Over 4.1 billion in theft and losses in modern trade

Shoplifting and theft emergency in modern retail. In 2024, shortages of food, personal care products, clothing and accessories rose particularly sharply. Thus, last year shoplifting losses weighed on average 1.2% of the total revenues of retailers, a value more or less in line with that of similar markets such as France (1.5% in 2023) and Spain (1.1%). This is a loss worth EUR 4.12 billion, which for every Italian represents an extra cost of EUR 107 per year. Losses that in one out of two cases are committed by customers at the point of sale. For another 21%, employees are responsible, but there are also supplier errors (15%) and administrative errors (12%). This is revealed by the "Retail Theft Barometer 2025" by Checkpoint, a multinational company specialising in anti-theft solutions, and Nielsen Iq, which analyses trends in shrinkage. In all cases, the phenomenon has seen an increase in shrinkage to the extent that 37% of shop managers or security managers claim to have experienced an increase in losses.

The hit of the foodstuffs in the sights of the usual unknowns sees in first place (+90% over the previous year), with a tie, both tuna cans and spirits, wines and various beverages. Coffee, cheese and delicatessen products are also in the ranking. As far as personal items are concerned, here are make-up (+90%), face care creams and serums, finishing with razor blades, deodorants and dental products, especially denture adhesives. In the light of the loss of household purchasing power, there is an increase in shortfalls for food and accessories for household pets and clothing, from suits and dresses to underwear and footwear. All in all, household goods losses seem to be under control (+20%) while there has been an acceleration for do-it-yourself: batteries and light bulbs, especially smart bulbs, are disappearing. The consumer electronics department sees printer cartridges, smartphone accessories, headphones and various wearable devices the most stolen products.

Who are the perpetrators? According to the barometer, there is an equal distribution between those who 'strike' sporadically and organised gangs who systematically beat shopping centres where they carry out discreet raids. If discovered, the perpetrators increasingly react by verbally or forcefully attacking the surveillance staff. The average value of the loot is less than EUR 80.

To curb the phenomenon, investments are being made in video surveillance cameras in the area, security officers, anti-shoplifting systems and dedicated shop personnel monitoring the self-checkout area, which seem to have become the 'way out' for the usual unknowns. Another hi-tech measure are the Rfid tags increasingly found inside products and packaging which, among other things, also allow the arrival of products at the point of sale to be monitored, stock control and inventory management.