Co-op marking commonly-stolen items with forensic spray to track reselling
TL;DR
Co-op is using invisible forensic spray to mark commonly-stolen items like alcohol and laundry detergents to track reselling. This initiative aims to combat shoplifting as a new law on retail crime takes effect.
Key points
- Co-op marks stolen items with invisible forensic spray
- Items include alcohol, laundry detergents, and sweets
- Forensic spray helps police trace items to specific stores
- Crime in Co-op stores reduced by 20% last year
- Physical attacks on staff fell by almost a third
Mentioned in this story
Co-op is secretly marking commonly-stolen items including alcohol and laundry detergents with invisible “forensic spray” to track them, in the latest crackdown on shoplifting as a new law on retail crime kicks in.
The grocer is to use the technique, which helps the retailer to identify where stolen items are being resold and report them to the police, across the country after testing it in Manchester and London since last year.
The retailer uses a spray containing a unique forensic code for a particular location where the items were sold, which also include sweets. Police can then identify which Co-op store the items originated from when investigating physical shops or online stores suspected to be selling stolen goods.
Police forces have used similar tactics to track down stolen bikes and valuables, and protect domestic abuse victims.
The technique is part of a raft of measures which the Co-op said had helped it cut crime in its stores by a fifth last year. It said physical attacks on its staff fell by almost a third year-on-year.
Paul Gerrard, policy director at the Co-op, said: “We have made it harder to steal things and now we are making it harder to sell.”
He said the group had invested about £250m in security measures including body-worn cameras for staff, more security guards, reinforced kiosks for high-value products such as spirits and tobacco and special shelving kit which prevents large amounts of goods being swept off into a bag.
It is also testing the use of AI to help identify unusual activity via CCTV cameras in stores and alert staff so they can intervene.
The Co-op has also teamed up with police in 20 areas to share evidence such as CCTV images in order to catch repeat offenders. In the last year, these partnerships have resulted in 500 prolific offenders receiving custodial sentences collectively amounting to more than 100 years.
Gerrard said: “This is not about an extra avocado going into an M&S bag. That is not the reason we are seeing crime at these levels, it is about people taking out an entire meat section for resale.”
He added police were also turning up more frequently when called to an incident – 70% of the time now compared with 20% in 2023.
He welcomed new measures under the crime and policing bill which passed into law on Wednesday after receiving royal assent. The bill includes a new standalone offence of assaulting a retail worker and will also make it easier for action to be taken when items worth less than £200 are stolen by repealing a measure which downgraded the police response to so-called “low-value shop theft”.
The police are collaborating with retailers through the “Opal project” in an attempt to tackle retail crime.
Gerrard said: “We have now got businesses taking this seriously, police taking it seriously and government taking it seriously. Everyone is pointed in the right direction and we are starting to see things improve.”
“If we want a growing economy and healthy high streets then [reducing] retail crime is a good bellwether.”
He said problems remained, with about 100 Co-op staff likely to face abuse in one day and up to four being physically attacked.
Keir Starmer said this week that the “tide could be turning” on shoplifting, pointing to a 17% rise in people charged for what has become a hot political issue.
CCTV footage that could be shared immediately with the police should be used more widely, the prime minister said, adding that “the hope of technology” could make a difference.
Official figures last year revealed annual shoplifting offences in England and Wales had passed half a million for the first time.
Q&A
What items is Co-op marking with forensic spray?
Co-op is marking commonly-stolen items including alcohol, laundry detergents, and sweets with forensic spray.
How does the forensic spray help in tracking stolen goods?
The forensic spray contains a unique code that allows police to trace stolen items back to the specific Co-op store where they were sold.
What impact has the forensic spray had on Co-op's crime rates?
The use of forensic spray has contributed to a 20% reduction in crime in Co-op stores and a nearly 30% decrease in physical attacks on staff.
Where has Co-op tested the forensic spray before nationwide use?
Co-op tested the forensic spray in Manchester and London before implementing it across the country.
