Clinton Rogers column: My take on increased chocolate theft

I have visions of a corrupt Easter Bunny running a drug cartel from an underground bunker in the shadow of the Cadbury factory in Bournville.

Yet, apparently, it's true (not the Easter Bunny bit!).

In the news recently, it was reported that shoplifters are now targeting chocolates as an "easy and profitable hit", partly because retail prices of the milky treat have rocketed.

Personally, I think that, as a society, we have been soft on shoplifters for too long.

Frequently, it is shrugged off as a "sign of the times".

And, in an increasingly street-violent world, I can see why shop workers feel ill-inclined to challenge the thieves.

Even in the relatively quiet town of Wellington, I've heard of supermarket workers being threatened with knives.

It's a serious problem and one that needs a tougher response, locally and nationally.

Let's be clear, a packet of Maltesers slipped into a coat pocket is theft.

It's not trivial for a small independent retailer trying to make ends meet.

But the notion that gangs are trafficking Thornton’s truffles to fund the supply routes of class A drugs?

That's a stretch that would make even the most imaginative crime novelist raise an eyebrow.

So why chocolate?

And why now?

A couple of theories have emerged from conversations I've had with local shop owners.

Firstly, the cost of living pressures.

As families feel the pinch on energy bills and food costs, small luxuries like a bar of chocolate can suddenly feel out of reach.

A psychologist might tell you that if you deny people comfort, they'll take it where they can.

Secondly, easy pickings.

Chocolate is light, high value for its size, and often displayed within arm's reach of the exit.

It's a candidate for casual theft, the sort that doesn't require planning or accomplices.

Believe it or not, some shops are now resorting to putting chocolate bars in security cases, normally reserved for high-quality wines or spirits.

It's a strange world these days!

So is this really organised crime?

I'd wager most disappearing chocolate in our corner of Somerset can be put down to opportunistic theft rather than any syndicate strategy.

That said, the trend does tell us something.

It speaks of economic anxiety, the allure of an affordable treat in hard times, and the pressure on local businesses that can least afford to absorb loss.

And if we carry on turning a blind eye, accepting this as "just petty crime", maybe toothpicks will be next!