Aussie supermarket's drastic move to stop people stealing expensive items

Do you think this is necessary or a tad too far? 

An Aussie supermarket is hitting a major milestone by introducing a new device to stop people stealing expensive items from their stores. 

In an Australian first, Drakes supermarket - which has 67 stores across South Australia and Queensland - is arming a range of their meat products with a GPS tracker. 

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The anti-theft device costs supermarkets around $30. Image: 7 News

High-tech help to stop people stealing expensive meat

The high-tech box will be used to enclose expensive cuts of meat such as Wagyu beef, an item that is often stolen from their store because of the high price tag. 

Each box has a built-in GPS tracker, so if it leaves the store without a cashier removing the meat item from the box, the technology kicks in to help the store hunt down the location. 

“Meat is the number one thing that is stolen from our supermarkets,” supermarket owner, JP Drake, told 7 News. 

"If someone leaves the store without it being detached, that will set off the GPS."

While the box will set the supermarkets back $30 per item, it is considered an investment well worth it for the independent, smaller supermarkets who struggle with the loss of sales on such items. 

The new device is currently being trialled in two South Australian stores with the hope that it will be rolled out to others around the country in the coming months. And who knows, maybe even the bigger supermarket giants too?

“If someone’s going to steal something, they’re going to steal it and we need to make sure it’s as hard as possible," JP adds. 

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Coles beefs up security

Back in March, Coles announced they were also trialling new tactics to curb shoplifting in their supermarkets. 

Photos posted to Reddit by a customer at a Melbourne store unveiled the strategic use of security tags similar to those you’d find in a clothing store.

A Coles spokesperson said it was part of a “very small trial” recently rolled out in Victoria and insisted it was a targeted effort to rein in the miscreants who threaten the safety of both staff and customers. 

“It’s important to note that the majority of customers do the right thing in-store. Measures like this are for the ones who don’t,” they said.

“The Reddit post showing tags on some meat products is a very small trial in just 10 Victorian stores.

“We are always reassessing and trying new security measures and are keen to hear local feedback on the trial.”

The meat is stored in a box with a GPS tracker. Image: 7 News

RELATED: Customers outraged over supermarket’s new bag policy

Customers weigh in

At the time of the security tags being rolled out, customers shared their views on the various ways stores were trying to combat shoplifting. 

“Food is expensive. People want to feed their families. Stealing is obviously not the right thing to do, but it wouldn't surprise me if the level of stealing has increased recently," one person shared with Kidspot. 

Many others said it was a "sad sign of the times" while others were just grumpy meat - or anything from the supermarket really - is so expensive. 

Reacting to the GP tracker introduced at Drakes, one customer said they weren't entirely surprised by the drastic move. 

"Meats [have] actually been one of the top 5 most stolen supermarket items for well over a decade," one person shared on Facebook. 

"People shouldn’t be stealing things anyway," another shopper chimed in. 

Originally published as Aussie supermarket's drastic move to stop people stealing expensive items