Are criminal gangs behind it?

No. Well, yes. The criminal gangs known as “politicians.”

The old and the poor are doing the shoplifting because they can’t afford the food.

Shoplifting hits record high in Germany: Are criminal gangs behind it?

Shoplifting cost the German retail sector nearly €3 billion in 2024, a new record that was partially driven by organised crime. The federal government is also missing out on millions of euros in tax revenue.

German retailers noticed a gaping hole of missing merchandise worth €4.95bn when they completed their inventories in 2024. That’s according to a new publication by the country’s EHI Retail Institute, based on a survey they carry out each year.

Wacko Level Three

It’s gone completely wackodelic, captain. I don’t know how much longer the ship can take it!

Wackodelic

Really enlightened Berlin activists (all activists are enlightened, of course, but you can tell the really enlightened ones by that weird gleam in their eyes) are now instructing us to become shoplifters for humanity. Upset about the conditions under which chocolate, bananas, orange juice and other products are harvested and/or produced, they are calling on us to begin stealing this stuff from our local supermarkets. The money we save by doing so will then be donated to those who deserve it. They mean us thieves are supposed to donate it, of course.

Think of Robin Hood except with a big coat at your local Safeway. Oh, the humanity of it all. It gives me goosebumps. No, wait. That’s a nasty rash. I’m going to run over to Aldi real quick and steal some skin creme or something. For the needy, you know? I’m just sayin’.

Schokolade, Bananen, Orangensaft: Viele Lebensmittel werden unter zweifelhaften Bedingungen hergestellt. Jetzt provozieren Aktivisten mit dem Aufruf, die Waren im Laden zu stehlen – und das gesparte Geld an die Produzenten zu spenden.