The stereotype of the shoplifter hiding a loaf of bread or a package of pasta under their jacket out of necessity is increasingly distant from the reality of European supermarket aisles. According to an extensive study published by STC – a company specializing in anti-theft systems – in collaboration with technology partners from the Dutch firm Nedap, those who steal products from the shelves today have a specific profile. brand High-value products from well-known brands and a clear target: the black market.

Olive oil, perfumes, headphones, light bulbs, and underwear are the most frequently stolen items in Spanish stores, according to a study by the retail consultancy NIQ for the anti-theft device manufacturer Checkpoint Systems and Aecoc, the national association of large companies in the distribution sector. In total, stores in Spain lose €2.917 billion annually to so-called shrinkage, which includes shoplifting, supplier fraud, and administrative errors. This figure represents approximately 1.1% of the sector's revenue, according to the report. On average, each theft involves items valued at €195.58, although 83% of thefts involve products worth less than €150. 65% of thefts are committed by occasional customers, while 35% are coordinated actions by organized gangs for profit. These gangs typically steal high-value products for resale and "pose a major problem for the security of establishments," the study adds.

The excessive increase in the price of olive oil, which already began to skyrocket last year and earned the nicknameliquid gold, has placed this product among the most stolen in Spanish supermarkets, and, in fact, it is the favorite of thieves in twelve communities, including Catalonia. In this way, the oil makes the overtaking and overthrows alcoholic beverages and liquors, which topped the list of thefts since the first study in 2022.

The situation at El Prat airport at the end of last year was unsustainable. During the month of September alone, almost a thousand crimes against property were recorded, and the vast majority (around 900) were thefts from passengers. We are talking about more than one theft every hour. But the balance of recent years was also very negative: as the ARA advanced, in a decade, thefts in the infrastructure had multiplied by ten. In September 2024 alone, twice as many were recorded as in the whole of 2013, and this frenetic pace of crime caused the Mossos to place the airport as one of their priorities. In recent months, a reinforcement of personnel has been implemented, also advanced by this newspaper And now, this action is beginning to be reflected in the data.