Target closing nine stores in four U.S. cities due to theft and organized crime

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Target is shuttering stores in four crime-riddled U.S. cities due to ongoing, excessive theft and violence.

The discount retailer announced the nine stores will close for good on Oct. 21.

“We cannot continue operating these stores because theft and organized retail crime are threatening the safety of our team and guests, and contributing to unsustainable business performance,” the big-box chain said in a statement.

“We know that our stores serve an important role in their communities, but we can only be successful if the working and shopping environment is safe for all.”

The stores closing are the East Harlem location in New York City, two locations in Seattle, three locations in Portland and three locations in San Francisco Bay Area – all cities where shoplifters get off easy despite the increase in brazen retail thefts.

The retailer said it invested “heavily” in strategies to try to stop the shoplifting – including adding more security and implementing “theft-deterrent tools” – before deciding to close the stores.

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“Despite our efforts, unfortunately, we continue to face fundamental challenges to operating these stores safely and successfully,” the company said.

In May, Target’s chief executive Brian Cornell blamed the declining financial results on crime, saying the company would be closely monitoring the “safety” of employees while evaluating their options, the New York Post reported.

Three months later, Cornell told analysts that “violence and threats of violence” surged 120% during the first five months of 2023.

“Our team continues to face an unacceptable amount of retail theft and organized retail crime,” Cornell said at the time. “Unfortunately, safety incidents associated with theft are moving in the wrong direction.”

Target previously said it was expecting to lose $500 million this year due to rising theft.

While the store closings account for just a fraction of the 1,900 stores Target operates in the U.S., the move underscores the challenges retailers face in reducing theft in stores, protecting their workers and customers and maintaining locations in areas that might have few shopping alternatives.

Employees at the nine stores will have the opportunity to transfer to other locations.