High street giant forced to remove cups from coffee machines to stop thieves stealing drinks
TESCO has removed self-serve cups from its Costa Express machines to stop thieves enjoying a free brew.
The supermarket diplomatically suggested some customers had been “forgetting to pay” after using pour-it-yourself dispensers.
Takeaway cups are being taken off display, with shoppers now asked to pay first at some stores after thieves helped themselves to £3.30 lattes.
A cashier at a branch in Purley, South London, said: “Eighty per cent of the product was disappearing.
"People were pouring themselves a coffee and simply walking out.
“And this is going on nationwide. It’s the world we’re living in now.”
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Tesco sources disputed the scale of the loss and said some customers genuinely forgot to pay.
It comes as the retail giant last week offered staff bodycams amid a rise in violent thieves raiding stores.
Tesco and Costa Coffee were contacted for comment.
Blocked off bling
ARGOS has removed flash watches and jewellery from its display cabinets.
Customers now have to ask staff to fetch the timepieces, necklaces and rings from a back room if they want to view them.
And a message on the former display at the click-and-collect outlet in Sydenham, South London, reads: “Jewellery and watches. We’re still available.”
However, Argos insists the move is not due to shoplifting — but instead because of more people now shopping online.
A spokeswoman said: “As with all orders, customers can view items in store and return them if they are not suitable.”
