Walgreens Employee Assaulted After Trying to Stop Theft

(Scypre.com) – Authorities in Missouri are seeking assistance from the community to identify two individuals following the emergence of a video depicting an incident where one of them reportedly assaulted a Walgreens employee outside one of their stores.

The incident occurred last Wednesday in the 3900 Block of South Noland Road, according to the Independence Police Department. In a released statement, the department explained that an employee of the establishment was attacked while attempting to intervene in a shoplifting incident.

Footage aired by Fox4 KC portrays a confrontation between the employee and a female suspect in front of the store. During the altercation, the employee is seen being knocked to the ground. Another individual, a teenager, can be heard yelling in the background.

The video reveals the female attacker relentlessly punching the employee while she remains on the ground. The victim, described as a woman in her 60s, endured the assault. Despite sustaining injuries, the employee has since recuperated and intends to press charges, as reported by Fox4 KC, citing a police document.

The altercation was triggered by the employee’s request for an adult accompanying the teens to pay for a pair of sunglasses, which was refused by the adult, according to Fox4 KC.

The Independence Police Department has released images of the suspects involved. One suspect, observed in the video assaulting the employee, is depicted wearing a white shirt and carrying a red purse. The other individual, seen in a yellow shirt and blue jeans, is also being sought by authorities.

Notably, in a different context, Walgreens made headlines earlier for redesigning a store in Chicago to counter retail theft. This particular store limited customer access to two aisles beyond anti-theft detectors, with the majority of merchandise situated behind staffed counters.

The South Loop location implemented digital kiosks to facilitate shopping, according to information from Block Club Chicago. This innovative approach aimed to enhance the shopping experience for customers while addressing security concerns.

In a statement to Fox Business, a spokesperson from Walgreens clarified that these changes were part of a broader effort to introduce novel concepts and technologies, aiming to improve both customer experiences and employee interactions.

The decision to revise store layouts and security measures came after Walgreens Boots Alliance reevaluated concerns about retail theft, leading to a reduction in the utilization of private security guards.

The company’s Chief Financial Officer, James Kehoe, acknowledged that previous concerns might have been overstated, citing a decrease in shrinkage from 3.5% to the mid-twos as evidence of the shift.