German retailers speak of rise in shoplifting and lack of prosecution

Retailers in Germany say they are experiencing a noticeable increase in shoplifting and insufficient prosecution of the perpetrators.

"The damage caused by shoplifting amounted to €3 billion euros in 2024 - 20% more than in 2022," Stefan Genth, Managing Director of the German Retail Association (HDE), told the portal t-online.

According to Genth, the thefts are increasingly being organised by gangs. "Groups of criminals are driving through city centres, stealing high-quality goods - perfume, shoes, electronics - and selling them on the grey market."

Employees are also exposed to more aggressive individual offenders if they try to confront them.

There are massive deficits in law enforcement, which the thieves take advantage of: "Retailers press charges and the public prosecutor's offices then close the case for reasons of efficiency.

As a result, many retailers are frustrated and no longer report shoplifting to the police," Genth continues.

The number of unreported cases is extremely high: 98% of thefts are not reported.

In the USA, goods are increasingly being locked behind glass. Genth fears that this could also become necessary in Germany, even if it is an "expression of mistrust towards all customers," when "over 90% are honest."

Genth does not see a connection between the new self-scanning checkouts and the increase in theft: "We cannot confirm this connection."