According to the General Directorate of the National Police, there were more shopliftings in the first ten months of this year than in the corresponding period last year. The number of crimes has increased by almost 30 percent. y/y However, comparing this year’s statistics with those of 2020, we see a jump of almost 60 percent. People began to steal things that had never disappeared from stores before. This clearly shows that the rising cost of living is seriously affecting society.
According to the Main Police Department (CGP), from January to October of this year. 26,030 shoplifting crimes were recorded. This is 29.5 percent. more than in the same period last year, when such cases were recorded 20 107. However, comparing this year’s statistics with the statistics of 2020, we see a jump of 58.8 percent. At that time, there were 16,387 shoplifting crimes.
More crime
“Annual growth is high and should be taken as a warning. Retailers are increasingly aware of the problem of shoplifting and are trying to combat it. The situation may change radically due to the increase in the threshold between a minor offense and a crime - from the current 500 zlotys to 800 zlotys. Despite industry opposition, the change will take effect and merchants will have to rethink their approach to protecting goods. The situation will become quite complicated, comments Lukasz Grzesik, an expert in shoplifting prevention.
According to Maciej Tigielski, a retail expert at the SkipWish Group, the increase in theft is a big social problem, but this is not a surprise. Among the main reasons for this state of affairs are the ever-growing inflation and the rapid impoverishment of the Poles. People began to steal things that had never disappeared from stores before. This clearly shows that the rising cost of living is seriously affecting society. The expert also emphasizes that now two categories of goods are being stolen in stores. The first is fast-moving goods, and this is mainly due to people who act under duress. Secondly, these are luxury goods, for example, perfumes, expensive alcohol, small electronics, etc. In turn, these thefts are mainly carried out by organized criminal groups.
– The profile of the person who committed the crime or theft changes. We notice that more and more people are stealing to provide for their basic needs. In addition, the covid period has forced retail chains to optimize costs, including security costs. Initially, the growth of theft was not noticeable for trade, but now it is becoming a more and more serious problem, says Grzegorz Wojtasik, vice president of the board of Impel Facility Services.
In the first ten months, the largest number of thefts was recorded in the area of operation of the Provincial Police Headquarters in Wroclaw - 4616 (September 2021 - 3204, September 2020 - 2888). Next come the KSP in Warsaw - 3914 (respectively 2876 and 2257), and in the KVP in Katowice - 3263 (2564 and 2167). At the end of the list of teams we see Kielce - 392 (337 and 294), Opole - 422 (331 and 370), as well as Rzeszow - 426 (353 and 301). In addition, there are CBŚP - 2 (previously 0 and 0).
“The big city allows for a lot of anonymity. It is more difficult in small towns, especially since we are mainly talking about people who want to take a few things from the store. If they want to commit such thefts, they do not travel around Poland, for example, to other provinces, adds Wojtasik.
Misdemeanors under the microscope
The CGP data also shows that in the first ten months of this year, 188,784 offenses related to shoplifting were recorded. This is 18 percent. more than in the same period last year, when there were 160,011 such cases. Grzegorz Wojtasik emphasizes that the data only includes reported cases. On the other hand, there are more offenses that stores reveal only during the inventory. But there is no information about this in the public domain. The expert adds that more and more thefts involve essential items such as butter, cheese and yogurt. These are thefts that are harder to detect.
– According to various studies, the food industry is the most vulnerable to theft. This is another bad news for the Poles. If retail outlets begin to incur large losses, they will raise the prices of goods. As a consequence, Poles will pay more for food in the first place. Some time ago, photos with anti-theft protection in butter were presented in the media. This may soon become our daily life, and not just a media curiosity, - says the SkipWish Group expert.
From January to October of this year 152,407 offenses related to thefts (80.7% of the total) were detected in large stores (80.7% of the total), in small stores - 36,377 (19.3%). On the contrary, for the same period last year it was 129,191 (80.7%) and 30,820 (19.3%) respectively.
Higher threshold for misdemeanors
Maciej Tygielski, on the other hand, is concerned that the problem will grow, ie. in connection with the reform of the Criminal Code signed by the President, including the increase in the threshold between a crime and a misdemeanor. According to the expert, 500 zlotys is still a big amount, and inflating it to 800 zlotys will only encourage thieves to be more active, especially to commit offenses. In addition, before Christmas, various things begin to disappear from store shelves more and more often. For example, toys are stolen, which are then also used as gifts. According to Grzegorz Wojtasik, there are always more thefts in winter. The clothes of the people who enter the stores make it easier to carry out such basic goods.
- Also noteworthy is the record low unemployment rate, which, according to forecasts, will not last long and will increase. This is a time bomb that, if it goes off, will lead to a further increase in theft. Unfortunately, the industry does not have good prospects. The increase in theft is currently a global trend and there is no sign that it will change in the near future, sums up Lukasz Grzesik, expert in shoplifting prevention.
Source: Wprost
