Shoplifting is on the rise, with the last figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) revealing that offences in England and Wales have reached their highest since records began.

And now Tesco is taking a stand against thieves, introducing a new deterrent to stop any five-finger discounts.

A clip uploaded to TikTok by one Tesco shopper showed shelves featuring plastic covers, which need to be slid to the side to access items.

Filming in the confectionary aisle, content creator @kirkpap1 showed how the plastic screens had to moved in in order to access the Cadbury chocolate sitting behind it.

The idea is that criminals will be unable to subtly steal items when having to go through this extra step to get products off the shelves.

However, after the clip was posted online, the the extra security proved divisive.

Commenters on the video complained that those who wanted to steal will do so regardless of the new measures.

User @matt_an91 wrote: ‘Tesco just making it more frustrating for genuine shoppers to purchase items. A shoplifter will just snap that cover straight off, they don’t care.’

And @b25jmd2 queried: ‘What’s the point in this exactly? Because that isn’t stopping people from stealing.’

Plus, shoppers with mobility restrictions or impairments said they would struggle to do their shopping with these devices in place.

@geniesdream noted: ‘I’m disabled, and that would make shopping impossible, glad I don’t go to Tesco.’

However, many defended the new protocol.

@gyoung2001 said: ‘They definitely work as someone who had these in their store. It takes the thieves longer to get to everything, so they might steal 10 bars instead of 30, and if they do go for more, it gives security time.’

While @manuparker8 said, it would help stop thieves from ‘swiping the whole shelf into a trolley’ during their stealing spree.’

Tesco have introduced sliding security devices on a limited number of shelves as an additional security measure to help reduce theft.

It’s not a universal policy though, so will only be popping in stores where the measure is deemed necessary.

The plastic screens are just one of many precautions shops are taking against criminals.

For example, Poundland’s ‘Against Retail Crime’ initiative saw the budget retailer introduce headsets and bodycams for staff working in stores with the most significant crime issues.

And, in some Primark branches, staff working at the tills have started to seal the paper carrier bags with blue stickers that say ‘sold’ to stop shoplifters in their tracks. 

But it wasn’t all about the debate. Some chose to make light of the situation, with @thisisntdaxter joking, ‘I gotta complete a Tomb Raider puzzle to buy a pack of fruit pastilles.’

@gaspolice23 joined in, writing: ‘Next we will be playing kerplunk for apples.’

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