Shop Thefts: The Most Dangerous Cities in Italy

Some published surveys reveal worrying statistics on the number of thefts affecting commercial activities in Italy.
The result is not the best: in our country something happens theft every 6 minutes10 every hour and 246 a day in commercial activities and artisan workshops. These data were obtained on the basis of the 90 thousand complaints presented in Italy. High figures considering the fact that many shopkeepers refuse to report the thefts they suffer.
Shop thefts cause huge losses, we are talking about an annual cost of 4.8 billion, according to the Retail Security in Europe report, equal to 2.05% of annual turnover.

Where people steal the most:

From the theft statistics, compared to the data of the Ministry of the Interior, the most affected cities are: Milan with 10,969 reports per 100 thousand inhabitants, in second place Florence with 3,196 followed by Bologna with 3,132. Next we find the provinces of Genoa, Imperia and Naples.
The Milanese hinterland is where the greatest number of thefts are concentrated, while the highest crime rate relating to robberies occurs in the Neapolitan hinterland.
The periods in which the greatest «deviations» are found are those linked to the release of new collections or products, holidays (especially the Christmas period) and weekends. In addition to the classic «grab and run», the most used methods are breaking anti-theft labels/plates and the use of shielded bags. Traders say that the thefts usually occur by specialized micro-gangs. Perfume shops, grocery stores and clothing stores are the types of businesses that suffer the most thefts.

How can commercial activities be protected from theft?

The most adopted security measures are video surveillance, alarm systems (in particular entrusted to third parties) and unarmed guards. Video surveillance and security cameras are very common in commercial activities because in addition to allowing continuous control, they also have a deterrent effect as criminals are afraid of being identified, this is also because they guarantee total protection thanks to the presence of various components that cover the vulnerable points of the shop. For example, a latest generation alarm is equipped with sensors for doors and windows that can identify the thief before he enters, from simple vibrations to break-in attempts.

In addition to alarms and cameras, it is good practice for business owners to take out insurance that protects their business and assets. The coverage Damage to Property and Contents has the objective of protecting workplaces and their contents (such as goods, machinery, professional equipment, furniture) from theft, robberies, vandalism or the outbreak of a fire.