The arbitration office decides on accusation: 82-year-old senior and Edeka conflict

The arbitration office decides on accusation: 82-year-old senior and Edeka conflict

An incident in the Edeka Markt Möller in Vellmar causes excitement: an 82-year-old is accused of theft because he was worth hacking 2.61 euros while he was in business. The owner, Sven Möller, requires a processing fee of 200 euros. The older gentleman, on the other hand, denies the allegations and sees himself as a victim of a misunderstanding.

According to the 82-year-old, the incident happened during a hot summer day. He had picked up chopped at the meat counter, but decided a little later that he did not want to take it home due to the heat because he feared that the meat could spoil on the half -hour way home. In order not to waste the goods, he simply put the chopped back on the shelf and paid the other purchases before leaving the shop.

rescue by the arbitration office

This story has been different from those involved. A few days later, the senior describes, the head of the Edeka market immediately accused him of as a thief when he wanted to enter the shop again. The surveillance cameras probably showed how he took the chopped, but not how he took it, which led to the escalation of the problem. Möller acted quickly, called the police and asked the senior to sign an explanation in which he gave up theft.

The former police officer was run out of business and soon saw himself confronted with the demand for a high fine. The senior considered the required amount of 200 euros to be excessive, but voluntarily made a total of 52.61 euros, which corresponded to the price of the chopped and an additional sum in order to settle part of his guilt.

In the weeks after the incident, the older gentleman received numerous reminders until the court finally received and the case was quickly hired. In his actions, the public prosecutor saw no reason for criminal persecution and evaluated the incident as unintentional.

Different views of theft in supermarkets

Despite the clarification of the public prosecutor, Sven Möller does not understand why the senior is in his opinion. He emphasizes that he always acts against theft and that such incidents are particularly problematic for the food industry in the current time. "We have to meet every thief accordingly," is his conviction. He explains the high processing fee of 200 euros with the effort that the incident brought with it - checking the camera recordings, writing an advertisement and numerous further steps from the police. This shows how serious he takes the topic of theft.

The senior, on the other hand, makes it clear that he sees the incident as a teaching and did not want to damage anyone. "I made a mistake, I know that I shouldn't have covered the chopped," he said Ruig, trying to understand the situation despite the adverse circumstances.

The discussion about theft in supermarkets is not new and is also managed in other shops. The owner of another Edeka market, Marika Hofmann, explains that theft is also punished for them, but the required amount is 100 euros, which is a common practice. Sven Möller, on the other hand, stubbornly stays with his claim and refers to the individual circumstances of the respective case.

The conflict goes to the arbitration office

Since the fronts between Sven Möller and the 82-year-old are hardened, Vellmar's arbitration office will now decide as the next instance. Before that, it was said that the case could possibly be clarified in mutual agreement, which failed. The arbitration office must now clarify the situation and decide whether the requirements and the fine are appropriate in this case or not.

In the context of the current discussion about shop theft and the effects on retailers, it is important to consider how strongly the economic and social framework in Germany influence how dealers and consumers deal with such incidents. In the current economic situation in particular, many retailers, especially in structurally weak regions, see themselves increased the theft, which can significantly impair both their profit margins and their operating result. According to a survey by the retail association Germany (HDE) from 2023, 56% of the retailers surveyed stated that they were affected by thefts in the past twelve months, which meant a loss of 1.8% of sales.

This rising theft statistics is not only due to a supposed wave of crime, but also reflects the polluted social environment. Against the background of inflation and increasing living costs, it can be observed that older people, like the 82-year-old affected, also get into a precarious situation. The pressure on financial resources can lead to some people at the cash register of despair or due to a wrong decision.

Insight into the handling of thefts in retail

The procedure of individual dealers in the event of theft is often defined and is subject to internal guidelines. In many cases, it is common for supermarkets to install surveillance cameras and train your employees in the detection and handling of theft situations. These measures are not only intended for deterrent, but also serve the safety of employees and other customers. The high amount of work that arose in the present case, according to Sven Möller, is a fact that many retailers lead to justify their decisions.

In a comparable examination, another Edeka branch reported that thanks to its strict safety protocols, it could record the thefts by 30%. The trend shows that shopping facilities that take preventive measures and create dealer structures in order to deal more safely with thefts, tends to react less sensitive to incidents.

The delimitation of the punishments that are handled in different markets is another topic that fuels the debate about the fairness of the punishments. While some markets are increasing an increase in the caught bonuses to deter them, there are also voices that advocate a differentiated and empathetic procedure in order to take into account the social context of the acts.

In society there is a growing discussion about the way in which theft should be treated in retail. Various organizations call for a careful handling, in which not only the legal aspects, but also the individual circumstances of the perpetrators should come to the fore. A possible solution could be in prevention programs that take into account both perpetrators and victim interests.