Food: Popular with thieves – shops close coffee more often

Coffee is becoming more popular with shoplifts, which is why shops often close some products. Trading expert Frank Horst of the Cologne Research Institute EHI told the German Press Agency that coffee has been among the most stolen goods for a long time. “This has increased significantly in recent years. It is not uncommon for an entire shelf to be cleared empty.”

There are few staff in the shops, which is why theft often remains unnoticed, said Horst. Coffee packs would therefore be increasingly secured, for example in showcases, and only published to customers on request. “Some locations have such big problems that they have no other choice.” This is more pronounced in large cities, and the country also happens. Beans are particularly popular in the kilo pack.

The EHI interviews companies of all important retail industries every year. The companies appreciate how the losses are distributed to customers, employees and other causes.

Traders actually avoid locking products

Rewe said about the topic: “In our assessment, nationwide are a few individual cases at focus locations.” The securing of coffee has so far not been a mass phenomenon. It is not practical for customers and employees to make access difficult. The coffee range fills several shelf meters.

A spokesman for Kaufland said: “With isolated products, such as bean coffee, we also use security measures such as security boxes in a small part of our locations.” The retail chain also employs detectives. Most customers are honest: shop theft made less than 0.1 percent of customer contacts.

Edeka announced that due to its corporate structure, the company could not make a statement. “The procedure is at the discretion of the independent merchants on site.” Norma said that coffee was not locked away in any branch. This is also not planned in the future. Aldi and Lidl did not want to comment.

Coffee becomes more expensive and more expensive – theft as a protest

According to trade expert Horst, the fact that coffee is often stolen is also related to increased prices: According to the Federal Statistical Office, bean coffee in June was an average of 45 percent more expensive than 2020 kilopackings of brands such as Dallmayr, Melitta and Jacobs now cost up to 20 euros. The reason for this is higher raw material prices, triggered by dryness and bad harvests in important growing countries.

For some customers, theft is a protest against the high prices, said Horst. It is stolen from personal use. Coffee is also popular in commercially organized gangs and in procurement crime because it can be easily resold. Initially, several media reported on the topic.

Damage due to shop theft is increasing

According to EHI, the damage caused by shop theft continues to increase. In 2024, customers were worth around 2.95 billion euros – an increase of 4.6 percent compared to the previous year. The total damage reached a new high. Already in 2023 there was an increase of 15 percent. According to the research institute, spirits, razor blades, perfume and energy drinks are also part of the preferred thieves.

Association observes difficult location of the dealers

According to Peter Schröder, legal expert at the German Trade Association, the situation of the dealers is difficult. “Experience has shown that the goods have, as has shown, reduces sales for the products concerned.” He demands harder punishments. “The judiciary has to counter in particular in the case of gang shop theft.” This requires better equipment from the police, public prosecutors and courts.

According to experts, crimes are favored because fewer and fewer deeds could be discovered and displayed – also because the effort often does not be worthwhile. Many procedures are discontinued due to minority. According to EHI, every fourth company has recently increased the expenses for security measures. The dealers spent around 1.6 billion euros in 2024 for prevention, especially for training courses.