{"id":493664,"date":"2026-06-24T20:01:03","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T20:01:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/493664\/"},"modified":"2026-06-24T20:01:03","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T20:01:03","slug":"big-w-follows-coles-woolworths-kmart-and-aldi-in-controversial-store-change-across-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/493664\/","title":{"rendered":"Big W follows Coles, Woolworths, Kmart and Aldi in controversial store change across Australia"},"content":{"rendered":"

Big W<\/a> will be rolling out new security gates<\/a> at its stores across the country, following in the footsteps of rival retailer Kmart, which introduced the controversial gates<\/a> last year.<\/p>\n

The gates<\/a>, introduced as a security measure<\/a> to help minimise retail crime<\/a>, started popping up in supermarkets<\/a> Coles and Woolworths in recent years. Aldi followed suit this year.<\/a><\/p>\n

And now, Big W shoppers<\/a> will start to see the feature appear at retail stores around Australia in a bid to combat theft<\/a> across its network.<\/p>\n

A Melbourne shopper spotted the entrance gates<\/a> at the Queen Victoria Village store this week. It’s understood they were installed during the store’s upgrade in November last year.<\/p>\n

In a statement to Yahoo News Australia, a Big W spokesperson said the gates “are one of a number of initiatives to minimise retail crime across our store network”.<\/p>\n

Do you have a supermarket or retailer story ? Contact newsroomau@yahoonews.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Big<\/p>\n

The Big W Queen Victoria Village store in Melbourne is one of 20 stores nationally that currently have the gates.<\/p>\n

(Yahoo News Australia)<\/p>\n

“They’re part of a broader program to enhance safety for our team members and customers while helping to prevent theft,” they said.<\/p>\n

“We know the majority of our customers do the right thing, and we thank them for doing so. These measures are designed to deter the small minority who do not.”<\/p>\n

RELATED<\/p>\n

More security gates to be rolled out across Big W stores<\/p>\n

So far, the new gate technology is in place at 20 Big W locations across Australia, with plans to roll it out to more stores as they’re upgraded.<\/p>\n

“As we continue to upgrade and renew our Big W stores across the country, we will introduce these gates to more locations,” the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n

Rise in retail theft prompts anti-theft security measures<\/p>\n

In recent years, the controversial gate technology and added surveillance in retail stores have sparked backlash from shoppers.<\/p>\n

It comes as retailers across the country are grappling with a sharp rise in crime, particularly theft, abuse and physical attacks<\/a> on frontline staff.<\/p>\n

Security gates are just one anti-theft measure being used. Coles<\/a> recently announced it will add weighted shelves, audio reminders about CCTV,<\/a> and locked display cabinets in some stores.<\/p>\n

And while this can all be “good”, security, risk and communications expert\u00a0Scott Taylor<\/a>\u00a0told Yahoo News, gates aren’t necessarily the answer to violence or theft.<\/p>\n

Instead, he said retailers run the risk of alienating shoppers with the move.<\/p>\n

You can also follow us on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, X<\/a> and YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n