High Street giant forced to use cardboard cutouts of expensive booze as shoplifting crisis spirals

BOTTLES of expensive champagne have been replaced with photocopies to stop thefts.

Printed snaps of Moët and Chandon bottles are now on display in Sainsbury’s amid the spiralling shoplifting crisis.

One store has even lined up the pictures inside a fridge.

A chilling sign tells shoppers in Warlingham, Surrey: “If you’d like to purchase any of these Moët Champagnes please go to customer service.”

A security guard had been stationed near the booze after thieves made off with bottles of bubbly but it was deemed more cost-effective to stock shelves with copies instead.

Drinks kept out of reach include a £62 Moët and Chandon Grand Vintage, a £43 Moët and Chandon Brut Imperial and a smaller Brut Imperial Rose at £29.50.

Last month it was revealed Sainsbury’s is one of ten retailers funding a £600,000 crackdown on shop theft.

Personal finance expert Sarah Coles, of analysts Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “This is just the latest sign of the horrible epidemic of shoplifting.

"Clearly there are people who feel forced to take desperate measures because they can’t make ends meet during the cost of living crisis.

“But when the items being targeted are such luxury goods, it raises the possibility that these things are being stolen to order.”

The Sun revealed last week Tesco was putting cups behind the counter to stop drinks being stolen from the self-serve Costa Express machine.

Consumer champion and Sun Squeeze Team member Martyn James said: “Going to the shops is increasingly like a soulless virtual reality version of online shopping.

"Aisles are filled with photos of products and empty boxes.

“It’s time to support local retailers and shop a shoplifter. We need proper shops back.”

A Sainsbury’s spokeswoman said: “We have a range of security measures in place to prevent theft which our stores can add to at their discretion.”