Shopping Around – Tackling rising retail theft with advanced detection solutions

Retail crime is on the rise right across Europe. In Italy, for instance, the latest ‘Security in Retail in Italy' report by Crime&tech shows that inventory discrepancies across the Italian retail and large-scale distribution (GDO) sector averaged 1.38% of annual revenue, with an estimate of total sector losses reaching €4.6 billion between 2021 and the first nine months of 2023. 

In 2022, shops across Spain lost a total of €2.28 billion euros to thefts, more than half (53%) of which were carried out by organised groups.

Recent reports from the British Retail Consortium highlight a significant increase in retail crime, with theft and violence against staff reaching record levels. The Annual Crime Survey, covering the period from September 2023 to August 2024, indicates that these issues are escalating. Retail crime vary, from shoplifting and organised retail theft to fraud and vandalism. As criminals become more sophisticated, businesses must implement comprehensive security measures to deter, detect, and respond to threats effectively.

By integrating these advanced sensing technologies, retailers can establish a comprehensive security strategy that addresses both external and internal threats. In an era where retail crime is becoming increasingly sophisticated, proactive security measures are essential to protecting assets, employees, and customers.