Most Shoplifted Items? Infant formula now under Lock and Key

A Rash of Infant Formula Thefts Have Grocers Locking Up Infant Formula

You go into a grocery store and you see two things locked up in glass cabinets, cigarettes, and infant formula. The cigarettes are required by law to be secured under lock and key, but why are more and more grocers in America locking up infant formula.

The CVS chain of stores in Connecticut recently put formula under lock and key at its 131 stores. This is happening not just at CVS stores, but at grocery stores, and mom and pop stores all over the country. A can of infant formula ranges in price from $13.99 to $75 a can, a thief
Most Shoplifted Items? Infant formula now under Lock and Key
 stealing infant formula can rack up some serious damage to a single store with the theft of infant formula.

The Food Marketing Institute, maintains a list of the 50 most shoplifted items. While the number one most shoplifted item is a 50 count packet of Advil, Similac makes the list three times. A case of Similac with Iron formula ranks #7on the top 50 most shoplifted items while a single can of Similac with iron ranks number #8. Similac concentrate with iron ranks number 21 on the list.

One question that would surely arise would be why are all of these people stealing infant formula. Is this infant formula being used for infants? The answer is yes and no. There is a black market out there for infant formula. The item can be stolen and sold to a mom in need for half the retail price. This does happen but it is not the most common use.

Infant formula is often used in the drug world. Drug dealers use powdered baby formula to cut the strength of cocaine and heroin. According to a recent article in Chicago's Journal Standard, "the popular powdered baby formula is primarily used in the drug world to dilute heroin and methamphetamine or to stretch the product when supplies run low." Special Agent Joanna Zoltay states that, "The consistency and the way it looks is what makes it a good cutting agent," Zoltay said. Infant formula is non-toxic and relatively safe to cut with any number of drugs.

The DEA also had a case several years ago where street gangs in Chicago were using baby formula containers to conceal illegal drugs, she added.

 
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Seriously - locking up 'high theft' items is good business sense. If people are stealing cold medicine to dose themselves, does that mean that locking it up is causing people to be sick? No, it is preventing THEFT. CVS protecting their goods is not "causing little ones to go hungry". People having kids they can't afford to feed is what is doing that. That is THEIR doing and responsibility and none of CVS's.

Posted on 04/08/2009 at 7:04:12 PM

"If people are stealing it to feed their babies, then locking it up is causing some little ones to go hungry. So should we give CVC kudos for their brave safety measures? I don't think so." So now CVS is responsible for feeeding people's kids? To the point that it should required to make it EASIER to steal merchandise?!!?!? Are you kidding? CVS is a BUISINE, a corporation in the line of making money. It is not a soup kitchen. Add a Comment

Posted on 04/05/2009 at 10:04:36 PM

"If people are stealing it to feed their babies, then locking it up is causing some little ones to go hungry. So should we give CVC kudos for their brave safety measures? I don't think so." So now CVS is responsible for feeeding people's kids? To the point that it should required to make it EASIER to steal merchandise?!!?!? Are you kidding. CVS is a BUISINE, a corporation in the line of making money. It is not a soup kitchen.

Posted on 04/05/2009 at 10:04:25 PM

WoW!

Posted on 11/30/2007 at 12:11:00 PM

Breast milk is free.

Posted on 09/11/2007 at 1:09:00 PM

For those who believe a drug user would actually buy the formula must need their head examined. In order for most to get the drugs, they steal to sell and make their purchase of their drug of choice. No drug dealer is going to come in and purchase cans of formula to cut their drug - when they can have a user steal it for them in exchange. As for the comment of it being better if it were for someone who was feeding it to their kids - it is still theft. If you want to continue to pay higher prices for the rest of your goods, then I guess breaking the law and stealing it is o.k. The government does give out WIC vouchers so this does not need to happen. So the thought of this much in theft is attributed to "need" is WAY off base.

Posted on 08/20/2007 at 3:08:00 PM

I wouldn't have guessed.

Posted on 08/15/2007 at 12:08:00 PM

I can't believe it, that is ridiculous. I don't want to get on the box about this but those who use it to cut drugs will buy it if they need it, so locking it up for that reason is dumb. If people are stealing it to feed their babies, then locking it up is causing some little ones to go hungry. So should we give CVC kudos for their brave safety measures? I don't think so.

Posted on 08/14/2007 at 8:08:00 AM

Wow! Great article!

Posted on 08/12/2007 at 9:08:00 AM

:-) great read :-)

Posted on 08/11/2007 at 7:08:00 AM

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