Spam in a box: NYC store locks up food to prevent theft

The heightened security measures were noticed by Twitter user @willystaley at the Big Apple's bus depot pharmacy. "The thoroughly revamped loss-prevention regime at the Port Authority Duane Reade has finally created something of beauty, a sort of Jeff Koons homage," he tweeted.

At the same location, $3.49 tins of ham and $1.89 cans of Starkist tuna were also secured within containers to prevent theft. The Daily Mail reports that these measures are not a city-wide Duane Reade policy, but were implemented specifically at the heavily trafficked Port Authority, which is located at the heart of Times Square on West 44th Street.

The nearby Times Square Duane Read said that they have to lock up Ice Cream while Port Authority Duane Read staff said they average four shoplifters per night.

According to the New York Post, one cashier exclaimed, "I’ve never seen that before!" as she unsealed the magnetically locked foodstuff from its protective container.

Another employee, 21-year-old Iggy, said it was all "security theater" and that the cases don't really stop committed criminals. Iggy said, "If you really needed it, you would stomp on it," and then recounted a recent story of a recently stolen $38 electric razor.

Fox News reports that 46-year-old shopper Dennis Snow said, "To put Spam in a cage is stupid - and kind of insulting to the customers that would buy it."

Snow, along with other shoppers, questioned why the $3.99 Spam was locked up while other, more expensive but similarly sized groceries, were not, such as a $5.49 can of Amy’s soup.

Spam, whose motto is "Don't knock it till you've fried it," has become a precious commodity as New York City is gripped with meteoric crime while the nation faces historic inflation and a recession. Mayor Eric Adams campaigned on being tough on crime, but robberies are up nearly 40 percent, violent crime has been surging, and overall crime is up 41 percent.