British hypermarket chain Sainsbury's uses anti-theft boxes for items that are regularly targeted by thieves. It even happened that Cadbury Dairy Milk plates for £2.60 (equivalent to approximately PLN 12) were closed in one of the London branches, writes the BBC.
The police reported that they had observed a specific trend of chocolate theft. He assures that he is working to combat this type of crime.
In recent months, some police departments have published videos of such thefts to draw attention to a specific problem. Wiltshire Police released footage of a man dragging an entire rack of chocolate out the door of a shop.
Early last year, Cambridgeshire Police arrested a man with a coat full of Cadbury's Creme eggs.
Thefts impact businesses and employees
“Chocolate is one of many valuable products that are often targeted by thieves, along with products such as alcohol, meat and coffee,” Cambridgeshire Police told the BBC. “Retail theft has a real and lasting impact – not only on businesses, but also on the employees who face related abuse and intimidation.”
Meanwhile, in the British Retail Consortium's annual crime report, last year there were 5.5 million cases of shoplifting in the UK, as well as 1,600 cases a day of violence and abuse against retail workers. Although this number was one-fifth lower than the previous year, it was still the second highest number on record.
See also: Mass deportations and an ICE-style agency. The radical plan of the British party
Chocolate in British stores under lock and key. “Huge problem”
Supermarkets have tightened security measures, including: in the case of chocolate bars. Tesco and Co-Op, as well as Sainsbury's, use transparent boxes that customers must ask staff to open.
The Heart of England Co-Op group told the BBC that chocolate theft cost them £250,000 last year. pounds. It was the group's most stolen product in 2024, and in 2025 it was second only to alcohol.
See also: The global chocolate confectionery market is growing. In Poland, it's already PLN 13 billion and prices are getting higher
CEO Steve Browne told the BBC that stealing chocolate is a 'huge problem'. A shelf of chocolate can be worth £500 and the group has spent £3m on security and other anti-theft measures.
Source: BBC
