Prices are rising, and with them thefts. Thefts of sports goods increased by 100% in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year. Next in line is the construction materials sector, where the increase is 60%, according to a study by the Association of Non-Food Traders (ATNS). In the case of books, furniture and household goods, the increase is about 20%. The ATNS reports that perpetrators are becoming increasingly inventive and younger.
Petty thefts in non-food stores are increasing sharply this year - from hardware and furniture stores to bookstores and sports chains.
The study covers representatives of Bulgarian and international chains with over 100 retail outlets in 13 regional cities, which employ more than 3,000 employees in total. All of them invest between 70,000 and 600,000 leva annually in systems and personnel to prevent theft.
The profile of perpetrators is also changing. More thefts are reported by minors and underage persons, and in some cases - also by foreign citizens. In addition, thieves are becoming increasingly resourceful and using new methods to bypass security systems. The value of the stolen goods is also increasing, increasingly expensive goods are being stolen. Another worrying conclusion from the study is that reports to institutions are rare. According to traders, filing complaints often has no real effect, which discourages them from reporting thefts.
ATNS is already discussing with representatives of the Ministry of Interior new methods for resolving the problems that traders and law enforcement agencies face in the event of thefts. Among the proposals are more and better video surveillance equipment, the creation of internal teams to track thefts, strengthening the interaction between traders and the Ministry of Interior, as well as regulatory changes. The implementation of intelligent video surveillance with facial recognition and gesture recognition, with access only for the Ministry of Interior authorities and the ability to contact traders, is also being discussed.
„There is a worrying increase in thefts throughout the country, regardless of the type of commercial facility. The perpetrators are professional thieves who operate in a network. What is worrying is that more and more often it is young people or parents with small children. This is a social signal, not just a commercial problem. Institutions and businesses must work together on specific solutions,“ commented Adv. Galin Popov, Chairman of the Association of Non-Food Traders (ATNS). According to a survey by ATNS from November 2024, the most registered thefts are in malls and in large cities (40% each), and the least - in small settlements (20%). This trend continues in the first 6 months of 2025.