SHOPPERS may soon see new high-tech anti-theft measures in stores.

New solutions are being developed to prevent items from being stolen as organized retail theft continues to rise.

Dr. Read Hayes, director of the Loss Prevention Research Council, spoke to Today about the new technology being developed to combat the rise in retail theft.

In the instance where a shopper is looking to buy an item that’s behind a lock, a new device is being implemented to reduce wait times for staff members while keeping products safe from theft.

Using a device placed next to the locked items, shoppers can call for a store associate.

Those who don’t want to wait can put their cell phone number into the device.

Shoppers will then receive a text message with a code that they can input into the store’s device to unlock the items they’re looking to buy.

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But this does require shoppers to be willing to give their cell phone numbers up to receive the code.

Hayes is also working on several other tech elements that stores may choose to install, including a sensory gate that can slow thieves down.

Other safety measures will require two hands to unlock cases to retrieve items.

In this way, thieves won’t be able to take as many items in one go.

These added security measures are designed to make it harder to steal from stores and easier to catch thieves.

Meanwhile, Gap founder Bob Fisher has joined a campaign to target theft in the San Francisco area.

In fact, San Francisco and Oakland tied for second place just behind Los Angeles as the US cities where retailers are struggling most with theft.

Several major retailers have closed their doors in San Francisco in recent months due to crime.

The launch of the “It All Starts Here” campaign will “assert San Francisco’s role as an innovative and thriving hub for businesses and the arts,” according to Advance SF.