Theft and Embezzlement in the Workplace

Over 136,000 reported cases in Germany each year

A Bielefeld-based flight attendant working for Condor, Germany’s fourth-largest airline, must have found a truly “thievish pleasure” in his actions when he managed over several months to “fish out” cash packages totaling more than €100,000—quite literally. So-called safety bags, filled during the flight with onboard sales proceeds, are stored after landing in specially secured safes—supposedly a theft-proof system. However, the flight attendant circumvented this mechanism by using improvised fishing hooks, enabling him to reel in his high-value loot. The theft was uncovered by the Bielefeld Criminal Police after company management discovered that a total of nine such packages had disappeared in recent months. As bundles of cash were found in the perpetrator’s apartment as well as deposits exceeding €50,000 in his bank account, the man is now under investigation for aggravated theft (§ 243 German Criminal Code).

 

In 2014 alone, more than 136,000 cases of theft from offices, warehouses, and company premises were officially recorded in Germany. The actual number is likely much higher, since some companies either never detect smaller thefts or keep them secret—fearing reputational damage or negative publicity—and instead try to resolve such matters internally, for example with the help of our detective agency in Bielefeld (+49 521 2567 0055). Our corporate investigators assist all types of businesses in uncovering seemingly inexplicable financial losses, disappearing stock, and missing funds—in short, cases of embezzlement and theft within the company. The perpetrators are often found among the company’s own staff (employee crime), particularly when there has been no recent burglary involving stolen goods, materials, or cash.

Properly Assessing the Risks

Many company executives still underestimate the growing threat that may come from their own employees. According to various statistics, property crimes against businesses—despite the huge factor of shoplifting—are committed in more than half of all cases not by outsiders, but by insiders who know the workflows and security loopholes better than anyone else. Some companies are especially careless with passwords, keys, or door codes, which in most cases are not changed immediately after an employee leaves. This literally leaves doors and gates open for former staff to re-enter the premises unnoticed—sometimes out of revenge against a former boss, sometimes simply for personal gain. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Much more frequently, theft and embezzlement are committed by seemingly loyal employees. As our IHK-certified private investigators in Bielefeld can confirm from numerous assignments, what often begins as the petty “borrowing” of pens and notepads can easily escalate into the regular theft of significant sums of money. In practice, six-figure amounts stolen gradually over months or years are not uncommon, even among cashiers—let alone perpetrators in higher-ranking positions with greater authority.

 

In many cases, thefts go either entirely unnoticed or are detected far too late, making it impossible to identify the culprit and leaving the company to bear both the financial loss and the uncertainty about its staff’s integrity. It is therefore crucial for every business to eliminate potential loopholes, maintain an exceptionally precise and trustworthy accounting department, and, in case of loss, engage reliable investigators such as our corporate detectives from Bielefeld. We are your strong partner when your company suffers from internal crimes, and we are happy to advise you after the investigation on how to prevent copycat acts and make your premises safer overall.

Establishing Control Mechanisms – Especially in Companies with High Staff Turnover

The smaller a company is, the less likely its executives believe theft could occur. However, a familial atmosphere and a seemingly loyal team often create a false sense of security. Regardless of how confident management may feel that “such a thing could never happen here,” theft by employees occurs even in the best and most close-knit workplaces. Kindness and trust alone do not protect against dishonest employees—only good control systems, high safety standards, and deterrence do. It can even have a positive effect to inform staff after the fact about a detective investigation (see, for instance, a comparable case handled by our Leipzig colleagues). Our Bielefeld-based corporate investigation agency handles a wide variety of business-related cases (see overviews here and here), identifies perpetrators, and provides court-admissible evidence: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-bielefeld.de.

 

In addition to the factors mentioned above, high staff turnover—e.g., through the hiring of interns, trainees, seasonal workers, volunteers, or temporary staff—can also increase the likelihood of property crimes within a company. Those employed only briefly often lack a sense of identification with the organization and may therefore be more willing to commit damaging acts. “I’ll be gone soon anyway—nobody will remember me in a few months,” is often the mindset. Our detectives in East Westphalia therefore emphasize the importance of building trust structures while also clearly communicating that theft and misconduct will not be tolerated. Background checks on job applicants can also play a decisive role—preventive measures that often pay off when conducted by the Kurtz Detective Agency.

Court-Admissible Evidence by Qualified Investigators

If you or your accounting department discover discrepancies in financial statements, inventories, or revenue for which no plausible explanation can be found, you are likely dealing with a “light-fingered magpie” within your company. But what can you do? If you already suspect one or more employees of unlawfully taking cash or goods, one of our Bielefeld-based private investigators can be discreetly placed inside the company to observe suspicious individuals and determine whether theft is indeed taking place. If you operate a large warehouse with frequent staff and supplier traffic, our investigators can review internal processes. Should goods disappear between warehouse and customer, our detective teams can discreetly observe the delivery personnel, identify route deviations, and document the diversion of goods to unauthorized locations in a manner admissible in court. Need assistance creating or implementing a custom security concept for your company? Our qualified security consultants and IT security experts are here to help.

 

Trust in our professional and discreet detectives in Bielefeld. We are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at +49 521 2567 0055.

Author: Dr. Maya Grünschloß

 

Kurtz Detective Agency Bielefeld | Germany

Queen Plaza

Herforder Straße 69

D-33602 Bielefeld

Tel.: +49 521 2567 0055

E-Mail: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-bielefeld.de

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