Shopkeepers the UK are having to go to extreme lengths to stop shoplifters stealing chocolate. The candy is being locked plastic security boxes. Customers wishing to purchase a chocolate bar must ask a member staff to unlock the box. One leading supermarket chain said it has begun using "boxes products which are regularly targeted" thieves. A spokesperson another popular store, the Co-op, told the BBC that chocolate theft was a "massive issue". He said: " a particular shop, one individual could cost us thousands pounds in a week." He added that some people would visit a store and "literally swipe the whole shelf" chocolate.
Chocolate is the latest target criminal gangs. The UK's Association of Convenience Stores said the candy is being stolen "prolific offenders" and then sold the black market. The Co-op spokesman said chocolate was the product most often stolen its stores in 2024, and was only second to alcohol 2025. Another retail association said: "Chocolate is now a target, deemed to be 'high value,' so retailers have installed anti-theft devices to prevent it being stolen." There were 5.5 million reported incidents of shop theft the UK last year. In London, only five per cent these ended in the courts. Disturbingly, there are 1,600 daily incidents of violence shop workers.
