Supermarket is taking radical steps to combat shoplifting by adding GPS tracking to meat products

An Australian supermarket reaches a major milestone by introducing a new device that will stop customers from stealing expensive items from their stores.

For the first time in Australia, Drakes supermarket – which has 67 stores across South Australia and Queensland – is equipping a range of its meat products with a GPS tracker.

High-tech helps prevent expensive meat from being stolen

The high-tech box is used to package expensive cuts of meat such as Wagyu beef, an item that is often shoplifted because of its high price.

Drakes supermarket has started GPS tracking of its meat products. 7 news

Each box has a built-in GPS tracker. So if the meat leaves the store without a cashier removing the meat from the case, the technology steps in and helps the store determine the location.

“Meat is the most stolen item from our supermarkets,” supermarket owner JP Drake told 7 News.

“If someone leaves the store without picking it up, that triggers the GPS.”

While the pack earns supermarkets $30 per item, it is considered a worthwhile investment for independent, smaller supermarkets struggling with lost sales of such items.

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The new device is currently being tested in two South Australian stores with the hope of rolling out to other stores across the country in the coming months. And who knows, maybe even the larger supermarket giants?

“If someone steals something, they will steal it, and we have to make sure it is as hard as possible,” JP adds.

“Meat is the most commonly stolen item from our supermarkets,” said supermarket owner JP Drake. 7 news

Coles is increasing security

Back in March, Coles announced that they would also be testing new tactics to curb shoplifting in their supermarkets.

Photos posted on Reddit by a customer at a Melbourne store showed the strategic use of security tags similar to those found in a clothing store.

A Coles spokesman said it was part of a “very small trial” recently carried out in Victoria, stressing it was a targeted measure to curb the bad actors who are putting the safety of staff and customers at risk.

“It is important to note that the majority of customers are doing the right thing in store. Measures like this are for those who don’t,” they said.

“The Reddit post showing tags on some meat products is a very small trial in just 10 Victorian stores.

“We are constantly evaluating and testing new security measures and are excited to hear local feedback on the process.”

As soon as the meat leaves the supermarket, the alarm is triggered. 7 news

Customers weigh up

When the security tags were introduced, customers shared their opinions on the different ways stores are trying to combat shoplifting.

“Food is expensive. People want to feed their families. “Stealing is obviously not the right thing to do, but I wouldn't be surprised if the level of theft has increased recently,” one person told Kidspot.

Many others said it was a “sad sign of the times”, while others said that crabby meat – or anything from the supermarket for that matter – was so expensive.

Responding to the GP tracker launched at Drakes, one customer said he wasn't entirely surprised by the drastic measure.

“Meat [have] has actually been in the top 5 most stolen supermarket items for well over a decade,” one person shared on Facebook.

“People shouldn’t steal things anyway,” chimed in another shopper.