A major supermarket is cracking down on thieves, implementing new technology in a bid to stop shoplifters in their tracks.
Coles has gradually rolled out trolleys with sensors in its wheels that lock if a customer tries to leave the story without paying.
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One customer who recently shopped at a Coles supermarket in Melbourne’s northwest detailed their experience with the new tech on social media.
“My wife and I went into Moonee Ponds Coles yesterday, with our toddler in the trolley. My wife only needed to grab two things and my toddler was acting up, so I decided to head out with her in the trolley early,” they wrote.
“There were some empty reusable shopping bags in the trolley. I walked out through one of the checkouts, and when I walked through one of the exits, one of the alarms started buzzing and my front trolley wheels locked up.
“I was super confused.”
A staff member came over and checked the bags, and after giving the customer the all clear, “she clicked a remote control and my wheels magically unlocked”.
“I had no idea Coles has tech to lock up your trolley,” the customer wrote.
Tech company Rocateq says there is a growing demand for anti-theft technology.
As well as shopping cart locks, they’ve also developed smart baskets that sound an alarm when someone leaves the store without paying.
“The basket has got a chip built into it which basically talks to the receiver, which is there at the entrance of the shop,” Rocateq spokesperson Satya Bhongade said.
A Coles spokesperson told 7NEWS.com.au that the trolley-lock technology has been in place at a number of its stores in recent years.
“Coles has 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 spokesperson said.
“Some of these security measures are trials at this stage, and we are keen to hear what our customers think of the new technology before it is rolled out further.”
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