Customer in wheelchair ‘crushed’ by new smart gates

A customer in a wheelchair has been “crushed” by Coles’s new “smart” gates, as Aussies fume over the controversial tech.

A customer using a wheelchair has been “crushed” by one of Coles’s new smart gates, just months after the controversial technology was rolled out in Australian stores.

Last year, shoppers were left confused by the addition of the so-called smart gates to self-serve check-outs across the country.

The hi-tech gates automatically open and shut to allow paying customers to exit the store, while supposedly blocking and thus deterring thieves.

Shoppers spotted a new security measure at Coles. Picture: Reddit

They are supposedly "smart gates" to deter theft. Picture: Facebook

The gates were installed along with a slew of other security measures in response to rising theft rates, a Coles spokesperson previously told news.com.au.

“While most of our customers do the right thing, unfortunately a small number don’t,” the spokesperson said.

“Coles has a range of security measures in place to reduce theft from our stores including CCTV, electronic article surveillance (EAS), and in some stores new smart gate technology that automatically opens as customers make payment for their products.”

A customer in a wheelchair says they were “crushed” by one of the gates. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt

But on Tuesday a customer, who chose to remain anonymous, said they were on a routine shopping trip with their 10-year-old son when one of the smart gates “slammed shut” on them and their wheelchair.

After buying a few items, the shopper proceeded to the exit, saying the gate was “wide open”.

Their son passed through without incident but, when they tried to follow, the gate abruptly closed, “hitting” their arms and “crushing” their wheelchair.

The gate began to beep to alert staff of the incident and only reopened when the customer continued to push their way through.

The customer was not injured but said they had reported the “scary” incident.

“I’ll be calling every day until SOMEONE tells me how to avoid being crushed next time,” they said.

Woolworths is trialling something similar. Picture: Supplied

Social media users responding to the shopper’s report slammed the new technology, which one said was “invasive” and “annoying”.

“I’m shitty that they close them and you have to wait to get out sometimes because they want to check you didn’t steal a $3 lemon. It’s turning into a jail rather than a supermarket,” another person wrote.

Plenty shared their own startling encounters with the smart gates, including several mums who said they had slammed shut on their prams.

“One literally snapped shut on our pram as we were pushing our kiddo through,” one person said.

“I’d walked out the store first, pram and husband following behind. Especially cause they make them too small for you to go side-by-side!

“It’s insane, and I refuse to look at any self check out or check out with that in the path.”

“Not long until an elderly person is knocked over by them and breaks their hip or similar,” added another.

Coles has been contacted for comment.