Coles shoppers spot popular $7.50 item locked in anti-theft container
A Coles shopper shared video of her store discovery online.
Aussies were shocked to see Coles has resorted to selling a small $7.50 item in anti-theft containers on the store's shelves.
Samantha Parkinson shared a video of a 25g tube of Lucas' Papaw ointment in a security container online labelling it as "absolute madness" with countless others agreeing. People were initially outraged by the $13 price tag before it was pointed out that was for the larger tub, and the smaller tube was sitting in the wrong shelf space.
"For $13 I'm keeping the container too!" one person reacted.
Why is such a low-price item in an anti-theft container?
Coles has previously advised this kind of container is used for security purposes to deter stealing. "While the majority of our customers do the right thing, from time to time individual stores make decisions to put additional security measures in place for some high-value products," a spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia at the time.
"If a customer wishes to purchase the item, it’s as simple as getting the encasing removed at the checkout."
While $7.50 does not seem like it would be classed as "high-value", one commenter confirmed the popularity of this product among those with sticky fingers. "People steal these from our work all the time," the person said.
Yahoo has reached out to Coles for confirmation of the item's pricing and security status.
Supermarket's continued rollout of anti-theft measures
Some Australian supermarkets have admitted to experiencing a surge in shoplifting this year — it's thought tougher economic conditions, such as increasing grocery prices and the rental crisis, are contributing.
The rise in supermarket theft is an industry-wide problem, a Coles spokesperson told Yahoo in July. The major retailer says it is "regularly working with police to reduce shoplifting" in its stores.
More than one in 10 Aussies have admitted to stealing in the past year as they reach a financial breaking point, according to a survey by comparison site Finder of 1,063 people. Meanwhile, about five per cent confessed to stealing items at the supermarket self-checkout.
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