- Chocolate bars, including popular brands like Dairy Milk and Lindt, are being secured in plastic anti-theft boxes in UK supermarkets due to a surge in shoplifting.
- Retailers reported 5.5 million shoplifting incidents last year, costing over £400 million, leading to more items being protected.
- A source told the Independent that chocolate is now considered a 'high-value target,' with many thefts linked to organised crime where goods are stolen to order.
- Official figures show shoplifting offences in England and Wales reached a record high of 530,643 in 2024-2025, a 20 per cent increase from the previous year.
- Supermarkets like Sainsbury's are implementing various security measures, including plastic boxes and shelf barriers, acknowledging that such theft ultimately increases prices for consumers.
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