Alarm systems

It is an article, alas, very trendy. The store lock market is constantly growing. Developed in the 1990s, in full boom for twenty years, these objects ready to ring in front of the electronic gates come in an infinite variety. Buttons or labels hidden in the fold of clothing, security rings affixed to the caps of alcohol bottles, padlocks for leather goods, padlocked boxes for telephones, video games, USB keys, SD cards or blades razor, spider or spider cable surrounding computers, “self-alarming” cable or foot allowing devices to be tested without being able to steal them: the ingenuity of inventors to thwart theft is equaled only by that of thieves to invent new strategies. With, since the return of inflation, a new hunting ground: food products.

Patented

The deterioration of purchasing power and the proliferation of automatic checkouts, which are less monitored than checkouts held by humans, are pushing retailers to “tag” more and more basic products. The magnetic labels now affixed to the back of meat or fish packaging remain easy to remove. Beef steaks at 5 euros or simple pork chops therefore find themselves protected in boxes hitherto reserved for otherwise expensive goods, but have the advantage of being infinitely reusable.

Faced with demand from retailers, lock specialists are adapting and are constantly filing new patents. They put on the market specific protections for preserves, sausages, shampoo bottles, cans… So many everyday consumer products which are today the subject of an upsurge in thefts.

Cheating alcohol

The number of complaints of shoplifting increased by 14% in 2022, according to figures from the Ministry of the Interior. This development, based on the statements of victims, does not take into account petty theft, which is not necessarily the subject of a report. The shortfall amounts to billions of euros, between 4 and 7, according to the sources. The so-called “unknown markdown” represents an average of 1.25% of retail turnover.

Thoonsen, the European leader in store locks, based in Châteauroux, has seen its sales increase by 15% to 20% over the past five years. “Alcohol remains by far the most stolen item,” says Jacky Thoonsen, his boss. Because of the addiction, its cost and the ban on its sale to minors. Then come the DIY items.

Credit unions

Soaring prices are one of the explanations that lead to the theft of households struggling to make ends meet. Organized gangs who stole to resell are now replaced by ordinary people of all ages. “It’s your good customer who forgot to check out a rib steak,” summarizes Jacky Thoonsen.

With the economic situation and the proliferation of automatic checkouts, the temptation to forget an item at the bottom of your shopping bag is all the greater. Especially when it comes to vanilla beans or $25 cans of crab. Professionals notice an increase in the theft of a food product when it is presented in a recipe during a television cooking show…