Self-Proclaimed Shoplifter Vows to Boycott Walmart After Store Locks Up Items
MONTCLAIR, TX — A woman who admits to frequently stealing from Walmart has gone viral after posting a social media video announcing she will no longer shop—or steal—from the retail giant because stores have begun locking up merchandise.
The woman, identified online as Tamara Lewis, 29, recorded herself inside a Walmart location earlier this week. In the clip, which has now gained over 1.8 million views, she criticizes the company for placing common items like toiletries, cosmetics, laundry detergent, and baby formula behind locked glass cases.
“I’m not coming back here,” Lewis says in the video. “Every time I try to get something, I gotta wait on an employee. It ain’t worth it. Walmart lost my business for good.”
Viewers were quick to point out that Lewis has openly bragged about stealing items in past posts, with several older clips showing her stuffing cosmetics and snacks into oversized purses while mocking store security.
“Imagine being mad at Walmart because you can’t steal anymore,” one commenter wrote. Another added: “This is exactly why they lock stuff up.”
Retail theft has become a growing issue nationwide, prompting major chains like Walmart, Target, and Walgreens to increase anti-theft measures. These include locked cabinets, electronic tags, and in some locations, reduced store hours.
Walmart has not commented directly on Lewis’s video, but in past statements, the company has said such security measures are necessary to reduce loss prevention costs and keep prices lower for paying customers.
Critics argue that locking up everyday items creates inconvenience for honest shoppers, but supporters say it’s a reasonable response to rising theft.
As for Lewis, her viral rant may have unintentionally highlighted exactly why retailers are tightening security.
