According to Imperfect Parent News, a new “grime wave” has hit supermarkets and drug stores across the nation as shoplifters are cleaning up on a bizarre target: Tide laundry detergent.
Police in multiple cities across the country have reported the rising number of shoplifters preying on the No. 1 brand of detergent, Tide.
A Tide thief in St. Paul, Minn. was reported to have stolen $25,000 worth of the detergent within 15 months before getting caught last year. “That was unique that he stole so much soap,” West St. Paul Police Chief Bud Shaver told The Daily. “The name brand is [all] Tide. Amazing, huh?”
Ben Paynter in his article in New York magazine says that lots of people are stealing Tide all over the country and explains why they are.
He begins with a story about a supermarket in Maryland which had raided over time by over two dozen thieves, working in crews. Also a supermarket surveillance camera caught shoplifter loading his cart with Tide and then making an exit dash to his getaway car.
The losses were between $10,000 and $15,000 a month. He says that: “Tide bottles have become ad hoc street currency, with the average bottle of Tide going for $15 in the store, the same bottle is going for either $5 cash or $10 worth of weed or crack cocaine.”
The fact that there are no serial numbers to track the bottles; it’s no wonder why Tide is a spotless alternative to stealing cars or jewelry.
Michael Garry, technology and operations editor for Supermarket News told NBC News, “It’s a billion dollar black market out there.”
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