COVID-19 Restrictions Help Solve Shoplifting at Small Businesses in Eureka

EUREKA, Calif. (KIEM) – Small business owners in Eureka have experienced a decrease in the number of shoplifters since the COVID-19 pandemic by having a controlled amount of customers inside their stores.

Retail stores can no longer exceed the 25% capacity limit, which means less customers.

Owner of Dick Taylor Craft Chocolates, Adam Dick, explains “for our safety and the safety of customers…we’ve been heavily limiting the number of people and I think that allows us to keep a little bit closer eye on things.”

This is in contrast to other small businesses nation-wide that have experienced an increase in shoplifting according to business.org.

Owner of Many Hands Gallery, Astra Burke, says, “Taking something from a small business is taking something directly from an individual in our community. I think a lot of shoplifters look at shoplifting as they’re taking from this large corporate entity or a business that can just absorb that loss… that’s just not the case.”

Burke says when she catches a shoplifter in the act, they are often asked to simply return the item.

-Paid Advertisement-