Tesco tags Cathedral City cheddar
A SUPERMARKET in Gloucester is hoping to catch hungry thieves Red Leicester-handed by security tags on its steak and cheese.
Tesco in Brockworth has started the unusual practice of applying security tags to brands of expensive foods such as Cathedral City cheddar cheese and steak to deter thieves.
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beefing up security: The Citizen reporter Dan Charles with security tagged food.
Small strips have been attached to the tasty-goods with a sticker on the packaging explaining what they are.
If the strips are not deactivated at the tills when the items are purchased the alarm is set off.
A spokesman from Tesco would not give the reasons behind the move but said it was up to the individual store managers to enforce security.
He said: "We have a number of security measures that we enforce in our stores across the UK.
"The decision to use security tags is always made by the manager of the store and tags are used on various items such as bottles of spirits, all at the manager's discretion."
Customers at the store, who are used to items such as bottles of spirits, razor blades and CDs being tagged welcomed the new move.
Godfrey Browning, Brockworth parish councillor, said: "Anything to discourage shoplifters is a good thing, and this is something I would certainly encourage.
"Meat and cheese is getting very expensive now, so this could be seen as necessary."
Mr Browning added he would like to see additional signage to coincide with the security tags.
He said: "I think some people may still be tempted to steal despite the tags, but if there were signs up too, then perhaps theft would decrease.
"Signs saying that certain items in the shop are tagged may be enough to deter some thieves."
Daryl Walker, from Longlevens, often uses the supermarket. He has also backed the new measure.
"I think it is a really good idea," he said.
"It helps the supermarket keep their stock and it doesn't affect the honest customer, so why not?"
Lyn Roe, from Gloucester, thinks other supermarkets could benefit from adopting the same scheme.
She said: "Maybe other supermarkets could follow this one's lead.
"It takes no time at all to de-tag at the till, so it's not slowing us down whatsoever. And if it helps to catch or deter thieves then it can only be a good thing."
James Harrison, of Brockworth, hadn't even noticed the tags.
He said: "It's news to me so they must be quite discreet.
"But yes, it's definitely a good idea. I'm not sure why they are putting them on cheese though, I've heard of meat being stolen in the past but not cheese."
46 Comments
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by Brockworth Resident, Gloucester
Monday, July 06 2009, 10:39PM
“Good idea that a national company is looking after its shareholders and investors! Shoppers? Well let¿s think about this, a device that saves a company from being ripped off? When you are a law abiding citizen and HAVE been stopped (under duress) 3 times after PURCHASING pork and beef on separate occasions I find one conclusion to this.......tell your staff that these deterrents are in place. They didn¿t even know what these little white strips were! When I am stopped by your security staff for ¿stealing¿ make sure that your causes are just and that they abide by the law!”
by Tesco Hater, Brockworth
Monday, July 06 2009, 10:06PM
“I bet Tesco won't bother tagging their own brand stuff, most of which can only be described as "dog food".
It is made in disgusting conditions by mainly Polish and Rumanian's.
If you saw how it was made, you'd never shop at Tesco again.”
by cfc_bhoy1888, glos
Monday, July 06 2009, 9:20PM
“rap tin foil around the cheeses you can walk out the door the alarm won't go off ;-)”
by Amir Zahifriz, longlevens
Monday, July 06 2009, 8:47PM
“not surprised they have to tag it, they'll steal anything in Gloucester. I had a 9 month old copy of the Sunday Sport, a pack of tampon + a half eaten cornish pasty stolen from my car on eastern avenue once. They must have thought it was xmas.”
by chris, glos
Monday, July 06 2009, 8:32PM
“"Mr Browning added he would like to see additional signage to coincide with the security tags.
He said: "I think some people may still be tempted to steal despite the tags, but if there were signs up too, then perhaps theft would decrease"
yes the thefft will decrease but then it could turn the thieves towards other supermarkets to steal from which defeats the object imo”
by FºCUS, glos
Monday, July 06 2009, 7:38PM
“cos the theives won't think. .. . I'll just take off the wrapper.”
by Pat, Wotton under edge. Glos.
Monday, July 06 2009, 7:02PM
“If you can't afford best steak and top quality cheese then go for the cheaper versions. Maybe Tesco will be finding themselves with expensive foods piling up and going out of date. What will they do then? Throw them away or reduce the prices!”
by Wanda, Stroud
Monday, July 06 2009, 6:55PM
“I wonder if this isn't a sign of the recession biting (no pun intended), when people can't afford to feed their families. Eg unemployment benefit isn't enough to live on, and neither are many lower paid jobs. They'll be placing meat and cheese in secure rooms next!”
by mikeperryfitness, Cheltenham
Monday, July 06 2009, 6:19PM
“I'm suprised that this story gets such a heated response. Tescos have tagged their cheese, what is the big deal? Tags have been becoming more common for years, it's just part of life. I'm just glad to be fit and healthy, I have more exciting things to do than to worry about tags and Tesco”
by chris, glos
Monday, July 06 2009, 6:18PM
“i despise shoplifters but then i used to work in the sainsburys in town and we tagged meats, cheese, areosols like body sprays”