Aldi store's drastic move at entrance after spike in thefts
Shoppers were puzzled over the weekend when they realised they weren't able to use baskets at a Sydney Aldi store.
An Aldi store has been forced to take the drastic action of temporarily removing shopping baskets for its customers after they kept on disappearing.
The supermarket confirmed to Yahoo News Australia its store in Sydney's Waterloo is facing a "shortage of baskets", leaving shoppers only the option of using trolleys which require a $1 or $2 coin to use.
When approached in store, a staff member speculated up to 2,000 baskets had been "stolen", however an Aldi spokesperson did not respond to questioning about the claim, nor did they offer a possible reason behind the baskets vanishing. However it is understood the supermarket will act upon illegal activity detected in its stores, with CCTV in use to monitor theft.
"We are working to replenish the baskets as quickly as possible and have introduced a smaller 105-litre trolley at the Waterloo store to ensure our customers can continue to enjoy a comfortable shopping experience," the spokesperson said.
Aldi only introduced baskets to its Australian stores in 2022 after customers had long asked for them.
Supermarkets respond to accusations of destroying 'edible' food
Coles ingredient in Easter biscuits leaves mum totally 'disgusted'
Supermarkets cracking down on theft amid cost-of-living crisis
Theft has been on the rise in Australian supermarkets as the cost-of-living crisis continues to punish millions across the country. While Coles and Woolworths have rolled out a series of security measures to crack down on theft, Aldi appears to be less controlling with its customers. Earlier this year Yahoo revealed Aldi's self-service checkouts were not operating with a responsive weight plate used to detect items wrongly placed in the baggage area.
Aldi has not followed suit with rivals Coles and Woolworths in rolling out security gates at its self-service areas.
While Aldi is renowned for its cheap prices, it too has been forced to up prices as financial pressures continue to bite. The supermarket does however remain a firm favourite among Australian shoppers, and has been named the country's favourite supermarket six years in a row in Canstar's Supermarket Satisfaction awards.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
