Stealing shopping carts: is there a penalty?
Stealing a shopping cart from a supermarket is not a trivial offense. If the theft of a shopping cart is proven to you, this can result in a penalty. We will inform you about the possible consequences.
Stealing shopping carts - these consequences can result from taking them with you
Carrying heavy purchases home is uncomfortable. It can be tempting to use the shopping cart to transport your purchases home.
- Bring the shopping cart back to the supermarket immediately, you have not committed theft. In this case, it is a so-called usage measurement.
- In contrast to theft, a measurement of use is unpunished. However, the supermarket is free to pursue the matter under civil law as an infringement of property.
- The supermarket operator expresses his intentions unambiguously through the signs that you see in and in front of the supermarket. On these, it is usually clearly prohibited to take a shopping cart from the supermarket premises.
- If the supermarket operator legally pursues the matter, this can result in a fine. A house ban is also threatened if you take them with you without permission.
Shopping cart stolen - this punishment is imminent
If you take a shopping cart from the supermarket and you are proven to have stolen goods, the following penalties may apply:
- According to §242 of the Criminal Code, theft can be punished with a prison sentence of up to five years or a fine.
- Even if you couldn't bring the shopping cart back to the supermarket for understandable reasons, you should have informed the owner.
- Conclusion: The damage that supermarkets suffer every year from stealing shopping carts goes into the millions. A single shopping cart costs between 100 and 150 euros. The risk that you will be punished for theft should not be underestimated. So you shouldn't let it matter.
Basically everyone knows that a shopping cart must not be taken away without permission. The question of whether you can try food in the supermarket is far less clear - we will clarify it.