Man says 'Britain is cooked' as common supermarket item is put in security box

The shopper was shocked when they realised which item was placed in a security box (stock image)

A man has been left furious after having to walk round a supermarket with a security-protected cheese.

It's common in the UK to see security tags on luxury items like TVs and game consoles. But, in recent years, shoppers have spotted everyday items like coffee and butter and, more controversially, baby formula displayed in plastic cases to deter shoplifters.

Earlier this year Cadbury's fans were left baffled after spotting their favourite chocolates getting extra protection - but people confessed it would put them off from buying the product. What's more, Tesco shoppers have spotted salmon being placed in a locked, plastic box. "Why is walking through the shop with this whopper the most embarrassing thing that Tesco could possibly make me do?," and individual said after sharing their experience on TikTok.

And now cheese has fallen victim to being locked up.

The move comes amid soaring rates of shoplifting across the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) - which showed shoplifting offences recorded by police forces in England and Wales had risen by a quarter in the past year.

On X shopper @alasdair_gbs has gone viral after sharing that he went to his local Tesco to pick up some food items, but was taken aback when his favourite Cathedral City light mature cheddar was packed in a security box. His post raked in over 21,000 likes and just short of one million views - leaving people stunned.

The shopper said: "Currently carrying a security box of cheese to the checkout, the country may be cooked." One individual commented and said: "Flipping heck, it's not even the good extra mature stuff!" "No way," wrote another.

Another added: "I would simply leave my basket of goods and shop elsewhere. What a total joke." One other commented: "The corner shop my sister used to work at couldn’t have cheese or baby formula on the shelf. People had to request it."

One other wrote: "Imagine, for a moment, we went back to the days of the small independent grocer. Everything fresh, behind the counter, and someone serving you."

One other individual says they have spotted gammon steaks being locked away in Derby, and said: "Co-Op in Spondon, Derby - even had gammon steaks locked away!" "It's a golden age for security box manufacturers though," pointed out one other.

The Mirror has gone to Tesco for comment.

Have you spotted items in the supermarkets in security boxes? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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