In the 80's and 90's it was not unusual for grocery stores to have those metal turnstyles that you had to enter through. Then to get out you had to actually go through a checkstand. I believe they were generally removed to help open up the spaces, create a more welcoming feel, and for accessibility concern reasons.
Some Wal Marts installed barriers that look just like what Safeway installed and I am going to say it does not appear to do much to deter theft/shoplifting as I have seen people go out through them many times, an alarm goes off, and they still leave. Some Wal Marts have actually removed them as they decided it wasn't accomplishing anything and it was also a hassle for employees entering/exiting the store. Plus those trying to shoplift etc. just went through closed checkstands. Other Wal Marts still have them.
Looking at San Francisco, If you have criminals who are so aggressive they will break windows, vandalize businesses, I do not think going out through the exit of the barrier and hearing an alarm go off is going to be much of a deterrent. They'll already be out the door by the time the alarm starts going off. I am afraid the next thing to try is to stop selling the items that are heavily shoplifted, or only offer the smallest size packages and keep few out on the shelves.
After watching the jewelry store video where they go in right when the shop owner is there and break into the cases, I am a little concerned for employee and customer safety with the "locking cabinet" type aisles. My concern is you will have a group of shoplifters who show up at the HBA/OTC aisle, wait for the clerk to open it up for a customer to get something, then overwhelm the clerk and customer and wipe the open area of the cabinet out.