THE Co-op has warned that dummy packaging, where the product is not contained inside, is set to become a more prevalent and familiar sight in UK retail amidst ‘out of control’ levels of theft.
Revealing that it experienced almost 1,000 incidents of shoplifting and anti-social behaviour each day from the start of the year until June 2023, the retailer added that one of its London stores was looted three times in a single day.
In response to the surge in crime, the Co-op has invested £200 million in a range of measures including GPS tracked security cases and dummy packaging. The retailer said that it believes dummy packaging will ‘only become a more prevalent and familiar sight’ in retailing.
Matt Hood, Co-op food MD, said, “We know retail crime is driven by repeat and prolific offenders and, organised criminal gangs. It is an ongoing challenge for all retailers, and in the worst instances can even be described as looting. I have seen some horrific incidents of brazen and violent theft in our stores, where my store colleagues feel scared and threatened.
“I see first-hand how this criminal behaviour also erodes the very fabric of our communities – it’s hard to over-emphasise 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. Too often, Forces fail to respond to desperate calls by our store teams, and criminals are operating in communities without any fear of consequences.”
