Shops are frequently closing down coffee businesses, a preference among thieves.
In recent years, the issue of shoplifting has become a significant concern for retailers, with coffee emerging as one of the most frequently stolen items. According to Peter Schröder, a legal expert at the German Retail Association, tougher penalties, especially for organized shoplifting, are necessary to combat this growing problem.
The reasons behind this increase in shoplifting are multifaceted. Economic pressures and inflation, with rising living costs and economic instability, may contribute to an increase in ordinary customer theft as individuals resort to shoplifting due to financial difficulties. Additionally, organized groups are increasingly involved in shoplifting, often targeting high-value items like coffee and reselling them online.
To combat this issue, retailers are employing several strategies. Increased security measures, such as CCTV cameras and alarms, are being implemented to deter and detect theft. Staff training to recognise suspicious behaviour and respond accordingly is also crucial in preventing shoplifting incidents. Strategically placing high-value items in harder-to-reach areas can reduce the opportunity for theft. Technology integration, using AI and data analytics, is being utilised to monitor inventory and detect anomalies, helping identify theft patterns and prevent future incidents.
While specific measures for coffee are not detailed, it is evident that retailers are adapting these strategies to address this product if it becomes a targeted item. For instance, some stores are securing coffee due to high theft rates, with whole bean coffee in kilo packs being particularly sought after by shoplifters.
The problem of coffee theft is more pronounced in large cities but also occurs in rural areas. Despite the efforts to detect and report incidents, many cases are dropped due to their minor nature, as the effort isn't always worth it. However, some customers are stealing coffee as a form of protest against high prices.
In response to the issue, retailers like Kaufland are implementing security measures such as security boxes for isolated products like roasted coffee at a small number of its stores. Retailers spent around 1.6 billion euros on prevention, primarily for staff training, in 2024.
The price increase for coffee is due to higher raw material prices caused by drought and poor harvests in major producing countries. As a result, kilogram packs of brands like Dallmayr, Melitta, and Jacobs now cost up to 20 euros or more. The damages from shoplifting continued to rise in 2024, reaching approximately 2.95 billion euros, an increase of 4.6% compared to the previous year.
As the shoplifting of coffee continues to be a pressing issue, retailers are likely to adapt their strategies to address this specific product, ensuring the protection of their inventory and the safety of their customers.
- The economic instability, inflation, and rising living costs in the general-news sector may drive individuals towards shoplifting coffee, a high-value item in the finance industry, as a desperate measure to alleviate financial difficulties.
- Organized crime-and-justice groups are increasingly targeting coffee for resale online, exacerbating the shoplifting issue in the industry, with retailers responding by implementing security measures and technology integration to combat these thefts.
