Germany sees record retail theft losses in 2025

German retailers reported that theft in 2025 reached a value of €4.33 billion, a 3.1 % increase over the previous year. The most frequent perpetrators were customers, followed by delivery firms and store employees. Store employees alone were responsible for thefts worth €910 million, while external service providers and suppliers accounted for €370 million.

Organised groups resell stolen goods such as alcohol, cosmetics, branded perfumes and shaving razors. The rise of self‑service checkout stations has added further losses through scanning errors and price‑selection mistakes, contributing to unpaid VAT of about €590 million.

Retailers are responding by investing roughly €1.7 billion in physical protection, AI‑enhanced surveillance cameras and other security measures. As Frank Horst, author of the study, noted, “Many retailers believe the current political and economic situation puts consumers and workers under financial pressure, leading to a higher number of thefts.”