ANTITHEFT DEVICE IS HALTING CART LOSSES AT LUCKY UNITS

LINDA PURPURA

BUENA PARK, Calif. -- Lucky Stores South here, a division of American Stores Co., Salt Lake City, is using an antitheft device that prevents the removal of carts from the parking lots at its San Diego, Costa Mesa and Glendale, Calif., stores.

Judy Decker, director of public relations at American Stores, confirmed the use of the antitheft device at the three stores.

The device is a microprocessor and an internal brake incorporated into the left front wheel of the cart, according to a source familiar with the situation. If a would-be thief tries to push the cart past the buried cable around the parking lot perimeter, the cart wheel locks, preventing its removal.

The device has been incorporated into 200 carts at each store, resulting in an increase in cart inventory at the Glendale, Calif., store, according to the source.

The antitheft device is manufactured by Actodyne General/Inventronics, Huntington Beach, Calif.