A Walgreens employee describes routine theft at his store — and how he's not allowed to stop it

• Retailers have raised the alarm about shoplifting for years.
• But a Walgreens employee said he's effectively barred from action when he sees a theft in progress.
• Walgreens and other drugstore chains have locked up items in response to theft.

Walgreens is one of many retailers that have called attention to theft from its stores in recent years.

But one store employee says that the company is keeping its staff from doing anything about the problem.