Aldi has confirmed that in certain stores where shoplifting is a 'local issue', the retailer has began checking customers' bags to ensure that they haven't stolen anything.
The revelation of the news has left certain Britons taking to social media to slam the successful supermarket chain - claiming that they are being made to feel like criminals.
The Express reports that one shopper took to Facebook to share how the procedure was taking place at her local Aldi outlet.
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She told fellow Facebook users that handbags and shopping bags were being looked in, however, Aldi has confirmed that only bags used to carry groceries are being checked, not handbags.
A spokesperson for the supermarket said that the bag checks are 'not a national policy', but 'where necessary, checks are sometimes introduced at individual stores as a short-term measure in response to a local issue'. They added that the checks are 'conducted with the customers' permission and should only cover the bags they're using to pack their shopping, not handbags or other personal bags'.
One customer wrote on Facebook about their experience of the new initiative, claiming a cashier would not serve her until her bag was checked. They claimed: "I got asked in my local Aldi this morning as I was going through the till, if she (the cashier) could look in my bag.
"I asked why and was told they're checking everyone's bags at the till because they have a shoplifting problem. I refused and was told she couldn't serve me then. I have nothing to hide but I resent having to prove I'm innocent to do my shopping.
"I'm an ex store detective, do they really think bags are the only place goods can be hidden in anyway. As private property they can do what they like as we're invited in to shop with them, but that doesn't excuse this ridiculous behaviour.
"Will go back tomorrow with several shopping bags with other items in from other shops and see what they make of that. They need to address their own leakage issues by having a proper security policy and not annoy their shoppers by making them all feel like dishonest people just doing their shopping."
One customer wrote on Twitter that they had seen someone being refused at the till because they didn't let the cashier check their bag. User @brettadam_23 said: "In Aldi today and a woman refused to allow them to check her bag. Started ranting about them not having the authority to look in her bag.
"Was told it's a condition of entry and was refused service. She left without the lollies she wanted."
@XchloeGjonesX also seemed disgusted with the procedure, adding: "Do not shop in Aldi! The staff make you feel like shop lifters and say there's a new policy where they have to check bags when you've shopped in another shop! @AldiUK this is disgusting and not right."
Meanwhile, another shopper commented on Facebook: "Wouldn't let them go through my bags. Nothing to hide but not being treated like I have."
However, some customers seemed not to mind the new change. One Facebook user said: "Crack on I say. Got nothing to hide so why not? If it helps keep prices down go for it," while another shopper added: "As a deterrent to shoplifters, I think it’s fine. I do not want to subsidise other people's shopping."
In other countries, it seems this policy had already been implemented last year. A spokesperson for Aldi Australia tweeted in January: "Aldi's bag checks are a national store policy and are intended to deter theft. Our staff are directed to check handbags, backpacks, containers, parcels and prams. A sign explaining the policy may be found at the front of every Aldi store."
Express.co.uk has contacted Aldi for comment.
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