Overview
- Industry data indicate roughly €3 billion in goods were stolen through shoplifting in 2024, rising to about €4 billion when supplier and employee theft are included, with supermarkets bearing around €2 billion.
- Edeka and Rewe market leaders report theft surges of 30% to 50% and more frequent threats, including knives, with one Edeka manager attacked outside his store in December 2025.
- Retailers say two offender groups dominate: everyday shoppers who justify stealing and organized gangs targeting easily resold items such as coffee, drugstore products and alcohol.
- Stores are expanding surveillance, hiring detectives and posting visible security, and some consider AI-based camera tools that are constrained by German data-protection rules.
- Many incidents go unreported and numerous cases are later dropped for lack of public interest, prompting calls for tougher penalties for repeat offenders and reinforcing claims that self-checkout is not the main driver.