Bosses at Tesco and WHSmith have been forced to take drastic action to stop shoplifters stealing £2 advent calendars

STORES are sticking security tags on advent calendars worth just £2 as shoplifters prepare for Christmas.

Big street giants included W.H.Smith And Tesco are among those applying anti-theft devices to even cheap festive treats.

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

In the same store, entire ranges of toys, games and stationery were tagged.

Boxes of After Eight chocolate coins for £3.50 also come with anti-theft equipment.

Last week we told you how Christmas crackers and festive lights were fitted with security tags.

Shoplifting registered by Police in England And Wales have reached a 20-year high.

There were 469,788 incidents recorded in the year to June, an increase of 29 percent on the previous year.

Martyn James, Sun Squeeze team member and consumer champion: “It is incredibly depressing that retailers are having to attach security tags to even the cheapest Christmas Advent calendars thanks to thieves.”

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

WHSmith and Tesco did not respond to requests for comment.

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