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Tesco

Oldham Tesco tags baskets to curb theft epidemic in 5p bag protest

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By John McCarthy, Opinion Editor

October 14, 2015 | 4 min read

A Tesco store has started clipping security tags upon its baskets in response to a spike in thefts likely linked to the new 5p carrier bag charge.

Following the charge being implemented across the whole of England (4 October), the supermarket reported a dramatic spate of basket thefts.

The outlet said to the BBC: “The store had a problem with people taking baskets since the introduction of the carrier bag charge.

"It is not a blanket policy, but we have introduced security tags as a result."

The charge, which has been active in Scotland for almost a year and Wales for almost four, has sparked an increase in theft - not of the good - but of vessels to hold them. Nationwide there have been numerous reports of bags and baskets being tagged to ensure the transition to paid bags occurs with minimal thefts.

Business mogul Duncan Bannatyne passed comment on the phenomena.

Faced with the charge, a number of shoppers got inventive with how to transport their goods home.

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