Coles limits self-serve checkout to 12 items

Coles has begun trialling a 12-item limit to its self-serve check-out counters, in a bid to tackle thieving shoppers.

The supermarket giant will trial the new item limit at less than 20 stores across the country.

"We also have team members available to serve on traditional belted lanes for customers who prefer to use them or have a larger number of items," a Coles spokesperson said.

"We have found customers with small baskets can generally complete their shopping faster by using self-scanning check-outs."

The new policy, which will still see a staff member supervising the checkouts, comes four months after Coles announced it was cracking down on thieving customers who used the self-serve checkouts.

Coles enlisted the help of NSW police officers in October to help target customers and reduce theft.

The supermarket said it was sick of shoppers who avoided paying for some products or discounted expensive products as cheaper items.