OF ALL EU member states, shoplifting is the biggest problem in the Czech and Slovak republics, according to the findings of the British Centre for Retail Research.
In the two states, retailers suffer damages worth 1.4 percent of their turnover due to shoplifting, while the EU average is 1.25 percent, the SME daily wrote.
The next most problematic country for shoplifting is Great Britain where retailers' losses account for 1.38 percent of their turnover, followed by Hungary and Portugal, both at 1.36 percent.
At the other end of the chart is Austria, where shoplifting accounts for 0.95 percent of retail turnover.
In general, shoplifting is most frequent during peak shopping times ahead of traditional seasons such as Christmas.
The total value of stolen goods in the EU last year was €28.9 billion, or €70.26 per capita for all 25 countries surveyed.
Compiled by Martina Jurinová from press reports
The
Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information
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