FairPrice locks up infant formula on shelf of supermarket outlet in trial to stamp out theft

SINGAPORE — Supermarket chain NTUC FairPrice has put up screens and locks on shelves displaying infant formula in one of its stores as a trial to prevent theft.

In response to queries from TODAY, it said on Wednesday (Jan 18) that it started the trial at its Bukit Batok MRT Station outlet because infant formula is “a common item that is typically shoplifted”.

“This trial started two weeks ago and we continue to assess the feasibility of continuing or extending this initiative.” 

The trial complements various other security measures that it has put in place, including close-circuit television cameras and plain clothes security officers to deter shoplifting, it added.

On Tuesday, a Twitter user by the name of "Shawn Lim" tweeted a photo of the locked displays.

CNA reported on Wednesday night that at least another FairPrice outlet — in Boon Lay Shopping Centre — had a similar plastic screen with lock.

Consumers buying baby milk powder and certain beauty products have to ask supermarket workers to unlock the screens to get the items, CNA's report added.

A check on three FairPrice branches in Yew Tee and Pasir Ris on Wednesday by TODAY found that there were no formula milk tins secured behind screens. 

TODAY has reached out to FairPrice on this and to ask about figures on theft of infant formula.

There have been cases of theft of infant formula that have been reported in the news before.

A man and a woman aged 30 and 39 were arrested in August 2020 for a series of theft of milk powders, having stolen from a supermarket located along Geylang Road on five occasions. 

In June 2020, police arrested a 38-year-old man for a series of milk powder thefts from a supermarket located along Geylang Road. 

A 27-year-old man was arrested in October 2013 for stealing tins of milk powder from supermarkets in Hougang, with more than 10 tins of milk powder recovered at his home.