Next is currently trialing advanced AI scanners to detect stolen items concealed in undergarments like bras and underwear. This cutting-edge technology utilizes body heat detection to identify hidden goods, including weapons, explosives, cash, and drugs.
The “Thruvision Passive Terahertz Screening System” has undergone successful testing within Next UK warehouses and distribution centers, with plans to potentially introduce it in retail stores. Steve Teatum, the Head of Group Loss Prevention at Next, discussed the system on the Retail Crime Uncovered podcast, as reported by The Sun.
Teatum highlighted the effectiveness of the Thruvision system in uncovering individuals attempting to smuggle items surreptitiously. By illuminating concealed goods in body areas such as bras and crotches, the technology has significantly enhanced security measures, making it challenging for conventional screening methods to detect illicit items.
Despite ongoing efforts to combat theft, shoplifting incidents in England and Wales have surged to their highest levels in over twenty years, based on recent official statistics. The Office for National Statistics recorded a 20% increase in offenses, totaling 530,643 incidents in the year ending March, marking a record high since police data collection practices began in 2003.
In a related development, Home Bargains has implemented AI cameras to address theft at self-checkouts by identifying unscanned items. Collaborating with tech companies SAI and Everseen, the retailer is utilizing advanced technology to detect and notify staff of discrepancies like “misscans” and “skip scans” during self-checkout transactions.
Home Bargains’ operations director, Paul Rowland, emphasized the superiority of technology over traditional security personnel in preventing shoplifting incidents. This initiative aims to curb retail crime following a significant uptick in such activities, aligning with Home Bargains’ previous introduction of a confidential hotline for customers to report theft and criminal behavior at their stores.