'What is happening': Shoppers share glaring sight at one Coles store

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.


compressed-coles (1).jpeg
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.'
Key Takeaways

  • Coles shoppers were shocked to see security tags attached to packets of meat in a store.
  • A video revealing the security measures showed numerous meat trays in a fridge tagged to prevent theft.
  • Coles confirmed that the security tags were part of a small trial in ten stores in Victoria.
  • The supermarket giant started trials for the security tag last March to prevent the rising number of shoplifting cases in the country.
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.
 

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If you do the right thing and have nothing to hide why would you worry about a few security tags on the products you pay for. With any luck it might help to make Products a bit cheaper if we don’t have to compensate for shoplifting. Won’t worry me at all.
 
I'm imagining the only people worried about this are the people that are shoplifting. Honest shoppers shouldn't care as long as they are buying their meat. My kids used to work at our local IGA and said that the amount of meat that used to be stolen was beyond a joke. They'd be shoved up peoples tops, down their pants, under the babies. The problem with this, even if the meat is retrieved, it can't go back on the shelves again and it is thrown away. The same with speed cameras. I'm sick of hearing 'revenue raisers'. If you don't speed, you don't get caught. Bring on more CCTV cameras out on the streets. If you are behaving yourself, nothing to worry about is there. It's pretty simple.
 
Well if people stopped stealing this measure didn't need to happen.
they dont have serious penalties for shop lifting and the public seem to think it doesn't hurt the shops (they make plenty ) ....well they do BUT the shoplifting adds to the price of the product, ..it doesn't hurt the shop keeper , the public pay for the thief....the shop doesn't lose a cent
 
Don’t know about it being a trial run in very few Victorian Coles stores. My local Coles in mid-coast NSW has had theses, on and off for months now. Doesn’t worry me at all.
'The TikTok showing tags on some meat products is a very small trial in just 10 Victorian stores,' the spokesperson said.

They have been in existence for over five years in Victoria and Western Australia.
 

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