How VUE's AI Human Detection Camera is Helping Co-op Protect Drivers and Reduce Theft in Transit

VUE has partnered with Co-op to tackle one of the most challenging and persistent security threats facing grocery logistics in the UK: organised theft in transit. Working closely with Co-op's national risk team, VUE developed and deployed an AI human detection camera solution across approximately 300 vehicles, designed to keep drivers safe, deter criminal activity, and give transport teams the real-time visibility they need to respond when it matters most.

The Challenge

Co-op identified a growing pattern of coordinated criminal activity targeting its delivery vehicles across the UK. As Mike Ball, National Risk Lead at Co-op, explains: "What we've seen in the Co-op is a network of criminals operating across the UK, targeting our vehicles in what we call theft in transit." Organised groups were exploiting traffic lights and busy junctions to jump onto the back of moving vehicles, break locks, and steal products before escaping into waiting getaway cars.

The initial response focused on physical security, stronger and more robust locks. But this approach carried its own risk. Tougher locks don't remove criminals from the equation, they simply make a successful break-in harder, which can leave drivers facing more determined or confrontational attempts to access the vehicle. As Mike explains: "There is a risk in this, in that ultimately we'll start forcing the risk towards the driver, and we don't want to do that." What was needed was a smarter approach, one that could detect threats as they happened, alert the right people immediately, and deter criminal activity without putting drivers in harm's way.

The Solution

Recognising the limitations of a purely physical approach, Co-op moved towards an active detect and deter model. To achieve this, they turned to VUE.

Working collaboratively with Co-op's risk team, VUE developed and deployed an AI human detection camera system across approximately 300 vehicles, integrated with the VUEhub platform. At the core of the solution is VUE's AI human detection camera, a device specifically designed to detect human presence in real time, triggering immediate alerts to those best placed to intervene, rather than simply recording events after the fact.

The AI at the heart of the system is trained to distinguish genuine human movement from environmental noise and false triggers, a critical capability in a high-frequency, real-world transport environment where alert fatigue is a genuine concern.

Crucially, the collaboration was iterative. VUE worked closely with Co-op through a trial process, testing different options and configurations before settling on the right solution.

"The agility that VUE has given us and the flexibility to trial different products and come up with different options before we've actually nailed down a solution has been really valued by the team," says Mike.

The Results

Since deployment, Co-op has seen meaningful improvements in both driver safety and security outcomes. As part of a broader security strategy, the VUE AI camera system has contributed to an 80% year-on-year reduction in theft in transit incidents, a result that reflects the combined impact of technology, process, and real-time response capability.

For drivers, the change has been significant. Previously, a thief could be in the back of a vehicle without the driver ever knowing. Now, the moment a person is detected, the transport office receives an immediate notification, enabling a real-time response.

"The greatest value we've seen with the VUE system is the live notifications that we get, both in the transport office and for the driver, who previously would unknowingly have a thief in the back of the vehicle without their knowledge," says Mike. "Now the driver gets notification alongside the transport team and that allows us to react in real time."

The accuracy of those notifications has proven equally important. By reducing false alerts, the system ensures that when a notification is received, teams act on it with confidence.

"What I value the most about VUE's AI camera capabilities is the reduction in false notifications. When we do get a notification and we see human movement, the AI and the algorithm ensures that the transport team reacts immediately because they know it's a positive identification of a real incident."

Driver response to the technology has been positive. The solution is framed around their safety as much as the security of the load, and that framing matters: "The drivers have responded positively to the solution because it focuses on both safety and security. From a safety perspective, the driver now feels supported whilst out on the road."

Outcomes & Benefits

The deployment has delivered clear, measurable benefits across Co-op's logistics operation:

Driver Safety: Drivers who were previously unaware of criminal activity on their vehicles are now immediately alerted and supported by their transport team. The detect and deter approach removes the pressure on drivers to confront or engage with theft, keeping them safe.

Real-Time Response: Live notifications through VUEhub give transport office teams the ability to react to incidents as they happen, contacting drivers, alerting authorities, and documenting incidents quickly and accurately.

Reduction in Incidents: As part of a broader security strategy, the VUE system has contributed to a significant 80% year-on-year reduction in theft in transit incidents, reducing financial losses and operational disruption across the network.

Accurate, Actionable Alerts: The precision of the AI human detection technology means teams respond to genuine incidents rather than filtering through false alarms. Every notification carries weight, ensuring the right response at the right time.

A Collaborative Partnership: Perhaps as importantly as any individual outcome, Co-op values the way VUE works. The curiosity, flexibility, and willingness to iterate until the right solution is found has set the tone for a partnership built on trust and shared problem-solving.

"Our experience of working with VUE has been really positive," says Mike. "Working with VUE, we've been able to build relationships and collaborate to understand the problem and deliver a solution that works. What the team value about VUE's approach is the curiosity, because that really challenges the team to look at the problem differently."

Looking Ahead

The Co-op and VUE partnership continues to evolve. With the core solution embedded and delivering results across approximately 300 vehicles, both organisations are well placed to explore how the technology can be further developed and extended as Co-op's logistics operation grows and the threat landscape changes.

For VUE, the Co-op engagement is a strong example of what becomes possible when a technology partner engages with genuine curiosity, listening to the problem before proposing a solution, and remaining agile enough to adapt until the right answer is found.

VUE's AI human detection camera technology is helping fleet operators across the UK take a smarter approach to vehicle security. To see how it could work for your operation, get in contact with our team today. 

Want to hear exactly what Mike had to say? Watch our sit-down interview with him here.