GPS trackers are being fitted to sausages, steak, and beef in Co-op supermarkets as part of a crackdown on shoplifting. The chain has placed items such as Co-op Irresistible Cumberland Sausages, priced at under £4, in plastic security boxes labelled as containing a GPS tracker. Other meat products, including Angus beef and sirloin steak, are also secured in these boxes.
Security Measures Paying Off
A Co-op spokesperson said the crime-prevention tactic is not new and, along with other measures, has contributed to a reduction in crime. “We know the tide of criminality can be turned. Local shops are an anchor in communities, and we continue to invest significantly in wide-ranging safety and security measures including the latest CCTV, body-worn cameras, fortified kiosks, security cases and covert and non-covert guarding,” the spokesperson said. “This, along with forging successful partnerships with local policing and the increase in police attendance, has contributed to a drop in retail crime levels at Co-op of more than 20 per cent last year – a trend we are seeing continue into 2026.”
Examples of Tagged Products
An image shared by media personality Duncan Barkes on X shows the GPS tracker attached to Co-op Irresistible Cumberland Sausages 400g, selling for £3.90 at a store in Sussex. Barkes, who hosts a podcast about sausages called Prick With A Fork, commented: “Britain has fallen.” Co-op British sirloin steaks (£7) and Angus beef roasting joints (£20.90) were also locked in GPS-tagged boxes at a store in Old Street, central London.
Wider Trend in Retail Security
Earlier this year, The Independent reported that chocolate bars such as Dairy Milk and Lindt were kept in plastic security boxes at several supermarkets after becoming a “high-value target” for thieves. Tesco also locks some meat, like salmon, in security boxes. The British Retail Consortium reported 5.5 million detected incidents of shop theft last year. The GPS tags, attached to the box, track stolen products and reveal the thief's location. They can only be removed upon purchase. Co-op said overall retail crime is down 21%, anti-social behaviour and abuse down 36%, and physical assaults down 31%.
Other Supermarkets' Responses
The Independent asked other major supermarkets about their use of GPS tracker boxes. Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and M&S did not respond. Waitrose declined to disclose details, citing commercial sensitivity, but a spokesperson said: “We're investing in a number of measures to tackle shoplifting, including security tags, lockable cabinets and smart shelf technology for high value items.”
Shoplifting Statistics
Convictions and sentences for shoplifting in England and Wales have reached their highest level in nearly a decade, with 48,849 convictions last year for a principal offence of shoplifting, up 19% from 41,014 in 2024. The Office for National Statistics recorded 509,566 shoplifting offences last year, down 1% from 2024. With food price inflation at 3%, the Treasury is reportedly urging supermarkets to limit price rises.
