Co-Op Puts Baby Formula in Locked Cases as Cost-of-Living Crisis Worsens

Firstly the Coop are completely in the right to do this if its a high value item that people steal. I don't see the issue there at all. Also its a highly processed food product which surely should be for occasional use maybe for health reasons of the mother. Ideally a child should be fed by breast milk and the mother should try to have a high quality diet. Lots of foods are still relatively cheap which are nutritious like vegetables and fruit. Yes as a country we are getting much poorer, industry is gone and we have huge debts. The majority will be poorer in the future and there will be less benefits. I don't understand why people can't see this and understand it. Austerity is just another name for poverty and our debts are getting worse that we have to service. Most people happily export most of their money either on products or services and don't care or take any responsibility for how they spend their money and this has been going on for decades and our politicians have been utterly moronic when it comes to the economy.

I think we can take it for granted consumers and politicians will continue to do this until the economy utterly tanks and our economy will need more drastic measures at some point and perhaps a financial bale out. I personally think this is coming fairly soon.

I don't understand the mentality that theft should be overlooked. Honest and fair people will live within their means even if very low. The idea that you steal because you can't make ends meet would mean that prices go up for honest people who could be equally poor.

The government needs to be honest about the long term financial outlook of this country and increased levels of poverty and lower benefits especially with global warming as a huge factor too.

It's heartbreaking that we are in this state. It's not OK that we are in this situation.

This is so sad to read this its been very hard times for some people I don't agree with people stealing but you would have to be desperate to steal baby milk

I think most people would see the desperation of someone stealing something like baby formula, but sadly the majority steal booze and products to sell on. It makes it so much more expensive for the majority which pay.

My sister has worked for the Co op for 43 years, in various roles. I turned up at a family meal with a load of Chocolate Bars for everyone & she nicknamed me " Chocolate Bob"teasing me about going Shoplifting!! Apparently her Co op has a Shoplifter on a Mobility Scooter who pinches big Bars of Chocolate then sells them half price,hence the nickname "Chocolate Bob"

I bought all my bars to add to the Easter Bunny basket I won at Greggs at Easter to hand out to family..

I gave the adults some of the left over bars then shared the rest between children where we were having a meal in my late Nephew's memory for his birthday after asking the parents first..

Don't the government give out milk tokens for people on benefits and low income anymore?

Thieving is thieving though. I was on the bones of my arse once and I never went out robbing.

We have been in dire straits in the past but haven't resorted to stealing or shop lifting.

Sad state of affairs. This is what's happening in a so called 'first world' country.

It makes you wonder whether we will go back to having shops with everything behind the counter?!