Supermarket giant Tesco has introduced a novel security measure in some of its stores, replacing actual bottles of popular spirits with empty cardboard display boxes in a bid to deter thieves.
Dummy displays in upmarket London store
The new tactic was observed at a Tesco Express branch on Gloucester Road in the affluent area of South Kensington, West London, on 29 December. The measure currently applies to 70cl bottles of Malibu coconut-flavoured rum, priced at £12.50, and £19 bottles of Bombay Sapphire gin.
Instead of finding the real product, customers are now met with hollow representations on the shelf. The genuine bottles are kept in secure storage areas out of public reach. Shoppers who wish to purchase these items must ask a member of staff to fetch them from the back of the shop.
Customer frustration over increased wait times
While the move aims to prevent losses from shoplifting, it has reportedly led to some inconvenience for legitimate customers. One shopper told media that after requesting a bottle, it took staff 10 minutes to bring it from the store's back room.
"It has led to longer waiting times, particularly during busy periods, as customers wait for staff to become available," the shopper explained. Another customer, named Sue, simply remarked, "Ridiculous how bad it's gotten," highlighting broader concerns about retail crime.
Broader context of retail security challenges
The decision to use dummy boxes follows apparent failures of other security methods. A former supermarket worker, named Dan, commented that security tags are often too easy for criminals to remove. "Underneath the shelf there's loads of alarmed tags ripped off then they're off," he claimed, adding that during his time working at Morrisons, he had seen "a 100 odd underneath."
Tesco has been approached for comment on its new anti-theft strategy. This initiative underscores the ongoing battle retailers face against shoplifting, forcing them to implement increasingly inventive, if sometimes inconvenient, solutions to protect stock.
