Tesco to increase security as “desperate people” turn to shoplifting

// Tesco will security measures as people turn to shoplifting due to inflation

// Chairman John Allan said Tesco will also “have to pass higher supply prices on to customers”

Tesco will increase security measures across its stores as “desperate people” turn to shoplifting amid the cost-of-living crisis.

Chairman John Allan said shoppers will see extra security tags on food as well as an increased security presence in-store.

“I think shoplifting is a concern and getting the police to take action and respond to cases where we and other retailers – and this is a concern right across the retail trade – is an issue,” he said.

“I don’t sympathise with people who shoplift but I can understand desperate people taking desperate measures sometimes when they’ve literally got no money left.”

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Allan also said Tesco will “have to pass higher supply prices on to customers”.

Speaking to Times Radio, the chair of the supermarket giant claims to “resist price increases” from its suppliers as long as the grocer “sensibly can”.

However, he said if suppliers are facing major cost increases, sooner or later the price increases would have to be passed on to the grocer and then to the consumer.

“We see our mission in this crisis to do everything we can to help our shoppers navigate their way through, inflation” he said.

He added that Tesco is also helping customers by showing them the benefits of buying Tesco private labels, as well as price matching with discount grocer Aldi.

According to Allan, three quarters of Tesco’s customers are concerned about inflation. He added that this figure increases every month, with customers now having to deal with with inflation, but future costs on energy bills.