Quick answer: Shoplifters use strollers to conceal stolen merchandise in the baby compartment, underneath the frame, or in attached bags, making it difficult for staff to detect theft without seeming intrusive. AI anti-shoplifting solutions like Veesion can detect these suspicious behaviours automatically, reducing retail shrinkage by up to 60%.
Retail shoplifting tactics are becoming harder to spot. From oversized coats to reusable shopping bags, shoplifters are always looking for methods that don't raise suspicion. One of the most disarming? A stroller.
For retail stores, stroller-based theft presents a real challenge. Staff can't easily search a pram without risking confrontation or a false accusation.
This post breaks down exactly how this tactic works and what technology can help you detect it.
A stroller is the perfect cover. It looks completely ordinary, and that's exactly the point.
Here are the most common methods shoplifters use:
Concealing items in the baby compartment. Merchandise is slipped underneath the baby or hidden beneath a blanket or changing pad.
Using the storage basket underneath. Items are placed in the undercarriage of the stroller, which is largely out of staff's sightlines.
Hiding goods in attached bags. Large bags hanging from the stroller handles offer easy access and even easier concealment.
Manual surveillance has its limits. Staff can only watch so many areas at once, and the social dynamics around strollers make confrontation risky. This is where AI anti-shoplifting technology changes the game.
Veesion is an advanced AI-driven anti-shoplifting solution that integrates directly with your existing CCTV infrastructure. By analysing live video feeds, Veesion identifies suspicious gestures associated with shoplifting in real time and sends immediate alerts, complete with video snippets, directly to your mobile device.
When it comes to stroller-related theft specifically, Veesion is configured to detect:
Items being placed into the baby compartment
Products being stashed underneath the stroller frame
Merchandise concealed in bags attached to the stroller
Beyond strollers, Veesion also flags a wide range of other suspicious behaviours including:
concealment in personal bags
rapid item collection
packaging tampering
on-site consumption
This makes it a comprehensive retail shoplifting detection solution, not just a single-use tool.
The results speak for themselves.
Veesion achieves an average accuracy rate of 85–90% in identifying actual shoplifting incidents, and retailers using the system have reported shrinkage reductions of up to 60%.
Retail shoplifting via stroller is a low-profile, high-return tactic that's difficult to combat through manual observation alone.
AI anti-shoplifting technology (specifically Veesion) gives retail stores a powerful, evidence-backed tool to detect and respond to these incidents.
Milestone is a trusted shrink management solutions provider with over 28 years of experience, a 98% satisfaction rating, and 300+ satisfied customers across leading South African retailers including Pick n Pay, Makro, Woolworths, SPAR, and Clicks.
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