WALGREENS has rolled out an extreme anti-theft measure as some of its stores continue to be pummeled with high levels of theft.

A Walgreens in San Francisco, which reportedly gets hit by thieves 15 to 20 times a day, recently started using chains to keep everyday items in its freezers locked away.

The chains were put up on the freezer doors nearly two weeks ago. And now, shoppers must tap a button to request an employee when they want to get something from the freezers.

Reporter Luz Peña with ABC7 affiliate KGO recently visited the Walgreens in San Francisco’s Richmond District to see the new changes put into effect to prevent theft.

Within just one hour of being in the Walgreens on Geary Boulevard at 17th Avenue, Peña recounted seeing multiple shoplifters.

“One of them even took the time to explain why he simply didn’t pay: ‘It’s San Francisco, Bro,'” she wrote.

Peña was even told by an unidentified Walgreens worker that this specific store gets “hit 15 to 20 times a day” by shoplifters.

And although the store itself doesn’t interfere with shoplifters, a resident from the area admitted he’s not scared to.

San Francisco resident Justin Van Zandt told Peña: “Sometimes I have stopped people myself.

“It just frustrates me so much to see the neighborhood fall apart and to have to ask somebody to unlock things.”

Most read in The US Sun

Peña also noticed that many aisles in the store were equipped with plastic screens on their locked-up shelves.

In regard to the crime that’s been taking place inside the store, San Francisco Police Department Sgt. O’meara, who detained eight people in just one day earlier this week, insisted the theft problem is “getting worse.”

He explained: “More and more people are coming into the west side of the city on the 38 bus line, and they are getting off and they are stealing out of this store.”

When asked why the shoplifters weren’t arrested, the sergeant said: “The store didn’t wish to put citizen arrest on them.

“They just wanted their product back.”

The footage taken inside Walgreens left viewers stunned earlier this week, and even Elon Musk was shocked to see what workers endure.

“The Walgreens at 16th/Geary in San Francisco has chained up the freezer section,” wrote KPIX reporter Betty Yu on Twitter.

“Workers said normally shoplifters clean out all the pizza and ice cream every night. They’re usually hit 20x a day.

“The whole store is virtually locked up.”

A Walgreens spokesperson said of repeated shoplifting incidents: “Retail crime is one of the top challenges facing our industry today.

“We are focused on the safety of our patients, customers, and team members.

“We continue to take preventative measures to safely deter theft and aim to deliver the best patient and customer experience.”

The company added that it is working closely with police and local leaders to respond to retail crime.

Meanwhile, the pharmacy giant has been closing stores since 2019 and is looking to shutter an additional 150 locations across the nation.

Walgreen Boots Alliance, which owns the retail pharmacy brand, announced positive results for the business, including Walgreens and Duane Reade stores in the US.

According to the company, sales have been on the rise despite a “challenging operating environment.”

However, James Kehoe, global chief financial officer at Boots parent company Walgreens Boots Alliance, recently told analysts the following: “We will continue to optimize our locations and opening hours, and expect to close an additional 300 locations in the UK and 150 locations in the US.”

Walgreens has yet to confirm which locations will close.

“Retail crime is one of the top challenges facing our industry today. We are focused on the safety of our patients, customers, and team members,” a Walgreens spokesperson previously told The U.S. Sun.

The company added: “We continue to take preventative measures to safely deter theft and aim to deliver the best patient and customer experience.

“And we are working closely with law enforcement, elected officials, and community leaders to draw greater attention to and improve our response to retail crime.”