Supermarket chain Jumbo today revealed that €100 million worth of food was stolen from its stores last year. That’s as much as the supermarket chain’s entire annual profit. The number of corporate theft cases has increased sharply by 60 percent compared to 2022. According to various organizations, shoplifting is a broader social problem.
“There are more thefts everywhere than before, in toy stores, clothing stores and other shops,” says Martijn Wildeboer from the Center for Crime Prevention and Security (CCV). He thinks it’s brave of Jumbo to publish figures on theft. “Organizations are often reluctant to share this.”
The number of thefts reported to the police also shows that thefts are increasing. Nearly 45,000 advertisements were submitted in 2023. Figures for December have not been added yet.
According to many people, the reason for the increase in shop theft is inflation and high prices:
More than 40,000 thefts were reported to the police in 2022. Sometimes stores decide to solve the problem differently; For example, it imposes a standard fine of 181 euros on the perpetrator or imposes a shopping ban.
mentality problem
The Dirk supermarket chain is aware of the increasing number of thefts. They report thefts all the time. “Unfortunately, in financially difficult times this happens more often than usual. At Dirk we do everything we can to keep our prices as low as possible. “It gets harder when there are people who don’t pay for the products.”
But it’s not just poverty that plays a role in theft. CCV’s Wildeboer also points to a mentality problem. “People think they are allowed and can do more. There is also more aggression towards employees when they disagree on something.”
Albert Heijn does not want to say whether thefts in supermarkets are increasing or decreasing. The supermarket chain states that shoplifting causes financial damage. Shoplifting has long been a problem for the industry, according to supermarket association CBL. “Both during regular checkout and during self-scanning.”
More camera surveillance
René Middag from the Police’s National Specialist and Operations Unit is considering combating shoplifting. “If certain products are frequently stolen, the positioning of products and the placement of cameras can play a big role.” Supermarket umbrella organization CBL agrees. “Frequently stolen items are often made clearly visible to employees.”
Jumbo will take additional measures to combat theft, such as increased camera surveillance. The Dirk supermarket chain has also taken security measures. For example, there are additional cameras at checkouts and there are security guards in stores.
According to INretail, the trade organization for entrepreneurs, the current approach to shoplifting appears inadequate. “When you see the numbers.” According to the trade association, it is up to politicians and society to deal with this problem. “There’s not enough attention given to this right now. “The approach on this issue needs to be recorded in black and white in the coalition agreement.”
Source: NOS
Roy Brown is a renowned economist and author at The Nation View. He has a deep understanding of the global economy and its intricacies. He writes about a wide range of economic topics, including monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and labor markets.
