Report: 75% of Offenders in Retail Crime in Germany Have Migration Background
12th November 2025
According to a recent report commissioned by trade association GCSP, offenses and aggression in German shopping centers are on the rise, with 75% of perpetrators identified as having a migration background. The GCSP warns that this trend is creating a sense of lack of safety among staff and customers, compounded by inconsistent law enforcement.
Last Saturday in Stuttgart, a 37-year-old Romanian man caught shoplifting attempted to punch a store detective and resisted arrest even after police arrived.
Such incidents are typical across Germany: the GCSP survey, covering 1,105 retail properties including 248 shopping centers, 99 retail parks, and 758 large-scale stores, documented 18,276 cases in 2024—a 32% increase over 2023. Knives or tools were involved in 2,905 cases, drug use in 1,389, and 235 people were injured. Repeat offenders remain high at 35%.