Overview
- Shoppers in Berlin branches, including Prenzlauer Berg and Neukölln, found yellow stickers reading "Gesicherter Artikel – Etikett vor dem Erhitzen entfernen" with a padlock icon on chilled meat and fish.
- Secured items ranged from beef cuts and goulash to salmon, sushi and other seafood, marking a shift from traditionally high-value goods to perishables at lower price points.
- On-site checks listed secured products priced as low as €3.99 for salmon trout fillet, with others such as shrimp at €4.29 and duck leg at €6.23.
- Lidl confirmed it uses individual article security as a common retail practice in Germany and declined to share details about theft incidents or its security systems.
- Industry data cited in the reports note more than 400,000 recorded shoplifting cases last year and estimated retailer losses near €3 billion in 2024, with experts pointing to inflation and more cases involving seniors and families.