Helsinki District Court has been inundated with such a high volume of minor theft cases that it can no longer process them without special arrangements.
These days, minor theft cases have had to be diverted to other divisions of the court, including those that normally handle major and more serious criminal proceedings.
"The increase is clearly visible, and it has been dramatic," said chief judge Sirpa Pakkala.
A year ago, Yle reported that the Helsinki police had begun investigating minor shoplifting cases that were previously often dropped as too trivial to pursue.
Interviewees told Yle that the change had the effect of improving the police's property crime statistics.
The police's changed approach is now filtering through to the Helsinki District Court, where prosecutors have been bringing a growing number of minor property crime cases.
To cope with the workload, judges and court clerks have been reassigned from other divisions within the Helsinki District Court.
50-cent water bottle
Helsinki District Court handles some of Finland’s largest and most complex criminal cases, but it is now severely congested.
Victims and defendants alike often wait up to a year for trials to begin after charges are filed.
Sirpa Pakkala told Yle she can hardly believe what her staff is now reporting.
"We have cases involving the theft of a 50-cent bottle of water or €1.29 instant coffee," she said. "Very often, the value of the items is around ten euros."
Alepa shoplifting case
A shoplifting case at Kamppi's Alepa supermarket illustrates how even minor property crimes are now making their way through the courts.
Last November, a man slipped a chocolate bar into his pocket at the store. After being stopped beyond the checkout, a few additional food items were found in his backpack.
The total value of the goods was about ten euros. He returned the items to the shop in saleable condition.
Police opened an investigation and forwarded the case to prosecutors, who brought it before Helsinki District Court. In February, the court convicted the man of petty theft and imposed ten day-fines, amounting to 70 euros, given his income.
Meanwhile, victims of more serious crimes such as rape and assault may wait up to a year for their cases to reach trial after police finish their investigation.
"It does feel frustrating," she said. "We are receiving a very large number of minor property crime cases, and it ties up staff," she said.
