Fighting retail crime: Co-op deploys dummy packaging as cost-of-living crisis exacerbates shoplifting

21 Aug 2023 --- Co-op is extending its trial of anti-theft “dummy display packaging” for targeted products on its shelves to deter rising levels of crime driven by prolific and persistent offenders and local organized criminal gangs. 

The packaging will be used across higher value products that the supermarket chain says are frequently targeted by criminals for resale in other local stores. Products include coffee, washing powder and laundry gel, with shoppers taking the dummy display case to the till, where it is exchanged for the real product. 

The convenience retailer has previously used the anti-theft packaging in a limited number of stores and expects it to “continue to become a more familiar feature in retailing.”

Matt Hood, Co-op’s food managing director, tells Packaging Insights that retail crime “is an ongoing challenge for all retailers and in the worst instances can even be described as ‘looting.’” 

Higher value products include washing powder and laundry gel, with shoppers taking the dummy to the till, where it is exchanged for the real product. “I have seen some horrific incidents of brazen and violent theft in our stores, where my colleagues feel scared and threatened,” he says. 

“Our members are at the sharp end, seeing crime in their communities get steadily worse. Shop theft is rising because repeat offenders and organized criminals are targeting local shops to steal goods to resell,” adds Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) chief executive James Lowman.

Police action needed
Last month, Co-op revealed it had seen record levels of crime, shoplifting and antisocial behavior, with almost 1,000 incidents in the UK each day in the six months to June – registering a 35% year-on-year increase. 

“I see first-hand how this criminal behavior also erodes the very fabric of our communities – it’s hard to over-emphasize how important urgent change is. Co-op has invested significantly in keeping colleagues and stores safe, but we need the police to play their part,” says Hood.

“Too often, forces fail to respond to desperate calls by our store teams and criminals are operating in communities without any fear of consequences.”

Police inspector Oliver Vale at the Nottinghamshire Police says that the collaborative work that has taken place between the police department and its partners in Co-op, Mitie and NBCS has provided the police with an opportunity to identify those committing the most harm in retail communities and communities as a whole. 

“Retail crime is something we recognize within Nottinghamshire Police as being an issue that needs to be proactively tackled but we cannot do this alone and the information sharing model that Op Synergy has developed has allowed for us to collaboratively secure significant convictions and prohibitive orders on some of our most prolific retail offenders by working with the Co-op.”In June, Co-op reportedly began to lock away chocolate bars due to the spiking cost-of-living crisis.

Cost-of-living crisis effect?
Shoplifting callouts to supermarkets rose by 75% last year as the cost-of-living crisis saw Brits turn to stealing. Figures obtained by The Mirror show large upturns in reports of people stealing food, drink and other essentials from the country’s leading chains, with almost every force in England and Wales recording an increase.

In June, Co-op reportedly began to lock away chocolate bars costing £1.35 (US$1.7) due to the spiking cost-of-living crisis. Toiletries were also among the goods locked up, with sun cream, moisturizer and nose spray among the protected items.

Industry reports show that almost two-thirds (63%) of crime is driven by repeat and prolific offenders, with drug or alcohol addictions and local organized criminal gangs, among the main drivers of offending.

Co-op warns that this level of “out-of-control” crime is unsustainable and could see some communities become a no-go area for local stores.

The retailer says it has invested over £200 million (US$254 million) in recent years in colleague- and community-safety to counter criminal behavior. This equates to four times the average convenience sector spend on security and safety measures per store. 

By Natalie Schwertheim