Popped into Wilko's yesterday to buy some of their heavy plastic plant pots. I've been trying to steer clear of plastic but I've lost a few good terracotta ones over the last two winters and replacing them would be expensive.
There were just three of the very large ones on the shelf. Good, because I needed three. They were stacked tightly together so I didn't bother separating them, just put them in the trolley along with the rest of the shopping.
When I got to the checkout I peeled the bar code off one of them and handed it to the girl, asking her to take for three. She told me she would have to separate them and scan each one. Good Luck with that, I thought as they are often a nightmare to pull apart. I wondered if she'd still have her brightly painted nails at the end of the struggle.
After we'd both pulled, in opposite directions having found something to prize them apart I asked if it was really necessary.
'Yes.' said the girl. 'It's a good shoplifter's trick to put items in between the pots then jam them back together again. We have to check.'
Being quizzed by chemist's assistant in Boots.