Germany is facing a retail theft explosion! According to the latest research by the German Retail Institute (EHI), around 5 billion euros worth of goods vanished from retail chains last year! Yes, you read that right – five billion! And it’s not just petty thefts by desperate individuals struggling to make ends meet, but organized gangs have taken shoplifting to a whole new level.
The number of thefts in stores increased by 3% compared to the previous year, with about 4.2 billion euros in losses caused by thefts committed by customers, employees, and suppliers. This is not only a problem for retailers but also for the state, as these thefts result in huge tax losses, meaning less money for public services.
Retailers are forced to compensate for these losses by raising prices, and experts estimate that about 1.5% of store prices could be linked to security and theft costs.
Organized thefts have risen by 5%, accounting for a third of all thefts. Thieves have their “shopping lists” targeting small, expensive products that can be easily resold – perfumes, cosmetics, and even pricey shaving kits.
Interestingly, there has also been an increase in thefts of food products, especially more expensive meats and cheeses.
Although most thefts go undetected (estimated 98% of cases), experts say not all thieves are poor – many steal opportunistically because no one is watching. Young people are particularly prone to stealing, often not from poor families but because their pocket money is insufficient and everyone in their peer group does it.
Most thefts are of small value – 66.7% of thefts involve goods worth less than 50 euros, and 40.2% are under 15 euros. Penalties are mostly fines, and prison sentences are rarely imposed, even though the law allows up to five years in prison.
Germany is debating whether thefts due to poverty should be decriminalized, as prosecuting these cases overloads the judiciary and fills prisons.
So, while retailers battle billions in losses, the state is pondering whether to punish or forgive thieves, and ordinary customers pay higher prices.
Is this the start of theft without consequences? Will Germany become a country where you can steal with impunity? Or will retailers finally put a stop to these gangs?
Share your thoughts – have you ever stolen something from a store? Or do you know someone who has? Let’s have an honest conversation about this problem affecting us all!
