The other day I posted a photo that showed Tide being locked up in a store somewhere (turned out to be a Walgreens) and I made a comment about what a bad area that must be.  Well I have since learned that this is in fact a thing in a lot of areas. Below is an article about the Tide thefts in Massachusetts and  a video about the same in New Mexico.

In my time in retail the thieves usually went for high-ticket smaller items such as Prilosec, Olay skin care, razor blades, and Crest Whitestrips because they could easily be concealed or pocketed.   A lot of stores now lock those items up or put them in security boxes, so I guess the thieves have to look elsewhere to support their drug habit. (Plus, I guess not everyone needs Prilosec but almost everyone does need clean clothes…)

So now that stores are locking up the Tide, what’s next?  Will they start stealing Charmin?  Mr. Whipple would not be pleased.

DARTMOUTH (CBS) – There has been a rash of thefts of Tide across the country. In Massachusetts, grocery stores in Dartmouth, Fall River, Fairhaven, Brookline and New Bedford have all been hit by thieves filling up their carts and making off with as much as they can.

Detective Robert Levinson says, “They’re in and out in two minutes and they know exactly what they want to take.”

Surveillance video caught a man suspected of the thefts walking into Stop and Shop in Dartmouth. A taxi cab waited for him in the fire lane as he went in with a shopping cart and made off with several containers of detergent.

A young man and woman allegedly did the same thing. Police are still searching for all three suspects.

“It’s just a well known brand,” says Levinson. “They’re selling the Tide detergent for a fraction of the cost, just to get enough money to buy some more drugs.”

A container of Tide can cost up to $20 in the store. The thieves are stealing as much as they can and selling it for five dollars on the street.

Dartmouth Police have arrested a number of people stealing Tide, but the punishment is very light.

“It’s a serious crime and it’s a serious hit that these grocery stores are taking,” says Levinson.

Police say more security measures may have to be put in place.