Retailers incurred losses of some €3 billion ($3.5 billion) through in 2024, a fifth more than in 2022, according to the German Trade association (HDE), the umbrella body for the German retail sector.
Speaking to the t-online website, HDE managing director Stefan Genth noted a growing problem with highly professional criminal gangs.
“Groups of offenders drive [..] through inner cities, steal valuable products — perfume, shoes, electronics — and sell them on the gray market,” Genth said.
He said there were also more aggressive individual offenders who attacked shop staff if they were detected.
Genth also said that almost all offenses went unreported.
“Retailers make a complaint to police, only for state prosecutors to drop the case for reasons of efficiency. As a consequence, many retailers are frustrated and don’t report thefts to the police,” he said, adding: “For that reason, the number of unreported cases is extremely high: 98% of shoplifting offenses are not registered.”
Genth called for changes to laws, more investment in security and more powers for the judiciary.
He also said that his association had so far found no connection between the increasing number of self-service checkouts and the rising shoplifting rate.
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