Supermarkets across London are locking chocolate bars in anti-theft boxes. The move follows a surge in shoplifting driven by organised criminal gangs.

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) reported that the prolific offenders target sweet treats, including £2.60 Cadbury Dairy Milk bars, who steal them to order.

The stolen treats are then resold on illicit markets, funding wider criminal activity.

To cope with the theft incidents, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Co-op have introduced transparent plastic boxes that can only be accessed with the assistance of staff.

The Heart of England Co-Op group reported that chocolate theft cost it around £250,000, making it the second most stolen item after alcohol in 2025.

In a recently shared footage by Wiltshire Police, a man was seen dragging an entire shelving stand of chocolate out of a shop door. In a separate incident, Cambridgeshire Police arrested an individual with a coat stuffed with Cadbury’s Creme Eggs.

Across the country, the British Retail Consortium reported 5.5 million recorded incidents of shoplifting, as well as 1,600 violent incidents against retail workers on a daily basis.

The ACS is urging the government to increase police support and toughen up sentences. The National Police Chiefs’ Council stated that their Retail Crime Strategy is helping to build intelligence and bring offenders to justice.

Princess Eugenie appeared unfazed as she made her first public appearance since her father, Prince Andrew, was arrested in a high-profile investigation. 

The 35-year-old royal was spotted strolling through London with a coffee in hand, dressed casually in leggings, a jacket, and a North Face cap, accompanied by her husband, Jack Brooksbank, whom she married in 2018.

The outing comes just days after Andrew was taken into custody on his 66th birthday, following a dramatic raid on his temporary residence on the Sandringham estate. 

Sources say he spent 11 hours being quizzed regarding his connections to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. 

During his time in custody, Andrew underwent fingerprinting, a DNA swab, and a mugshot.

Four days later, former politician Peter Mandelson found himself under investigation for allegedly leaking sensitive intelligence to Epstein.

Amid the chaos, Eugenie and her sister Beatrice are reportedly navigating the scandal with a mix of shock and determination. 

Sources tell the Daily Mail that the sisters are in constant communication, weighing their options and likely consulting their protective uncle, Charles.