TESCO bosses are locking up extra virgin olive oil in anti-tamper netting to deter shoplifters.
It has been dubbed “liquid gold” after lower harvests and higher production costs led to prices soaring.
The average price of a litre of own-brand olive oil is £7.38, according to trade publication The Grocer — up 42% on a year ago.
Some extra virgin brands cost as much as £18.50.
That has led to an upturn in thefts — but shop chiefs are now putting sleeves over the expensive bottles instead of just tags.
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And the alarms on them let out an ear-splitting ring to make any thieves think twice.
One Tesco worker said: “The old tags just went around the neck of bottles and were quite easy to pull off.
“The new sleeves prevent people opening the bottles and the alarms are very, very loud if they are removed on the sly.”
One shopper posted a picture of shelves full of the Mediterranean cooking favourite in the protective netting and said: “What has the world come to?”
The move comes after Tesco boss Ken Murphy said workers are being offered bodycams in a bid to tackle unruly customers, with assaults on staff up a third.
The firm has invested £44million in four years on improved security measures.
Mr Murphy said: “It shouldn’t have to be like this. Crime is a scourge on society and an insult to shoppers and retail workers.
"I want to see those who break the law in our stores brought to book."
Tesco isn't the only retailer taking drastic measures to prevent thieves from taking items from stores.
In June last year Morrisons introduced electronic gates at some of its stores' tills meaning shoppers now have to scan their receipts to exit.
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The measure was put in place across several branches to stop shoppers from leaving with products they haven't paid for.
It came after Sainsbury's introduced the same measure in November 2022, with shoppers saying they felt like "hostages".
One fumed on Twitter: "I've been loyal to Sainsbury’s for 30 years.
"Now it stops. How dare you insult me, by scanning receipts to leave."
A second said: "Essentially they are holding [people] hostage against their will."
Primark launched self-service tills in some of its stores in 2022 as well, with customers having to scan receipts to leave.
The same retailer also started adding giant "sold" stickers to carrier bags in March in a bid to halt shoplifters.
Tesco shocked customers in February this year after whacking security tags on pens priced at £2.20 at one of its stores.
One customer said: "I only went in for a ballpoint pen and felt like I was shopping for a Rolex watch.
"Are shoplifters getting that desperate?
"I can understand a nice bottle of whisky or Champagne having a security tag on but a ballpoint pen set? The world has gone bonkers."
Meanwhile, in September last year, WHSmith was forced to add security tags on £1.50 handwash after being targeted by shoplifters.
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