New security gates at Kmart Broadmeadows to crack down on shoplifters

Kmart is trialling new technology to stop thieves in their tracks at its Broadmeadows store, but shoppers have already hit out at the “barricades” as an extreme measure.

Kmart is trialling new technology to crack down on shoplifters at its Broadmeadows store, installing new security gates in a bid to reduce retail crime.

Shoppers have shared their surprise at the new gates, similar to ones used by Coles and Woolworths, after Azzan Schuster shared a video of the new technology on TikTok.

“Barricades on entry and exit and crazy lol,” he posted.

“If I saw this I would not go in”, one person commented while another said: “How do these pass the fire safety laws?”.

“First Coles, now Kmart — maybe stop raising the prices on everything and people will steal less,” another user posted.

New security gates at Kmart Broadmeadows.

But another commenter welcomed another new change at the Broadmeadows store – bringing the cash registers back to the front.

“Big fan of them changing it back to having the registers at the exit instead of the middle,” she posted.

A Kmart spokesman said: “In line with other major retailers who have already installed this technology, we are trialling initiatives that may help reduce the rise in retail crime that we have experienced right across the industry in recent years. We are currently trialling these gates in a small number of stores”.

@azzanschuster

Barricades on entry & exit is crazy lol

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Chief Industry Affairs Officer at the Australian Retailers Association Fleur Brown said the ARA was “deeply concerned” about the alarming rise in retail crime across the country, but particularly within Victoria.

“Whilst there is no single solution to the challenge of retail crime, technology is a vital and proven part of the approach,” she said.

“We fully support the use of innovative technology to reduce the burden on retail teams and improve liaison with authorities where required.”

Retailers have introduced a number of antitheft measures in recent years to combat the surge in crime, including floating sensors, putting security tags on meat and locking up hygiene items.

Originally published as New security gates at Kmart Broadmeadows to crack down on shoplifters