A Tesco store has announced it will check all customer receipts before they are allowed to leave.

The measure was introduced at a supermarket in Rotherham in the hope of cracking down on shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.

The first shoppers knew of the initiative was when a typed notice appeared in the window of the Drummond Street store.

It told customers they were ‘making some changes’ and wanted to let them know in advance.

‘We will be asking all customers to produce their receipt for goods purchased when leaving the store,’ it said.

‘We know this may sound a little unusual, but we genuinely believe this is the right thing to do for our regular customers.’

The store said it was continually looking for ways to make shopping visits ‘as simple, safe and pleasant as can be’.

It added: ‘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 of being spent dealing with lots of types of antisocial behaviour and theft, which we know can make your shopping trip unpleasant or even make you feel unsafe.’

It also claimed another store in a town centre ‘very similar to Rotherham’ had already trialled receipt-checking and customer feedback was ‘overwhelmingly positive.’

‘Checking your receipt should only take a few seconds of your time and will never negatively impact a genuine customer,’ it added.

The store has also said it has the support of Rotherham Central Neighbourhood Team.

South Yorkshire Police said: ‘We are aware of a new policy that Tesco are trialling in their store to make their customers feel safer.

‘Our officers from the Rotherham Central Neighbourhood Team are regularly present in the area and on hand to deal with any reports of theft and antisocial behaviour.

‘We are supportive of any initiatives that help to make the community feel safer.’

A Tesco spokesman said: ‘We’re currently asking customers shopping at our Rotherham Extra Store to show their receipt to colleagues as they leave the store after some recent incidents of theft. We’re sorry for any inconvenience caused.’

They added that the measure was temporary and was not a company-wide policy.

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