Long Beach Implements New Self-Checkout Regulations Amid Shoplifting Concerns

The city of Long Beach in California has introduced new measures to tackle shoplifting, specifically targeting self-checkout systems.

In September, the city enacted the “Safe Stores Are Staffed Stores” ordinance, which mandates that large grocery stores and pharmacies employ at least one staff member for every three self-checkout stations, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

As a result, some stores have completely shut down their self-checkout lines due to staffing shortages. A notice posted in a downtown Long Beach supermarket attributed this closure to the “new City of Long Beach ordinance.”

Long Beach, located just south of Los Angeles, has been affected by a nationwide uptick in shoplifting that has escalated since the onset of the pandemic. According to the National Retail Federation, there has been a staggering 93% increase in such crimes from 2019 to 2023.

The Long Beach ordinance acknowledges that shoplifting is widespread and often underreported, labeling it as a factor that fosters a “hostile and dangerous” retail environment.

Under the new regulations, customers are also restricted to a maximum of 15 items per self-checkout kiosk.

According to the ordinance, its aim is to “promote public safety and prevent retail theft.” Some local union representatives are optimistic about the impact. “Checkers and cashiers are on the front lines of this issue,” said Matt Bell, the executive treasurer of the grocery workers union UFCW 324. He believes it’s essential to enhance safety and improve staffing levels for employees.

Nearby, a Target store has faced challenges keeping up with the new requirements, recently managing five self-checkout kiosks with just one employee, as noted by the LA Times.

Shopping experiences may become slower for some customers. One shopper, Francila Isaac, expressed frustration, stating, “Every store is the same now. They’re closed.”

This ordinance marks the first mandatory self-checkout regulation at the city level in the country.

Many stores have already taken precautions, such as placing merchandise behind protective barriers. Additionally, incidents of assaults on employees attempting to confront shoplifters are on the rise, highlighted by a recent stabbing incident involving a Family Dollar employee in Brooklyn and the shooting of a security guard at a CVS in Texas earlier this year.