NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Gristedes and D'Agostino, two grocery chains owned by the same company, are upping security in a bid to stop petty theft.
John Catsimatidis, the CEO of the chains, said there’s been a marked increase in shoplifting in the stores Thursday.
The NYPD recently reported the highest level of shoplifting in the city since 1995.
"We are hiring more and more security," Catsimatidis told ABC7. "We are hiring a lot of retired cops.”
The chain also plans to leave less product on the shelves and replenish more often in order to prevent large losses of goods.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture found the price of food increased 6.5% over the course of 2021. A report by the IRI Consumer Panel, a data analytics firm, predicted food prices would rise an additional 5% in the first half of 2022.
According to City Harvest, an NYC food delivery non-profit, food insecurity has increased in the city by 36% since the start of the pandemic.
Catsimatidis says the most commonly stolen items are Tide, soap, meat and small containers of ice cream — food and hygiene products.
Gristedes, which has 19 stores, and D’Agostino, which has 11, will be placing security guards at the entrances of all stores. Employees have also been instructed to keep an eye out for shoplifting.
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