Profits at Stater Bros. Holdings Inc. nearly tripled last quarter on record sales, with the company also citing a program aimed at reducing theft and product loss as a key component of its success.

The Colton-based supermarket chain reported third-quarter net income of $16 million, a 174 percent leap from $5.7 million from the same period a year earlier. Sales were up 3 percent to $910 million.

Chief Executive Jack Brown said the company is benefiting from a program started up about a year ago to reduce loss of products due to theft or employee errors.

“It eliminates a great many loopholes that was at the back of stores to make sure the driver delivers what was on the invoice and we receive what was on the invoice,” Brown said.

Same-store sales at Southern California’s largest independent grocer increased 2 percent during the period. Stater Bros. owns and operates 163 stores in Southern California.