Safeway Installs Anti-Theft Exit Gates: Shoppers Can’t Leave Without Paying
In a move that feels straight out of a dystopian future, a Safeway supermarket in San Francisco has introduced a security system that physically prevents customers from leaving the store unless they’ve made a purchase.
Automated control at the door
Located on King Street, the Safeway store now uses automated gates at both the entrance and exit. If a shopper tries to leave without scanning a receipt, the gate locks and an alarm sounds. Security personnel must manually release anyone flagged by the system.
The new system is part of the retailer’s wider response to a surge in shoplifting incidents that have plagued U.S. stores in recent years. Rising theft rates have forced supermarkets to rethink security, often at the expense of customer convenience.
Customer frustration and industry trends
While Safeway defends the measure as “necessary protection,” customers have already voiced frustration over the experience — especially those leaving empty-handed. The system effectively turns the store into a controlled-access zone, where every visit ends with a scan or an alarm.
In 2024, Safeway removed self-checkout kiosks at several locations due to theft concerns, and British chain Tesco began experimenting with floor-scale sensors to monitor customer movements. The shift marks a growing trend of merging retail, automation, and surveillance — where security tech becomes as visible as the products on display.
Editorial Team — CoinBotLab