The corner shop that's turned to AI to halt thefts
The shopkeepers are using CCTV alongside artificial intelligence to track and catch thieves.
The corner shop that's turned to AI to halt thefts
The owners of the shop, Kamal and Donna Singh, say AI CCTV has made it a lot easier to catch would-be shoplifters
The owners of a convenience store in South Yorkshire say they are using artificial intelligence (AI) alongside CCTV cameras to catch shoplifters.
Kamal Singh, co-owner of One Stop K&D in Rotherham, said staff receive an alert on their phone if items are placed in pockets or bags, and CCTV footage is then instantly available to review. If needed, the shop doors can be locked.
"We can leave the shop, we can be on the other side of the world and we can get an alert saying 'shoplifter'", Kamal said.
According to the business, the store has 32 CCTV cameras and the AI software costs £300 a month.
Donna Singh, co-owner of the shop in Bramley, said the change had resulted in fewer thefts.
She said: "Before we had AI, when do you know that anybody's been in shoplifting?"
"If they've just been in and picked that packet of sweets up and you've not seen that, if you turn your eyes away from the camera and you don't see that, how do you know that you've had a shoplifter in there?
"With the AI it lets you know straight away."
There are 32 CCTV cameras in the shop
When they enlarged the shop two years ago, Kamal said they wanted a way to keep watch over customers.
"Before we only had one aisle you could see the shop from the till, now it's a lot larger," he said.
"That's why I got AI into it. And the staff are not constantly making customers feel uncomfortable by watching them because the camera is watching - they can see exactly what they [customers] are doing."
Kamal Singh receives an alert on his phone if there is suspected shoplifting and can then review the CCTV footage
Even with the cost to the business, Kamal says the system offers good value for money in their situation.
"When somebody's taking two jars of coffee, that's £16 in one go," he said.
"It takes them 30 seconds to put it down their trousers and try to walk out."
He added: "It's beneficial - for £10 a day it pays itself off."
The shop owners acknowledged that some people may have privacy worries about their CCTV cameras.
"Some people might call it Big Brother," he explained.
"If you don't want to be watched on cameras, don't come into shops.
"If you're not a shoplifter, you've nothing to worry about. We don't sit here looking at the cameras 24/7. We only check the cameras when the alert comes up."
The pair said they were so angry about people trying to steal that they had also posted some CCTV clips on social media.
"I want the word to get out that you can't get away with it, we are going to name and shame you," he added.
South Yorkshire Police has been approached for comment.