“We have a number of initiatives that we use,both covert and overt,to help reduce retail crime and keep our team members safe in our stores,” the spokesperson said.

MST retail analyst Craig Woolford said supermarkets had several ways of preventing shoplifters.

“Shoplifting has taken off recently … and the escalation is worrying for retailers,” he said,adding shoppers are likely to see an increase in all forms of preventative measures.

He said many self-serve checkouts had cameras that watch shoppers,while artificial intelligence detects any inconsistencies or if the trolley is not empty when the customer tries to pay.

The trolley locking technology employed by some supermarkets uses smart gates at the exit which fasten the wheels if someone tries to leave without paying.

High-value and easily pocketable items are now frequently placed in plastic containers or have electronic article surveillance tags that beep at the exit or radio frequency identification stickers that can be used to track back to the original store when recovered.

They also employ low-tech solutions,such as separate exits and one-way entrances to prevent a quick getaway,CCTV recordings and plain-clothed loss prevention officers.

Woolford said the increase in stealing was not just down to the rising cost of living,but because of the ability to resell stolen goods.

“There are a lot of products,like mainstream household cleaning products or high-value products like red meat,that are easily sold either on an e-commerce platform or a secondary market,” he said.

But technology only goes so far:“The real challenge is staff are rightly told not to stop shoplifters,and some of it has become quite brazen. ”

National Secretary of the SDA,the union for retail,fast food,warehouse and online retail workers Gerard Dwyer said retailers’ and legislative focus should turn to workplace design that inhibits theft and instances of customer abuse,as well as law reform around customer abuse and violence.

“Shoppers should remember that retail workers are providing an essential service – ensuring you get the essentials of life to put food on the table and provide for your children,” he said.

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