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Greggs makes major change to stores in bid to tackle soaring shoplifting rates
Some stores have introduced full-time security guards
GREGGS is ditching its self-serve fridges to try to tackle soaring shoplifting rates.
Items such as sandwiches and bottled drinks have been moved behind the counter in at least five of its branches.
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The trial follows a Sun investigation which showed that brazen thieves were targeting some shops every 20 minutes.
A Greggs in Whitechapel, East London, is one where customers now have to ask for a chilled item.
A worker said: “The stealing before was so bad.
"I couldn’t put a number on how many thieves came in every day.”
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A local, Abdeslam Saadons, 58, said: “A couple of months ago I saw a guy take a whole case of Coca-Cola.”
Other shops have been fitted with bank-style screens at the counter or introduced full-time security guards.
Greggs said of the fridge move: “This is one of a number of initiatives we are trialling across a handful of shops which are exposed to higher levels of anti-social behaviour.
“Safety of our colleagues and customers remains our number one priority.”
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