Criminal Gangs Wreak Havoc in Supermarkets: Stores Suffer Regular Robberies
Swiping Germany Dry: The Rise of Shoplifting and Organized Crime
Germany's retail sector is grappling with an alarming escalation in shoplifting, mostly driven by well-coordinated criminal groups. This troubling reality unfolds in the new "Inventory Differences 2025" study by the EHI Retail Institute, exclusively accessible to BILD.
In 2024, the financial loss due to stolen goods reached an eye-watering €4.95 billion. "The world isn't just witnessing petty theft anymore - we're confronted by established syndicates intentionally targeting retail outlets," cautions Frank Horst, a seasoned security expert from the EHI Retail Institute. Syndicates account for about a third of the losses, according to the study. These criminals, Horst warns, are becoming more hostile. In some stores, employees no longer dare to approach the offenders for fear of their personal safety.
Supermarkets and the Justiciary: A Sticky Situation
While the police and justice system seldom intervene, 70% of apprehended shoplifters are chronic recidivists, and many cases go unpursued. Consequently, supermarkets usually impose only a ban on persistent offenders rather than engaging with the justice system.
Horst urges, "We don't need tougher legislations – we need a concerted effort to enforce existing rules. Until shoplifting is no longer perceived as a petty offense, nothing will change." While the legislation is rigid, with up to ten years of imprisonment as a threat for commercial theft, in reality, the conviction rate remains low, according to Horst. "These offenders are fully aware of this."
Hot off the Shelves: Most-Snatched Items
Despite the deployment of security measures such as cameras and detectives, theft persists, mainly targeting small, costly items like tobacco, alcohol, razor blades, and energy drinks. Self-checkout machines emerge as a hotbed for losses.
The financial damage extends beyond the value of the stolen goods. If lost VAT and security expenses are accounted for, consumers end up footing an extra €7.3 billion – a cost hidden in product prices.
Approximately 1.5% of retail turnover is allocated toward stolen goods and related security measures, equating to around €1.50 per €100 purchase.
Frank Horst serves as a long-term security and inventory loss expert at the EHI Retail Institute. He is revered for his analyses of product losses in retail and his advisory role on preventative measures for numerous companies. He is the author of the annual EHI study "Inventory Differences," making him one of Germany's leading authorities on theft, waste, and security strategies in retail.
Germany confronts a conundrum: whether to prioritize consistent law enforcement or implement stricter penalties to combat rising shoplifting. Current trends indicate rising property crime and the influence of organized criminal networks, necessitating comprehensive responses involving enhanced law enforcement and targeting of organized criminal structures. Evidence-based approaches advocate the consistent application of existing laws over the introduction of harsher penalties, given dwellings in operating legal frameworks and their proven effectiveness in deterring crime.
- The escalating shoplifting issue in Germany, revealed in the EHI Retail Institute's "Inventory Differences 2025" study, impacts not only the business and finance sectors but also general-news categories, given the growing involvement of organized crime.
- Frank Horst, a seasoned expert at the EHI Retail Institute, suggests that increasing enforcement of existing laws rather than implementing stricter penalties would be more effective in addressing shoplifting in Germany, considering the current influence of organized criminal networks and the low conviction rate for commercial theft.
