A Co-op boss has warned that stores are descending into "anarchy" as staff face a sharp rise in retail crime.
Operations director Kate Graham said they were facing prolific shoplifting to order and a rise in armed robberies.
UK stores have seen a 35% increase in crime in the past year and more than 900 staff were physically assaulted.
Earlier this week the latest Scottish crime statistics revealed that shoplifting increased by 21% over the past year,
There were 30,202 thefts in stores in the year to June, up by a fifth on the 24,877 cases the year before.
The shock figures come as police in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire embark on a new pilot scheme where crimes with “no associated threat, risk, harm or vulnerability” and no lines of inquiry will not be investigated.
Nothing off limits
Ms Graham, who is responsible for all of the companies stores including 340 in Scotland, said the problem had "gone beyond" anything she had known in her 25-year career.
She told BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime programme that crime was also rising in areas which had never had issues before.
"It is now quite standard to have product protection on lots of key lines that are seen as high theft lines," she said.
"We look at things that are potentially used to sell on. You have got your standard things like steak.
"However, we are seeing things like baby milk being stolen because it is being used to cut drugs.
"We are seeing things in health and beauty being stolen as it is being used to fund organised crime.
"Coffee, confectionery, we are seeing kiosk breaches, armed robbery, wines and spirits - there are not many items that are not being targeted."
'Blatant looting'
Ms Graham said that staff were often aware of who was carrying out the thefts.
"What we are seeing is blatant looting - people just coming in with a large bag and taking what they want because they are recognising the lack of consequence. We are seeing repeat offenders and we are seeing prolific shoplifting. People are stealing to order so this is absolutely not about the cost of living crisis."
She described individuals entering stores in some parts of the UK and "sweeping an entire shelf" into a bag.
"There was an armed robbery in Glenrothes recently - it was actually a gun crime. There have been a number of armed robberies in the Edinburgh area and the Glasgow area. That is an increase on anything I have seen before."
A recent Freedom of Information request revealed that 71% of reported incidents were not attended by police officers.
"With no consequences, it creates anarchy," she said.