London supermarkets lock chocolate bars in anti-theft boxes. The move follows a surge in shoplifting caused by organized criminal gangs.
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has reported that prolific offenders are targeting sugary treats, including £2.60 Cadbury Dairy Milk bars, and stealing them to order.
The stolen treats are then resold on illicit markets, funding wider criminal activity.
To deal with incidents of theft, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Co-op have introduced clear plastic boxes that can only be accessed with the help of staff.
The Heart of England Co-Op group reported that the chocolate theft cost them around £250,000, making it the second most stolen item after alcohol in 2025.
In footage recently shared by Wiltshire Police, a man was seen dragging an entire shelf of chocolate out of a shop door. In a separate incident, Cambridgeshire Police arrested an individual with a coat full of Cadbury Creme Eggs.
Across the country, the British Retail Consortium reported 5.5 million incidents of shoplifting, as well as 1,600 violent incidents against retail workers on a daily basis.
The ACS is urging the government to increase police support and toughen sentences. The National Police Chiefs’ Council said its retail crime strategy is helping to gather intelligence and bring offenders to justice.
