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  "path": "/news/greggs-scraps-food-and-drink-fridges-nationwide-shoplifting-surge",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-25T02:37:27.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Man admits racially aggravated assault after accusing Jewish man of ‘killing babies’",
    "Man jailed for life over religiously aggravated rape and assault of Sikh woman",
    "Businessman admits pocketing MILLIONS from council meant for solar investments",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nGreggs has begun removing self-service fridges from stores in a crackdown on soaring shoplifting and staff attacks.\n\nThe bakery chain is trialling a new layout in branches including West Croydon, Peckham, Whitechapel and Upton Park in London, as well as sites in Birmingham and Wilford in Nottinghamshire.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nUnder the changes, all products are kept behind counters, with staff required to hand items directly to customers - preventing thieves from helping themselves.\n\nAt the newly refurbished West Croydon branch, only small items such as sugar sachets, napkins and stirrers remain freely accessible.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n“It’s a bit grim but they’ve clearly had enough of shoplifters,” one customer told The Sun.\n\nIf successful, the scheme could be rolled out across Greggs’ 2,700-plus UK stores.\n\nThe move comes after a series of violent incidents targeting staff.\n\nAt the West Croydon branch, one worker had scalding tea thrown in their face, while a security guard was attacked with a belt in a separate incident.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nEmployees said problems have been fuelled by people gathering outside stores.\n\n“The branch has struggled because of all the homeless outside taking drugs and drinking alcohol who come in and help themselves,” one worker said.\n\nStaff at the Peckham store said the changes have improved their working conditions, with one employee noting the system “does make life easier”.\n\nThe overhaul comes amid a surge in retail crime across England and Wales.\n\n### CRIME - READ THE LATEST:\n\n\n\n\n  * Man admits racially aggravated assault after accusing Jewish man of ‘killing babies’\n  * Man jailed for life over religiously aggravated rape and assault of Sikh woman\n  * Businessman admits pocketing MILLIONS from council meant for solar investments\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nShoplifting offences have risen by 133 per cent over five years, with more than 530,000 cases recorded in 2024/25 - up from around 228,000 in 2020/21.\n\nDespite the rise, fewer than one in five cases resulted in charges last year.\n\nThe Metropolitan Police recorded the lowest charge rate, at just 6.5 per cent.\n\nLiberal Democrat MP Max Wilkinson said: “Our communities deserve better than the surge of shoplifting that’s ransacking our local high streets.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n“Retail workers have in too many cases been left to fend for themselves as hundreds of thousands of shoplifters get away scot-free.”\n\nGreggs has also faced repeated thefts by prolific offenders.\n\nOne man stole goods dozens of times from a single store in west London, with CCTV showing him filling bags with drinks while staff were unable to intervene.\n\nHe later admitted multiple thefts and received a suspended prison sentence.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Greggs scraps front-of-store food and drink fridges amid nationwide shoplifting surge"
}