Berlin Retailers Enhance Security Measures for Meat and Fish Amid Rising Theft

Retailers in Berlin are implementing notable changes to their product security measures in response to a rise in thefts that now include meat and fish, in addition to cosmetics and coffee.

Some chains, including Lidl, have begun placing yellow labels on refrigerated items such as beef, fish, and sushi, indicating: "Protected product - remove label before heating." This initiative is part of standard security practices within the retail sector, according to a spokesperson from the chain who spoke to the newspaper "Bild."

The company representative stated, "We employ recognized methods to prevent theft, which is a common practice in retail stores across Germany," but did not disclose specific reasons for the enhanced security on meat products or further details regarding security systems.

Statistics reveal that over 400,000 theft incidents occurred in German stores last year, resulting in total losses of approximately 3 billion euros. Although these figures represent a decline from 2023, they remain higher than in previous years, with some experts estimating that around 100,000 undetected thefts happen daily.