A California Dollar Tree shopper heads to the makeup aisle. However, she stops in her tracks when she notices a bizarre new theft deterrent at the discount retailer.
In a video with over 968,000 views, TikToker Preslie (@presliedivaalert) covers her mouth with her hand as she looks around in shock.
“I’m on Ground Zero right now. This is boots on the ground,” she says. “They are locking things up at the Dollar Tree.”
Why was the makeup locked up at Dollar Tree?
She turns the camera to face a shelf of makeup products. The makeup is protected by a large, plexiglass barrier.
The TikToker notices large, arm-sized holes throughout the plexiglass for customers to reach through. However, that’s not the extent of the anti-theft display. Some makeup products—which cost no more than $1.25 each—also appear to be locked behind small alarms.
“Someone asked to open the cage, and they said reach through the holes,” she says. “It leaves you wondering what this is for.”
Other Dollar Tree customers have recently noticed the same anti-theft display installed at other locations.
In a post on the subreddit r/DollarTree, shoppers question why the retailer installed the hole-covered plexiglass. Some suggest the display aims to slow down thieves who try to grab a ton of product at once.
“Makes it harder to just grab stuff with both arms into a bag. Now they have to grab handfuls at a time,” one suggests.
“Harm reduction. If it takes longer to grab a bunch of stuff, that’s more time for staff to notice. It’s not perfect, but it cuts the percentage of theft down a bit,” another says.
What do shoppers think of the anti-theft display?
In the comments, Dollar Tree shoppers say they’re reluctant to reach through the plexiglass.
“Oh god they’ve put glory holes in the dollar trees,” one says.
“I am not fisting the dollartreeussy,” another jokes.
Others suggest the new display could be a hassle for Dollar Tree workers.
“They only ever have one cashier running the whole place, who’s gonna unlock those multiple times a shift AND checkout AND restock?” a commenter asks.
“It seems like corporate required cases but employees said we don’t get paid enough to be unlocking them every damn time somebody wants something,” another says.
Some commenters wonder if the latest anti-theft measure is a “recession indicator.”
“Late stage capitalism suuuuuucks,” a viewer writes.
“Damn, even the recession be recessioning,” a second remarks.
“If this isn’t a clear sign for how bad it’s going to get idk what is,” a third adds.
@presliedivaalert What is going awnnnnnnn #dollartree #whatisgoingon ♬ original sound – presliedivaalert
The Mary Sue reached out to Preslie via TikTok direct message and to Dollar Tree via email for further comment.
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