Supermarkets displaying coffee and cosmetics behind glass but still experiencing gang-related looting
In an effort to combat the growing issue of organized shoplifting, Germany is employing a multi-pronged approach that combines enhanced law enforcement measures, technological innovations, and operational changes within the retail sector.
According to Stefan Genth, CEO of the German Retail Federation (HDE), the country is facing a significant concern with the current situation of organized gangs systematically stealing goods from stores. In a recent interview with "t-online", Genth revealed that the damage from shoplifting in 2024 amounted to three billion euros, a 20% increase from 2022.
To address this issue at a national level, there is a recognized need for more police and judicial staffing, as well as better equipment, to tackle organized retail crime. Current systems are considered outdated and overstretched, and the situation is worsened by the scale of organized crime, including gangs predominantly from certain Eastern European regions.
On the technological front, retailers are employing AI-powered surveillance systems to monitor suspicious behaviours such as group theft coordination, rapid product grabbing, and manipulation at points of sale. These systems analyze video feeds alongside point-of-sale data to detect patterns indicative of shoplifting and send real-time alerts to security personnel, enabling quick intervention.
Self-checkout areas, which have become vulnerable points for theft, are being fortified with integrated weight sensors, AI camera monitoring, and increased employee oversight stations to reduce theft opportunities while assisting customers.
However, the high rate of unreported shoplifting contributes to a large "dark figure" of unaccounted thefts. According to recent reports, 98% of shoplifting incidents go unreported due to inaction by public prosecutors' offices, and retailers often stop reporting incidents to the police due to perceived inefficiency in the legal system.
Genth emphasizes that over 90% of customers are honest, and locking everything behind glass would be a sign of mistrust towards them. Nevertheless, certain items, such as coffee in Berlin supermarkets, are increasingly being secured like Fort Knox. Razor blades are locked behind glass in drugstores, a measure aimed at deterring shoplifting.
Gangs travel through city centers and steal high-value goods, such as perfume, shoes, and electronics, and these stolen goods are sold on the black market. Genth denies a direct link between the new self-scanning cash registers and theft, but he fears a potential escalation where everything is locked behind glass, similar to the situation in the USA, due to increasing shoplifting.
The state is called upon to better equip law enforcement agencies to combat shoplifting, and Genth advocates for legal changes, investments in security, and better equipment for the judiciary. The challenge is worsened by the scale of organized crime, but with the right strategies in place, Germany is hopeful of reducing the impact of shoplifting on retailers and consumers alike.
a) Enhanced law enforcement measures, such as increased police and judicial staffing, better equipment, and focused efforts on organized retail crime, are crucial in the politics and general-news arena, due to concerns about the growing issue of shoplifting and its links to organized crime.
b) In the realm of crime-and-justice, there is a call for improved legal frameworks and investments in security to combat the escalating problem of organized shoplifting, with the ultimate goal being to reduce its impact on retailers and consumers, and uphold public trust.
