‘Long-planned security improvements’ Safeway insists as more stores are hit with ramped-up anti-theft measures

SAFEWAY has expanded its rollout of a new anti-theft measure that it says will improve customers’ experience in-store.

The grocery store chain has installed more receipt-scanning gates at its locations.

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This security measure means the exit at a self-checkout area will be closed off with a gate that customers can open by scanning their receipts.

These gates have already been used at several California locations, with some new ones added to a handful of East Coast locations.

These branches include two Washington, DC, stores and a location in Wheaton, Maryland, according to Grocery Dive.

Another San Francisco store has also installed the receipt check gates.

Albertsons, the company that owns Safeway, explained that these changes were made to improve customers’ in-store experience.

“Recent changes were made at select Safeway stores in Washington D.C. to maintain a safe and welcoming shopping experience for our customers,” Albertsons said.

They also explained that the gates were an anti-theft measure.

“Those updates include operational changes to the front end of the stores to deter shoplifting,” the retailer said.

The company then explained how this anti-theft measure would help improve customers’ experience.

“Like other local businesses, we are working on ways to curtail escalating theft so we can ensure the wellbeing of our employees and foster a welcoming environment for our customers,” Albertsons said.

“These long-planned security improvements were implemented with those goals in mind.”

The U.S. Sun has previously reported on customers who have complained about the receipt gates at one of Safeway’s Washington, DC, stores.

Several Reddit users took to a DC forum to share their thoughts.

“It was a minor inconvenience the first time I encountered them,” one person said.

Other people questioned how well the measure worked.

“These are easily pushed open, they’re not really keeping anyone inside. Otherwise, it would be a fire hazard and enormous hassle for employees,” another person said.

“I can’t attest to their efficacy when operating, but they’re broken or malfunctioning 90% of the time I’m in there,” they continued.