During the last quarter of last year (October, November and December), 239 petty thefts, colloquially known as shoplifting, were reported in Kalmar County.
This is an increase of 54 percent compared to the same period in 2021, when 155 thefts were reported.
In Kronoberg county, the reported shoplifting increased from 134 to 199, when comparing the last three months of 2021 and 2022. Which is an increase of 48 percent.
- Everything has become more expensive so people have less money in their wallets.
Then they take the chance and take some things instead.
We discover thefts every day, says Gabriel Fransson.
Are there any particular items being stolen?
- No, it's everything from meat to sweets.
Anything possible, depending on what they're craving.
In the clip above, Gabriel tells how they see that thieves have arrived. This is about abandoned shopping baskets and empty packaging.
Stolen for large sums
According to Swedish Trade's calculations, around 4.5 billion is stolen in the grocery trade annually.
At the ICA store in Alvesta, Gabriel Fransson estimates that the thefts cost them between SEK 300,000 and 500,000 annually.
What do you do yourself to reduce shoplifting?
- We have hired security guards who wear civilian clothing and scout both during the day and in the evening.
At the same time, all staff try to be attentive, but unfortunately, I think we only discover about 30 percent of shoplifting and that 70 percent get away, he says.