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Coffee thieves in the Osnabrück district: supermarket employees intervene!
In the Osnabrück district, 174 coffee packs were stolen. Supermarket employees intervened; the perpetrators fled.
Coffee thieves in the Osnabrück district: supermarket employees intervene!
A spectacular theft occurred on October 24, 2025 in a supermarket in Wallenhorst, Osnabrück district. Two men were after 174 packs of coffee and used a well-thought-out approach. While one grabbed a shopping cart full of coffee and other groceries and rolled it out of the supermarket without paying, the accomplice waited in the car and helped load the loot. But the plan didn't go entirely smoothly.
The attentive supermarket employees were not so easily ripped off. They spoke to the perpetrators, who then hastily left the goods behind and fled on foot. Thanks to the immediately alerted police, they managed to arrest one of the two suspects near the supermarket. The second man was later identified. The police are now pursuing both of them for shoplifting.
An increase in thefts
Such incidents are not isolated. According to a recent study published by Spiegel, the frequency of shoplifting in Germany has increased since Corona pandemic has increased sharply. In 2023 alone, around 426,000 reports were filed - the highest number since 2006. Rising prices and falling purchasing power are driving more and more people into the arms of opportunistic thieves.
The observations of Deutschlandfunk support this picture. Retailers spent around 1.55 billion euros on theft prevention last year. But where does this trend come from? Experts cite inflation, the growing number of professional thieves' gangs and the weakening of control in shops as the causes. What comes to mind is not just alcoholic drinks or branded clothing, but the latest trends are also foods such as coffee and dairy products. Theft at self-service checkouts is 20 to 30 percent higher than at regular checkouts, another sign of the current situation in retail.
Consequences for retail
The financial losses caused by theft are enormous. In 2022, inventory losses in retail already amounted to 4.6 billion euros, a value that rose to 4.8 billion euros in 2023. The costs of theft prevention are ultimately passed on to customers, which inevitably drives up prices in stores. In addition, the tax authorities lost more than 500 million euros in VAT due to shoplifting in 2022.
The punishment in Germany is clearly regulated: depending on the severity of the crime, there is a risk of fines or imprisonment of up to five years. Educational measures are often used, especially for young perpetrators. The future of theft prevention could be decisively shaped by the use of artificial intelligence and intelligent camera systems.
In conclusion, the Wallenhorst incident is just another chapter in the rising retail crime statistics, highlighting the serious challenges facing stores today. The police are looking for other victims and hope to arrest the second person in the duo soon.