Walmart was forced to temporarily close stores after the CEO warned of closures over rising thefts at self-checkouts

WALMART has been forced to temporarily close a number of locations as the company continues to grapple with a rise in self-checkout thefts.

With store closures looming due to “historically high” theft rates, Walmart locations across the country are now being plagued by fire bugs.

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A location in Vine City, Atlanta, was temporarily closed twice last year, once in May and again before Christmas, after deliberate fires were set there.

Multiple sites across Georgia have been addressing the same issue.

Last August, a Walmart in Peachtree City was temporarily closed after a 14-year-old girl set a fire in the store’s stationery aisle, according to Fox 5 Atlanta.

Sites in Alabama, Louisiana, New York, Colorado, and South Carolina have had the same issues over the past few months.

On Jan. 29, a fire broke out at a Walmart in Waukegan, Illinois, resulting in the location’s temporary closure, according to CBS News Chicago.

“We are outraged that someone intentionally set fire to our Waukegan store and forced us to temporarily close,” a Walmart representative told the outlet.

“We will assess any damage and reopen as quickly and safely as possible.”

Just days later, another location in Holland, Ohio, caught fire overnight, ABC 13 reported.

Firefighters told the news outlet that it started after a paper towel dispenser caught fire.

The Holland location was temporarily closed but has since reopened.

However, the two Atlanta locations were permanently closed following the incidents.

The latest blow to the retail giant comes after Walmart CEO Dough McMillon warned customers in December that theft at the company is at “historically high” levels and remains a major problem.

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

He also revealed that persistent shoplifting would lead to store closures in the future.

Walmart is estimated to lose up to $3 billion a year to theft, according to Reuters.