UNDATED (WKRC) - Walgreens CEO Timothy Wentworth said anti-theft measures at stores contributed to the company's $245 million operating loss.

The top executive at Walgreens lamented the loss of sales from putting items like toothpaste behind lock and key to crack down on rampant shoplifting that has plagued pharmacy chains around the country.

Retailers have been faced with increases in shoplifting and retail theft. But anti-theft prevention can hurt retail sales, says the CEO of Walgreens.

Walgreens is struggling to deter shoplifting at its stores, according to CEO Tim Wentworth, who described it as "a hand-to-hand combat battle still, unfortunately."

"When you lock things up ... you don't sell as many of them," CEO Timothy Wentworth said during a recent earnings call

Tough times for retailers, who have battled out-of-control shoplifting and now say they’re losing money because of anti-theft measures. FOX 5’s Josh Rosenthal is in Northwest to explain why.

In a Q1 2025 earnings call, Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO Tim Wentworth admitted that its approach to tackling shoplifting at its stores has backfired. That’s a likely result as an increase in asset protection usually leads to a dip in sales,