Loss prevention in stores is a major challenge for retailers, particularly in the supermarket, pharmacy, and DIY sectors . Knowing the most targeted products allows for adjustments in security strategies and better protection of stock.
🌂 Alcohol and Spirits
Easy to conceal, small in size, and high in value, bottles of alcohol top the list of the most stolen products. Their appeal for resale makes them a recurring target. Thieves often act in groups, targeting premium brands like whiskies, vodkas, or champagnes. Resale can occur through parallel channels, particularly online or at markets. This type of theft represents a significant financial loss for retailers, especially during festive periods.
🍼 Baby Products
Infant formula, nappies, and wipes are essential products whose high demand makes them frequent victims of theft. Their high cost and constant need for replenishment make them a prime target for resale. Some thieves resell them at reduced prices, taking advantage of economic pressure on families. The theft of these items is often linked to precarious situations.
💋 Cosmetics and Perfumes
Beauty items, especially high-end perfumes and makeup, are often pilfered due to their small size and high market value. These products attract both opportunistic thieves and organised gangs, often to supply online resale platforms. Major brands are particularly targeted due to high demand. Some thieves even use lined bags to bypass security gates.
💊 Over-the-Counter Medicines
In pharmacies, painkillers, dietary supplements, and other OTC products are common targets. Their small size makes them easy to steal. Some medicines can be diverted from their initial use, making them even more appealing. Furthermore, their price, sometimes high, motivates theft for illicit resale or personal consumption. Pharmacies must therefore combine prevention and surveillance without hindering accessibility.
🌟 Batteries and Small Electronics
Batteries, memory cards, and phone accessories are among the most stolen items, particularly in DIY or convenience stores. Their compactness and high unit value make them easy to steal and offload. They are often sought after due to high demand. Thefts sometimes occur in series, targeting entire aisles in less-monitored areas.
👔 Razors and Blades
Despite their basic nature, disposable razors and their refills are often stolen due to their high price and compact format. Their discreet packaging allows for easy concealment. Many thieves target them for personal use, but also for online resale or at markets. These items represent a high replacement cost for stores, which must reinforce their protection with anti-theft cases.
💰 Gift Cards and Prepaid Vouchers
Taken before activation, these cards are sometimes stolen en masse, notably for resale or fraudulent use. Their very thin format facilitates theft at the checkout or in aisles near exits.
🥛 Cheese and Packaged Meats
In the food sector, these high-value-added products are highly sought after, particularly due to their popularity. Food theft is often motivated by immediate needs, but can also be organised on a large scale.
🏋️ Clothing and Accessories
Clothing items, particularly small accessories, sunglasses, or caps, are often targeted in aisles. Trendy brands are particularly aimed at for resale on second-hand platforms. Some thieves organise store tours to accumulate stock for resale.
🧬 Tools and DIY Materials
In DIY stores, screwdrivers, drill bits, and small equipment are frequently stolen because they are easy to hide and resell. Their constant demand, particularly from professionals or weekend DIYers, makes them a profitable target. Stores must reinforce surveillance of technical aisles and restrict access to certain products.
🛡️ Anticipate through Behavioural Detection
Rather than just monitoring products, innovative retailers are adopting solutions based on analysing suspicious gestures . By using artificial intelligence to identify risky behaviours in real time , it is possible to prevent theft without harming the customer experience.
Technologies like those from Oxania offer precise, non-intrusive detection tailored to each type of store, allowing in-store teams to react quickly while creating a safer environment for everyone.
📆 In Conclusion
Understanding the products most exposed to theft is an essential first step. But it's by combining this knowledge with intelligent AI tools that it becomes possible to reduce losses, improve profitability, and protect brand image . Behavioural technology is now a powerful ally for the retail of tomorrow.
