Shoplifting on the Rise

Criminologist Dietrich Oberwittler in the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung

The retail sector has seen an increase in shoplifting over the past year. In an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ), Max Planck criminologist Dietrich Oberwittler discusses possible causes and puts the figures into chronological context.

According to police crime statistics, shoplifting increased by 24% last year compared to the previous year. A study by the retail association EHI also confirmed a sharp increase in shoplifting, especially of food. Dietrich Oberwittler, a criminologist and research group leader at the Max Planck Institute in Freiburg, attributes this development to the economic situation, especially inflation. "People want to maintain their standard of living, and when they see the enormous price increases of recent years, some people think: I'm not going to pay that," he told the SZ.

At the same time, the criminologist points out that, in the long term, retail theft has declined sharply in recent decades: "We still have 40% fewer cases of shoplifting today than at the peak in the mid-1990s." The public perception is that crime is only increasing. This is a distorted perception that he believes the police should correct.

Shoplifting is a classic crime committed by young people. The proportion of young women is higher than for other crimes. For young people, this phase usually passes quickly. "For the vast majority of them, it's something temporary, they want to try something out, test their limits, tests of courage also play a role – and then it stops," the expert explains.

 

Ladendiebstahl: „Im Laufe des Jugendalters wird fast jeder mal krimininell“. Article (in German) in Süddeutsche Zeitung, 17.07.2024 (Paywall)