COL) boss puts retail theft legal action on Christmas wishlist

“What we want here is [for the government] “Looking at changes to the legal framework that will enable the police to take different measures than they can today.”

Allan’s office has been contacted for comment.

Supermarkets and retail groups have reported alarming retail crime figures and say a complex network of criminal groups is behind it. Professional gun-wielding thieves have learned to take advantage of retailers’ instructions not to resist staff and to stay out of harm’s way when walking out with food carts, armfuls of goods or cash.

Coles has made progress in preventing losses from systemic theft by introducing camera-monitored self-service tills (“skip scanning”), automatic security gates (“smart gates”) and “undercarriage” technology in hundreds of stores.

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Weckert’s comments came on the same day the company launched its Christmas range of 340 products, 225 of which are new.

The supermarket has increased its house brand offerings across its value, mid and ‘Coles Finest’ tiers to appeal to households feeling more optimistic after three rate cuts this year.

“We found that about 12 per cent of customers said they would spend more this Christmas, which I think is a good early sign of renewed confidence for customers,” Weckert said.

During the worst of the cost of living crisis, Aldi lured customers away from Woolworths and Coles, which were accused of price gouging amid high inflation.

Coles has responded by investing heavily in its own brand range, which now accounts for just over a third of sales.

“I think the quality of domestically grown produce has gotten a lot better over the last decade,” Weckert said.

“This experience [customers have] What it did have was that it had a really great quality. “They enjoy eating it and come back and buy it again.”

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