Woolies installing locked cabinets for deodorant aerosols across the NT to combat theft and inhalant abuse

In an attempt to combat theft and inhalant abuse, supermarket giant Woolworths is rolling out locked cabinets for deodorant aerosols across the NT.

• OFF THE SHELVES: Coles puts aerosol deodorants in lockable cabinets

WOOLWORTHS is rolling out locked cabinets for deodorant aerosols across the Northern Territory, in an attempt to combat theft and inhalant abuse of the products.

The first set of cabinets was unveiled at Woolworths in Casuarina on Tuesday, with the remainder to be installed in the rest of the Northern Territory’s stores by the end of August.

The cabinets are located in the health and beauty aisle.

Customers can access products by pressing a button on the cabinet, which notifies a Woolworths staff member who will then unlock it and retrieve a product.

Woolworths acknowledged the issue of theft and subsequent inhalant abuse of aerosol deodorants within the community, with NT group manager Scott Mackay saying the company was committed to decreasing harm.

“At Woolworths, we want to play our part in reducing the abuse of the products in the Territory,” he said.

“With these new cabinets we’re hoping to significantly reduce the opportunity for misuse while continuing to offer access to the products where our customers expect to find them.

“We’ll listen closely to feedback from our customers, team members and local community groups on the effectiveness of the trial over the coming months.

“We’ll also continue to explore further ways to help the broader community effort to address misuse.”

It comes after Coles removed aerosol deodorants from the aisles of all its NT stores in early June.

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“Like a number of retailers, Coles is working to minimise harm caused by the misuse of aerosol products,” a Coles spokeswoman said.

“All Coles supermarkets in the Northern Territory now have lockable aerosol cabinets installed and customers seeking to purchase these products can simply ask a team member at the service desk for ­assistance.”

The abuse of several household products, including baking essences and hair dye, in the NT has become concerning.