Hardware store raids in Fürth: 20-year-old caught with pepper spray!

Hardware store raids in Fürth: 20-year-old caught with pepper spray!

A shocking incident has occurred in the region around Fürth and Erlangen in the past few days. A 20-year-old man was arrested after committing violent attacks at several hardware stores. These acts shine a bright light on the increasing aggressiveness of shoplifters, which is now a serious problem for the entire industry.

The first attacks took place on Friday afternoon in Fürth when the young man was observed in a hardware store on Fritz-Gastreich-Straße. After a consultation, he grabbed a hairdryer and used pepper spray on a 75-year-old employee who accosted him while stealing. The perpetrator fled in a vehicle with his loot.

A second crime followed on Saturday morning in a hardware store on Erlanger Neumühle. While he was stealing a spray can of tire shine, an employee recognized him via the video system. A short time later he returned to the same location and stole various plumbing parts. During the confrontation with the employee, a scuffle ensued that was extremely violent: the accused punched, kicked and bit the employee before he was overpowered by other employees and customers.

Arrest and legal consequences

With the support of the Erlangen City Police Department, the 20-year-old was finally arrested. When his vehicle was searched, suspected stolen property from the previous crimes was discovered. The Nuremberg-Fürth public prosecutor's office then requested remand against the suspect. According to information from T Online and n-tv He is accused of being involved in at least three thefts at various hardware stores.

Recent reports show that the retail industry is facing significant challenges. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC) report, there has been a dramatic 93% increase in shoplifting since 2019. Additionally, 91% of retailers reported an increase in aggressiveness among shoplifters. It becomes clear that such incidents not only take a toll on security personnel, but also significantly impact customers' shopping experience.

Answers to increasing violence

The increasing violence in retail also has an impact on the employee situation: 93% of retailers report that violence-related incidents make it more difficult to hire and retain employees. As a result of these threats, 71% of retailers are increasing their budgets for employee violence prevention training. Investments in security technology are also increasing. Innovative solutions such as Purchek® technology are available that help prevent violence and at the same time ensure a smooth shopping experience.

The incident in Fürth and Erlangen is a stark example of how the challenge of shoplifting and the violence associated with it must be taken seriously by all players in the retail industry - a social responsibility that goes beyond mere security.