Tesco customers left baffled by supermarket’s ‘insane’ new security measures

Tesco has ramped up its defence against theft by putting security tags on a variety of food items – and customers have had their say inline.

Shoppers were particularly surprised to find prime fillet steaks, priced at £48 per kg, trapped in netted bags with alarm tags in a Doncaster branch.

This initiative is part of a broader effort across several major retailers to enhance security to combat rising shoplifting cases.

These strategies have been increasingly implemented since 2022 and include attaching security tags to goods, safeguarding products in locked boxes, only displaying empty boxes on shelves, restricting the number of items purchased, and verifying receipts at supermarket exit points.

A Reddit user expressed their astonishment by posting a photo of the steak ensnared in a security device in one Tesco store, exclaiming: “I’m sorry what the f**k now!?” The image has since sparked hundreds of reactions online, with one commentator noting: “Mate they’ve got steaks in secure cases in my local express stores in Cambridge.”

Shoppers have been left stunned by the sight of security tags on everyday items in supermarkets, with one person noting: “It’s insane but I am not surprised – I saw the same in Waitrose. I have seen in Co-op in Cambridge bloke just picked few steaks from the shelf and run out.”

Another added: “I worked in profit protection for a few years. Meat theft is rife. Anything that can be resold easily. Meat, alcohol, Nicorette, branded underwear, and toothbrush heads.

:Have a look on your local Facebook marketplace for these things and no doubt you will find someone selling peculiar quantities of some of these items. High value and easily concealable.”

This isn’t the first instance of Tesco ramping up its security measures; earlier this year, reports emerged of the retail giant tagging blocks of cheese to thwart thieves. In Derby, 550g blocks of Cathedral City mature cheddar, costing £5.95, were seen encased in netted bags with security devices.

Moreover, customers at a London superstore were shocked to discover additional security on items as inexpensive as £2 Cadbury’s Dairy Milk, Nestle’s Milky Bar, and Galaxy chocolates. A photo shared by London and UK Street News on X highlighted that chocolate bars had joined the ranks of toilet roll, Lurpak butter, and cheese, all of which have recently been subject to heightened security measures.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has reported that there were roughly 402,000 shoplifting offences recorded in the year leading up to September 2023. This marks a significant rise from the 304,459 incidents reported in the preceding 12 months.

In total, crime cost retailers a staggering £3.3 billion in 2023, which is double the figure from the previous year.

Tesco has been approached for comment.