A Chicago lawmaker has called for criminal charges against the pharmacy chain Walgreens after it closed another location due to rampant crime. 

Alderman William Hall made the announcement after the Chatham store on Cottage Grove Ave said they will permanently shut their doors on June 4, 2026.

The store was facing ‘significantly higher levels of theft and violent incidents’ than other nearby locations, leading to the closure, a Walgreens spokesperson told Block Club Chicago.

‘Despite a range of efforts, including previous operating adjustments, these ongoing safety challenges have made it increasingly difficult to maintain a secure environment for our team members and customers.’

The spokesperson added that safety is the company’s top priority despite this difficult decision. 

Residents and local lawmakers have rallied to protest the shutdown, warning it will worsen what they describe as a growing pharmacy desert as multiple nearby Walgreens locations close. 

‘Walgreens should be charged with first-degree corporate abandonment,’ Alderman Hall said, per the outlet.

‘It should be a crime the way they’re treating our elders [and] our families,’ he added.

Hall was joined by Chatham residents in the South Side store’s parking lot, holding signs reading ‘Senior Lives Matter’ and chanting ‘do right by us’ at the pharmacy. 

More than two years ago, the drugstore’s hours were reduced from 24-hour service to closing at midnight.

A Walgreens spokesperson said the change was due to an ‘operational decision’ but did not provide additional details, according to the outlet.

Five Walgreens on the South Side permanently closed last year, with another three shutting down over the past 18 months, the outlet reported.

‘[Walgreens] left nothing but abandoned buildings and broken centers,’ Hall told the outlet, referring to areas across southern Chicago.

The alderman added that theft is a widespread problem, and the pharmaceutical giant has found ways to stay open despite rampant crime.

He pointed to a renovated store where most merchandise is locked behind glass, accessible only with employee assistance.

Chatham resident Latonya Mitchell told the outlet it’s a “shame” the local drugstore is closing.

She said it won’t be able to meet the community’s needs, noting she often relied on it for ‘quick things.’

‘They’re leaving this community destitute,’ Mitchell said to the outlet. 

‘It’s drying up, and it’s another desert,’ she added.