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Supermarkets and grocery stores in the Region of Murcia are sounding the alarm about a growing wave of theft that is hitting their businesses hard. They want the authorities to take a much tougher stance on repeat offenders who steal everything from basic groceries to luxury items like perfumes and fine wines.

 

According to the Association of Supermarkets of the Region (Asumur), which covers over 75% of local supermarkets, organised and repeat theft is a serious problem. Javier Ruano, the association’s president, made it clear to La Opinión that “it is necessary to deter those who even think about trying to take something without paying by toughening the penalties and increasing the fines.” The goal is to curb what he calls the “pull factor” that encourages these crimes.

 

 

A recent national study, the Barometer of Theft in Commercial Distribution 2024-2025, reveals the scale of the issue. Across Spain, thefts in large stores and retail outlets have surged by 56% since 2022, costing an estimated €2.8 billion annually. Applying this to Murcia’s share of the population suggests local businesses could be facing losses of at least €84.5 million.

 

Most theft happens right on the shop floor: aisles and checkout lines being hotspots. Casual shoppers make up 65% of the thieves, with the rest organised groups. The average stolen value per incident is around €195 but 83% of thefts involve amounts below €150. Alarmingly, over half of these offenders are repeat thieves who commit three or more thefts a year, and nearly half are under the age of 30.

 

The report highlights a worrying rise in aggression. Nearly three-quarters of businesses surveyed say verbal or physical attacks on staff by thieves have increased significantly. This has made recruiting security personnel harder, with 50% of companies citing greater difficulty in finding staff willing to work under such conditions.

 

Despite more security guards, anti-theft tags on products, and surveillance cameras, many shoplifters still get away without consequences. When caught, the penalties are often too lenient to serve as a serious deterrent.

 

There have been several recent high-profile cases in the region. For example, earlier this year police arrested five people involved in an organised theft ring across several towns, stealing goods worth over €8,000. Other incidents include a man arrested in Murcia for the 40th time for various crimes and a thief in Cieza who bit a security guard during an attempted shoplifting arrest last October.

 

Shopping carts, too, have become targets. Just this week, the National Police seized shopping trolleys worth €2,000 from a shantytown in La Fica, Murcia, arresting six individuals involved.

 

Under Spanish law, petty theft involves stolen goods worth less than €400 and usually results in fines rather than prison unless there is repeat offending. Sometimes cases don’t even reach trial if the stolen items are recovered quickly.

 

Business owners and employees alike agree: the current situation is causing tension and frustration. As Javier Ruano summed up, harsher legislative measures are urgently needed to protect local commerce and dissuade thieves from targeting shops again and again.

 

 

 

Image: Chatgpt