A CVS customer has shared footage of the retailer’s empty shelves, bringing attention to the picked-through interior of the store.
A short walk across the street revealed exactly where the stolen products ended up.
In a post to TikTok, a user (@sneaker__steve) reposted in-store footage of a barren CVS in Columbia Heights, a Washington DC neighborhood located two miles northwest of downtown.
“The shelves of CVS in Columbia Heights (in DC) have been empty for over a year,” the video – originally posted to Instagram– was captioned.
“They come in here and they steal everything. It’s fu**ing soda. I just want a drink,” said the man filming as he walked through the store.
He panned to the aisles, revealing overwhelmingly empty shelves.
“They put some stuff in here but they can’t keep shampoo on the shelves,” he said, referring to items kept behind locked glass.
“It’s just totally and completely picked over everywhere. I just wanted a Coke. Crazy. They can’t even keep the candy at the front,” added the man as he made his way to the store’s exit.
The filmer crossed the street and noted the new metro station and shopping areas, nearby which lay the reason behind the empty CVS shelves.
“These street vendors have been paying kids to go to the CVS and steal stuff that they then resell on the street at a discounted price,” he revealed, clarifying that not all the street vendors sell stolen goods.
He walked along the sidewalk filled with street vendors, pointing out the Tide detergent, shampoo, and deodorant being sold at certain stands.
“All the things you would get at a CVS, you can now buy on the street for half the price,” the man said in a scornful tone.
CVS staff said back in October that dozens of children would regularly steal snacks and drinks before and after school and late at night, per local Fox affiliate WTTG.
They also noted that thieves knew when shipments were scheduled and targeted the CVS at those times.
Some staff alleged that the vendors were paying people to steal so they could resell the items.
The CVS location closed on February 29 due to the high theft rates.
The video’s caption also mentioned how a Five Below on the same block was set to shut down. The store closed on January 14.
Additionally, the caption noted how a Target store in the DC neighborhood banned unaccompanied teens.
The location had an armed guard at the entrance as well as a sign stating that minors need to be accompanied by an adult, per local Fox affiliate WTTG.