In 2024, German retailers reported a loss of €4.95bn in merchandise, a 3% increase from the previous year. Approximately €4.2bn of these losses were attributed to theft, with shoplifting linked to organized crime rising by 5%. The report highlights the impact of economic factors such as rising living costs and unemployment on theft rates. Despite a reported decline in police-recorded cases, 98% of thefts go undetected. Retailers are increasing security measures, spending around €3.1bn on prevention. Teljes cikk (Euronews.com)