Co-op has utilized GPS trackers on sausages to combat theft incidents, as revealed in a recent social media post. The trackers were observed on a pack of Co-op Irresistible Cumberland sausages, valued at £3.90, at a store in Sussex and were secured in a perspex box.
According to a Co-op spokesperson, the company is committed to enhancing safety and security measures to address criminal activities. These measures include advanced CCTV systems, body-worn cameras, fortified kiosks, security cases, and both covert and non-covert security personnel. The efforts have led to a notable reduction in retail crime levels at Co-op by over 20% last year, with a continued decline in 2026.
Supermarkets across the UK have been ramping up security measures to deter theft incidents within their premises. Strategies such as locking display cabinets and implementing receipt-scanning gates at exit points have been adopted. Recent data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) indicated 5.5 million recorded theft incidents in the previous year, resulting in significant financial losses for retailers.
While incidents of violence and abuse against retail workers decreased by 20% in 2025 according to BRC figures, they still remained at a high level. The number of physical violence incidents against staff and those involving weapons per day remained relatively constant from the prior year. Despite an overall reduction in incidents since the pandemic, levels are considered unacceptably high compared to pre-pandemic times.
The Crime and Policing Bill, which recently received Royal Assent, has eliminated the £200 threshold for lower-value theft, now treating all shoplifting incidents as general theft and criminal offenses.
BRC’s chief executive, Helen Dickinson, emphasized the need for collaborative efforts between retailers, law enforcement, and the government to address the persistent issues of violence and theft. She stressed the importance of consistent enforcement, enhanced data sharing, and targeted actions against prolific offenders and organized criminal groups to combat these challenges effectively.
