23 September 2023 , 15:37
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A shoplifting epidemic has forced WH Smith to fit security tags to thousands of items across its theft-plagued shops.
Goods worth £10 or more are now being tagged at a number of the chain’s worst-hit stores, while some as low as £1 are also having to be protected. Industry experts believe self-scan tills could be adding to the problem, as the loss of human contact makes thieves become more brazen.
One WHSmith staff member said: “Shoplifting is out of control. We do the best we can, but it is hard when the thieves are so determined. We’re fighting a losing battle.” At one branch this week, hundreds of items costing £10 and over were tagged – as well as scores of cheaper items, including £6.49 calculators, £1.50 bottles of Carex handwash and £5.50 boxes of Maltesers.
Meanwhile, kids’ favourite Premier League and Peppa Pig Panini stickers, worth 80p to £1, were being kept locked up behind tills at the shop in Croydon, South London. The British Retail Consortium reported around eight million thefts in the year to March, but police recorded only 339,206 – meaning the majority of culprits went free. Retail experts called on the Government, police and stores to do more.
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Susannah Streeter, of financial services firm Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “While self-scan tills were brought in to help cut costs, it appears they may be exacerbating the problem, with shoplifters potentially more reckless without eye-to-eye human contact.” Tom Ironside, of the British Retail Consortium, revealed the number of attacks on shop staff had also gone up to 850 a day and called for “urgent action” to be taken.
But independent consumer champion Martyn James said: “Many people are stealing out of desperation. These tags are a warning that more help is needed.” WHSmith, which has 520 UK stores, said it had no plans for new high street shops and is focusing on airport, train station and overseas outlets. A spokesman said: “Shoplifting is an industry-wide challenge and we have a range of measures in place in our stores which we tailor to reflect the level of theft in individual locations.”