Which products are most likely to be stolen in supermarkets? "The Takeout" in the United States compiled the 11 most commonly stolen products in supermarkets, ranging from steaks, bacon, and cheese to energy drinks, coffee, cosmetics, and even baby milk powder and over-the-counter drugs. The number one item was actually packaged meat.
The report pointed out that some of these products are high-priced, some are small and easy to carry, and some have resale value, making them a major problem for supermarkets to prevent theft.
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Among the most frequently targeted are packaged meats, including rib-eye steaks, bacon and ground meats. The article points out that the resale value of some high-priced meat products, coupled with rising food prices, makes meat an important commodity in supermarket theft problems. However, meat products are large and prone to spoilage, and it is difficult to directly apply general anti-theft labels. Therefore, retailers have tried to use protective nets, security boxes, and AI-assisted self-checkout monitoring. One of the special labels has reduced losses by 40%.
Second on the list are non-alcoholic beverages and energy drinks. The article pointed out that this type of product has become an increasingly common item in daily food disappearing from the shelves, and some reports even listed teenagers as the most common group involved in this kind of theft. The survey cited in the article also listed non-alcoholic beverages as common stolen goods, and mentioned that the rising prices of food, gasoline and other daily necessities have squeezed the financial space of some families.
Surprisingly, cheese is also ranked in the top class. The article points out that cheese is small in size but may be very expensive. From ordinary shredded cheese to imported and high-end cheese, it may become a target; the price of high-end cheese can even reach 30 US dollars per pound. Some estimates suggest that about 4% of cheese stocks are lost to theft each year, with high-priced artisanal and imported cheeses particularly attractive for resale.
Razor blades are another "small but expensive" product. A pack of blades can cost more than $20. Their small size, steady demand, and ease of slipping into pockets or backpacks make them long-term targets for theft. For this reason, some supermarkets even put shaving products in locked glass cabinets.
Fresh fruits and vegetables can’t be avoided either. The article mentioned that organic food is more expensive, and some thefts are even related to self-service checkouts. There have been reports that some people have used higher-priced avocados or berries as cheaper fruit and vegetable items at the checkout. The national survey cited in the article shows that more than one-third of American families have reduced their purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables because the price of fresh fruits and vegetables has increased by 6.1% a year, and nearly 30% of families believe that healthy eating is no longer affordable.
Alcohol is also the focus of supermarket theft prevention. The article pointed out that alcohol has the characteristics of high value, easy portability and long storage time. Compared with meat, vegetables and fruits, there is no need to worry about deterioration in a short period of time, so it is also attractive for resale. Related theft incidents have even led to some wine bottles being equipped with anti-theft devices.
Personal hygiene products have also become popular targets, especially branded deodorants and shower gels. These products are small in size, have high brand recognition, stable demand, and may be priced higher than non-branded products. In addition, there is a resale market, so some supermarkets have begun to lock up products such as bath products, and consumers must ask store assistants for assistance when purchasing.
Baby milk powder is one of the highly protected items on supermarket shelves. The article points out that milk powder is highly priced, has stable demand, and can easily enter the resale market, so it often appears on the list of commonly stolen products. Some of the cases involved large quantities of milk powder, prompting retailers to adopt additional surveillance and even lock up displays.
Over-the-counter medicines and health products are also vulnerable to theft, including pain relievers, cold medicines, vitamins, supplements, and allergy medicines. Such products are generally small in size and relatively expensive. They are also daily needs and are easy to carry. This has led some stores to start placing medicines, vitamins and other products in locked cabinets.
Cosmetics are another "small volume, high value" product, ranging from lipstick, mascara, foundation to false eyelashes, which may be targeted. The article pointed out that branded products are easy to identify and have a resale market, so some retailers have adopted methods such as locking display cabinets and adding cameras to prevent theft.
The last item is coffee. Instant coffee and high-end coffee beans are small, easy to carry, and have stable demand. Due to the increase in theft, some stores have begun to add anti-theft labels to coffee containers, and even moved them directly behind the checkout counter. Coffee that was once readily available may now require help from a store clerk.
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