Shoplifter with 1.6 per mille: shock in Kamenz! Employee injured!

Shoplifter with 1.6 per mille: shock in Kamenz! Employee injured!

Today, October 25, 2025, an incident occurred in Kamenz that draws attention to the current problems in retail. A 39-year-old Libyan national was caught shoplifting in a supermarket on Saarstrasse. He wanted to take around 49 euros of goods that he had hidden in his backpack without paying. However, this deaf tour ended abruptly when market employees found him on the sidewalk, reports Sächsische.de.

At the same time, the incident not only brought legal problems for the man. During the arrest there was a scuffle in which one employee was slightly injured. The suspect's condition was also worrying: with a blood alcohol content of around 1.6 per mille and previous cannabis consumption, his behavior was clearly impaired. He is now being investigated for robbery. In addition, the market management issued a ban on all branches of the chain in order to avoid further incidents.

Increasing theft rates in retail

This episode is part of a larger trend weighing on the retail industry. Since the end of the corona pandemic, the numbers for shoplifting have been increasing rapidly. In 2023, around 426,000 advertisements were counted in Germany - the highest number since 2006. The reasons for this are manifold: inflation, falling purchasing power and, in particular, the increase in professional gangs of thieves are putting a severe strain on retail. This development not only increases the pressure on the affected businesses, but also drives up the costs of theft prevention. Loud Deutschlandfunk Retailers spent around 1.55 billion euros on theft prevention in 2023.

Another alarming detail is that goods worth 13 million euros are stolen in retail every day. This includes not only opportunistic thieves, but also personnel and supplier-related thefts. Growing crime is putting a strain on honorable businesses and driving up prices for honest shoppers - a harsh reality for everyone.

The legal consequences

The legal consequences for shoplifting are clearly regulated in Germany. Depending on the severity of the theft, the punishment ranges from a fine to a prison sentence of up to ten years. For simple shoplifting, you can face a fine or a prison sentence of up to five years. Young perpetrators are subject to juvenile criminal law and can expect measures such as community service or education. The number of undetected thefts is alarming: it is estimated that almost a third of all shopliftings go unnoticed every day, which makes the situation even worse.

In summary, it can be said that current developments in the area of ​​shoplifting are causing massive problems for retailers and society as a whole. As consumers, we are all affected and should be aware of the increasing numbers, which, as a saying from the Cologne area goes, can weigh on every purchasing decision. The challenges of the future require innovative solutions - perhaps artificial intelligence will one day be the answer.