Next is trialing advanced AI scanners capable of detecting stolen items concealed in undergarments like bras and underwear. The technology operates by identifying changes in body temperature and can also identify hidden weapons, explosives, cash, and illicit substances.
The “Thruvision Passive Terahertz Screening System” has undergone testing at Next UK warehouses and distribution centers and may soon be implemented in retail stores. Steve Teatum, the Head of Group Loss Prevention at Next, discussed the system in a recent Retail Crime Uncovered podcast episode.
Teatum highlighted how the AI technology exposed individuals attempting to hide stolen goods in personal areas, making it challenging for conventional security measures to detect. Despite ongoing attempts at theft, the technology has proven highly effective in preventing such incidents.
In related news, shoplifting in England and Wales has surged to its highest level in over two decades, with reported offenses increasing by 20% to 530,643 in the year ending March. Home Bargains has also adopted AI cameras to combat theft at self-checkouts by identifying unscanned items, working in collaboration with tech firms SAI and Everseen.
This innovative technology is designed to detect and alert staff to instances of missed or skipped scans at self-checkouts, ensuring all items passing through are properly accounted for. Home Bargains’ operations director, Paul Rowland, expressed that technology has proven more efficient than traditional security measures in preventing theft.
The deployment of AI tools is part of the retailer’s efforts to counter the rising trend of retail crime, following the establishment of a confidential hotline for customers to report incidents of shoplifting and criminal activities at their stores.