closed until at least early November, and your next trip to your local Safeway could take a little longer. That's because the grocery chain is eliminating that self-checkout option at some of its Bay area stores. And the reason? Problems with theft KTVU Allie Rasmus explains the dilemma for retailers like Safeway. When making a decision like this. >> Inside the Safeway at 51st and Broadway in Oakland, all seven self-checkout kiosks are now gone. There's an empty space and soda can display where the machines used to be. >> Now, now we have to wait in line, especially if it's a busy hour. Now you've got to wait another half hour just to get a checkout, especially if they're short staffed and this store isn't the only one. >> Safeway confirms it's eliminating the self checkout option at some of its Bay area stores. In a statement, they explained, quote, operational changes have been made at select stores throughout the Bay area. Given the increasing amount of theft, self checkout kiosks have been removed at a few stores. Like other local businesses, we're working on ways to curtail escalating theft so we can ensure the well-being of our employees and foster a welcoming environment for our customers, end quote. Shoppers we spoke to were disappointed about the change and what it could mean with, more people coming in with the crowd is a little bit larger . >> It's going to be a problem. But because you have a longer lines in the, checkout, this is a real conundrum. >> You know, for, for these retailers, again, trying to offer the best customer service, the best customer satisfaction, but still trying to make money. >> Retail experts like Patrick Penfield of Syracuse University says companies like Safeway are balancing the demands of labor costs with customer convenience and theft prevention. Without self-checkout, the store and customers will have to make adjustments on what they're going to have to do is hire more people, you know, try to figure out how to make the line shorter. Shoppers are unsure about whether that will really happen, though. >> I understand it's a business. They have to take care of their product, but it's also at the same time, it's an inconvenience. >> The change isn't happening at all. Safeway stores in the Bay area, just some of them. Safeway wouldn't tell us exactly how many or which ones, but the Safeway is on Grand and College avenues in Oakland still have a self-checkout option, but this Safeway at 51st and Broadway in Oakland does not. Other Safeway owned stores in Emeryville and San Francisco have
