Supermarkets in Denmark are experiencing an alarming increase in shop thefts, especially committed by organized groups of foreign criminals. This challenge was discussed when grocer Jesper Guldbrandsen from MENY Domus Vista in Frederiksberg and the Confederation of Danish Retail met with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and the Social Democratic Party’s lead candidate and Member of the European Parliament, Christel Schaldemose.
Increased confrontation and threats It is not only the loss of goods that concerns Danish retailers. CEO of the Confederation of Danish Retail, Jannick Nytoft, points out that many of the foreign shoplifters exhibit threatening and confrontational behavior when caught in the act. This creates an unsafe working environment for the employees in the stores. “It cannot be right that you should feel threatened by shoplifters just because you work at a cash register in a store,” emphasizes Jannick Nytoft.
Worrying statistics A survey conducted by the Confederation of Danish Retail shows that more than one in four retailers estimate that over half of the shoplifters are foreign nationals. Court statistics support this concern, as they show that around one in three individuals convicted of shop theft in 2022 were foreign nationals – a significant increase compared to previous years.
Economic and operational challenges This form of organized crime imposes significant economic losses on supermarkets. Stores are forced to invest in costly theft prevention measures and use many resources to detain and register the shoplifters. At the same time, language barriers and greater desperation among the apprehended shoplifters further complicate the handling of cases.
Government focus and future actions Although the Ministry of Justice has been focusing on combating shop thefts, the numbers continue to rise. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and other politicians were informed during their visit to MENY Domus Vista about the serious consequences that shop thefts have for Danish retailers. It is now up to the government to intensify efforts and find effective solutions to this growing problem.
Conclusion The increasing occurrence of organized foreign crime in Danish supermarkets poses a significant challenge for both retailers and authorities. A coordinated effort is needed to ensure safety in stores and reduce the economic losses that these criminal activities entail.