Yellow security tags spotted on meat at Coles Australia; supermarket explains new security measure

Supermarket security measures are pretty high-tech these days.

There are cameras everywhere, including on shelves and at checkouts, the scanning of our trolleys at checkouts to identify unscanned items, and security gates that can slam shut at a moment’s notice – even when we haven’t done anything wrong.

One day, my son placed a product on the wrong side at the self-checkout and we watched as the assistant pressed some buttons on the screen and played back footage of him scanning items!

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So, I shouldn’t have been surprised when I popped into Coles to buy some steak and noticed the majority of meat packages had a big yellow plastic security tag clipped on to them.

They certainly didn’t look like they were sophisticated high-tech security features, though. They looked more like they’d been placed there as a deterrent for shoppers thinking of nicking them.

They reminded me of the large plastic security clips placed on expensive clothing items.

These yellow clips seemed to be in addition to the more subtle security stickers that were also on each pack and served the same purpose.

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I picked up my steak pack and a few other items and went to the self-checkout section, wondering what the process would be to take it off. I scanned it first, and was met with a notification to ask for assistance.

The assistant came over to me and said she’d take the clip off. She wandered off to wherever she kept the device that would achieve this, and pressed a few buttons on the screen so I could keep scanning my items.

By the time I was done, she was still struggling to take it off. It wasn’t an easy process, but she eventually did it and the security tag looked a little worse for wear, as did my meat packet.

Not only did the experience deter me from stealing the package of meat, but it also deterred me from buying meat from Coles at all. The new butcher that had opened a few doors down was suddenly looking more appealing.

Coles explains new security measures

I reached out to Coles to ask about the new security measure, and was told these tags have been introduced into stores over the past 12 months, eventually landing in my local.

Other items being subjected to these measures include health and beauty items.

“While most of our customers do the right thing, unfortunately a small number don’t,” a Coles spokesperson told 9honey.

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“Measures like this ultimately help us deliver better availability for our customers looking for these products.”

The spokesperson said they have been “working hard to address retail crime and create a safe environment for our team and customers”.

“Along with working closely with police on this issue, we also have a range of safety and security measures in place including CCTV, electronic article surveillance (EAS), security guards, and de-escalation training for our team,” the added.

A quick visit to Woolworths confirmed they are still placing silver security tags on their meat packages, but have so far avoided further measures such as yellow clips.

‘Times are tough’

I asked Consumer Psychologist Peter Resanceff about these recent supermarket security measures.

“Times are tough and everyday Aussies are struggling to make ends meet,” he told 9honey.

“The unfortunate and inevitable consequence is that both Coles and Woolworths have reported significant increases in ‘stock loss’ (code for shoplifting).”

Resanceff said the stores’ measures included “anti-theft security tags on high-value items, especially in the meat aisle”.

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The “highly-visible bright yellow tags came out on top” during trials of different security measures from Coles when it came to reducing retail theft, he added.

However, they do come at a cost to other customers.

“Given that the vast majority of shoppers do the right thing, the consequence is that these security tags can make these honest shoppers feel uncomfortable,” he explained.

“It undermines a positive shopping experience by sending the signal that shoppers are not to be trusted.”

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Retail crime networks

Fleur Brown from the Australian Retailers Association said it isn’t just hard-up Aussies responsible for this increase in retail theft, but also organised crime syndicates.

“There were around 800,000 retail crime incidents reported across Australia in the past year, and more than half of those were serious, meaning they involved an assault or weapon,” she told 9honey.

How supermarkets have changed over the years

“It’s clear that organised retail crime networks and top offenders continue to cause the most harm, as data shows 10 percent of offenders last year were responsible for over 60 percent of the total harm and loss.”

Brown spoke of the need for “stronger consequences for serious and repeat offenders” to improve “community safety and reducing the threat of retail crime”, as well as the need for more attention being given to “exploring new technologies that are used in other locations to reduce the impact on retail teams”

“Retail crime is a focus of our election advocacy campaign, as we call on policymakers at all levels of government to invest in the safety of a sector that employs 1.4 million Australians and generates $430 billion annually,” she said.

Help for struggling Aussies

Resanceff said there is no longer a profile of a typical “supermarket shoplifter” outside of the aforementioned criminal syndicates.

“With current cost of living pressures reaching a peak, it is likely that we are seeing otherwise honest, hardworking Aussies resorting to desperate measures to keep food on the table,” he said.

“And it’s the big national retailers who cop it over the local corner shop.

“Those doing it tough are likely to feel that Woolworths or Coles, whose profits are soaring year after year, can afford to lose a few apples or some cheese slices here and there.”

Aussies struggling with grocery costs can contact their local charity food bank for help, no questions asked.

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