The President of Giant Food, Ira Kress, has revealed that theft and violence have increased significantly in the past few years.
According to the Washington Post, Kress stated that "to say [theft has] risen tenfold in the last five years would not be an understatement," and that violence has "increased exponentially.".
Giant Food has over 160 locations across Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Delaware.
Despite the rise in theft and violence, Giant Food has not closed any stores, as reported by the Post. Kress stated that he does not want to close stores but must ensure that they are safe and profitable. He also noted that the nature of theft has changed over the years, stating that "we used to chase shoplifters, and you'd get the product back, and nobody would ever fight you. I didn't worry about somebody pulling a knife or gun on me [40] years ago."
Kress criticized politicians who blame businesses for leaving communities, stating that it is "laughable for any of our politicians to be ignorant to what's going on in their communities, in their jurisdictions, with their constituents." He also offered to meet and talk with politicians interested in discussing the issue.
The Post reported an incident last year where a security guard and a woman shot at each other at a Giant store in Prince George's County, Maryland. The woman was reportedly attempting to steal goods by hiding them in her backpack, and when the security guard approached her, she opened fire. The security guard returned fire, and both individuals ultimately died.
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