Olive Oil Thefts Surge in Supermarkets Across Spain

In a remarkable trend sweeping across Spain, olive oil has emerged as the second most stolen item in supermarkets, trailing only behind liquor.

This surprising revelation comes from a new study by STC, a company specializing in anti-theft systems, which points to a significant rise in olive oil thefts. With the price of olive oil reaching record highs, it has become a lucrative target for both repeat offenders and organized crime groups.

Spanning eight autonomous communities, including Aragón, Andalucía, Castilla La Mancha, Cataluña, Comunidad Valenciana, Madrid, Baleares, and Extremadura, olive oil theft has become prevalent.

In contrast, other regions like Asturias, Cantabria, and Castilla y León see wine as the primary target, whereas regions such as País Vasco, Galicia, Murcia, and Canarias primarily encounter liquor thefts.

Supermarkets and distributors have ramped up security measures in response to this trend, including the installation of anti-theft devices on olive oil bottles – a measure previously reserved for high-value alcohol beverages.

The thefts are largely attributed to their high resale value, making stolen goods attractive for economic gain.

According to STC spokesman Alejandro Alegre, about 90% of these thefts are carried out by repeat offenders and organized crime groups, employing sophisticated methods to evade security measures.

The impact of these thefts has caused supermarkets to impose a surcharge on certain items to counterbalance losses, indicating a direct effect on consumers.