Target to close 3 stores in San Francisco Bay Area amid rampant retail crime

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. retail corporation Target announced on Tuesday that it planned to close three of its stores in San Francisco Bay Area, California, next month amid rampant retail crime.

Theft and organized retail crime was "threatening the safety of our team and guests, and contributing to unsustainable business performance," the company said in a statement.

Thirty-two Target stores will remain open in the Bay Area, the company said.

Target said Monday it also planned to close a total of six stores in New York City, Seattle and Portland, in addition to the three Bay Area locations.

Target operates a chain of discount department stores and hypermarkets, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.