Retail theft is no longer an occasional disruption—it’s become part of daily operations for many retailers worldwide. What used to mean lost inventory has now evolved into a much larger challenge, touching safety, efficiency, and the overall shopping experience. The rise in pushout theft, where offenders attempt to leave stores with unpaid merchandise in carts, is one of the most pressing issues retailers face today.

Why Pushout Theft Matters More Than Ever

The stakes are higher than lost goods. Retailers must also consider the safety of their employees and customers, the efficiency of their operations, and the increasing sophistication of organized retail crime. Non-confrontation policies are essential for safety, but they often embolden thieves. Without the right tools, stores are left vulnerable to both small-scale theft and coordinated attacks.

Technology That Makes a Difference

The good news is that pushout theft is avoidable. With the right technology in place, retailers can shift from reacting to theft to proactively preventing it. Gatekeeper Systems® offers Purchek®, an advanced pushout prevention solution that automatically stops unpaid merchandise from leaving the store.

What sets Purchek® apart is its ability to:

  • Prevent Theft Without Confrontation – The system locks the cart, not the person, ensuring employee and shopper safety.

  • Deliver Real-Time Intelligence – Each incident generates valuable data to help retailers identify theft patterns and repeat offenders.

  • Protect Profits and Enhance Operations – Stopping theft before it leaves the store helps safeguard margins while enabling staff to stay focused on customer service.

As Tim Larouere from Dierbergs shared:
“Gatekeeper Systems’ Purchek solution has been a game-changer in reducing pushout theft. The measurable results and strong support from their team have made a real difference in our operations.”

Solutions That Scale With Your Needs

Whether you’re a regional grocer or a national retailer, scalable solutions like Purchek® can be tailored to fit your environment. From implementation to ongoing service, Gatekeeper Systems partners with retailers to ensure long-term success.

And the ecosystem goes further: paired with CartControl®, CartManager® Ultra, and FaceFirst® AI-enabled face matching, retailers gain a layered defense that protects assets, empowers teams, and improves store safety.

The Call to Action for Retailers

Pushout theft is not just a challenge—it’s an opportunity to rethink retail loss prevention. By investing in smart technology, retailers can protect their people, safeguard their products, and preserve profits without sacrificing the shopping experience.

👉 Would you be open to a brief conversation to explore what this could look like for your stores? Gatekeeper Systems is ready to help.

About Gatekeeper

Gatekeeper Systems’ expanded product suite of intelligent cart solutions offers solutions for EVERY retailer’s needs to minimize merchandise loss, reduce asset and labor expenditures.

Gatekeeper’s loss prevention and cart containment solutions utilize patented locking technology to put an end to cart-based shoplifting, shopping cart loss, and uninformed decision-making. Cart management solutions increase safety and reduce labor costs by maximizing productivity while simultaneously resulting in a positive store image.

Intelligent pushout theft prevention solutions stop thieves and their cart full of unpaid merchandise from leaving the store. Customizable technology allows retailers to defend their entire store or just a high loss department based on the store’s unique layout.

Business Intelligence solutions provide increased visibility for informed decision making. Increase efficiency, optimize fleet size, and perfect the entire customer shopping experience with store and enterprise-level analytics.

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