And finally…high steaks

The Plymouth branch of the Coop food store has blamed thieves who keep stealing the meat for the need to replace the produce with large signs blaming ‘deviants’ on the glass doors of the display fridges.

Although the signs have since been removed, they have been replaced with smaller, more tactfully-worded notices, the local Plymouth Herald newspaper has reported.

They now read: “Due to the high level of shoplifting on steak please ask a member of staff if you require this product.

“We apologise for any inconvenience this causes our honest customers.”

One frustrated worker said they often chased thieves out of the store to demand payment or the return of the steak.

They claimed local police had been alerted, but refuse to investigate such small value thefts.