Supermarkets forced to use anti-theft tags as shoplifters target 0% booze

28 October 2023 , 17:51

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Anti-theft tags have been put on four-packs of 0% ale in supermarkets

Shoplifting has hit a new low as thieves even target alcohol-free beer.

Four-packs of 0% ale are the latest product to be fitted with anti-theft tags in supermarkets. Teetotallers too skint to buy full-priced tins are turning to crooks to get the trendy tipple.

Products being tagged at one South London Tesco include £5.50 four-packs of 0.5% Brewdog Punk IPA. Alcohol-free spirit is also a target.

At Sainsbury’s, £6 bottles of non-alcoholic Martini Vibrante, £17 bottles of alcohol free Tanqueray Sevilla gin, and £11 Seedlip Grove citrus spirit are protected.

Susannah Streeter, of financial services firm Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “Non-alcoholic speciality drinks are now a target because they have become popular.”

Shop prices 'are yet to peak and will remain high' as inflation hits new heights

Gangs are stealing 0% booze to order (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Emmeline Taylor, professor of criminology at City, University of London, said the thefts were “organised looting” while consumer champion Martyn James called it “a new low”.

Tesco stated “some items may have security protection in individual stores”.

The precautions come as police, ministers and retailers crack down on the shoplifting epidemic, including a plan to use facial recognition cameras.

Shoplifting soared 25% this year, according to official stats, and shops are losing £1billion a year, says the British Retail Consortium. Shops are funding a £600,000 crackdown on thefts.

Dominik Lemanski