On the weekend, it was announced that Tesco is testing new trolley scales that are able to tell if a Scan as you Shop shopper has added or scanned too many items.
In the current system, shoppers scan as they go and check out themselves, meaning there are fewer points to check if any extra items have been added.
With many of their shops being too busy for security to fully patrol, and shoplifting on the rise, it’s no surprise that they are taking action to reduce it.
The news got mixed reactions, with many saying it makes shoppers feel like thieves. But with ONS statistics showing a 23% rise in shoplifting in the year ending September 2024, it’s no surprise big companies are doing more to combat theft.
What Are The Most Commonly Shoplifted Items in The UK?
According to Fahrenheit Security, the most commonly stolen items are:
- Baby formula
- Medicine
- Meat and food
- Alcohol
- Coffee
- Cosmetics
- Clothing
And with supermarkets like Tesco and Sainsbury’s reporting rises of up to 16% in shoplifters, it’s no surprise they are taking greater measures to protect their businesses.
So what tech can companies use to prevent shoplifting? Here, we take a look…
CCTV
Probably one of the most commonly used technologies to combat shoplifting, CCTV cameras have allowed shop owners to keep an eye on all areas of their stores for decades.
Especially valuable for those who have small staff bodies and large shops to keep track of, these cameras can be useful tools to deter any theft.
Whilst modern surveillance has more advanced features to recognise any suspicious behaviour, CCTV has been historically used to prevent and catch thieves stealing any items.
Facial Recognition AI
For repeat offenders in a certain area, facial recognition AI can alert shopkeepers and staff to any people that have previously shoplifted from them or stores nearby.
Whilst shop owners may have historically displayed the faces of people they want to keep an eye out for, with modern technology they can track them in real-time, getting alerts as soon as they walk through the door.
As repeat offenders can be a tough group to clamp down on, this is a hugely valuable technology for shops, both big and small.
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Tags
There are two main types of tags used to prevent people stealing items. The first, RFID (radio frequency identification) tags are placed within items to trigger alarms if they aren’t paid for and pass a security gate.
This can help alert security to anything suspicious quickly, catching the thief before they walk through the door.
The other type, EAS tags, are hard tags and stickers that must be physically removed from items by staff during checkout.
These tags will usually be designed to cause damage if they are ripped off, with some spilling ink and others creating large holes. This not only allows security to act if an item is being taken, but also acts as a deterrent.
AI Facial Reading
Not to be confused with facial recognition, facial reading allows cameras to detect and alert security of any suspicious behaviour or activity.
By analysing customer behaviour and detecting any spaces in a store that may be crowded or prone to theft, these cameras make it easier for staff to walk around vulnerable areas and catch onto thieves quickly.
Advanced Self-Checkout
Advanced self-checkouts are able to detect any scanning errors or product swapping at checkouts. For example, people might put through cheaper fruit and veg, such as bananas or onions, when they are actually buying more expensive items.
These new checkout technologies, equipped with AI and weight sensors, can help cut down on these small thefts.
Smart Mirrors In Fitting Rooms
Fitting rooms can be the perfect spaces for people to shoplift. To help combat this, smart mirrors are able to sense if a person leaves with a different number of items that they entered with.
If they do, the system can quickly alert staff, allowing them to act fast.
Cutting Down On Crime with Tech
There’s no denying that shoplifting can have an incredibly negative effect on a business and the wider economy. As shoplifting rates continue to rise and security gets more expensive, retailers are finding new wats to curb crime in their customers.
