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.

Over the years the pharmacy chain used strategy to combat shoplifting. Walgreens CEO Tim Wentworth said the company’s decision to lock up products after reporting a 52% increase in stolen inventory has backfired, according to multiple reports.

Keeping products under lock and key dissuaded customers from purchasing them, Walgreens said in earnings call.

In an earnings call, executive Tim Wentworth conceded that locking products up might not be the best move for boosting sales.

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,