NBC BAY AREA'S DAMIAN TRUJILLO IS AT ONE OF THOSE STORES IN SAN JOSE. >> Reporter: MOST CUSTOMERS WE SPOKE WITH SAY IT'S AN UNFORTUNATE SIGN OF THE TIMES WHEN BUSINESSES HAVE TO DO WHAT THEY CAN TO PROTECT THEIR STORES. OTHERS ARE NOT HAPPY AT ALL. AT THIS SAFEWAY STORE ON TULLY ROAD AND CAPITAL EXPRESSWAY IN SAN JOSE, THERE IS NOW ONLY ONE WAY IN AND ONE WAY OUT. JUST LIKE IT WAS DURING THE PANDEMIC, EXCEPT THIS TIME THE STORE SEEMS TO BE FACING AN EPIDEMIC OF A DIFFERENT KIND. >> THERE'S JUST TOO FREAKING MUCH SHOPLIFTING. >> Reporter: HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT, ONCE YOU WALK IN A NEW WHITE BARRIER SEPARATES THE ENTRANCE FROM THE REST OF THE STORE. IF ANYONE TRIES TO WALK OUT FROM THIS AREA, THE ALARM GOES OFF AND THE SECURITY GUARD DIRECTS YOU TO THE ONLY EXIT. AND BEFORE YOU EXIT THE SELF-CHECKOUT AREA, YOU MAY NOW BE REQUIRED TO SCAN YOUR RECEIPT TO PROVE YOU PAID. THE RAMON SAYS HE'S SEEN FIRSTHAND WHY STORES FEEL THE NEED TO BEEF UP SECURITY. >> WITH MY OWN EYES HER AND I, RIGHT? AND HE JUST LIKE WENT TO THE LIQUOR AREAS, START PUTTING BOTTLES IN HIS BAG AND WALKED OUT. AND I DON'T BLAME HIM FOR PUTTING ALL THOSE BARRIERS. >> IN A STATEMENT TO NBC BAY AREA, THE RETAILER SAID RECENT CHANGES WERE MADE AT SELECT SAFE WAY STORES IN THE BAY AREA TO MAINTAIN A SAFE AND WELCOMING SHOPPING EXPERIENCE FOR CUSTOMERS AND ASSOCIATES GIVEN THE INCREASING AMOUNT OF THEFTS. >> DO YOU MIND THE EXTRA? >> NO, I'D RATHER DO A LITTLE BIT TO PREVENT THEM FROM GOING OUT OF WIZ. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT BUSINESSES STAY IN BUSINESS. >> Reporter: SOME SAY THE NEW MEASURES GO TOO FAR. ONE WOMAN WROTE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THEY MAKE ME FEEL LIKE A CRIMINAL. I WON'T BE COMING BACK THERE AGAIN. >> RAFAEL ESPINOSA SAYS HE FEELS THAT WAY AS WELL SOMETIMES, BUT HE UNDERSTANDS WHY IT'S COME TO. THIS SO TONIGHT SHOPPERS FACING A LITTLE MORE INCONVENIENCE AS A RETAILER LOOKS FOR WAYS TO PREVENT MAJOR
