The test of a security gate at a Woolworths in Sydney has left customers concerned for their safety, with some saying the series of low-height bars have “hit” children in the arms, legs and face.
Maria, who was shopping with her two children at Woolworths in Bass Hill, south-west Sydney, on Wednesday, told Guardian Australia she noticed the new entrance “immediately”.
“The level at which they have put it is the level of children in the stroller,” said María, who asked that her last name not be published.
“If you wanted to go in without hitting your son, you would have to go in backwards.”
Woolworths is trialling the new anti-theft front doors at six stores, including Bass Hill in Sydney and Camberwell in Melbourne’s east.
Maria said she was surprised the door was not temporary and told Guardian Australia that many parents with similar experiences had complained to Woolworths, asking them to replace it again.
The doors contain two sets of bars that can only be pushed in one direction. Maria said she was especially concerned about children holding on to the bars, which could cause them to jump back. Describing her one-year-old son, Maria said that he is obviously going to play with them.
Susan, who asked that her last name not be published, has lived in Bass Hill for 50 years. The change took her by surprise and, like many others, she felt uncomfortable.
“I thought I was going to get stuck there,” she said. “I’m going to be stuck.”
Prior to the installation of the new doors, entry to Bass Hill Woolworths was via a sliding door.
Bass Hill customers first noticed this change last week, but the first store to introduce this new entrance was in Camberwell, Victoria, where the doors have been installed since late last year.
There has been a significant backlash against online gates. A Reddit post with over 5,000 upvotes said, “These bounce back and fit a toddler’s face”; another with 2,900 positive votes said: “these doors make you feel like cattle,” while a third with 2,000 positive votes said: “I wonder how people with disabilities are going to get through these security doors.”
When Guardian Australia described Maria’s experience to Woolworths, a Woolworths spokesperson expressed concern and said they would review the comments as they evaluate the trial.
Woolworths is not the only retailer introducing new preventive measures in response to increasing retail theft. IGA, Spotlight and Drakes are using similar anti-theft doors in some stores.
The Woolworths spokesperson said theft is one of the main drivers of violence and aggression towards its team members.
The supermarket giant is due to launch legal proceedings before the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to defend its alleged pricing practices later this year. Woolworths recently reported a 16% rise in profits over the past six months, from $739 million to $859 million.
Most of the eight customers Guardian Australia spoke to in Bass Hill understood the doors had been changed to prevent theft, with one customer acknowledging the entrance “would no longer be an escape door”. However, they felt that the trade-off for convenience was not worth the added security.
“It’s pretty annoying,” Susan said.
