By Sean Poulter
Last updated at 5:03 AM on 21st December 2010
Most wanted: Strapped for cash people are willing to risk a criminal record for a turkey like this one
Supermarkets are putting electronic tags on their turkeys in an attempt to beat thefts triggered by hard times this Christmas.
The stores have taken the drastic action in direct response to a rise in shoplifting of food caused by the squeeze on family budgets.
In the past, stores reserved the tags for high value items such as drink and CDs. However, increasingly, the electronic tags are being put on meat, and the security measure will be extended to turkeys for the first time this year.
Turkeys and turkey crowns can cost well over £30, which means shoplifters can get a good price on the black market.
Marks & Spencer is putting the tags on all its turkey crowns. Separately, M&S, Tesco and Sainsbury’s have given store managers authority to tag their birds if their outlet is in a theft hot spot.
Several types of tag are used. Initially, stores relied on bright yellow easily identifiable tags, but now more are using smaller versions, including some that are little bigger than a grain of sand.
The tag will set off an alarm if a shopper tries to make a run for it with a turkey under their arm without it being removed or swiped through a check-out scanner.
A survey by the security company G4S suggests the stores have good reason to worry. It found that as many as half a million Britons would go so far as to steal a turkey if they had the chance. One in seven adults admitted being tempted to break the law at Christmas and pinch either food, drink or presents.
G4S said better CCTV and other security has helped cut the number of shoplifters. But its marketing director, Douglas Greenwell, said: ‘The harsh economic realities facing many families may lead normally law abiding people to consider shoplifting as a way to save money this Christmas.
‘However, for the sake of a £20 turkey, people risk a criminal record that could see them barred from a number of professions, limiting their future career options.’
Drastic measures: Supermarkets are having to take extra precautions against shoplifters this Christmas
Adrian Beck, head of the Department of Criminology at Leicester University, said the survey ‘highlights the important part opportunity plays in retail crime’, adding: ‘People will think about breaking the law if they view the risks of getting caught to be low and the opportunity to offend is readily apparent.’
An M&S spokesman said individual stores can take a decision to tag whole birds, adding: ‘The only exception is our turkey crowns, which are tagged.’
Sainsbury’s said: ‘Security tags have been in use across our stores for some time on higher value goods such as wines, spirits and health and beauty products. Other items such as turkeys might be tagged at the discretion of individual store managers.’
Tesco said: ‘Store managers may decide to security tag their turkeys if there are any particular issues at store level.’
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