News & Trending Shopping & Deals News

12 Most Popular Items People Steal from Grocery Stores

The five-finger discount is still alive and well. Check out the nine most popular items people steal from grocery stores.

 frightened woman in denim jacket trying to steal bottle of wine
Updated Sept. 24, 2024
Fact checked

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

As food prices continue to rise, everyone is hoping for relief.

Unfortunately, instead of looking at more honest ways to save money on groceries, some cross the ethical line and resort to the good old five-finger discount to make groceries more affordable.

Unfortunately, “sticky fingers” aren’t going away anytime soon. Following are 12 of the most popular items people steal from grocery stores.

Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account

Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!1

With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!

This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.

Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.

Apply for a Discover Cashback Checking account today

Meat

Natalia Lisovskaya/Adobe Black Angus Prime meat steaks

This one seems surprising. Honestly, who would try to grab a few T-bone steaks for free?

However, meat has a high resale value due to demand. Package it up differently and no one will be the wiser that it’s from the local grocery store.

Meat is also sold this way to restaurants on the black market in an attempt to get as much money for the effort of shoplifting as possible.

Makeup

ronstik/Adobe Assorted makeup

Talk about putting lipstick on a pig. Some shoplifters have little shame about swiping cosmetics from grocery stores and elsewhere.

There are entire social media groups devoted to reselling makeup, and buyers aren’t able to verify whether makeup products are legit or stolen.

Alcoholic beverages

JackF/Adobe  alcohols in a store shelf

Alcohol is a popular target for shoplifters because some bottles are relatively small and easy to swipe.

Alcohol can be resold or just enjoyed for personal use, making it worth a shoplifter’s time to steal from the supermarket.

Get a protection plan on all your appliances

Did you know if your air conditioner stops working, your homeowner’s insurance won’t cover it? Same with plumbing, electrical issues, appliances, and more.

Whether or not you’re a new homeowner, a home warranty from Choice Home Warranty could pick up the slack where insurance falls short and protect you against surprise expenses. If a covered system in your home breaks, you can call their hotline 24/7 to get it repaired.

For a limited time, you can get your first month free with a Single Payment home warranty plan.

Get a free quote

Baby formula

Africa Studio/Adobe baby milk formula on kitchen

This one is a little sad. Baby formula is an extremely popular item to steal.

When people cannot find formula, they often go to extreme measures to feed their growing babies. That is why rather sophisticated crime rings resell baby formula for profit.

Chocolate

nerudol/Adobe dark chocolate on dark background

Chocolate is one of the world’s most popular foods. It impacts our senses strongly, improves our mood, and just tastes great.

So it makes sense that it’s also one of the most popular items people snatch from the local grocery store.

Seafood

singidavar/Adobe fresh seafood

Since seafood is perishable, it might seem odd that people steal it from grocery stores.

Unfortunately, thieves have gotten this down to a science. They will have cooler packs ready to keep the product stable until it can be transferred to a proper refrigerator.

Reselling on the black market to restaurants can be a common activity.

Over-the-counter medicine

mandritoiu/Adobe aisle in a CVS pharmacy

Cold and flu medicine are always popular, but the winter months send demand soaring. With high demand comes the potential for shoplifting and reselling.

Some grocery stores keep premium cold, flu, and headache medications behind the pharmacy counter to try to prevent as much theft as possible.

Pro tip: Instead of stealing, turn to an old-fashioned way of saving money on groceries: Clipping coupons. Or try the modern version of coupon clipping by using cash-back apps such as Ibotta.

Skincare items

busra/Adobe bathroom set

Skincare is big business, so it makes sense that skincare products are regularly stolen from grocery stores.

This creates a problem on multiple levels. When these items are sold on the black market, they often lack any warranty or proof that they haven’t been tampered with.

Family planning products

lemontreeimages/Adobe condoms

These products are locked up in grocery stores for a reason. People will happily steal family planning products ranging from condoms to lubricants and gel contraceptives.

Not only do people steal them for personal needs, but they are often resold to others looking for a discount.

Stop overpaying when you shop online

Shopping online has its perks. It's super convenient, but it can be time consuming to find the best deals. Instead of hunting for coupon codes (that don't always work!) and opening tons of browser tabs comparing prices, you can try Capital One Shopping.

Capital One Shopping makes saving money effortless. Just add the browser extension and when you check out, it'll scour the internet for coupon codes to help you save cash. And before you check out at 25+ major retailers, Capital One Shopping will notify you with a friendly pop-up if the item you're buying is available cheaper somewhere else.

Capital One Shopping is free to use and won't show you ads. Add it today and stop overpaying!2

Get Capital One Shopping now

Cheese

Yakobchuk Olena/Adobe Woman pointing to fresh cheese in a grocery store

Cheese is one of the most shoplifted items in the world, particularly in Europe.

This is surprising on the surface, but it makes sense. Fresh cheese isn't easy to tag with anti-theft devices, and it's often small enough to be slipped into a pocket or jacket.

Batteries

Gudellaphoto/Adobe batteries

Batteries are a prime target for theft. They're small but expensive, and we all need them.

Some petty thieves don't think twice before checking out — they just swipe them, pocket them, and move along with their days.

Razor blades

Pavel/Adobe A row of three disposable razors

Razor blades fit into the "small but necessary" category.

Plus, they're inexpensive, so thieves sneak off with them with little guilt. Some even sell razors on the black market for significant profits.

Bottom line

pressmaster/Adobe woman in stripped skirt hiding apple in pocket while stealing it

Ultimately, anything that’s easy to conceal, transport, and resell will always be a target for shoplifters. Grocery stores try to strike a balance between providing shoppers with access to goods and preventing theft.

So, the next time you go to the store and see something locked up, be patient with the staff. Keep calm, carry on, and look for bargains that can reduce the rising cost of groceries.

Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards

5.0
info

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Current Offer

$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks
Card Details