CVS store in Washington, D.C., will close due to theft rate

A CVS store in Washington, D.C., is unable to keep up with the theft rate and will be closing on Feb. 29, reports local affiliate WTTG-TV.

The CVS location was featured on a video that went viral on social media when it showed aisles of empty shelves. Many shoppers have decided to go elsewhere to get their necessities because they can no longer rely on the CVS store to have products in stock.

According to WTTG-TV, a group of teenagers steal from the location regularly, sometimes as much as three times a day.

Street vendors are allegedly paying people to pull from the shelves so they can resell the products, and CVS employees believe the shoplifters know when new shipments arrive and when to best target the store.

Reports of robbery in the area are up 68% year over year.