Dutch shoplifters increasingly young women

The Netherlands has an increasing number of young, female shoplifters. In the age group 18 to 25 years, there is an equal number of male and female shoplifters, compared to 59 percent male and 41 percent female five years ago, according to a study done by Detailhandel Nederland. In all age groups the proportion of female shoplifters increased from 39 percent in 2011 to 42 percent last year. According to Bert van Steeg, secretary of retail crime at Detandel Nederland, these figures show that female emancipation is happening at a faster pace in shoplifting than in other forms of crimes. The study also found that the average age of shoplifters declined from 42 to 39 over the past five years. More than a quarter of shoplifters are older than 50 years. Since 2014 the police filed an average of 40 thousand shoplifting reports each year. According to the report, shoplifting is still a "persistent problem" in the Netherlands that has "major implications for retailers". Detailhandel Nederland is therefore calling for new measures to jointly combat shoplifting in the Netherlands. "We would like to see more space within the criminal law for financial compensation for the retailer. Now the fine the prosecutor imposes for shoplifting disappears into the treasury, but by adapting the law so that the retailer is also always compensated for suffered damages. the willingness to report will rise and the retailers' confidence in the authorities is strengthened. A win-win situation", according to Van Steeg.