Cheeky posts to ID ‘serial magicians’ that make produce ‘disappear’ from Drakes Supermarkets

The director of a popular supermarket chain has posted cheeky videos on his Instagram to ID people who allegedly made produce ‘magically’ disappear.

A popular supermarket has taken a cheeky approach to identify alleged repeat thieves captured on CCTV footage taking produce from its stores.

Drakes Supermarket director John-Paul Drake posted numerous videos to his Instagram page showing people allegedly taking stock and asking for the community’s help to identify those pictured.

Each post focuses on a different person who “magically” made produce “disappear”, a feat Mr Drake said needed to be “seen to be believed”.

Adelaide supermarket director John-Paul Drake has taken a cheeky approach to identify thieves captured stealing produce from stores. Picture: Instagram

One video focuses on a woman who walked into the company’s Salisbury store, in Adelaide’s north, who is seen next to the meat case.

“This lady … has meat then it disappears,” Mr Drake said in the post.

“Now you see it. Now you don’t. The big question is where does it go?

“This is customer magic on a new level.”

A second clip shows a man, dubbed the Wizard of Eyre, in a yellow high-vis hooded jumper with meat in his hand that Mr Drake alleged “disappeared” as he walked out the through the register.

Another video shows two people pushing a trolley with a number of products inside through the one-way entrance.

Mr Drake joked the “lovely couple” had “just left MAFS” and were using new Amazon Go technology to walk right out the front.

One video showed one man in a high-vis jumper who was seen holding meat in the CCTV footage. Picture: Instagram

Then later, he “magically” made it disappear as he left the store. Picture: Instagram

Speaking on Channel 7’s Sunrise on Tuesday morning, Mr Drake said the videos made a “serious” situation “light hearted”.

“We’re telling everyone stealing is not acceptable,” he said.

“People need to understand that this theft is going on.

“We need to understand the effects it has on our team members too, the confrontation that happens on the front end and our team shouldn't have to put up with that.”

Mr Drake told the program the people who featured in the posts were “serial magicians” who had allegedly stolen from stores on multiple occasions, with the female “meat bandit” allegedly stealing wagyu premium steak from the store six times in two weeks.

When questioned about some criticism that people could be homeless or have mental health problems, Mr Drake said he could understand but added the small business donated money to charitable organisations that were better equipped at giving to people in need.

In the past, Mr Drake has used social media to weigh in on the “absolutely ridiculous” panic buying trend of 2020, asking consumers to “calm the farm”.

He also posted a video to YouTube giving one customer the bird after the wanted a refund on 150 packets of 32-pack toilet paper – which equates to almost 5000 rolls – and 150 units of 1L sanitiser.

John-Paul Drake of Drakes supermarkets rails against hoarding customer who later wanted a refund. Picture: YouTube

Drakes Supermarkets is the largest independent grocery retailer in Australia and operates more than 50 stores across South Australia and Queensland.