Cork City Retailer Losing Up To €1,000 A Week To Alcohol Theft As Garda Presence Starts To Bite
Cork city retailer reveals alcohol theft costs up to €1,000 a week across his stores, but says the new Garda policing plan is starting to make a difference.
A Cork city centre retailer is losing up to €1,000 a week to alcohol theft across his four stores, but says the high visibility Garda policing plan now operating in the city is acting as a genuine deterrent and beginning to make a difference.
The disclosure comes as a Europe-wide study identified alcohol as the most shoplifted product in Irish supermarkets, topping the list ahead of health and beauty products, meat, chocolate, and coffee.
The research, carried out by Spanish security firm STC across 15 countries, found alcohol ranked among the top five most stolen products in nearly all surveyed nations, and was the single most stolen item in Ireland, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Belgium.
Kevin Herlihy, who operates four city centre Centra stores on Patrick Street, Oliver Plunkett Street, Grand Parade, and North Main Street, as well as further stores in Bishopstown and Mallow, said the problem is a daily reality.
Kevin Herlihy said:
"Alcohol theft remains a big issue. Every day stuff is taken, wine, beer, alcopops.
Unfortunately, theft and security is now built into the business model, the very same as having a guy working the deli."
The security bill for Mr Herlihy's four city centre stores now stands at €250,000 a year, with each store losing between €150 and €250 to theft every week.
Meat is another high-value target. Mr Herlihy's Bishopstown store suffered a €560 loss last week from the theft of meat and other items including washing powder.
Despite the ongoing losses, Mr Herlihy, a former president of the Cork Business Association (CBA), said the Garda policing plan introduced in the city in late November is having a tangible impact.
The plan saw 23 additional gardaí assigned to the city every day, with 11 on duty during daytime hours and 12 at night.
Kevin Herlihy said:
"The Garda presence on the street is commendable, and very much appreciated by businesses. It's definitely a deterrent."
The CBA echoed that sentiment, saying the increased Garda numbers are making a significant difference. The association has also worked alongside Cork City Council in establishing a team of four city centre wardens, operating in consultation with gardaí.
The STC study, which surveyed countries representing a combined population of 387 million people, found most shoplifting across Europe was carried out for resale purposes, with thieves targeting high-value, branded, and gourmet products.
Self-checkout tills were identified as the most vulnerable point for retailers, with many now investing in security cases and bottle collars to limit losses.
Theft patterns varied by country, reflecting local consumer preferences: Iberian ham and olive oil in Spain, beer in Belgium and Finland, bakery products in Germany, and chocolate and sweets in Britain. Coffee topped the list in France and the Netherlands, where meat also ranked among the top three.
