Blankenese under pressure to steal: Rich shoplifters loot Rewe!

Blankenese under pressure to steal: Rich shoplifters loot Rewe!

In the pretty Hamburg district of Blankenese, an alarm signal is causing a stir among supermarket operators: Managing director Fabian Eichemeyer's Rewe store recorded damages of around 60,000 euros from shoplifting last year. This year alone he has already caught 50 thieves in the act. In Blankenese, a wealthy district with a village atmosphere, many of these thieves are not unknown but are often regular customers of the market.

The market manager talks about bizarre thefts. There was a case in which a man with a Porsche key in his pocket stole a bottle of “Dom Pérignon” for 200 euros. The exciting highlight: the key was a dummy. Even a customer who stole 58 liters of grape juice by only paying part of it at the checkout is reason enough to ask yourself: What is going on here?

The passion for high quality

What is particularly noticeable is that high-quality products such as organic goods, champagne and beef fillet are usually on the list of thefts. Eichemeyer himself was shocked by the theft of a 15-euro bottle of wine, in which the thief explained that he did not want to serve his guests “cheap wine”. These examples show that many thieves show no remorse and often make up convenient excuses.

The managing director sympathizes with some of the thieves, who are often in financial difficulties. Therefore, he rarely reports most delinquents in order not to put a strain on neighborly relationships. Nevertheless, the situation remains tense, as Eichemeyer observes an increase in this “bizarre wave of theft” and emphasizes the need for political measures to support retailers.

Trend analysis and social developments

The current theft statistics are alarming: According to reports, the retail sector in Germany alone causes annual damage of 4.95 billion euros through shoplifting - an increase of three percent compared to the previous year. This increase is not least due to the effects of the pandemic, fewer staff and self-service checkouts. Eichemeyer is aware of these trends and is forced to intensify security measures, even if his market has already made large investments in such technologies.

The German Trade Association has already pointed out that the courts are overloaded, which often leads to cases being dropped. These facts make those responsible in the retail sector sit up and take notice. However, Eichemeyer doesn't want to give up - he is hopeful that with the right support and a change in thinking in society, the number of shopliftings can decrease again.

In summary: Blankenese is not only a place of beautiful villas, but also has its challenges, which do not even stop at its fine supermarkets. The commitment of Eichemeyer and his colleagues to a better shopping experience in a peaceful neighborhood environment remains of great importance.

For more information on this topic, there are detailed reports on star and Focus.