Meat security at Iceland store in Herne Bay
by Ed Targett
A businessmen has slammed the use of security boxes for
frozen meat.
Dubbed “lamb saver boxes” by Iceland store bosses, they have
been rolled out to stop meat thieves.
Herne Bay Motor Cycles boss Simon Wightman said he is “disgusted
and saddened” by the lengths stores are having to go to protect
their goods.
"What's next - an electric fence around the fish fingers?" – Simon Wightman
He spoke out after it
emerged the town’s store in Mortimer Street was even considering
putting cheese in plastic security boxes.
The dad-of-three, from Greenhill, said: “I just think it is sad
that people feel they have to steal from Iceland to survive. What’s
the world coming to? When I saw them I couldn’t believe it.
“Someone trying to swipe something expensive from Marks &
Spencer you can almost understand.
“But pinching meat from Iceland? What’s next: an electric fence
around the fish fingers?”
His partner Gemma Hogan said: “When I laughed at the boxes the
woman at the checkout said they are even planning to put cheese in
security boxes.
“Apparently so many people steal it. It’s ridiculous. They stuff
it down their trousers and run out.”
Mr Wightman
added: “You can understand them wanting the boxes because even when
their security guards catch someone they can’t sell the cheese –
it’s been down someone’s pants!”
Sheepish Iceland spokesman Amy Goble said: “The lamb saver boxes
are used in several hundred Iceland stores and are designed to
enhance the availability of the product for customers.
“The boxes are designed to serve as a defence mechanism to
reduce theft and thereby ensure there is maximum availability for
customers.”
Herne Bay Chamber of Commerce chairman Michael Khoury described the
move as “below the belt”.
He said: “This is going too far. If that is their policy across
hundreds of stores then there is something wrong with their sales
team.
“People will go to the butcher instead. In any business you
expect to lose around 7% with things dropped, stolen and so on. But
security boxes around the ingredients for your roast? That is below
the belt and going too far.”
A spokeswoman for Iceland confirmed the chain had also been
"trialling" security boxes for bacon and cheese in some of their UK
stores.
Amy Globe said: "The trial was run across some of our UK stores
but didn't prove as affective as the lamb saver boxes.
"Lamb was our most targeted item as it is one of the most costly
and popular items in store.
"Therefore we have seen a dramatic reduction in theft since the
boxes have been introduced.
"The security boxes weren't as noticibly affective on lesser
items such as bacon and cheese therefore we are unable to confirm
they will remain a permanent fixture in stores."
Iceland has 775 frozen food stores nationwide.
22/11/12
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