Over £800m has been stolen from UK supermarkets this year as almost two in five Brits admit to ‘uplifting’ goods from stores, according to personal finance experts CouponBirds.

The research found that 71% of those who admitted to ‘uplifting’ – putting through a more expensive item than the product scanned but with the same weight – said the cost-of-living crisis was the primary driver for this.

Loose fresh fruit and vegetables were found to be the most frquently uplifted items across 66% of respondents, followed by baby essentials and hygiene products.

In June, Co-op and M&S began placing a reduced level of high-value products on shelves, instead displaying ‘dummy’ products on items including coffee, steak and baby formula in a bid to tackle theft.

Formula is now so expensive that it’s in lockable containers to stop theft.

If people are stealing to feed their babies we need to take a long hard look at our country. There is NO need for infant formula to be so costly. pic.twitter.com/qvNyYzXWEG

— Natasha Day MBE (@NatashaMDay) June 27, 2023

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As the average value of goods uplifted per person so far this year was £41, CouponBirds found that with over 52m UK adults over the age of 18, those who admitted to stealing the average worth of goods this year indicates a total of approximately £819,752,934.

CouponBirds financial expert Natalie Warb said: “The research underscores the dire straits many are facing amidst this cost-of-living crisis.

“A significant number of individuals admit to resorting to theft for essential items they can’t afford, highlighting a pressing societal and economic challenge that demands more substantial intervention. With stolen goods nearing half a billion pounds, it’s imperative to address this issue on a larger scale.”

Last month, John Lewis chairwoman Sharon White urged the government to clamp down on increasing levels of theft and introduce tougher legislation.

Iceland executive chairman Richard Walker is also calling on the police and government to do more in tackling rising levels of retail crime as he told MailOnline that store workers are being “slapped, punched and threatened with a range of weapons including knives, hammers, firearms and hypodermic needles.”