A BUDGET retailer has hidden baby milk behind the counter to deter thieves from stealing but shoppers have cried out for “compassion”.
The One Stop, in Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent, has been fighting a war against shoplifters for years now.
But it is the first time owner Steve Green has had to hide such products behind his counter at his shop – known locally as Leese’s.
Thieves have long been targeting the branch since just before the Covid lockdowns.
Items like chocolate, meat and coffee were stolen and then flogged at local pubs in the area.
Steve has since had to remove baby milk, washing tablets and liquid detergent from the shelves and hide them behind his counter.
One notice in the shop states: “Due to a spate of shoplifting, we have taken the decision to relocate the washing detergent. We have placed them behind the counter.”
Now staff are asking regular shoppers to remain vigilant – and report any suspected criminals.
Steve said: “The police are on to it and we’ve put notices around the shop to say that certain items are now being kept behind the counter.
“It’s been ongoing for three or four years, certain people were coming in and taking multiple items, such as chocolate, so they can sell it on elsewhere.
“Some people take baby milk and washing detergent so we put them behind the counter but then they take other things instead, such as meat, coffee, chocolate, and whatever they can sell quickly in pubs. It’s usually the more expensive items and they don’t just take one, they take multiples of each item.
“We never used to get much shoplifting. It was just before Covid started so it’s nothing to do with people struggling because of the cost of living.”
He added: “I don’t think the thieves are from that far away, they’ll park down the road or get dropped off so we don’t catch the vehicles they use on CCTV.
“The thing is we’re a franchise, we’re not company owned, so whatever is stolen affects us directly.
“It’s time consuming checking the CCTV, and filing paperwork for the police, and constantly stocktaking. It means I can’t focus on things that need doing.”
Social media appeared to be divided over the issue with one netizen calling for “compassion”.
They said: “Christ things are bad enough right now for families maybe have some compassion & lower the prices a bit.
“Even food banks are struggling to provide baby milk.”
Another wrote: “We must all help with this shocking situation”.
However, other viewers blasted shameless shoplifters as “disgusting” and “poor excuses for humans”.
And a second said: “Must be terrible in the rest of the city as Barlaston is one of the only remaining nice places.”
“Many people struggle to make ends meet,but they don’t go thieving,” commented another.
It’s not the first time shops have slapped tags on everyday essentials such as butter amid soaring thefts during the cost of living crisis.
Shoppers were stunned after Tesco slapped security tags on loo roll with shoplifting spiralling out of control.
The ludicrous tags were seen on rolls in a Tesco Express store in south London where the shoplifting rate is one of the worst in the country.
Meanwhile, Aldi put security protection stickers on £1.20 multi-packs of chocolate after a spate of thefts.
