Grocery chain locks meat in GPS-tracked boxes after theft surge

by

Co-op, a UK supermarket chain, is now using GPS-tracked plastic containers to secure meat after a recent increase in thefts nationwide.

Co-op stores in England have been finding sausages, sirloin steaks, and whole beef joints mistakenly placed in boxes meant for other products.

GPS tags are used to prevent shoplifting by alerting staff if an item leaves the store without being purchased. They can only be deactivated when an item is paid for at the checkout.

The announcement caused a strong response on social media. Duncan Barkes, who hosts the podcast ‘Prick With A Fork’ about sausages, posted a picture on X (formerly Twitter) of sausages in a sturdy box, jokingly writing, “Britain has fallen.”

Someone is leaving sausages in locked, clear plastic boxes, each with a GPS tracker, near my home in the countryside of Sussex. It feels like a strange sign that things have really changed in Britain.

— Duncan Barkes (@DuncanBarkes) May 17, 2026

Part of a much bigger security overhaul

The Independent reports that these boxes are just one part of a larger effort to improve security, which also includes things like CCTV cameras, body cameras for security staff, and better-protected checkout areas.

Last year, shoplifting across the UK reached 5.5 million reported incidents, costing retailers over £400 million (about $537.6 million), according to the British Retail Consortium.

The retailer reported a significant decrease in crime last year – over 20% – and also saw a 36% reduction in anti-social behavior. Physical assaults on staff also fell by 31% thanks to these efforts.

The Co-op isn’t the only store taking these measures. Tesco also keeps some meat behind lock and key, and in the past, stores across the UK have put popular chocolate bars from brands like Cadbury and Lindt in security boxes due to frequent shoplifting.

This isn’t the only strange story about food security that’s been in the news lately. In 2025, thieves stole all the snails from a French farm, costing the business around $100,000 and impacting their holiday supply.

Read More

2026-05-24 15:18