They do steal makeup etc Cheech. I twice got home with an item that had been sealed up only to find it completely empty inside. As for allergy medicine - I can get it here right off the shelf no problem but when we were in the midwest last time and had to pick some up, we felt like criminals when we had to stand in line and ask the pharmacist behind the counter for a box. Then show photo identification and then get restricted to one package and eyeballed....
I think the economy has a lot to do with some people stealing these things - last year it was diapers and laundry soap - the thieves would steal it and then resell it on the very cheap to people on the street - they made a mint off of it and the consumer was mighty happy at the savings...
Here is some info from a few years back on baby formula - sammieswife
he Food Marketing Institute, maintains a list ofthe 50 most shoplifted items. While the number one most shoplifted item is a 50 count packet of Advil, Similac makes the list three times. A case of Similac with Iron formula ranks #7on the top 50 most shoplifted items while a single can of Similac with iron ranks number #8. Similac concentrate with iron ranks number 21 on the list.
One question that would surely arise would be why are all of these people stealing infant formula. Is this infant formula being used for infants? The answer is yes and no. There is a black market out there for infant formula. The item can be stolen and sold to a mom in need for half the retail price. This does happen but it is not the most common use.
Infant formula is often used in the drug world. Drug dealers use powdered baby formula to cut the strength of cocaine and heroin. According to a recent article in Chicago's Journal Standard, "the popular powdered baby formula is primarily used in the drug world to dilute heroin and methamphetamine or to stretch the product when supplies run low." Special Agent Joanna Zoltay states that, "The consistency and the way it looks is what makes it a good cutting agent," Zoltay said. Infant formula is non-toxic and relatively safe to cut with any number of drugs.
The DEA also had a case several years ago where street gangs in Chicago were using baby formula containers to conceal illegal drugs, she added.