Alcohol the most shoplifted product in Irish supermarkets, says European study

Alcohol the most stolen item in Ireland, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Belgium

Alcoholc drinks rank as the most shoplifted product in Irish supermarkets, a Europewide study by a Spanish security firm said on Monday.

Alcoholic drinks rank as the most shoplifted product in Irish supermarkets, a Europewide study by a Spanish security firm said on Monday.

The research by STC found alcohol was the most shoplifted product in several European supermarkets. Alcohol ranked among the top five most stolen products in nearly all surveyed countries and was the most stolen item in Ireland, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Belgium.

Health and beauty products ranked second overall, followed by meat, chocolate, and coffee. Most shoplifting in Europe was committed for resale, with thieves targeting high-value, branded and gourmet products. 

Self-checkout tills were identified as the most vulnerable area for retailers, with companies investing in security cases and bottle collars to curb losses.

The study covered Albania, Andorra, Belgium, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands and Britain, representing a combined population of 387 million people.

Theft patterns reflected local consumer preferences, with Iberian ham and olive oil most stolen in Spain, beer in Belgium and Finland, bakery and pastry products in Germany, chocolate and sweets in Britain and coffee the most stolen item in France and the Netherlands, where meat also ranked among the top three.

Reuters