Supermarkets lock chocolate behind security boxes as shoplifting hits record high

On Tuesday, bars of Dairy Milk and Lindt were found locked in plastic security cases at a central London supermarket, as retailers respond to a record rise in shoplifting across England and Wales.

The move reflects a wider shift in how supermarkets are protecting everyday goods. Chocolate, once considered a low-risk item, is now being treated as a high-value product amid what industry bodies describe as organised, repeat theft.

Retailers faced 5.5 million incidents of shoplifting last year, costing more than £400 million, according to the British Retail Consortium. Official figures published in July show that 530,643 shoplifting offences were recorded by police in 2024–2025, a 20 per cent increase on the previous year and the highest total since current records began in 2002–2003.

At a Sainsbury’s Local on City Road, 120g bars of Cadbury’s Dairy Milk and Oreo were secured inside clear plastic boxes fitted with electronic alarms. Higher-priced brands including Tony’s Chocolonely, Green & Black’s and Lindt Excellence were also protected. In some cases, shelves were covered by sliding plastic barriers requiring staff assistance.

A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s said stores use a range of security measures and may introduce product boxes or shelf-edge protection where theft levels are higher.

Industry representatives say the pattern has changed in recent years. Lucy Whing, crime policy lead at the British Retail Consortium, said retailers have invested more than £5 billion over five years in measures to tackle theft, including security tags and restricted shelving. She said low-level items such as chocolate are increasingly targeted and that theft is contributing to higher costs for shoppers.

Chris Noice, from the Association of Convenience Stores, said chocolate and sweets have long featured among the most frequently stolen goods. In the past, this was largely opportunistic. More recently, he said, larger bars are being targeted by prolific offenders who resell them within local communities.

Retailers, he added, are weighing customer experience against loss prevention. While no evidence suggests confectionery is being withdrawn from sale, additional security equipment has become another operating cost in a sector already under pressure.

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