General · 24 February 2026
Retailers lock chocolate bars inside plastic security boxes
Major supermarkets like Sainsbury’s and Tesco are placing confectionery within protective cases because criminals are stealing stock for resale. The Heart of England Co-Op group reported losing £250,000 to such crimes last year, noting that a single shelf holds £500 worth of goods. Police have shared footage of thieves taking entire displays, while businesses invest heavily in new security. Annual data records 5.5 million detected shoplifting incidents recently.
Reported by BBC · How we write briefs