Waitrose is introducing a new 'smart cabinet' rule to clamp down on shoplifting amid a UK epidemic. The supermarket chain, which has stores in Birmingham and Solihull, will trial the new technology for premium spirits and champagne before the end of the year.
How the Smart Cabinets Work
Self-locking cabinets typically require customers to use touchpad screens before they can be opened. John Lewis, which owns Waitrose, said these new systems showed it was not 'standing still' on ways to reduce crime.
John Lewis Statement on Retail Crime
Lucy Brown, John Lewis’s director of central operations, said: 'I can appreciate that for partners it can be frustrating sometimes, particularly when you see what’s been described as a tide of retail crime and epidemic of shoplifting... It may feel like standing back is us not acting, but this isn’t the case.' John Lewis said it was not able to discuss the full details of the case but said it had followed the 'correct process'.
Safety Concerns for Staff
It warned of the 'serious danger to life in tackling shoplifters'. Jason Tarry, the chairman of John Lewis, later said the answer to dealing with crime was not to 'encourage' workers to take on thieves. Mr Tarry said security staff would 'intervene to challenge shoplifters – but only if they’ve been trained and it’s safe to do so'. Ms Brown said workers’ 'first instinct may be to attempt to detain a suspect or recover the stock', but added that this 'isn’t always the safest thing to do'.
Evidence Gathering Approach
She went on: 'We might not catch the shoplifter in that shop on that day, but we can use that evidence to catch them down the line.'
Additional Security Measures
A spokesman for John Lewis said: 'We are currently investing in a range of advanced technology, including smart technology to deter theft. As part of this we are planning to pilot lockable smart cabinets for areas such as spirits and champagne soon. We already use smart shelf technology in our health, beauty and spirits aisles, which are able to sense unusual customer behaviour, so this would provide an additional layer of security.'
