Woolworths installs hi-tech floating sensors, security gates to monitor customers in-store

Customers using self-checkout areas at major retailers are being monitored by floating sensors, installed to track shoppers until they pay for their items.

New hi-tech security gates have been installed at various Woolworths in a bid to drive down mounting customer theft. Picture: Supplied

Major retailers are installing floating sensors and security gates amid a spike in shoplifting sparked by desperate customers battling rising living costs.

Sophisticated sensors floating above Woolworths’ self-checkout areas will begin tagging shoppers with an anonymous identification number that tracks their movements until a customer has paid for their groceries.

Coles has begun installing security gates at some stores and Aldi controls the amount of stock on display to prevent large amounts of supplies from vanishing.

It comes as the most recent data from the Crime Statistics Agency shows an almost 20 per cent jump in retail store theft between March 2021, when interest rates sat at just 0.1 per cent, and March this year, when the cash rate was 3.6 per cent.

While the figures partly account for a dip in activity when Covid restrictions were in place, attempted retail store thefts rose by 12 per cent in the past year to March.

A Woolworths spokesman said all retailers have seen a recent rise in customer theft and stock loss as it implemented the new technology.

New hi-tech surveillance tracks Woolworths customers in check-out areas. Picture: Supplied

“We continue to look at additional measures that will help reduce retail crime, however we do understand that most customers do the right thing at the checkout.

“This is one of a number of initiatives, both covert and overt, to minimise instances of retail crime in store networks across the Group.”

The supermarket giant’s Moorabbin, Millers Junction and Woodgrove stores will be the first to roll out the new device in Victoria in the coming weeks in a bid to drive down their stock loss and trial various store layouts across the state.

Roof sensors will give shoppers the digital ID, which follows them in the form of a red marker in checkout areas that turns green once they have paid, which is then deleted from the system.

Exit gates will also be installed in several stores.

A Coles spokesperson said the brand worked closely with authorities and had security gates installed at several locations to drive down customer theft.

“We know that retail crime is on the increase across many retailers, and we continue to work closely with police in this space,” they said.

The spokesperson said Coles tried to keep grocery prices competitive to ease the burden for customers.

“At a time when cost of living pressures are mounting for many people, Coles is committed to helping with a range of value campaigns to support customers”

“As a result of favourable growing conditions this year, we have seen deflationary prices across many vegetables year on year which is providing great value.”

New hi-tech surveillance tracks Woolworths customers in check-out areas until they have paid for their groceries. Picture: Supplied

The various sensory measures, CCTV monitoring and trolley locking technology have also been designed to prevent staff from directly intervening in thefts.

Aldi said having limited stock on its shelves at one time and requiring customers to leave its stores through manned check-outs helped control stock loss.

With this system, the opportunity for theft is minimised as our store employees have the right to check bags as a condition of entry to our stores and the police should be notified if there is reason to believe that theft has occurred.

CCTV is also employed as a security measure to monitor for theft, alongside ensuring the safety of our customers and employees.”

Chief executive of the Australian Retailers Association Paul Zahra said shoplifting has become increasingly prevalent in the last six months, at a time when retailers are already battling rising operating costs associated with fuel, energy, labour, supply chains, rent and loans.

“We anticipate shoplifting is costing the industry upwards of $9 billion per year, but the actual number could be even higher — it is difficult to put an exact figure on retail theft because much of it goes unreported,” Mr Zahra said.

“For retailers, a 2-3% loss of merchandise can amount to 25% loss in profit and this is debilitating for small businesses, who operate on tighter profit margins.”

The technology is expected to have an immediate reduction in theft, Mr Zahra said, as well as working effectively to deter would-be shoplifters.