Lidl Tackles โฃRising Theft with Security tags on โคGoulash, Fish
Regional โ- Lidl is expanding its use of radio-frequency โค(RF) security tags to include everyday items like goulash and fish in an effort to combat increasing shoplifting, the โdiscount retailer confirmed. Theโค tags, featuring aโ metal coil disabled by a high-voltage burst at checkout, will โtrigger alarms if they pass โthrough security โขgates without โขbeing deactivated.
The โฃmove reflects a broader trend of escalating retail โtheft across Germany, costing businesses billions annually. โขWhile lidl previously used the tags on higher-value or easily stolen goods, โฃthe extension to โคproductsโค like pre-packaged goulash signals a growing concern over losses. The company declined to specify the โreasons for targeting these particular items, citing security protocols. “Please understand โthat we do not wish to provide any further โfacts regarding theft โand securityโฃ systems in our stores,” a Lidl spokesperson stated.
Previously, similar security labels appeared in select Lidl locations nationwide, initially applied to “high-value products andโ items notably โฃat risk of theft.” The latest expansion comes as overall retail theft remains a significant problem.
Official police reports โrecorded over 400,000 cases of shoplifting in germany last year, a decrease from 2023 but still exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, experts believe this figure dramatically underestimates the โtrue extent of the issue. The EHIโ Retailโ Institute in Cologne estimates a โstaggeringโ 100,000 undetected shoplifting incidents occur daily.
The total damage inflicted on German retailers by theft reached nearlyโ three billion euros inโ 2024.The EHI further estimatesโ that more thanโ oneโ billion โฃeuros of this loss โis attributable to theft โby employees, suppliers, and service personnel, along with shoplifters.