Woolworths Faces Backlash After Installing A Controversial New Anti

Aussie shoppers have unleashed at Woolworths after the supermarket giant installed a new anti-theft feature at one of its Melbourne stores.

The controversial setup spotted at Woolworths Camberwell features a row of rotating baton-style arms that customers must push through to enter. It is designed to prevent people from leaving the store through the entrance, reducing opportunities for theft.

Once shoppers walk in, the arms lock behind them, forcing all customers to exit through the self-checkout area.

Not all shoppers were impressed with the anti-theft mechanism.

‘The word says welcome but the architecture says anything but,’ one said.

‘It’s almost as though they don’t trust their customers,’ a second said.

‘If shoplifting is so bad they need this, maybe look at why people can’t afford food any ,’ a third wrote.

Dozens of Aussies also pointed out the barriers pose serious issues for customers with disabilities, mobility aids, prams, or sensory sensitivities.

‘F*** off if you’re in a wheelchair, or on crutches,’ one said. ‘Heaven forbid a fire.’

‘That looks very unfriendly design for prams and wheelchairs,’ another said.

‘Mooooooooooooooo next up cattle grid,’ a third said.

However, some shoppers defended the supermarket, arguing that anti-theft measures were a necessary part of running a business.

‘Thieves made it this way, not Woolworths,’ one said.

‘If it weren’t for the thieves, then things would be very different… including prices,’ a second said.

Woolworths defended the installation of the anti-theft gates.

‘This is currently a trial in one of our stores as we explore new ways to respond to increased theft in our stores. We know the majority of our customers do the right thing, and we thank them for doing so. This is to deter those that don’t,’ a spokesperson said.

‘This new entryway is being trialled at our Camberwell store in Victoria, to test its effectiveness against thieves and how it resonates with others.’

The gates follow a similar move by Coles, which faced backlash for installing automatic exit barriers to stop shoplifters

The automatic doors trap customers in the self-checkout area if the supermarket’s AI thinks an item hasn’t been scanned.

‘As someone with PTSD, getting locked into a busy and tight location is quite a triggering experience. I feel like I’m being accused of a crime I haven’t committed,’ one said.