TESCO bosses are locking extra virgin olive oil in tamper-proof mesh to deter thieves.
It has been dubbed “liquid gold” after weaker harvests and higher production costs sent prices soaring.
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Tesco bosses lock extra virgin olive oil in anti-tamper net to deter shoplifters Credit: twitter/@jackierao_
The average price of a liter of own brand olive oil is £7.38, according to trade publication The Grocer, which is 42% higher than a year ago.
Some extra virgin brands cost as much as £18.50.
This has led to a rise in theft – but shop bosses are now putting sleeves on expensive bottles instead of just labels.
And the alarms on them play ear-splitting chimes to make thieves think twice.
One Tesco worker said: “The old labels just went around the necks of the bottles and were quite easy to remove.
“The new wrappers prevent people from opening the bottles, and the alarms are very, very loud if they are surreptitiously removed.”
One customer posted a picture of shelves full of the favorite Mediterranean dish in protective netting and said: “What has the world come to?”
The move comes after Tesco boss Ken Murphy said workers were being offered body cameras in a bid to tackle unruly customers, with the number of attacks on staff rising by a third.
The company has invested £44 million in improved security measures over four years.
Mr Murphy said: “It shouldn’t be like this. Crime is a scourge on society and an insult to customers and retail workers.
A popular retailer is closing its doors blaming shoplifting and violent crime after being robbed twice in eight months
“I want to see those who break the law in our stores brought to justice.”
Tesco is not the only retailer taking drastic measures to stop shoplifters taking items from stores.
In June last year, Morrisons introduced electronic doors at the tills of some of its stores, meaning customers now have to scan their receipts to exit.
The measure was introduced in several branches to prevent customers from leaving with products they did not pay for.
Other changes made by Tesco
It comes after Sainsbury’s introduced the same measure in November 2022, with customers saying they felt “held hostage”.
One fumed on Twitter: “I’ve been loyal to Sainsbury’s for 30 years.
“It stops now. How dare you insult me by scanning the receipt to leave.”
Another said: “Basically they do [people] hostages against their will.”
Primark has also launched self-service checkouts in some of its stores in 2022, with customers having to scan receipts to leave.
The same retailer also began adding giant “sold” stickers to tote bags in March in an attempt to stop shoplifters.
Tesco shocked shoppers in February this year after breaking the security markings on £2.20 pencils in one of its stores.
One customer said: “I just picked up a ballpoint pen and felt like I was buying a Rolex watch.
“Are thieves getting that desperate?
“I can understand that a bottle of nice whiskey or champagne has a security label, but it has a ballpoint pen? The world has gone mad.”
Meanwhile, in September last year, WHSmith was forced to add security markings to its £1.50 hand washing machine after it was targeted by thieves.
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Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education