Geelong Advertiser

Coles security measures aim to leave shoplifter­s high and dry

- HARRISON TIPPET

A GEELONG supermarke­t is locking lips with strict security measures, keeping everyday items out of reach of shoplifter­s.

Tiny tubes of lip balm costing as little as $4.70 are among items locked in plastic security cases in Coles’ central Geelong location.

Sticky-fingered shoppers have also been thwarted from pocketing tubs of honey and beauty items in the Westfield store, with the items also locked away in the security cases.

Electric toothbrush­es and teeth-whitening kits have also been wrapped with security tags, while steaks have tags stuck to their packaging to prevent shoppers from helping themselves to a five-finger discount.

A spokespers­on for Coles said “electronic article surveillan­ce tags” were one part of a range of security measures employed to reduce theft in their stores.

“While the large majority of our customers do the right thing, it’s not fair that a small number of people get away with doing the wrong thing,” the spokespers­on said.

“Like a number of retailers, we work with police to reduce shopliftin­g.

“There are also trained covert security officers in our stores nationally and they’re catching hundreds of thieves every week and reporting them to police.”

The lip balm lock-up comes after Coles shoppers in Corio discovered painkiller­s and pregnancy tests had been taken off the shelves earlier this year.

Products such as Panadol, Nurofen and the pregnancy tests had been placed behind the supermarke­t’s front counter — a space typically reserved for cigarettes — to stop shoplifter­s from targeting the items.

 ??  ?? Lip balm, toothbrush­es and honey are among the items in security cases at a Geelong Coles.
Lip balm, toothbrush­es and honey are among the items in security cases at a Geelong Coles.

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