Tampere’s Kaleva Prisma to lock alcohol shelves at night due to thefts and disturbances
The alcohol beverage section at Kaleva Prisma in Tampere will soon be secured behind lockable roll-up doors during nighttime hours, as the store seeks to curb thefts and disturbances. According to Aamulehti, the doors will be locked when alcohol sales are prohibited, closing at 9 PM and reopening at 9 AM the following day.
Prisma chain manager Asta Kantola from Pirkanmaa Cooperative (POK) told Aamulehti that the store has experienced unruly behaviour, prompting the measure to ensure staff can focus on customer service. "At times, the situation has been quite unruly. We hope that staff can have peace at work so they can focus on what truly matters—customer service," Kantola said.
The installation of the lockable doors is part of ongoing renovations at the store this summer. Kaleva Prisma will be the first Prisma in the Tampere region to restrict nighttime access to alcohol shelves, though similar measures have already been implemented in some S-market and Sale stores in the area. In certain locations, alcohol beverages are kept behind locked doors even during the day, requiring customers to ask staff for access.
The move follows a broader trend in Finland, where thefts have led stores to secure high-risk products. Helsingin Sanomat has previously reported on smaller stores, such as Alepa locations in the Helsinki metropolitan area, placing alcohol behind locked doors. Ilta-Sanomat noted last week that some stores have also begun locking up chocolate bars and other frequently stolen items in separate cabinets.
At Alepa in Verkkosaari, Helsinki, most chocolate bars are now stored in locked cabinets, as Iltalehti reported in early July. Sami Savolainen, Head of Corporate Security at HOK Elanto, told Ilta-Sanomat that such measures have proven effective in reducing thefts while improving staff safety. "The cabinets also increase staff safety. Customers have also given understanding feedback," Savolainen said.
Similar security measures have been adopted in other Alepa stores, including a lockable room for alcohol in Vuosaari and locked chocolate cabinets in Kalasatama. The changes reflect a growing effort by retailers to protect both products and employees from theft and disturbances.