Tesco has made a bizarre change to its hand towels. Security tags were spotted on the £2 products at its Lewisham branch in South East London. Security measures are typically used to protect high-value items from theft. However, more and more supermarkets are increasing their use of security tags on everyday items as a result of the sharp rise in theft.

Tesco customer and railway worker Gareth Blunt, 48, was at the South London store picking up a pack of hand towels protected by security tags.

He told The Sun: "It's a bit weird, I don't understand it. I'm used to seeing it on alcohol or TVs, but I don't understand what the point is of someone stealing towels.

"Having the tag removed is fine at the till, but we will end up having everything, all the products, with an alarm on. That would be annoying."

Mr Blunt also believes that the security tags on the bathroom products suggest "there's no trust left for normal people not to steal".

A Tesco employee said: "The tags probably cost more than the product they're on. You'd be surprised at the things people try to shoplift."

Everyday items, including tea bags and chocolate bars, have also been spotted locked up in security boxes.

The towel tags are not a universal policy in all stores, a Tesco source revealed.

It comes as shoplifting has hit record levels in recent years, with more than 530,000 offences in England and Wales recorded in the year ending March 2025.

The Government has been investing in policing and in more uniformed staff in shopping areas to continue tackling the issue and protecting retail workers. Additionally, the Crime and Policing Bill, welcomed by Joanne Thomas, Usdaw's general secretary, reclassifies theft and introduces strict protections for retail staff.

She said: "Usdaw's last survey found that this is in no way a victimless crime, with two-thirds of attacks on retail staff being triggered by theft or armed robbery. Having to deal with repeated and persistent offences can cause issues beyond the theft itself, like anxiety, fear and physical harm to retail workers."

The Express has approached Tesco for a comment.