TESCO and Sainsbury’s shoppers were left fuming after the supermarkets slapped security tags on Easter eggs.
Punters at the two big-name chains could not believe their eyes when they spotted anti-theft tags on the popular goodies.
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In Tesco, an alarm will go off if shoplifters try to steal £3 Cadbury Dairy Milk eggs and £5 Reese’s Peanut Butter eggs.
Rival Sainsbury’s tagged a similar selection, including Nestle’s £2 Smarties Egg, reports the Mirror.
One shopper said: “Britain has hit a new low. This is madness.”
Another said: “I’d understand more when people are forced to steal the essentials for their kids like baby formula, but £2 chocolate is a joke.”
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.
Stores are also losing £1billion a year, according to official stats.
City University of London criminology professor Emmeline Taylor, host of the podcast Retail Crime Uncovered, said: “Easter eggs might be stolen by opportunists for their own use but it’s likely that professional prolific thieves will be targeting them to sell on for profit.
“Disrupting the onward sale of stolen goods is key to tackling the current surge in theft.”
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Chains have been stocking their shelves with treats as it gets closer to Easter, and a price war has already kicked off.
Tesco has also cut the prices of its large Easter eggs to just £2 and shoppers can nab chocolate favourites including Cadbury and Celebrations.
The offer started on Wednesday, February 21.
The large-size chocolate Easter eggs are priced at £3 unless you have a Clubcard.
The cracking deal includes a range of different Easter egg chocolates you will need to act fast as the deal is only available till March 5.
For the full list of eggs included in the deal see our handy story.
Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s has slashed the price of its extra-large Easter eggs with loads of popular brands on offer.
The supermarket has reduced the price of all large Easter eggs to just £4 for all Nectar card holders in the run-up to the holiday.
It comes as other shops slapped tags on everyday essentials such as butter amid soaring thefts during the cost of living crisis.
Shoppers were left 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.
How to save on your supermarket shop
THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop.
You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they’ve been reduced.
If the food is fresh, you’ll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time.
Making a list should also save you money, as you’ll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket.
Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too.
This means ditching “finest” or “luxury” products and instead going for “own” or value” type of lines.
Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they’re misshapen or imperfect.
For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50.
If you’re on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too.
Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.
Meanwhile, 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.
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And honey, steak and cheese have been locked up or had tags added to their packaging.
Tesco and Sainsbury’s have been contacted for comment.
