Tesco and WHSmith bosses forced to take drastic step to stop shoplifters nicking £2 advent calendars

STORES are slapping security tags on advent calendars worth just £2 — as shoplifters gear up for Christmas.

High street giants including WHSmith and Tesco are among those ­fitting anti-theft devices to even cheap festive treats.

The Sun on Sunday spotted the yellow deterrent stickers on Bluey advent calendars worth just £2 and Dairy Milk and Maltesers versions for £2.75.

Entire ranges of toys, games and stationery were tagged in the same store.

Boxes of After Eight chocolate mints priced at £3.50 have also been slapped with the anti-pilfering devices.

Last week, we told how Christmas crackers and festive lights were being security tagged.

Shoplifting offences recorded by police in England and Wales have hit a 20-year high.

There were 469,788 incidents logged in the year to June, a 29 per cent hike on the previous year.

Martyn James, Sun Squeeze Team member and consumer champion, said: “It’s incredibly depressing retailers are having to attach security tags to even the cheapest Christmas advent calendars thanks to thieves.”

The British Retail Consortium said £18billion a year is lost to shoplifters.

WHSmith and Tesco did not respond to requests for comment.