On Monday, October 27, Polish Parliamentarian Konrad Berkowicz was detained by Ikea staff in Kraków after allegedly leaving goods unpaid, prompting a public statement from the retailer.
Ikea Issues Statement on Detainment
Ikea released a statement on Monday, October 27, noting that security staff detained MP Konrad Berkowicz in Kraków after he failed to pay for some merchandise. The retailer said the incident was handled calmly and that an external security company engaged by Ikea spoke to the customer before asking him to wait in a room awaiting police arrival.
Monitoring Policy and Police Involvement
The shop is equipped with CCTV, but Ikea clarified that footage is released only to courts, prosecutors, police and other authorized bodies and to the individual whose data were captured. The statement did not include any links to the recordings.
Self‑Checkout Procedure Explained
Ikea explained its self‑service process: customers scan items themselves, the screen shows whether they’re added to the cart and at the end prompts for confirmation. Customers can review the list before proceeding to payment.
Berkowicz’s Own Comment and Fine
According to media, the value of the goods taken by the MP was estimated at 390 PLN, and he was fined 500 PLN. In a post on X, Berkowicz admitted he hurried while buying at Ikea, made a mistake, apologized and accepted the fine, saying he did not invoke immunity.
