Stolen goods decline slightly

Stolen goods cost global retailing around € 96.8 bn last year. That amounts to 1.29 per cent of turnover, according to the Global Theft Barometer 2013/2014, which undertakes worldwide studies about the causes and costs of stolen goods in the retail trade, supported by Checkpoint Systems.
From the 24 countries surveyed, most retailers reported a slight decline in the number of goods stolen. The reasons for this are due to improved prevention strategies and a more relaxed economic situation, the authors of the study said. The lowest losses in proportion to sales were recorded by Norway (0.83 per cent), followed by Japan and Great Britain (both with 0.97 per cent). The highest loss rate was in Mexico (1.7 per cent) and China (1.53 per cent). The European average amounts to 1.13 per cent.
The upcoming Christmas season trade will be, not only the biggest source of revenue, but also the peak period for stolen goods for the retail trade. In fact, 63 per cent of the European retailers have stated that they record their highest level of stolen goods in the Christmas period, according to the Theft Barometer. Small and expensive items that can be easily sold on, for example, fashion accessories and jewellery, power tools, mobile phones and accessories, top the list of stolen goods.