Morrisons to clamp down on shoplifters with new crime fighting tech | UK | News
Morrisons is cracking down on repeat shoplifters in its stores with new crime-fighting technology. The supermarket will implement a new crime reporting system designed by Auror across all 500 of its locations by early 2026.
It comes as the company announced it was closing 145 locations. Meanwhile, there are record levels of crime and abuse at Morrisons, which has led to the introduction of new crime reporting technology. General store reported. Auror’s systems are already used in UK stores including Holland & Barrett, M7S, Home Bargains and Boots. It works on the basis of collective intelligence, digitizing the way staff record and report crimes and allowing them to enter extra information in a consistent format. This may include CCTV footage, recording of stolen goods and threatening or violent behaviour.
The technology then aggregates all of this information into one consistent source, which helps retailers identify trends in criminal activity in their stores. It also helps provide better evidence in police reports.
50 of Morrisons Midlands stores are already trialling the technology and found 60% of repeat offenders targeted more than one store. This information made it easier for the stores involved in the case to plan against criminals, provide protection, and block their entry.
It was not reported whether crime fell during this trial, but store managers felt “more informed and safer.” Morrisons also “tripled the value” of information sent to police, leading to 11 prosecutions for 35 offenses during the 12-week trial.
Previously, crime data collection was entirely local and inconsistent; This made it nearly impossible for data analysis to provide deeper insight into abuses at Morrisons stores. The technology is part of the supermarket’s three-year technology transformation, which is part of the comeback of Morrisons CEO Rami Baitiéh. “This new partnership will provide our stores with the right technology to work with police to more effectively combat in-store crime,” said Baitiéh.
“Our top priority is the safety of our teams, and joining Auror’s network of retailers and law enforcement will create a safer environment for colleagues, customers and local communities,” he said.
“Repeat offenders must understand that abuse of our colleagues will not be tolerated. We appreciate the efforts of the police and government to make high streets safer and we aim to be part of the solution,” Baitiéh said.
Auror’s systems do not collect sensitive information such as race, sexual identity or political affiliation, and Morrisons has assured that facial recognition is not used.
Labor has pledged £7m for a ‘blitz’ on retail abuse, shoplifting and antisocial behavior as part of a three-year plan to tackle crime announced in July. Despite this, theft cases have reached record levels, rising 13% in the year to June 2025 to reach 530,000 cases, according to ONS figures.
Mark Gleeson, Auror’s UK and Europe vice president, said he and his company were “proud to be part of the solution” for retailers against shoplifting and the “increasing problem of crime and violence in their stores”.
He added: “We know that one in 10 retail crime incidents are violent or involve weapons, and repeat offenders are four times more likely to become violent. This behavior harms frontline workers and the communities they serve.”
“Together with our partners, we are on a mission to reduce retail crime by 50% over the next five years, and our partnership with Morrisons will be crucial to improving the safety of workers across the UK and making their stores and communities safer.”
