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Rich thieves are up to mischief: a wave of theft in Hamburg's Rewe!
In Blankenese, Rewe retailers report increasing thefts by wealthy regular customers. Annual damage: 60,000 euros.
Rich thieves are up to mischief: a wave of theft in Hamburg's Rewe!
In Hamburg-Blankenese, a worrying wave of thefts is causing excitement in the region. The Rewe dealer Fabian Eichemeyer, who has been running his store since 2016, has recorded alarming figures. There have already been 50 thefts this year, many of them by wealthy regular customers, particularly women. Eichemeyer reports that the perpetrators often steal expensive products and show no remorse. “Stealing has become a popular sport here,” he aptly describes the situation. The annual damage volume is around 60,000 euros. lzdirekt.de
A particularly bizarre case: A man waved a fancy-looking Porsche key while stealing a bottle of Dom Pérignon worth 200 euros - the key later turned out to be a dummy. Other thieves also show ingenuity; A customer paid for four bags of grape juice but put six in her bag. Many of the thieves could afford the goods and often even later paid for the damage out of their own pocket. focus.de
The nationwide theft dynamics
The problems are not limited to Hamburg. According to nationwide statistics, shoplifting caused damage of up to 4.95 billion euros in 2022, an increase of three percent compared to the previous year. However, professional gangs, which only make up six percent of the perpetrators, are responsible for around 30 percent of this total damage. These gangs are increasingly acting in a structured manner and are using diversionary tactics. wdr.de
Police statistics show that theft rates have risen to their highest level in almost 20 years following the pandemic. The additional risk is compounded by a reduction in staffing levels in many stores and the trend towards self-checkouts. These cash registers have a higher theft rate of 20 to 30 percent compared to regular cash registers. Retailers have already invested over 1.55 billion euros in security measures to put a stop to the hustle and bustle.
But despite all efforts, the situation remains worrying. The German Trade Association is calling for decisive political action to combat the problem, while overburdened courts often stop or delay cases. Eichemeyer himself does not report most thieves in order not to endanger the relationship of trust between neighbors and to counteract the bad feeling in the community.