Following the city of Long Beach’s lead, Costa Mesa may soon require major grocery and drug retail stores to hire more workers for self-checkout lanes to prevent shoplifting.

The City Council has asked for an ordinance to be drafted that would establish minimum staffing requirements and regulations for self-checkout kiosks at large retailers in Costa Mesa.

Councilmember Manuel Chavez, who introduced the proposal, said the proposed legislation would protect employees from retail crime.

“It’s very common now to see students in high school working to help their parents pay the bills. I also see a lot of seniors who have to work,” Chavez said. “It does give me concern when I have a young person or an older person manning multiple checkouts.”

Over the past year, retail theft has dropped at

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