New York City’s new reality is giving residents a worst headache than a brain freeze.

Due to the city’s increase in crime as well as a massive surge in shoplifting, grocery stores are now locking up ice cream. But this isn’t because there’s a craze about a new cookies and cream spin-off, but rather because the criminals know they can simply get away with it.

“To help maintain the lowest possible cost, a protective lock has been placed on some units of ice cream,” a Fairway store sign reads. The ice cream carton tops are now bolted at the top, or have devices that only store attendants can open. It follows a recent trend as seen in places like CVS that are locking products up like they’re gold at Fort Knox.

[Big honkin’ chain and padlock. Looks like what hubs does to our ridge when there’s cie cream in in… ~ Beege]