Chocolate thefts spark Easter plea from police

A police force is asking shopkeepers to tell officers about any stealing they notice after receiving reports of chocolate thefts from local shops.

"While the items involved may seem small, theft of any value can have an impact on local businesses," said Surrey Police.

Some shops in the UK have started keeping chocolate bars locked in plastic boxes as retailers and police warned thieves were stealing them to order.

"It looks like the Easter Bunny may need to up their security to keep their chocolate safe," Surrey Police said.

In December, West Midlands Police shared CCTV footage of a man grabbing trays of chocolate from a shop in Stourbridge, while Wiltshire Police shared a video of a man dragging a whole shelving stand of chocolate out of a shop door.

Earlier in 2025, a man was arrested by Cambridgeshire Police with a coat full of Cadbury's Creme eggs.