Going grocery shopping is one that many look forward to. However, gone are the days of leisurely meandering through aisle after aisle and building relationships with checkout staff.

Nowadays, the majority head straight for the self-serve checkout tills, and while they’re generally straightforward to use and a good time-saver, they come with their own set of hassles.

Recently, shoppers have noticed a strange new addition at the self-serve checkout areas of Coles supermarkets across Australia: electronic gate systems.

Scores of Aussies have seen the 'bizarre' new installations and talked about it on social media platforms, labelling them 'creepy' and 'intimidating'.

Coles Supermarkets have implemented an electronic gate system against theft. Image: Reddit

So why has Coles gone to the trouble of installing these ominous-looking security gates? Well, the supermarket chain has seen a 20 per cent rise in theft this year, and the roll-out of these gates is the final step in a system designed to help reduce this.

The gates feature cameras that track all items that are placed in bags. If discrepancies are detected between what’s on the screen and what’s in the bag, the gate will shut, and an alarm will sound—this is meant to deter any would-be thieves from leaving the store with unpaid goods.

Coles is also using the latest anti-theft technology to prevent people from getting away with items in their trolleys. Wheels on the new trolleys will completely lock up the moment they leave the store.

A spokesperson from Coles said: 'We know that retail crime is on the increase across all retailers, and we have a range of security measures in place to reduce theft from our stores, including CCTV, electronic article surveillance (EAS) and in some stores, new smart gate technology that automatically opens as customers make payment for their products.'

The new technology also tracks customers while they’re in the store, recording how long they spend in each aisle before reaching the self-serve checkout.

Some shoppers who have been caught at the checkout or seen someone else get caught by the mysterious new gates were not too pleased about the situation.

One woman on social media said: 'Now you're locked into Coles. I couldn't get out of the self-serve checkout once I'd finished my shopping 'til they looked at my receipt and pressed a button for the new glass gates.'

Other customers voiced similar sentiments, with one saying: 'Maybe they should just create jobs and reopen checkouts and stop self-serve?'

A shopper was outraged by the newly implemented technology at Coles. Image: TikTok / @feefeegirl8

The woman also noticed that the same gates had also been installed at the staffed checkouts after passing through.

'So it's not enough that they are price gouging and ripping us off, they now lock you into Coles, and you can't get out,' the Coles shopper added.

The woman also sought answers saying, 'I asked the lady "What's going on here? Are we locked in here now?" and she's like, "Oh no no no" and I go, "Well, it doesn't seem to open when anyone walks up to it".'

The Coles shopper added an explanation on her video that once the bags have been checked, the employee needs to push a button in order for the gates to open.

However, Coles is sure to have taken into account the rise in theft and ultimately done what they believe is best to protect their customers and inventory.

Furthermore, Woolworths has also started implementing similar anti-theft measures, so you can expect to find similar gates in-store at Woolies too.

You can watch the shopper’s full video below:

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Key Takeaways

• Coles has introduced a new electronic gate system in the self-serve checkout areas to deter theft, which has sparked conversation among customers.
• If discrepancies are found between items scanned and bagged, smart gates will shut, and an alarm will sound. If a suspected thief still tries to leave, the wheels on the high-tech trolleys will lock up.
• The system, which includes security cameras and electronic article surveillance, tracks customers from the moment they enter the store until they reach the self-checkout.
• Some customers have voiced their dissatisfaction with the measures, suggesting the supermarket invest in more staff instead.

Have you seen these new security gates in your local Coles? What was your reaction? Let us know in the comments below!

 

[Rosalie30]

Hahahaha - this is soooooooooo Bl**dy funny. I DONT want to use the self-serve area, but it is becoming harder and harder not too as Coles are closing increasingly more staffed tellers or are limiting the time, they are open. I have no problem of being scanned or watched (BigBrother) as I shop because I know I have always paid for everything. But the day they stop me, and it is proven that I have paid for everything, they better be ready with their free vouchers and a formal apology (in writing) for the embarrassment that they have caused me.

 

[Harro1948]

Saw these "gates' today at Coles Maddington WA. and thought here we go another "security measure" its getting out of hand. Its like Coles doesn't trust anyone who comes into their stores these days. I also noticed coming down from ceiling within the store camera's on long poles !!! Really, it puts you off shopping in these stores. Sad times for sure.

 

[Mika in the van]

We use self serve because there is rarely more than 1 checkout open. And that usually has a queue of people with full trollies. (Rural store. ) As for locking trollies, we found in the USA they locked so you couldn’t steal the trolley. They would lock as soon as you walked out of the building, leaving us struggling to carry a weeks groceries to our motorhome. Same thing happened in Dubbo.
if the stores don’t want theft, then pay to have staff to look after their customers. They brag every year on what huge profits they make.

 

[Wendy]

Do you often go grocery shopping just to satisfy your urge to be a self proclaimed shit stirrer? Problem is, your actions could be rather irritating to other shoppers for obvious reasons. Or is your message another example of your shit stirring?

And for the staff who now have to clear up after you and can't be on a check out serving polite people.

 

[Shirley Sargent]

Good on you Coles for installing these. But they should never have been installed in the first place. Taking away employment for many people.

 

[Alicat09]

One of my daughters works in a retail clothing shop part time and numerous times has had to confront thieves and would be thieves as they walk out the doors with unpaid items. She’s fed up with it. Stealing is rampant and I know if I owned any type of shop, I’d try whatever I could (and whatever I could afford), to prevent theft.

I don't agree with stealing. My point was aimed specifically at the two big supermarkets as it has been proven they were unnecessarily over-inflating prices, thus ripping off customers.

 

[Wendy]

My daughter works at Coles and explained the reason they need the security gates on the self check out area. People go in with a full trolley load, scan everything then put it all back in the trolley and walk out without paying, this happens multiple times a day. The new checkouts know when you have paid and the number of items you have, then they unlock the gates, but not if you haven't paid. Last week she saw a guy with a full trolley hovering near the entrance gates waiting for someone to come in, when he saw someone come in he made a dash to get out, but the front gates had already closed and he smashed into them, they shattered into thousands of pieces and his trolley load went over, stuff everywhere and he just ran. Again this is not unusual. If people would stop stealing we wouldn't have this problem.

 

[midgemills]

I was told, early in the time of "Self Service" petrol pumps that the boss could NOT put gates on the forecourt as that could result in a charge of FALSE IMPRISONMENT.

Why are they called service stations when they no longer give service?

 

[BruceC]

I was told, early in the time of "Self Service" petrol pumps that the boss could NOT put gates on the forecourt as that could result in a charge of FALSE IMPRISONMENT.

Coles Endeavour Hills has just done the same!