down the way too. These places have to protect their inventory.
3 people like this
@celticeagle (177780)
• Boise, Idaho
30 Jul
@MarieCoyle ........I never used them. I don't think my daughter does either. They need better customer service, not less.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (46765)
•
30 Jul
@celticeagle
I don't work there, I will always get in the line with the live person who checks out my groceries. I agree, they need better customer service--unfortunately, a lot of retail businesses do.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (46765)
•
29 Jul
The thefts are the biggest reason that they are trying to eliminate the self checkouts. I hate self checkouts anywhere, so that will be fine with me.
2 people like this
@Vikingswest1 (7247)
• United States
28 Jul
There may come a time in the near future when customers enter the facility, and present a list of items they want to purchase to a customer service agent. Maybe human, maybe a bot. The agent, using a body cam, will then do the shopping. The customer can view their shopper and add input during the selection process.
This would eliminate all theft and if bots are used, it would eliminate most employees too.
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (46765)
•
28 Jul
If that happens we will have to learn to adapt, or simply order what we can via online sources. I personally like to go myself and check prices, etc and make my choices--especially when there are empty spots on the shelves and not all options are available at any one time anymore.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (7247)
• United States
28 Jul
@MarieCoyle
It's a shame that shoplifters aren't prosecuted and held accountable.
There would be no need for plexiglass and locking cases or shopper bots if shoplifters faced real consequences.
The stores are just trying to solve problems that law enforcement and prosecutors have deemed acceptable.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (46765)
•
28 Jul
@Vikingswest1
Well, you have to catch them shoplifting first. They aren't catching them because they don't hire enough help to watch people and/or to observe, or to help the situation. It's like a comedy of errors, and the way they have been trying to prevent theft is just not working.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (193852)
• United States
28 Jul
Shame it has to happen, but some people can't be trusted
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (193852)
• United States
30 Jul
@MarieCoyle Honestly, I bet most don't have the money to pay. People are hurting in this economy.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (46765)
•
30 Jul
@snowy22315
Yes, many are truly hurting. I sure don't know the answer to this.
@MarieCoyle (46765)
•
30 Jul
I feel like there are a lot of people who think ''why pay for it if I can steal it?'' which is very sad.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (480586)
• Italy
29 Jul
@MarieCoyle - I know and this is what I am trying to explain to the banks and all public offices here. Too many seniors do not know how to use Internet or a smartphone. I use Amazon a lot now, easier to find what I need, free shipping and in a couple of days i get what I need.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (46765)
•
29 Jul
Anna, the worst part about this is that there are many seniors, etc. who do not use the internet, do not understand how it works, and they won't ever do that. But I agree, shopping is drastically changing here due to people using online ordering, safety, the cost of gas, etc.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (46765)
•
30 Jul
@LadyDuck
The worst is the companies demanding you download an app to get the ''real'' bargains. (I've written about this before, sorry if I am being repetitive) and some seniors not only don't have a smart phone or internet, they have no idea what an app even is. It's not fair to them, that they don't get the lower prices just because they don't have an app on a smart phone.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (112613)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
29 Jul
I have noticed that installing plexiglass doors where perfume is being sold due to robberies inside Wal Mart and other stores.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (46765)
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29 Jul
Yes, our Walgreen's stores and Walmarts, etc. all have had the more expensive fragrances behind the doors for some time now.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (17427)
• Raurkela, India
29 Jul
I think they have taken good step but for the noise which you have to bear.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (17427)
• Raurkela, India
30 Jul
@MarieCoyle Theft is increasing also in India.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (46765)
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30 Jul
@aninditasen
I think it's a worldwide thing. Often, our news will show someone simply walking out of a store, usually Walmart, and the person is carrying a large item, and never pays for it. Or they simply push their full cart out the door and leave, and never even go through the check out. Those people often get caught by cameras, but how brazen do you have to be to do such a thing, anyway?
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (46765)
•
29 Jul
It's sad that there is so much theft, they have to do this.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (165146)
• United States
29 Jul
I have not seen anything like that. Just locked cabinets so you have to get someone to help you. I had just as soon order online, I think.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (46765)
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30 Jul
It's just going to be hard to get used to. I have never considered stealing items...I guess I just don't think like a thief. But in the end, someone has to pay for the stolen items. Gee, I wonder who that is?
@MarieCoyle (46765)
•
30 Jul
There are some good people out there, of course. But I agree that there are people who just feel entitled, and find nothing wrong in stealing--until they get caught doing it. Unfortunately, not a lot of them get caught.
1 person likes this
@Jenaisle (16018)
• Philippines
30 Jul
It's a rampant problem worldwide. Thieves are even tech-savvy nowadays. Some small stores got robbed of their GCash money because a supposed customer used their phones in the guise of inputting her number. Within seconds after she was gone, the store owners checked their phones and all their hard-earned money was gone.
Car thieves also use the 'drop-cash' modus operandi to catch the attention of the car owner while another accomplice is stealing the valuables inside the car.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (46765)
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30 Jul
The way things are, we truly need to be vigilant. And you are correct, it's a worldwide problem.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (54172)
• Canada
28 Jul
There are some items that are behind lock and key in our stores, I am sure that walmart is no different.
But you just have to get a staff member to come along and help you with the item.
It is a sad state of affairs when the shoppers cannot be trusted so much.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (46765)
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30 Jul
In many of our stores, they are very short staffed. They either don't hire enough people, or can't find people to work, so getting someone to actually help you obtain what you want is a problem.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (87595)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
28 Jul
That is good for security but meantime some lunatic entered a Walmart and stabbed people, I have a post on it,
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (46765)
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29 Jul
I saw that on the news yesterday. Just sickening...and for no reason at all.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (20819)
• United States
29 Jul
I had noticed the plexiglass last year. But I didn't know about the music.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (46765)
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29 Jul
Maybe they don't all have music? I don't really know, but I do know that here when I have lifted a plexiglass flap to get something, the idiotic music blares!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (46765)
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30 Jul
I bought two cans of spray paint at a store, and I had to sign for them. They were behind a plexiglass door. This is to help track any vandalism, I was told. This spring I wanted a can of lighter fluid. I had to ask for it as they don't even put it out on the shelf. People do mean things with this stuff...and I think that people sniff the lighter fluid. I discovered years ago that one of my grandmothers used lighter fluid if there was a spot on a carpet or carpet in a car that was made from getting road tar on your shoes when the roads are freshly oiled, or when they are sort of melty due to extreme heat. It works great, you only need a tiny bit, and you then wash it with soap and water to eliminate the smell. I never tried sniffing it, but evidently someone did.
@LindaOHio (196549)
• United States
29 Jul
Some Walmarts have closed due to theft; so I can totally understand why they are doing this.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (46765)
•
30 Jul
I can as well. It's just sad that it's come to this.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (46765)
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29 Jul
Sounds to me like it may be coming to many stores in the near future, but hey...who knows? It's Walmart.
1 person likes this
