Thieves Caught In The Act Of Manipulating Self-Checkout Machine

Although shops may think they are saving money by ditching staff in favour of automated systems, in fact, the amount of money lost through theft rockets has increased after the introduction of self-checkouts. Criminologists warn that self-service checkouts has turned honest shoppers into thieves.Show more

Criminologists found that the cost of stolen items more than doubles after the introduction of self-scanning. However, it is not just criminals taking advantage of the lax security. The report found that people who are usually honest resort to theft simply because they can, and do not feel it is as wrong when there is no human interaction.

The frustrations many people feel at the self-service till may also lead shoppers to feel justified in stealing while technology gives offenders ‘ready-made excuses’ for failing to scan items. Self-checkouts were found to provoke aggressive behaviour particularly when products would not scan correctly, or when staff had to intervene to correct the mistakes or check age verifications.

Shoppers who steal groceries by not scanning them at supermarket self-service checkouts are called 'swipers'. The swiper is a new breed of shoplifter, they're not the typical thieves of the past who were targeting high-value fast-moving items, like batteries and razor blades, these shoppers are about manipulating the machine.They are more likely to scan the vine tomatoes as loose tomatoes and they are not interested about putting things down their pants, in their pockets and jackets.

Such unpleasant event occurred on November 27, 2017 in Cranston, Rhode Island, USA when a couple noticed a thief at the self-checkout desk in a Walmart supermarket stealing by avoiding to claim the purchased goods. Fortunately, this honest couple caught this woman on camera, pretending to scan most of her items and handing them off to her partner in crime who is bagging them and putting them in another carriage. They presented their evidence to a Walmart employee who stopped them at the door and asked for a receipt. Of course, it was a short receipt for so many items in their cart and they were asked to go to the customer service. What a shameful act for two adults!

Footage has emerged of a woman, pretending to be scanning the things and just putting them into her carriage, claiming them free of charge. This inglorious thief was caught on camera and is out for the world to see her infamous deed! Shame on you two!