Supermarket takes drastic action to prevent meat theft: 'Welcome to California'

nypost.com

First it was spray paint. Then eye drops. Now, even ground beef is under lock and key.

A San Jose Walmart has reportedly taken anti-theft measures to a new level, placing pricey cuts of beef and even packages of ground meat inside metal security cages to keep would-be shoplifters at bay.

Influencer Tony Bartleson — better known online as “Meatdad” — posted a video from inside the California store showing rib-eye steaks and ground beef wrapped in wire security devices.

A Walmart store in Martinez, California, showing its blue and gray exterior, rows of shopping carts, and a few people entering.

First it was the spray paint stores in California locked up to combat shoplifting, next it was eye drops and now its meat? Bloomberg via Getty Images

A man holding a 3 lb package of ground beef in a mesh anti-theft bag at Walmart.

A Walmart store in the golden state has reportedly beefed up security in the meat department, placing rib-eyes and ground beef inside locked up little wire cages. Facebook/Meat Dad

Holding up a cowboy rib-eye priced at nearly $16 a pound, Bartleson quipped: “Welcome to California.”

The video also showed a three-pound package of ground beef locked inside its own metal cage. The clip has racked up more than 3.8 million views.

Bartleson said he was stunned by the response.

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A person's hand reaching for a package of ground beef wrapped in a security device in a refrigerated display case at Walmart.

An influencer known as Meat Dad posted a video online showing him inside a California store, showing the locked up pieces of everyday food. Facebook/Meat Dad

“Seeing basic food items locked behind cages is sad,” Bartleson said in a statement to The Sun.

“My hope is that we can get to a point where measures like this aren’t necessary anymore—where people don’t have to steal just to eat, stores don’t have to lock up food, and everyone has reliable access to the necessities they need.”

“I think most of us want to live in a world where people can put food on the table with dignity, and I hope we continue moving in that direction,” he added.

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The unusual security measures sparked fierce debate online, with many shoppers saying they understood why the retailer resorted to locking up meat.

“With people stealing what they haven’t paid for, I don’t blame Walmart for doing this. If you’re an honest person who plans to pay for it, why would this bother you… bruh,” one person wrote.

Packages of beef are secured to a shelf with security wires in a store refrigerator.

Shoppers reacted to the store’s reported extreme measures, with many in support of it. Facebook/Meat Dad

“I don’t have a problem with any company protecting its merchandise from thieves. But it seems like people have more sympathy for thieves. When this stuff is constantly stolen, that drives prices up.”

“It’s not locked up, it’s tagged for shoplifting because it happens more now with prices the way they are,” another added.

“Locked up meat? For what reason? Theft? No!” a third person wrote.

The clip is similar to one that went viral last year of a Walmart shopper depicting the store’s butcher aisle with meat inside cages.

A person holding a package of ground beef wrapped in a security mesh.

The clip is similar to one that went viral last year of a Walmart shopper depicting the store’s butcher aisle with meat inside cages. Facebook/Meat Dad

It is unclear from the video which store in California the influencer was shopping at and if this was a decision made by one store or statewide.

The California Post reached out to Walmart for more information.