Dear Seward Co-op owners,
Many of you have likely noticed an increase in theft at community businesses, including Seward Co-op. Some of you may have witnessed these ongoing thefts at the co-op and wondered if we could be doing more in our response. Leadership at Seward Co-op has been in ongoing conversations and deliberations about this challenging topic, and we want to share more about our process with co-op owners and customers.
Prior to the pandemic, businesses all along Franklin Avenue experienced an increase in misconduct (theft, unauthorized solicitation, unsafe behavior, etc.,) and increased indications of opioid use. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated epidemics of opioid use and houselessness that our community was already facing. These issues are separate but are at times interrelated, which can compound impacts.
Product thefts—especially bold, brazen thefts—increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic and have remained an issue for retailers of all kinds. We have also experienced an increased number of thefts over this period at Seward Co-op. It is frustrating and disappointing for staff and co-op owners to witness someone walking out the door with stolen product, especially during times of financial challenge for our community-owned co-op. However, to ensure the safety of our employees and customers, we do not physically intervene to stop theft.
Our Managers on Duty (MODs) use the co-op’s Customer Safety Guidelines to help them respond to and manage a wide range of safety and security circumstances. The guidelines direct MODs to “trespass” those who steal from the co-op. This means the trespassed individual is legally barred from entering co-op property. In years before the pandemic, trespasses were a relatively rare occurrence. Unfortunately, we now need to trespass individuals more often. The vast majority of the misconduct we experience is the result of product theft and/or individuals returning to co-op property after having been trespassed.
Unfortunately, we have extremely limited options in how we are able to respond to and resolve this issue. Over the past few years, we committed significant resources to employ a number of security companies in a variety of roles. None of those efforts resulted in a reduction in misconduct or theft, and we no longer use private security services.
To reduce the financial impacts of the increased number of repeated thefts we are limiting the number of items stocked on the shelves for particular products that have been targeted (paper products at Franklin, for example). We are also coordinating with the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) to track thefts and gather evidence for repeat-offenders. We collect and share video and product value loss estimates with the MPD for each theft carried out by the individuals who are stealing on a regular basis. To date, three of these individuals have been charged with felony theft, and one has been arrested. We will continue this practice in an effort to stop repeat offenders. Seward Co-op Leadership also made the decision to temporarily partner with an off-duty MPD officer at the Franklin store. This was in response to a threat of violence that a staff member experienced in connection with a theft. We believe the presence of the off-duty officer has sent a message that the co-op is no longer a good place to shoplift without consequence, and it was used as a last resort We did not make this decision in haste, and weighed the options, knowing the presence of an armed officer may be triggering for those in community who have valid and complicated feelings about the MPD. We also have to keep the safety of staff and customers at the forefront of our minds.
We understand how nuanced this situation is for everyone—for co-op shoppers and owners who want to support our community-run enterprise or simply get in-and-out for a grocery run while feeling safe; for co-op staff who are working hard every day to keep our business afloat and be a resource for our community; and for the individuals who find themselves in desperate situations and resorting to theft. This is a systemic problem that impacts everyone. There are no quick fixes and as a Leadership Team, we often find ourselves choosing among “least bad” options.
Seward Co-op’s Ends Statement calls us to sustain a healthy community. This mission is at the forefront in every decision we make in response to this evolving issue. We understand that the increase in theft we are experience is merely a symptom of much larger societal issues that we need to come together to solve. Seward Co-op is a community of nearly 25,000 owners. Let’s keep moving forward together with patience and intention to build the kind of systems we want to see in the world.