‘Kids are supposed to be in the school’: Local business employee speaks on Richmond students banned from stores

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Several local Richmond businesses are banning some middle school students from entering their stores without a parent before, during and after school hours.

On Tuesday, April 15, River City Middle School (RCMS) officials sent out a statement after recent reports of shoplifting and loitering near stores in the area:

A Richmond Public School (RPS) spokesperson also sent a response regarding the latest incidents:

“School discipline only extends to the school doors. However, we are working closely with the community on this. We continue to encourage parents to also help reinforce positive behaviors at home and beyond school.”-RPS spokesperson.

Family Dollar is one of the stores affected where employees say this is an issue that’s persisted since last year.

“They come in as a crowd being very disrespectful. Stealing, running out and causing a lot of problems. There’s a lot of elders that come into here that do not have to be involved with all that nonsense that they have going on,” said employee Latisha Sanchez.

Family Dollar staff members say groups of five or more RCMS students come inside to steal items like hot wheels and alcohol and they don't have enough workers to stop them.

Sanchez said administrators should invoke harsher punishments. 

“The school should have a better hold on what's going on,” Sanchez said. “The kids are supposed to be in the school. They should know that the kids are coming out here, while y'all have a better hold of what's going on over there. It starts with them.”