Giant Food president suggests he might shutter stores due to shoplifting surge

Kress said that the chain of over 150 supermarkets in the eastern United States would be taking aggressive steps to combat crime and made it clear that closing stores is the "last thing" he wants to do.

"To say [theft has] risen tenfold in the last five years would not be an understatement," Kress said in an interview with the Washington Post, noting that violent incidents have also "increased exponentially" in the same time period.

He explained that while many of the actions the company has taken to deter shoplifters have added hassle to customers' experience, "the alternative is worse."

"The last thing I want to do is close stores," Kress added, "but I've got to be able to run them safely and profitably."

According to Kress, shoplifting has "continued to escalate" to a point where he can no longer predict exactly what thieves might be after. He noted that perpetrators appear to be going after anything they can get their hands on, from food to cosmetics, and household goods.

He reminisced about the days when an employee could simply chase a shoplifter and get the product back without worrying about them "pulling a knife or gun."

As The Washington Post reports, measures taken to deter theft have included closing certain entrances to restrict the flow of traffic in and out of the store, moving higher-priced items behind protective barriers, and stocking cheaper items on the shelves.

Giant Food is not the only American supermarket chain seeing an increase in theft and violent incidents, and many have taken measures to ensure products and customers are safe.

Whole Foods, for example, went so far as to close stores in San Francisco after safety concerns became too overwhelming.