A shoplifter sprayed a fire extinguisher at a SoMa Trader Joe’s late Thursday afternoon, according to staff.
An aisle of beer, chips and dog treats was blocked by shopping carts and tables on Thursday and Friday.
“Please do not enter the store – the fire extinguisher is unloaded and we have to dispose of the product,” read a sign at the end of the aisle on Friday.
Employees were seen throwing dozens of garbage bags full of groceries into the back of a truck parked outside the store on Friday afternoon.
Grocery store workers said a man tried to steal a store before he was caught red-handed and then sprayed the fire extinguisher inside the store, contaminating the produce.
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Workers throw away dozens of garbage bags filled with food contaminated by a fire extinguisher. | Garrett Leahy/The Standard
Police said an officer responded to a report of vandalism around 5:50 p.m. Thursday on Ninth Street between Bryant and Brannan streets. Officers met with an employee who said a man entered the store, grabbed a fire extinguisher and sprayed it inside.
The suspect fled the scene before police arrived. No injuries were reported and no arrests were made, police said.
Trader Joe’s staff declined to give further details about the incident or the amount of food lost. Trader Joe’s corporate headquarters were not responding to requests for comment at the time of publication.
The SoMa Trader Joe’s incident came when a new nearby Porsche dealership was vandalized just days before it opened.
On May 24, Cole Hardware announced it was closing its SoMa store at 345 Ninth St., just blocks from the new luxury retailer. The company’s CFO blamed a dwindling customer base and safety concerns after sales were reduced by 25%.
Samy’s Camera on the corner of Ninth Street and Bryant Street also closed its doors in February. Ace Plumbing and Rooter Inc. is now located at the former location of Samy.
