SUPERMARKETS have left shoppers stunned after slapping 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.
Security measures have seen the tags placed on the plastic wrapping of the Andrex rolls, which cost £3.75 for four.
They set off the alarms when taken out of the store on the border of Bromley and Beckenham.
A customer who bought the rolls said: “We only realised the tags were on there when we left the store and the alarms went off, which was quite embarrassing.
“We had a look at what we’d bought in case we hadn’t paid for something or a tag had been left on, then we realised it had to be the loo rolls.
“All we could think was if they’re putting tags on toilet roll, things must be bad.”
Shoplifting is on the up, in part fuelled by the cost of living crisis.
Emmeline Taylor, a professor of criminology at City University, says criminal gangs are getting thieves to steal to order, with alcohol, baby formula, confectionary and meat swiped in bulk, to be sold elsewhere.
In England and Wales there were approximately 342,343 shoplifting offences recorded by the police in 2022/23, compared with 275,076 in the previous reporting year – a rise of 24 per cent.
The Tesco Express in question is in the borough of Bromley, which has one of the highest shoplifting rates in the country.
In nearby Bromley South – which isn’t the same crime recording area as the store but is close – latest stats show there were 216 crimes per 1,000 people, with 20 per cent classed as shoplifting.
Overall, shoplifting crime makes up 8 per cent of all crimes reported in the Bromley borough.
That makes it 14th worst out of 99 England and Wales postcode areas.
The loo roll tags come after other items have been subject to extra security measures.
It comes as Aldi is slapping security protection stickers on £1.20 multi-packs of chocolate after a spate of thefts.
The yellow patches, often seen on luxury items like whisky or perfume, are found on bags of Cadbury Twirl Bars.
Meanwhile, the Co-op has put empty coffee jars on shelves, with customers having to ask for the real deal if they want to make a purchase.
And honey, steak and cheese have been locked up or had tags added to their packaging.
Tesco was contacted for comment.
