German Stores Lock Up Goods as Migrant Theft Surges
1st August 2025
A wave of shoplifting across Germany—with migrants increasingly behind the thefts—is forcing major retailers to lock away goods and rethink how they operate. As losses mount into the billions, supermarkets are now treating everyday items like high-security stock.
Junge Freiheit reports that a Kaufland supermarket in the eastern state of Thuringia has removed expensive alcoholic drinks from its shelves, replacing them with tokens that customers must take to the information desk after purchase. Staff say the move became necessary after organised thieves began clearing out shelves “rucksack by rucksack”.
“The situation became untenable,” a shop assistant told local media. “They just haul the bottles out in bulk. It’s out of control.”