A woman who was badly injured by an anti-theft device on a Tesco shopping trolley has called for their safety to be reviewed. 

Last month, Laura Lynott was in Tesco “minding my own business” and picking up items to be purchased. 

“[I] went to the till and paid about €90 mostly for bottled goods,” she told Moncrieff. 

“Not alcohol - water. Mostly water.” 

Everything was normal, mundane even, until she started to head towards the exit of the shop. 

“Then suddenly, there was a jolt,” she said. 

“My trolley stopped and it felt like I had rammed into an invisible wall. 

“It was very strange. I didn’t know what was going on and suddenly I felt a pain in my stomach.” 

Groceries seen in a shopping cart supermarket trolley. Picture by: Tommy (Louth) / Alamy Stock Photot

Despite having paid for her items, the trolley’s anti-theft device had been activated and Ms Lynott had to call for assistance from staff. 

“She [the staff member] waved it [a plastic wand] over the wheel and then it started up again,” Ms Lynott said. 

“And I said, ‘I’m hurt.’" 

After she returned home, Ms Lynott was still in pain and she booked herself a doctor's appointment.

“I literally could not bend over properly," she said. 

“My back was hurting that much.

“So, I was out of action for two days and the doctor advised the next day just chill out in the garden and not to do anything. 

“He said it was a muscle injury and Tesco have apologised and they gave me a €100 shopping voucher as goodwill.”

Rows of Tesco shopping trollies.

Ms Lynott has since realised her story is not unique and has spoken out in order to raise awareness about the dangers of anti-theft devices. 

“It’s happened to quite a substantial number of people in America, in Britain where the tech has existed for a longer time,” she said. 

“There’s been a couple of lawsuits against different companies - not Tesco - in America.

“One woman stated in her litigation that she was actually flown over the trolley when it stopped.

“Another woman claims it knocked her on the floor.” 

Ms Lynott feels the safety of the devices need to be carefully re-examined before other stores purchase them.

Main image: The interior of a supermarket. Picture by: Alamy.com