A locally owned grocery store is tired of thefts in its Inland Empire community, trying to combat the problem by restricting the use of large personal shopping bags in stores.

In an April Facebook post, Matthew and Alison Whitlow announced their ownership of Heimt East Florida Avenue grocery store. Less than a month later, the owner pointed out on social media that the personal luggage policy would be strictly enforced on the grounds that it was “theft.”

In the post, white people asked customers to take cashiers out of reusable shopping and personal bags (including things larger than small handbags) at the front of the grocery store.

"While this has been posted on our front door, we have taken advantage of some of the advantages and walked out of the store without being in the register," a Facebook post said.

Whites refuse to talk to the times about the events that led to their decisions.

However, requiring customers to place reusable bags in front of the store can cause confusion among shoppers trying to comply with state laws and help the environment.

California has been working to eliminate single-use plastic bags from grocery stores since 2014, and recently took a step further by passing legislation that would eliminate thicker plastic bags made of high-density polyethylene or HDPE. Grocery stores have been providing shoppers with thicker HDPE bags instead of thin plastic bags that are prohibited.

In response, shoppers across the state stocked up reusable grocery bags made of canvas or cloth.

The new luggage policy is in response to the improvement of retail theft cases across the state, which is so problematic that state officials dispatched California Highway Patrol officials to help local police deal with retail crime and theft retail crime and help strengthen traffic law enforcement.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has sent officials to Oakland and Bakersfield, cities with huge problems in smashing and robbing retail crimes.

Customers who leave the big bag in front can take it out and carry their smartphones and wallets while shopping.

White people encourage customers to use the store-provided carry basket.

"When we are local/independently owned, when theft happens, it hurts not only us, but the community," the post said. "We know it's inconvenient for everyone, but we want to make sure we provide products for everyone and don't lose anything so we can keep the price affordable."

The owners suggested in the post that instead of resorting to theft, they suggested shoppers working to make a living seek help.

"Please ask one of the owners, Matt or Alison, and we'll see what we can do to help," the post said.