Tesco shoppers in Rotherham will be asked to show receipt in crime crackdown

Customers visiting the Drummond Street store have been handed leaflets warning of the new policy, which Tesco said was supported by the police.

The message reads: “We know this may sound a little unusual, but we genuinely believe this is the right thing to do for our regular customers.

“We’ve listened to lots of customer feedback over the last six months and the biggest thing people speak about is wanting to feel safer in the area and our store. 

“We want this, too.”

It adds: “Unfortunately, the time we want to spend serving customers, getting the products you want on the shelves and ensuring we're doing our best for you is instead being spent dealing with lots of types antisocial behaviour and theft,

which we know can make your shopping trip unpleasant or even make you feel unsafe.

“Our colleagues in another town centre store very similar to Rotherham have already trialled receipt checking and the customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. 

“They tell us the store feels safer, is a nicer place to be and the shopping experience is much improved.

“Checking your receipt should only take a few seconds of your time and will never negatively impact a genuine customer. 

“In fact, our hope is that it will give us the time to serve you and our community better.”