Woolworths customer smashes self-service gates with hammer at Moorabbin store

Shocking footage has emerged of the moment a Woolworths shopper used a hammer to smash the stunned gates at the supermarket’s self-service checkout.

The customer erupted in a violent outburst at one of the stores in Moorabbin, in Melbourne’s south-east.

Footage showed the woman, wearing black trousers and a purple top, walking up to the barrier at the self-service checkout before slamming the hammer into it.

We see her swing several times before abruptly walking away and dropping the hammer to the ground.

The woman is believed to be part of an activist group known as ‘The Whistlebowers, Activists and Communities Alliance’.

“Fed-up customers are taking matters into their own hands at Moorabin Woolworths today in an attempt to disable the retail giant’s new security gates,” reads the Instagram caption for the video.

‘The gates are part of a highly controversial security overhaul to prevent theft during a cost of living crisis.

“Customers are being held inside the mall by a locked gate until they can prove they have paid for their goods.”

The group accused Woolworths of making ‘higher profits than ever’ during the Covid period.

“While people are struggling to put food on the table and provide for their families, Woolworths is paying their CEOs over $20,000 a day,” the Instagram post said.

‘Woolworths has also been accused of exploiting the public by significantly inflating prices as families struggle to put food on the table.

‘Further escalations are likely and could cost the company thousands of euros as not only their security equipment but also their image is repaired.’

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Woolworths and Victoria Police for comment.

Australians were quick to condemn the shopper’s actions on social media platform X.

“This is not okay,” one person wrote.

“It’s not the employees, like my son who worked there to make a living while he was in college, who make these decisions.

We see her swing several times before abruptly walking away and dropping the hammer to the ground

“Most of the employees hate it as much as you all do. Boycott, complain to upper management, whatever. Don’t traumatize staff in their workplace.’

“This is just vandalism, plain and simple,” said another. ‘You complain about price gouging, but are you okay with that?

‘You do realize that we as customers also pay for this behavior if you don’t like their security shop somewhere else. Simple. They do this to stop thefts, which we all pay for.

“This is simply abuse and creates a dangerous workplace for the lowest paid casual store workers. Take your violent protest to the decision makers, not to the ordinary people.”