Major supermarket locks up £13 baby food to deter thieves
A major supermarket has locked boxes of baby food worth €13 to deter thieves.
Shocked shoppers have criticized the giant retailer for locking up essential items in a shoplifting bin.
3
A Tesco branch in Birmingham has gone to great lengths to keep thieves away from its baby food.
Parents who have flocked to Swan Island in Yardley have seen boxes placed in metal mesh bags and locked behind huge tags.
Pictures show the Aptamil brand selling in the cages for between £13.50 and £18.
One shopper said on X, formerly Twitter: “This is possibly one of the saddest things I've seen in my local Tesco. Baby food is alarmed to prevent theft.”
The giant supermarket said the practice of protecting certain items from thieves has been in place for years.
But some shoppers have branded the move 'disgusting'.
On Facebook, one user said: “I would absolutely hate being a new parent at this age. That's disgusting.”
Another said: “We need to stop blaming the mums who can't afford it and start asking what we can do so they can.
“Basic things like this need to be accessible across the board.”
A third wrote: “This is awful. I don't condone shoplifting but when you steal baby food you must be in a desperate situation.”
But this isn't the only time Tesco has resorted to anti-shoplifting techniques.
Many customers said the measures have also been implemented in their local stores.
One user admitted: “It's been like this in Walsall for a while.”
It comes as the cost of baby food has soared in recent years, with brands increasing prices by more than 25 percent.
Struggling families criticized the supermarket for selling needed items at “excessive” prices.
One user said angrily: “That is absolutely shocking. Aptamil cost £9 when I got my babies! It's doubled! My youngest is almost 8, I can't believe he's grown so much.”
Another added: “Aptamil cost a tenner in 2001. I can't believe the prices now. And all just to feed your child.”
Tesco and Aptamil UK have been contacted for comment.
Amid the cost of living crisis, some chains have gone further steps to prevent theft, including tags, displaying empty boxes and placing expensive items behind the counter.
Sainsbury's and Co-op had also placed security tags on formula products.
Similar anti-theft measures have also been fitted to cheap Bic ballpoint pens and pencils.
And recently a pack of four Andrex toilet rolls worth £3.75 was spotted at a Tesco Express in South London with security tags.
