Bizarre ‘reason’ for Walmart’s anti-theft devices on energy drinks and why they ‘don’t make much of a difference’

ONE man has uncovered a possible reason many shoppers have seen anti-theft devices on energy drinks.

These devices often take the form of small, clear, rectangular plastic sliders that hang over the shelf where the drinks are located.

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According to a recent video by TikToker RoninGT, the sliders are likely an anti-theft measure to prevent thieves from taking an entire shelf’s worth of products.

They force a customer to move them and take one pack at a time, per Ronin, who claimed he used to be an asset protection manager for a couple of deals.

“If I had to use my AP brain, they would be an anti-sweep device,” said Ronin.

He continued that the sliders “essentially prevent the shopper from sweeping the entire shelf.”

Additionally, the sliders also make a clicking sound when someone moves them, which Ronin says is a feature meant to alert employees to possible theft.

“The little sliders make clicking noises when you move them, which is an audible alert for nearby workers if they’re alert for things like this,” he noted.

However, Ronin was curious about the pushers’ position on energy drinks rather than other products that may have greater financial value.

“My question would be, ‘Why on the energy drinks?'” he asked.

“I would love to see the financial loss of their energy drinks to justify such a theft deterrent.”

Ronin further noted that his knowledge as an asset protection manager allowed him to see the need for this baby food anti-theft feature.

But putting the feature on energy drinks was something he couldn’t understand.

“Honestly, if they don’t have documentation proving they’re losing that much on energy drinks, you’re just forcing your paying customers to play some weird Jenga game to get the Red Bull,” Ronin said.

Still, the alleged former wealth guard said the anti-theft device on energy drinks could be “justified.”

“Different areas have different trending items for theft,” explained Ronin.

He went on to say that he “definitely would love to see what they lose on energy drinks.”

The only other explanation Ronin could think of for the measure was that Red Bull or other energy drink companies may have insisted on the security feature for retailers like Walmart.

“As a side note, energy drinks are a seller-controlled item, so this could be something the seller made themselves and not necessarily Walmart or another store,” he said.

Many users took advantage of the comments to let Ronin know that the stores they work for actually have a big problem with energy drink theft.

“A former Walmart employee has our energy drinks and they’re a major stolen item,” one TikToker noted.

“Stores lose a lot at Red Bull. At least in my store,” explained another.

Some even echoed Ronin’s comment that the sliders were more suitable for baby food.

“They’re on the infant formula at my Walmart,” said one user.

“The Walmart stores near me have these on baby food,” repeated another person.

According to CEO Doug McMillon, anti-theft measures like the sliding doors come after the highest spike in thefts Walmart has seen in its history.

“It’s higher than it has been in the past,” he told CNBC Squawk Box in December.

McMillon worries this could lead to more Walmart store closures amid the ongoing “retail apocalypse.”

Other stores are also considering stronger anti-theft measures, such as B. the stowage of even more items behind protected glass.

The US Sun has reached out to Walmart and Red Bull for comment on the anti-theft measure for energy drinks with sliding doors.

For more retail theft content, check out The US Sun’s coverage of the details on Walmart and Target’s anti-theft corridor cameras.