Safeway shopper argues obvious new anti-theft measure to buy milk at self-checkout proves ‘things are on wrong track’

A SAFEWAY customer questioned the store’s anti-theft measures after they purchased two regular items.

This shopper compared the store’s exit area to TSA security and questioned why they used a specific piece of technology.

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An increasing number of retailers, especially grocery stores, have increased their use of anti-theft measures.

These have included policies like receipt checking or locking up goods in plexiglass boxes.

Sadie’s encounter with one of these measures showed how they can be controversial for consumers.

Her X post shared an image of a machine at her California Safeway store.

This gate was between the self-checkouts and the store’s exit and required shoppers to scan their receipts to leave.

Sadie questioned the future of retail and crime due to this.

“I would say things are on the Wrong Track here in CA when the Alhambra @Safeway is forced to spend thousands of dollars on installing anti theft entry/exit gates and receipt scanning gates by self check out,” she wrote in her post.

She mocked the extremity of this measure and said she just visited the store to purchase two standard items.

“TSA just to get a banana and milk,” she added.

These receipt-operated gates are not exclusive to this Safeway store as they have been implemented at several of the company’s locations.

This technology would replace the need for store employees to conduct receipt checks.

Safeway revealed that these were partly introduced as a way to combat retail theft.

Despite this, more customer have shared their anger and distaste for this technology, The U.S. Sun has previously reported.

Some of these sentiments were shared on a heated Reddit thread.

“Not liking the feeling of being trapped in a space until someone decides to let me out… what if no employee is standing there?” owner person wrote.

“I’m a hostage in the store until I can flag someone down? Dang.

“Haven’t seen these yet in my neck of the woods. I don’t think I’d be too excited to use them.”

“A barrier for those who abide the law, a hurdle for those who don’t,” another person wrote.

One shopper shared why they agreed with Safeway and this measure.

“Don’t mind this at all, doesn’t take time to scan the receipt,” they said.

The U.S. Sun has reached out to Safeway for comment.

https://www.the-sun.com/news/11796178/safeway-anti-theft-measure-self-checkout-scan-receipt/