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GPS trackers have been spotted on packs of sausages in the latest security measure to crack down on shoplifting.
The trackers, which allow the locations of products to be followed after they leave the store, were seen on £3.90 Cumberland sausages in a Co-op in Sussex.
In an added layer of security, the produce was also placed in a locked plastic box.
It marks the latest in a long list of security measures implemented by supermarkets to deter shoplifting.
Some supermarkets have introduced body-worn cameras for security guards, stronger CCTV and covert guards trained to tackle thieves in a bid to stop criminals stealing their products.
A spokesperson for Co-op said: “We know the tide of criminality can be turned. Local shops are an anchor in communities, and we continue to invest significantly in wide-ranging safety and security measures, including the latest CCTV, body-worn cameras, fortified kiosks, security cases and covert and non-covert guarding.”
So far, the measures used by Co-op seem to be working, with the chain reporting a bigger than 205% drop in retail crime last year.
Shoplifting figures across England and Wales have spiked in recent years, but the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed they dropped slightly in 2025.
In total, 509,566 shoplifting offences were recorded last year, down from 516,611 in 2024.
However, the ONS has said that a reason for the fall could be a change in how police forces were told to record these crimes in April last year.
Forces are now made to register offences as a “robbery of a business” instead of shoplifting if the offender enters a shop, steals and either uses or threatens to use violence.
Reports of this crime increased significantly last year, rising by 78% to 26,158 offences.
The Association of Convenience Stores, a body that represents more than 50,000 local shops, told Money: “Convenience retailers have spent over £300m in the last year alone on crime prevention and detection measures in their stores as part of a constant balancing act between keeping products safe and secure and making them appealing for legitimate customers.
“Unfortunately, dealing with theft remains a daily reality for thousands of retailers, who are forced to invest in more diverse and innovative defensive measures to safeguard their livelihoods.”
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