Danish shop owners are increasingly giving up on reporting thefts, as police follow-up remains limited and, based on our own calculation from Statistics Denmark data, only a very small share of shoplifting reports end in a conviction.
The numbers point to declining enforcement and low conviction rates for everyday property crime, especially shop theft. While the Justice Ministry describes bill L 83 as the largest combined penalty increase for person-threatening crime in recent years, shop theft often carries few visible consequences for offenders compared with serious violent crime. For many international owners who run corner shops and takeaways across Danish cities, filing a police report can feel like wasted effort.
According to Statistics Denmark, total reported criminal offences fell from about 536,000 in 2013 to about 444,000 in 2023. Police and business groups have repeatedly warned that falling figures may partly reflect underreporting, particularly of low-value shop theft. Statistics Denmark data also show that the number of convictions for theft has fallen substantially over the last decade, and the ratio of convictions to reported thefts has declined.
When reporting shop theft becomes pointless
The decline in conviction rates has a direct impact on shop owners. Many now face repeat thefts by the same individuals, often known to staff, with little follow-up from police. Police have acknowledged in crime overviews that many shop thefts are never reported, so statistics underestimate the scale of the problem.
Dansk Erhverv has, in consultation responses, described how small business owners report repeat thefts by the same individuals and low follow-up, which they say erodes trust in the legal system. For internationals running retail businesses, the lack of police support can be a major financial and security risk, amplified by language barriers and unfamiliarity with Danish procedures.
StatBank data and municipal reports suggest that a significant share of small retail and restaurant businesses in major Danish cities are led by owners of foreign origin. These are precisely the type of small, vulnerable shops most exposed to persistent petty theft.
Penalty increases ignore everyday crime
The government has tabled bill L 83, which, according to the Justice Ministry, doubles sentences for serious assault, raises penalties for certain forms of rape and threats against public servants by 50 percent, and doubles the mandatory victim contribution from 500 to 1,000 kroner. The Justice Ministry describes it as the largest combined penalty increase for person-threatening crime in recent years.
But shop theft policy remains essentially untouched. The bill focuses heavily on violent and sexual offences, with no specific provisions for everyday retail theft. Most provisions are planned to enter into force from 1 January 2027, and Justice Ministry estimates predict a noticeable increase in the prison population.
Business groups have criticised the reform for ignoring crimes against shops. Dansk Erhverv stated in its consultation response that protecting the small shopkeeper requires more than harsher penalties for serious violence, and that a clear strategy against shop theft and repeated violations of business owners is needed.
How Denmark compares
According to the Bundeskriminalamt Polizeiliche Kriminalstatistik 2023, German police recorded around 1.4 million shoplifting offences in 2023, up more than 25 percent compared with 2019, with a clearance rate above 90 percent. German authorities cite factors including extensive CCTV and other security measures. Denmark records far fewer shoplifting offences, in the tens of thousands per year, and its clearance and conviction shares are lower than Germany’s.
In some European countries, police have formal partnerships with retailers to tackle shop theft. Denmark’s national crime plans currently focus more on cybercrime, organised crime and violence.
What shop owners can do
Despite low conviction rates, small retailers are still advised to systematically document theft incidents and file online police reports via politi.dk. Repeat offenders may eventually appear in national systems. Shops should maintain incident logs and preserve CCTV footage, even if police response is slow.
Many insurance companies require a police report for compensation, and some may accept aggregated reports for repeated low-value thefts, depending on the policy. Shop owners must comply with Danish rules on personal data and CCTV, including clear signage and limits on data retention, as set out by Datatilsynet. Physical confrontation with suspected thieves is discouraged, as Danish law sets strict boundaries on self-defence and citizen’s arrest under the Criminal Code.
International shop owners can access English-language guidance on business security and police contact through virk.dk, borger.dk and municipal business centres such as Copenhagen’s Business Service. In many districts, shops can contact local community policing units to discuss tailored measures against repeated thefts or threats, even if regular patrol response remains limited.
