Major supermarket introduces drastic new measure at self-checkouts - and customers cannot throw out their receipt
A MAJOR supermarket has implemented a drastic new safety measure to prevent shoplifting.
Customers must keep their receipts in order to leave.
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Safeway has installed electronic barriers at the self-checkouts of one location in an effort to prevent shoplifting.
The store, located in San Francisco, has taken dramatic measures following an increase in thefts, particularly at the self-checkout stations.
Customers must scan their receipts for the barriers to open.
Local outlet Hoodline reported that the new system has been working well, although issues can occur when there is a high volume of customers leaving at one time.
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For Safeway, this is the third store in the Bay Area where they have installed this new anti-theft technology.
Spokesperson Wendy Gutshall told the SF Chronicle: "Recent changes were made at select Safeway stores in the Bay Area to maintain a safe and welcoming shopping experience for our customers and associates given the amount of theft.
"Those updates include operational changes to the front end of the store to deter shoplifting," she added.
"Like other local businesses, we are working on ways to curtail escalating theft so we can ensure the well-being of our employees and foster a welcoming environment for our customers.
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“These long-planned security improvements were implemented with those goals in mind.”
Safeway is just one of many major retailers that have indicated crime is becoming a serious issue that is tearing away at profits.
SEEING A SHRINK?
This week, Dick’s Sporting Goods chief executive officer Lauren Hobart blamed the store’s declining profitability on increasing theft.
Hobart said the fall in profits for Q2 was “due in large part to the impact of elevated inventory shrink, an increasingly serious issue impacting many retailers.”
Shrink is a retail industry term that refers to inventory that is stolen, lost, or damaged.
Target and Walmart have also raised concerns about theft at their nationwide stores.
‘VIOLENCE AND THREATS’
“During the first five months of this year, our stores saw a 120 percent increase in theft incidents involving violence or threats of violence,” said Target chief executive officer Brian Cornell during an earnings call last week.
Issues with crime are particularly bad in San Francisco.
Dozens of major retailers have fled the city since the pandemic, with Westfield also recently deciding to close down its 170-store mall.
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Westfield has blamed “rampant criminal activity” for the decision by many stores to abandon Golden Gate City.
One retail expert said increasing theft is only leading to price increases for law-abiding shoppers.
