Between February and April 2022, shoplifting incidents in Russian retail locations rose noticeably. According to data from NTechLab, a company known for its video analytics technology, the RBC edition reported these trends. On average, roughly 130 thefts were recorded per store during this period, marking an 18% increase compared with February–April 2021. The rise touched many segments beyond groceries, spanning apparel, children’s goods, home items and a broad array of other products.
Analysts, however, flagged the grocery sector as the most affected, noting that thefts there tend to be unusually conspicuous. In some cases, employees observed thefts occurring from shopping baskets, with cases in this category rising by about 27%. The pattern suggests that multiple retail formats experience distinct dynamics, yet food retailers show a more pronounced surge in incidents and losses.
Financial consequences also climbed. The average damage per incident at a store reached around 1,500 rubles, up roughly 25% from the previous year. Moreover, 2022 saw heightened activity around self-service safes, where shoplifters increasingly targeted unlocked or low-security points. Reports indicate that such incidents grew by about 34% compared with the prior period, highlighting a shift toward automated access points within retail environments.
Previously, the site discussed consumer guidance for purchasing used smartphones, offering practical tips for evaluating devices and avoiding common pitfalls in second-hand transactions. The evolving retail security landscape, including rising theft figures and the methods criminals employ, underscores the ongoing need for vigilant practices and robust loss-prevention measures across different store formats. Attribution: RBC edition and NTechLab data provide the basis for these observations, illustrating how analytics and financial reporting converge to portray market risks in the Russian retail sector.