Co-op has employed GPS tracking technology to combat theft by placing trackers on sausages.

A social media post revealed the deployment of GPS trackers on a pack of Co-op Irresistible Cumberland sausages, priced at £3.90, at a store in Sussex. The sausages were secured in a perspex box.

According to a Co-op spokesperson, the company is committed to reducing criminal activity in local communities. They have invested significantly in various safety measures, including advanced CCTV systems, body-worn cameras, fortified kiosks, security cases, and both overt and covert security personnel.

In response to a rise in theft incidents, UK supermarkets have been enhancing security measures. These measures include locking display cabinets and implementing receipt-scanning gates at exit points.

Recent data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) indicates that there were 5.5 million reported theft incidents last year, resulting in substantial financial losses for retailers.

Although incidents of violence and abuse against retail workers decreased by 20% in 2025, they remained at persistently high levels. The number of physical violence incidents and those involving weapons has remained relatively stable.

The Crime and Policing Bill, which recently received Royal Assent, no longer categorizes lower-value theft as a summary-only offense. All instances of shoplifting are now treated as general theft and standard criminal offenses.

BRC’s chief executive, Helen Dickinson, emphasized the ongoing challenges of violence and theft in the retail sector. She called for continued collaboration between retailers, law enforcement, and the government to address these issues effectively.