Supermarket Chain Locks Shopping Carts to Prevent Theft

The Israeli supermarket chain "Osher Ad" has implemented a system that automatically locks shopping cart wheels when they are taken beyond a designated perimeter, a move aimed at preventing theft and abandonment. The system, which has been in operation for about a year across 13 of the chain's branches in cooperation with local authorities, was recently highlighted when a customer posted a TikTok video showing her cart becoming immobilized before she reached her car. The customer, who parked some distance from the store in Netanya, expressed frustration, questioning the fairness to shoppers who cannot find parking within the store's lot.

Osher Ad states that the system, provided by Gatekeeper, is designed to prevent carts from being stolen or left far from the store, thereby reducing damage and improving service by ensuring cart availability. They also claim the system helps alleviate congestion in parking lots by encouraging customers to retrieve carts directly from their vehicles. The technology involves an underground cable or antenna emitting a radio frequency signal that defines the store's perimeter. When a cart's specially equipped wheel crosses this boundary, a mechanical lock engages, preventing further movement. The lock automatically disengages when the cart is returned within the designated area.

This technology is not unique to Osher Ad, having been adopted by other retail chains and appearing internationally in stores like Walmart and Target over a decade ago. The cost of a shopping cart is estimated between $100 and $200, with annual losses from theft and abandonment costing retailers tens of thousands of dollars per store. Osher Ad continues to use the traditional 5 shekel coin deposit system as a supplementary measure, as the coin-based locks have proven insufficient to deter widespread cart abandonment and theft, which impacts customer experience and incurs fines for the stores.