A call for employers to take more precautionary action, as supermarket crime soars.

Since 2020, Foodstuffs says there's been a 246 percent rise in serious crime.

The company has confirmed 29 of its supermarkets in the North Island are using facial recognition technology, prompting concern Foodstuffs is collecting sensitive information about shoppers without their knowledge.

First Union General Secretary Dennis Maga told Kate Hawkesby facial recognition may help, but won't be enough to deter offenders.

He says they'd like employers to hire loss prevention officers, train staff how to de-escalate a situation - and make sure there is enough staffing in the workplace. 

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