'What is happening': Shoppers share glaring sight at one Coles store
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In a world where the cost of living is constantly on the rise, it's no surprise that supermarkets are taking drastic measures to protect their goods.
Yet, the extent of these measures recently left customers utterly shocked and prompted a wave of disbelief.
A customer's photo from a Coles store caught people's attention as it showed an alarming detail: security tags on packets of meat.
The image showed dozens of meat trays in an open display fridge, each with its security tag.
'Tell me you live in the ghetto without telling me you live in the ghetto,' the shopper, Ms Mandy Van, said in her post.
This sighting underscored the disbelief many felt about security measures for everyday grocery items.
'What is happening in this world when a supermarket has more security than a bank?' one customer asked in disbelief.
'I'm sure they'll be implementing this at all Coles stores soon,' another shopper predicted.
Other shoppers shared their own experiences of heightened security measures at their local Coles.
Another resorted to requesting steak cuts directly from the butcher, who could then add a scanning code to the meat.
This would then prevent theft, as customers need to double-scan a product at checkout.
Other customers also noticed the security tags at their local stores, particularly since the introduction of self-checkout systems.
In response, a Coles spokesperson addressed the issue.
'The TikTok showing tags on some meat products is a very small trial in just 10 Victorian stores,' the spokesperson said.
Coles started a trial for the security tags on high-value items in March.
The supermarket giant believed that these measures could combat shoplifting amidst a cost of living crisis.
Recent data revealed an 85 per cent increase in meat theft between 2022 and 2023.
According to the crime intelligence platform Auror, about 67,000 meat theft cases were reported in 2023 alone.
The most commonly stolen meat was pork, followed by lamb and beef.
This trend has been a concern for both retailers and honest shoppers.
'It's important to note that the majority of customers do the right thing in store. Measures like this are for the ones who don't,' the spokesperson added.
'We are always reassessing and trying new security measures and are keen to hear local feedback on the trial.'
Have you seen these security tags at your local Coles lately? How do you feel about these security measures on food items? Share your thoughts and opinions with us in the comments below.
Yet, the extent of these measures recently left customers utterly shocked and prompted a wave of disbelief.
A customer's photo from a Coles store caught people's attention as it showed an alarming detail: security tags on packets of meat.
The image showed dozens of meat trays in an open display fridge, each with its security tag.
'Tell me you live in the ghetto without telling me you live in the ghetto,' the shopper, Ms Mandy Van, said in her post.
Packets of high-quality meat cuts had security tags on their packaging. Image Credit: TikTok/Ms Mandy Van
This sighting underscored the disbelief many felt about security measures for everyday grocery items.
'What is happening in this world when a supermarket has more security than a bank?' one customer asked in disbelief.
'I'm sure they'll be implementing this at all Coles stores soon,' another shopper predicted.
Other shoppers shared their own experiences of heightened security measures at their local Coles.
Another resorted to requesting steak cuts directly from the butcher, who could then add a scanning code to the meat.
This would then prevent theft, as customers need to double-scan a product at checkout.
Other customers also noticed the security tags at their local stores, particularly since the introduction of self-checkout systems.
In response, a Coles spokesperson addressed the issue.
'The TikTok showing tags on some meat products is a very small trial in just 10 Victorian stores,' the spokesperson said.
Coles started a trial for the security tags on high-value items in March.
The supermarket giant believed that these measures could combat shoplifting amidst a cost of living crisis.
Recent data revealed an 85 per cent increase in meat theft between 2022 and 2023.
According to the crime intelligence platform Auror, about 67,000 meat theft cases were reported in 2023 alone.
The most commonly stolen meat was pork, followed by lamb and beef.
This trend has been a concern for both retailers and honest shoppers.
'It's important to note that the majority of customers do the right thing in store. Measures like this are for the ones who don't,' the spokesperson added.
'We are always reassessing and trying new security measures and are keen to hear local feedback on the trial.'
