Sainsbury's has introduced plastic security sliders on chocolate bars in some stores, including its Castle Street branch in Liverpool, as shoplifting of confectionery rises. The measures, which cover items worth as little as £1, are designed to deter thieves who resell stolen chocolate to fund wider criminal activity.
The security sliders, which require shoppers to slide back plastic guards to access bars, have also been spotted at Tesco in Liverpool city centre. Larger boxes of chocolates, including Lindt, Maltesers, Quality Street, and Heroes, are similarly protected. Signs in the chocolate aisle warn that 'thieves are always prosecuted' and that removing items without payment is theft.
The move follows a BBC report highlighting a surge in chocolate theft, with some supermarkets in London using plastic boxes around single bars. Smaller corner shops have reported significant financial losses. Nationally, shop theft rose by 5% in the 12 months to September 2025, with 519,381 offences recorded, according to the Crime Survey for England and Wales.
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) noted that while theft is increasing, the number of charges has risen by 21%, with one in five offences now leading to a charge. The government plans to scrap the £200 threshold under which thefts are treated less seriously, a move welcomed by retail bodies. The ACS said: 'We are making sure officers have the right powers to tackle these crimes.'
