Greggs staff are being armed with body cameras after a spate of sausage roll thefts and attacks on staff.

       It is hoped the new cameras, which can record for 90 minutes, will act as a deterrent to the sausage roll snatchers and thugs.

       The move comes after a Greggs source told The Sun staff were “worried they could be attacked”.

       The bakery chain is currently trialling the new equipment in its busiest stores including its London Bridge Station branch which has signs up saying the cameras were “keeping everyone safe”.

       It read: “To ensure the safety of our customers and colleagues, we're trialling body-worn cameras in this shop. Audio and video will be recorded.”

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       The source told The Sun issues of abuse and shoplifting had been on the increase.

       They said: “'Everyone's noticed there's more shoplifting. If it was filmed on a bodycam there's more of a chance they would be put off trying.”

       But one worker told MailOnline they did not think the plans would work.

       They said: “They don't really do much because they take five seconds to power up and start recording.

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       “By the time you've got it on, the thieves are gone.”

       It comes after Lidl became the first supermarket in the country to give its staff body cameras in its battle against shoplifters.

       The supermarket chain gave cameras to staff in its over 960 stores at a cost of ￡2m.

       Recently a report by Emmeline Taylor, a professor of criminology at City, University of London in partnership with Co-op, said there was “a state of lawlessness on the UK high street which has never been seen before”.