Shoplifting at record level in Finland. Photo: Mikko Stig / Lehtikuva
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The number of reported shoplifting incidents in Finland rose by 18.6 per cent in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to preliminary data from Statistics Finland.
Authorities recorded nearly 34,700 cases of theft from shops between January and June. The increase marks a significant surge from 2024 and is part of a broader rise in criminal activity during the first six months of the year.
A total of 255,900 offences against the Finnish Criminal Code were reported by police, customs, and border guard officials from January to June. This represented a 1.8 per cent increase from the same period last year.
Reports of offences against life also rose. Authorities recorded 48 such cases during the first half of 2025, four more than during the same period in 2024.
Data also showed a mixed trend in sexual offences. Since legislative changes that came into effect in January 2023, a new category of sexual harassment has been tracked. During the first six months of 2025, a total of 627 cases falling under the updated legislation were reported. This was 81 fewer than in the first half of 2024. Of the reported cases, 205 took place online.
Meanwhile, crimes involving sexually offensive images or performances of children increased. A total of 736 such reports were filed, 228 more than the year before. More than 90 per cent of these acts occurred on the Internet.
The statistics cover all offences against the Criminal Code, including violent crimes, property offences, and cyber-related cases. The figures represent incidents known to authorities and recorded between 1 January and 30 June.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
