Interior retailers across Germany are facing mounting pressure as shoplifting damages soared to an unprecedented €3 billion in 2024, according to new figures released by the EHI Retail Institute. The findings mark a 20 percent increase in economic losses compared to 2022, underscoring the growing vulnerability of the retail sector, including furniture and interior design outlets, to both petty theft and organised crime.
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Crucially, one-third of the reported damage is attributed to organised shoplifting gangs, signalling a more sophisticated criminal threat targeting high-value goods, often found in the homeware and interior sectors.
'This cannot continue. Such a dramatic development can and must no longer be ignored by politicians. The retail sector expects significant measures from the legislature during this legislative period to reduce the number of shoplifting incidents,' said Stefan Genth, Managing Director of the German Retail Association (HDE).
Despite a marginal decrease in the number of officially reported incidents, Police Crime Statistics (PKS) only capture cases where complaints were filed. According to Genth, 'Many retailers are frustrated because complaints rarely lead to convictions and sanctions for the perpetrators, thus avoiding the bureaucratic effort associated with filing a criminal complaint.' This results in a vast number of unreported cases, especially from interior shops where high-value, untagged goods are easier to conceal.
In light of the figures, the HDE has renewed calls for legislative reform, urging the federal government to take firmer action. The association has repeatedly submitted proposals to combat shoplifting more effectively, but Genth says the coalition government has so far failed to prioritise the issue in its legislative agenda.
'The governing parties' plans to improve the human and material resources of the judiciary and advance digitalisation with a pact for the rule of law are a step in the right direction. But more must be done,' Genth added.
The HDE is advocating for criminal procedural reforms to limit the ability of public prosecutors to drop cases for reasons of efficiency. It also demands tougher criminal laws against serious and gang-related theft. 'It's about prevention through more consistent and harsher penalties. It must be clear that shoplifting is not a trivial matter, but a crime that is often committed with great criminal energy,' Genth concluded.
With the interior retail industry increasingly under threat, stakeholders are urging swift policy action to protect businesses and restore security on the shop floor.
More information:
Handelsverband Deutschland
www.einzelhandel.de