Washington, D.C., residents have scored a major quality-of-life victory as CVS stores stop locking merchandise inside theft-prevention cases.

The welcome reversal follows President Donald Trump’s crime crackdown, which has coincided with steep declines across several major crime categories.

The Metropolitan Police reported that homicides are down 30%, while assaults involving a dangerous weapon have fallen 42%.

Robbery is also down 7%, adding to the evidence that stronger enforcement is delivering measurable results in the nation’s capital.

Warning: Account balances and purchasing power no longer tell the same story. Know in 2 minutes if your retirement is working for you.

The improvement extends beyond violent offenses. Motor vehicle thefts are down 45%, thefts from automobiles have dropped 20%, and other theft has declined 10% as Washington receives a long-overdue lesson in what happens when laws are actually enforced.

Federal prosecutors have also stepped up their work.

On August 10, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in D.C. reported a 67% increase in prosecutions in D.C. superior court as a result of Trump’s law enforcement surge in the city.

The change at CVS is particularly visible because locked display cases had become an irritating symbol of chronic shoplifting.

Every item at my local CVS (Thomas Circle) is either no longer behind glass or can be grabbed without having to call an attendant.

Just a few months ago I couldn’t grab anything ~$5+ without having to ring the bell and wait for an employee to unlock it. Thank you @POTUS!!! pic.twitter.com/W2wlUVlf4N — Owen Klinsky (@realowenklinsky) September 26, 2026

FREE Gun Law Map: Laws Don't Pause During Social Unrest

Customers trying to purchase basic goods were forced to find an employee before they could access merchandise that once sat openly on store shelves.

Back in April, a CVS store at 17th and P streets Northwest started securing candy and other products behind barriers.

According to DC News Now, CVS said the measure was necessary to combat theft at that location.

Customers had to press a button and wait for an employee to retrieve candy, including M&M’s, Reese’s Pieces, and Kit Kats.

It was hardly the convenient shopping experience customers expect when making an ordinary trip to the drugstore.

Shopper Derek Turner described his reaction to the growing restrictions.

“I actually don’t buy much candy, but it just seems like it’s getting worse,” Turner said.

The problem was not confined to a single CVS.

Another location on 14th Street Northwest also kept products locked away, including toilet paper, forcing customers to seek assistance for even the most basic purchases.

Turner said the added inconvenience changed his shopping habits.

“I used to buy that there, but now it’s too much trouble. It’s not worth it,” he said.

CVS explained that its security measures varied based on theft patterns at individual locations.

“Different products experience different theft rates, depending on store location and other factors, and our product protection decisions are data-driven.”

Those decisions produced the absurd spectacle of candy and toilet paper sitting behind barriers while customers waited for help.

Now, with crime declining under the enforcement surge, Washington CVS stores are reportedly removing those restrictions.

Even liberal writer Matt Yglesias acknowledged that the development is good news.

That reaction came after Yglesias argued last August that Washington needed “real policing” rather than “propaganda.”

Apparently, the city is now getting the real policing he requested, and the results are not subtle.

Shoplifting and retail theft are precisely the kinds of offenses that stronger law enforcement is intended to confront before disorder becomes more serious.

The crime figures present a broad picture of improvement. Homicide, dangerous weapon assault, robbery, motor vehicle theft, theft from automobiles, and other theft have all declined, while prosecutions in D.C. superior court have sharply increased.

For CVS customers, those statistics translate into something immediate and practical.

They can shop without pressing a button, summoning an employee and waiting to receive candy, toilet paper, or another product trapped behind a security barrier.

The episode offers a straightforward lesson about enforcement.

When a president has the resolve to enforce the law, and prosecutors bring more cases, businesses and residents can benefit from a safer and less burdensome environment.

An editor’s note accompanying the original report said Americans overwhelmingly support Trump’s law and order agenda.

In Washington, the unlocked CVS merchandise provides residents with a tangible example of what that agenda looks like in everyday life.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of BoredTrashPanda.com. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.