Store tags to halt bird thieves

A supermarket has put electronic tags on chickens to stop them being stolen.

The device, which is put on high value goods such as alcohol, has been placed on birds at a Sainsbury's store near Eastbourne, East Sussex.

The supermarket is believed to have introduced the measure at its Hampden Park shop after a rise in the shoplifting of chickens.

Anyone who tries to steal a Grade A frozen bird, which costs between £2 and £8, will now set off an alarm.

The metal security tags are deactivated at the checkout.

Sales increase

A Sainsbury's spokesman said: "Security tags have been in place for about a year on higher-value goods across the store.

"The security stickers have been put on not just chickens but also wines, spirits and health and beauty products."

Tesco said it was not aware that chicken theft was a problem at its stores.

Supermarkets reported an increase in the sale of higher-welfare, organic and free-range chickens following a campaign by chefs Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Jamie Oliver in January.

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