Greggs has been forced to roll out a new 'fortress' store design to stop shoplifters from raiding their goods. The branch in Croydon, south London, has removed all customer shelves and self-service arrangements. All products are now kept behind the tills, with staff members picking everything up for customers.
Stores in Peckham, Whitechapel, Epton Park, Birmingham, and Wilford are also trialing the new system. Customers in affected branches must now ask staff for cold drinks, sandwiches, and other chilled items previously kept in fridges. Greggs confirmed that its full range of products will still be available.
'The safety of our colleagues and customers remains our number one priority,' the company added in a statement.
Background of the Change
The bakery chain announced the controversial change last year, citing that the stores were 'exposed to higher levels of anti-social behaviour'. This move comes after a series of high-profile thefts.
Adam Gosling, 39, was spared jail despite stealing £1,817 of food and drink from Greggs in Greenford, west London. He targeted the chain 38 times between December 30, 2025, and February 10, 2026. The value of the thefts ranged from £12.30 to £100 per visit, and on some days, he targeted the shop multiple times. He received a four-month jail term suspended for a year.
Another man, Patrick Verry, 33, has been banned from entering every Greggs in England and Wales after being caught stealing. He was seen stuffing cold drink bottles into a plastic bag at the Wood Green High Road branch in north London, one of six offences committed there.
Rising Shoplifting Rates
Shoplifting incidents rose 20% year-on-year to 2024, reaching the highest level since records began, according to official figures. In 2025, thefts soared another 5%. Larger chain stores are also making moves to protect their products from theft.
Batteries, razor blades, and perfumes are easy for gangs to sell on the black market, so supermarket bosses have been devising ways to make customers pay for 'high-theft' items before gaining access to them.
Poundland also gave staff bodycams and headsets last year after the company reported a significant increase in retail crime. Head of loss prevention, Christina Jesty, commented: 'Whether it's store theft undermining all our colleagues' hard work, or incidents of violence and abuse making our colleagues feel unsafe at work, something must change. At Poundland we pride ourselves on being a value-led high street retailer, where protecting our colleagues goes hand in hand with protecting our prices. That is why we're saying enough is enough and beginning a campaign to support our front-line teams.'
