Target to Close Stores in Response to Rising Theft and Retail Crime
In light of a troubling surge in theft and organized retail crime, Target has decided to shutter nine stores across four states. This move comes despite comprehensive measures to bolster security, such as augmenting the presence of security personnel, deploying advanced theft-deterrent technology, and even enlisting external security services.
Impacted Regions and Personnel Considerations
The closures will impact the following locations, necessitating communication with the remaining sites and employees:
- In New York City, there will still be 96 operational stores, with over 20,000 staff, including at 517 E. 117th St. in Harlem.
- In Seattle, the University Way store at 4535 University Way NE, and the Ballard location at 1448 NW Market St., Ste. 100, will be closed, affecting nearly 4,000 employees across the remaining 22 stores.
- The Bay Area will see the closure of the store at 1690 Folsom St., San Francisco, and at 2000 Broadway in Oakland, while 4301 Century Blvd., Pittsburg, will retain 32 stores, employing more than 6,400 workers.
- Portland will experience closures at 939 SW Morrison St. in the Galleria, 3031 SE Powell Blvd., and 4030 NE Halsey St. in Hollywood, leaving 15 stores with over 2,500 employees.
Despite these closures, more than 150 Target locations will remain operational in these regions, ensuring ample shopping options. Target continues to collaborate with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations division and is implementing measures like securing containers with valuable merchandise to enhance security.
In an official statement, Target underscored the necessity of a unified approach to addressing these issues and reaffirmed their ongoing commitment to store security. They emphasized the importance of collaboration between retailers, law enforcement, and community organizations to combat the pervasive issue of shoplifting and organized retail crime.
