Crime: Why shoplifting is back – Economy

The economy is booming again. After a two-year break from the pandemic, business in many sectors has returned to the pre-Corona level. A new study by the Cologne trade research institute EHI now shows that this also applies to shoplifting. Accordingly, trade lost around 3.7 billion euros last year through theft – around 15 percent more than in the previous year.

According to the EHI retail expert Frank Horst, what sounds like a dramatic increase is more of a return to normality: “Basically, the values ​​of the pre-Corona period have now been reached again,” says the industry expert. In the years 2020 and 2021, which were shaped by the corona pandemic, shoplifting had decreased significantly. At first glance, this may not seem very intuitive, as criminals with an FFP2 mask could easily have stolen undetected. However, many thieves probably lacked the most important thing for their business: the opportunity. Many retail stores have been closed for extended periods during the pandemic.

In fact, there is a clue that thieves are trying to make up for the loss in sales over the two years of Corona: the police crime statistics. There was even a decent increase here, adjusted for corona, by 5.8 percent compared to 2019. However, the authorities assume that the number of unreported cases is high. Many traders suspect that the increase in theft could also be related to the sharp rise in prices in 2022. “Especially in the strong price development, an increased risk of theft is seen. Higher prices and values ​​make theft more attractive,” says EHI expert Horst.

Companies spend 1.45 billion euros to ensure that nothing is stolen

Other experts disagree. According to the chief executive of the German Retail Association (HDE), Stefan Genth, there is no scientific evidence for the sometimes suspected connection between rising prices due to inflation and an increase in shoplifting.

The study by the Trade Research Institute also says something about the origin of the thieves. According to this, customers – or people posing as such – are responsible for around 65 percent of thefts. Around 25 percent of thefts are committed by the department stores’ own employees. The last place in the thieves’ statistics is the service staff and deliverers with around ten percent.

According to the study, retail companies spent around 1.45 billion euros last year to protect their goods from thieves. For example, for security and preventive measures such as article security, camera surveillance or detective work.

But it’s not just thieves who reduce sales for retailers. Poor organization and pricing errors also cost the industry a lot: it should have been around 870 million euros in 2022.