Shameless thieves have been caught stuffing bottles of alcohol from Waitrose into Deliveroo bags - as staff say they are helpless to stop them.

Shocking footage shows a pair of young men in hoods and balaclavas stealing at least 13 bottles in 45 seconds.

They brazenly walk out through the shop and past checkout with the stolen items as staff and customers watch on in disbelief.

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick shared the clip online and criticised Labour by saying it had lost control of Britain's streets.

He said: 'This is the reality of Sadiq Khan's London. It's a complete and utter disgrace.

'And Labour are about to make this even worse by scrapping prison sentences for shoplifters.'

In the UK anything stolen under the value of £200 carries a maximum sentence of six-months in jail, or a fine.

The video shows horrified shoppers and a security guard standing beside them simply watching at the Clerkenwell, London store.

Store security guard Craig Wincarr said employees are instructed not to stop them.

He told The Sun: 'They basically come in most evenings and go for the alcohol and it boils my blood.

'We can't do anything about it as we're told not to tackle them. We're basically here as a deterrent for middle-class chancers, not professionals. I feel like a lemon these days.'

Shopper Alison Wigmore, 73, said she yelled at two teenagers to stop them stealing alcohol.

She said: 'I get that the justice system is on its knees, but how are businesses supposed to survive if the police they pay for with taxes won't keep law and order at a minimum?'

While other customers said the incidents occur almost everyday and just have to hope he thieves aren't armed.

However tens of thousands of shoplifters, thugs and even sex offenders will be spared jail as Labour plans to scrap prison sentences under reforms to sentencing laws.

It will also extend the maximum length of suspended terms from two to three years. 

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'Shoplifters, sex offenders and drug dealers will now avoid prison under Labour's soft justice plans.

'Shoplifting has already soared under Labour and this will make it even worse. It's madness.

'Prison works. Serial and serious offenders belong in one place: inside.'

A Waitrose spokesperson said: 'We take all incidents of retail crime very seriously, and report them to the police. 

'Our guards make appropriate interventions and we also have individuals trained to detain shoplifters when safe to do so. 

'We also use body worn cameras to record footage of shoplifters, which is submitted to the police to help drive prosecutions, as we have done in this case, and will continue to support the police with their investigation.'

The Metropolitan Police have been contacted for comment.