Recession forces stores to security tag chocolate bars
Some British supermarkets have begun tagging low-priced items such as Cadbury's Dairy Milk chocolate bars as the economic downturn drives up theft. Staff at a UK supermarket that is using the shoplifting tags estimated that at least one candy bar was stolen every hour. Major British retailers reported that shoplifting rose by a third in 2009.
Some British supermarkets have begun tagging low-priced items such as Cadbury's Dairy Milk chocolate bars as the economic downturn drives up theft. Staff at a UK supermarket that is using the shoplifting tags estimated that at least one candy bar was stolen every hour. Major British retailers reported that shoplifting rose by a third in 2009.
These tags are normally found on luxury items such as perfume or single malt whisky.
But a supermarket has started security tagging £1.97 Cadbury’s Dairy Milk chocolate bars in an attempt to stop shoplifters raiding its sweets aisle. The stick-on strips will set off alarms if the chocolate is stolen.
One staff member at Tesco Express in Polegate, near Eastbourne, East Sussex, said at least one bar was stolen an hour and described ‘ransacking’ of confectionery.
The metal security strips are hidden inside the chocolate bars and a yellow 'Security Protected' sticker (circled) alerts shoppers to this. Alarms at the exit of the store go off if the bars are stolen Tesco said it was up to the discretion of store managers to decided which products needed tagging in their stores
'We put them on the chocolate bars because they were going missing.
'It depends on your area what kind of things are taken. For stores close to schools it is likely to be school kids coming in and taking chocolate bars.'
A spokesman for Cadbury's said: 'I know chocolate is irresistible but Dairy Milk is one of the more affordable brands so it's surprising our bars need a tag on them.'
Sarah Crodey, from the British Retail Consortium, said shoppers will start to see more tags attached to the cheaper popular branded items as the economic downturn drives more people to steal groceries and luxuries.
She said: 'Changes in technology mean security tags are more affordable and we must remember that theft from a retailer is not a victimless crimes.
'It pushes up prices across the board for honest customers paying for their shopping. Shoplifting is a serious crime.'
Major stores reported shoplifting up by a third as the recession started to bite in 2009. It is estimated that items worth £400,000 are stolen from shops every day.
Source: Tesco
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