According to the data from the Police Headquarters, last year there were 40,000 thefts categorized as crimes and 278.5 thousand treated as misdemeanors, an increase of 22% compared to 2022. The losses resulting from thefts and the cost of security measures reach the equivalent of 1.7 billion euros. The majority of incidents occur in grocery stores, cash & carry type markets, shopping malls, and petrol stations.
Warsaw, 13.08.2024 – The data analysis for 2022 and 2023 shows that the number of shop thefts classified as crimes has increased by 22%, from 32,756 cases in 2022 to 40,016 in 2023. It should be reminded that a crime is a theft of goods worth more than 800 PLN – this limit was raised in October 2023 from 500 PLN. This means that fewer thefts are classified as crimes, but the data clearly indicates a significant increase. The sharpest increase was recorded in the Lubuskie voivodeship (45.5%), and the smallest in the Świętokrzyskie voivodeship (5.16%).
“Shop thefts pose a serious challenge for business owners,” says Grzegorz Głogowski, Senior Security Manager at Seris Konsalnet. “Just a few years ago, the majority of shop thefts were committed by thieves who resold the stolen goods for profit. Back then, luxury items like alcohol, perfumes were stolen. Nowadays, mainly basic grocery items are stolen in stores. Big stores experience dozens of thefts daily during weekends.”
He adds: “Thieves are becoming more creative and use different techniques for stealing. In addition to sticking barcodes from cheaper products onto more expensive ones, the most popular method is hiding goods in clothes and bags right now. The behaviour of these individuals is also evolving – they are more confident and prepared for various scenarios.”
The increase in shop thefts can be caused by several factors. The key ones include economic changes that may lead more people to commit crimes. Self-service tills also support thieves, making it easier to swap expensive goods with cheaper ones.
Insufficient security measures and lack of security staff can also contribute to the increase in incidents. Experts predict that this worrying trend will continue. This is related to the aforementioned new regulations, but also the lack of the state’s determination to fight the plague of theft. Shops are left on their own in this matter, and do not fully deal with this topic.
Source: https://managerplus.pl/kasy-samoobslugowe-i-nowe-przepisy-podsycaja-fale-kradziezy-w-sklepach-19681
