Target, one of the largest retail chains in the United States, has recently announced the closure of nine of its stores across four states. This decision comes as the company struggles to combat the rising issue of theft and organized retail crime. Despite implementing various security measures, such as increasing the number of security team members, using third-party guard services, and implementing theft-deterrent tools, the challenges with crime have persisted.
The affected markets include New York City, Seattle, San Francisco/Oakland, and Portland. In New York City, the Harlem location at 517 E 117th St. will be closing. However, the city will still have 96 remaining Target stores, employing over 20,000 team members.
In Seattle, both the University Way and Ballard locations will be closing. However, the city will still have 22 remaining Target stores, with nearly 4,000 team members.
In San Francisco/Oakland, the SF Folsom, Oakland Broadway, and Pittsburg locations will be closing. The remaining stores in this area will number 32, employing over 6,400 team members.
Lastly, in Portland, the Galleria, Powell, and Hollywood locations will be closing. However, there will still be 15 remaining Target stores in the area, employing more than 2,500 team members.
Overall, over 150 Target stores will remain operational in these regions. To address the increasing security concerns, Target will be taking additional measures, such as locking cases for certain merchandise. The company is also partnering with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations division to combat organized retail crime.
“While we will continue to make meaningful investments throughout our business, we cannot solve this issue on our own,” Target stated. The company acknowledges the need for collaboration with law enforcement and other stakeholders to effectively address this problem.
Target’s focus on security and commitment to protecting its customers and employees remains a top priority. Despite the challenges posed by theft, the company strives to provide a safe and enjoyable shopping experience for all.
