Walmart Worker Shows How They Know When Customers Steal From Self-Checkouts (2024)
A Walmart employee has revealed online how staff know exactly when a customer is stealing at the self-checkout machines—a place many previously believed was a blind spot of sorts.
In the video, the employee who uses the online alias @thewalmartguy69, showed a scanner device staff are equipped with, writing: "POV: We know when you're stealing," on screen.
The device is by a popular retail track and trace company Zebra Technologies, which supplies many of the largest stores in the US with scanners and software, including Walmart and Costco.
Employees are able to connect the handheld device to the self-checkout machines, displaying which ones are in use and which are open. The device also gives away what has been scanned at each machine and how many of each item, making it easy for workers to spot those who have items in their hands or bags that haven't been scanned.
"We see everything," he wrote. In later videos, the worker also added that the scanner shows removed items and alerts for required help when a customer selects it on the machine.
Since their introduction, self-checkouts have been a seemingly easy target for shoplifters, and research by criminologist and University of Leicester Professor Adrian Beck even showed from gathered data from 13 major UK and US retailers, including Walmart, that a large retailer with half of its sales being made through self-checkouts should expect losses in the millions of dollars from it.
As reported by CBC, the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention in the U.S. surveyed thousands of small-time shoplifters and found that many saw the self-checkout machines as easy pickings due to the lack of staff present.
Bob Moraca, former vice-president of loss prevention at the National Retail Federation in the U.S, told CBC that the common thinking is that: "Now I've got to bag my own stuff and I've got to check out myself ... and it's a little bit of a hassle, so, guess what, I get to take one or two things for free."
"You say, 'Oh, goodness me, did I make a mistake? I'm terribly sorry,'" he explained.
Though the Walmart employee claims that they "see everything," not everyone is sold, with many sharing anecdotes of staff not caring.
"I walked out with a kayak...you guys don't know," wrote one user.
"I always take one small item as payment for being my own cashier. I don't work for free. Sorry," added another.
"There have been so many times when I've accidentally walked out of Walmart with something in my basket and nobody even asked," commented a user.
Newsweek has contacted Walmart and the TikTok user for comment.
Correction 8/18/21, 02:55 a.m. ET: This article has been corrected to reflect that Bob Moraca is a former National Retail Federation employee.
A WALMART worker has claimed employees know when customers are stealing groceries from the self-checkout. The staffer, known as Cam, showed off his handheld device that lets workers pause machines when they have suspicions. Walmart stores have dozens of security cameras that can help bosses monitor shoppers' movements.
The person pans the camera to the self-checkout area, showing a customer at a register. The camera returns to the device, which shows how many items the customer scanned and what they collectively cost, along with a partial breakdown of items and their prices.
A man has shared how Walmart can track what customers are buying at the self-checkout tills - and stop people from stealing. The supermarket uses small handheld devices which alert workers when something appears unusual - prompting them to double-check nothing is being stolen .
The former Walmart employee said the point of her video is to teach people not to even try stealing from the self-checkout kiosks. She said: “They can see everything that you're purchasing, everything that you're scanning. “You will get caught and they will pause a transaction on you.”
If you are stealing and caught, you have a chance to be banned from the store. In some cases, you will be banned for a day and other cases you can be banned for life. While Walmart is a large chain store, you are likely going to be able to enter another Walmart without a problem.
The security team at Walmart doesn't have much authority when dealing with suspected shoplifters. They're allowed to keep you from leaving the property, but can only detain you for a “reasonable” amount of time. You can ask for a lawyer at any time.
Store employees might interpret a customer's honest mistake as an attempt to steal property. As a result, someone who accidentally forgot to scan an item could end up facing arrest for shoplifting. In some cases, especially those involving repeated thefts, shoplifters may receive felony charges.
This is because there's a risk that the employee, shoplifter, and other shoppers could get injured during the altercation, which could also lead to lawsuits.
As of 2019, this AI detection software is used in over 1,000 stores, per Insider. “The cameras track and analyze activities at both self-checkout registers and those manned by Walmart cashiers,” writes author Hayley Peterson.
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon recently gave an interview where he blamed self-checkout for an increase in "shrink," which is retail code for theft. Realistically, tighter economic times likely also have lead to increased shoplifting but self-checkout practically begs customers to steal.
Does Walmart check their security cameras every day? Every Walmart sends all their surveillance video to be uploaded to the HQ security office in Bentonville, AK every day. It isn't a nice process, but it works.
If the police gather enough evidence to figure out where you live (either from Wal-Mart, or elsewhere through the course of an investigation), the police will be contacting you, and potentially arresting you. So, the short answer is, no, Wal-Mart won't “send police to your house”.
If you can show that they did so without a reasonable basis for suspecting you of shoplifting and for some improper or illegal reason (e.g. racial discrimination; because they know you personally and have a personal vendetta against you; etc.), then you may have a viable lawsuit.
If you are wondering whether you can get fired if you are caught stealing time at work, the answer is probably. Today, there are no state or federal laws that define what disciplinary actions employees stealing time should face for their transgression.
Walmart will look at felonies and misdemeanor arrests and convictions for the previous 7 years. Violent, sexual, drug, and financial/larceny offenses are most likely grounds for disqualification.
A lot of self-checkout kiosks help prevent theft by requiring the customer to weigh their items. If the scale registers a heavier weight than what the customer scanned, the kiosk can detect this, capture a picture of the individual, and contact an employee.
The cameras are purely there for us to spot theft/fraud and if anyone had put money in the till and either the till had not recognised the money so then we can either confirm or deny if that money had gone in the till.
Deterrence and prevention. Knowing that self-checkouts lead to increased shoplifting incidents stores take measures to deter potential thieves such as placing cameras with a screen showing the customer ringing in the items. This helps deter attempts by reminding the person they are being recorded.
Moreover, a confrontation within the store risks harming not only store staff but also customers, so employees are almost certainly instructed by their managers to do nothing. Because of this law, California is extending an open invitation to anyone to walk in and take.
Due to the extensive surveillance at the Wal-Mart stores, if you attempt to steal merchandise, it is very likely that you will be caught and detained by a Wal-Mart loss prevention officer or sometimes a police officer working an extra shift at Wal-Mart.
One tactic that workers should look out for is bananas being rung up multiple times on the self-checkout screen, according to an expert for Loss Prevention Media. The expert explained that people usually weigh all their bananas at once, so the bunch appears on only one line of the self-checkout receipt.
Walmart provided its employees with handheld scanners to help detect instances of theft at the register. These scanners display what has been scanned and how many items, making it easier for workers to identify individuals with un-scanned items.
The new technology will solve one kind of theft that the company says its losing thousands of dollars on, fraud. Dubbed the “banana trick” it's when UPC from a lower-priced item is scanned instead of a higher-priced item. For example, someone replaces the UPC of a pie on a steak.
All the cashiers in the store transitioned to a new type of job called 'Host.' It's the Host's job to make sure the checkout experiences are exactly what customers want them to be. If a customer wants to check themselves out, a host is there to show them to an open register.
"We recently adjusted staffing levels to better prepare for the future needs of customers," Walmart said in a statement, adding that it would work closely with affected associates to find jobs at other locations.
Should I Show My Receipt When Asked at a Store? Assuming the store doesn't have probable cause to suspect you of shoplifting, you can invoke your rights and refuse to show your receipt to the worker at the door when asked (as long as it's not a membership store).
You are not legally bound to show your receipt to a Walmart associate while leaving the store. You can ignore the greeter and walk on if you want to. If the greeter stops you or forces you to show the receipt, they may violate your rights. However, you can choose to show the receipt out of courtesy.
Yes it is legal for Walmart to search your bags after you paid. This is to ensure that theft is kept to a minimum. If you paid for your items, and get stopped at the door of a Walmart or other store, and you refuse to show them your receipt, can they legally hold you? No.
The range of salaries for store employees will also climb to $14 to $19 an hour, from $12 to $18 an hour. About 340,000 store employees will get a raise, representing 21% of Walmart's 1.6 million U.S. employees.
One of the biggest benefits of self-checkout kiosks is that they save you money on labor costs. With a self-checkout option, one cashier can oversee six transactions at once. You don't need as many cashiers to fully staff your checkout lanes — but you don't have to sacrifice efficient customer service, either.
Walmart tracks it's associates hours using a system called the “Electronic Time Clock” or ETC for short. Hourly associates track their time by swiping their badge and selecting an option: Clock in.
The footage on Walmart and Shoppers Drug Mart cameras typically stays for a certain period of time, depending on the store's policy. Generally speaking, most stores keep their camera footage for 30 days or less.
What is the shopkeeper's privilege? Under California law, the “shopkeeper's privilege law” says that shopkeepers, or store owners or merchants, may detain a customer if they have probable cause / reasonable grounds to believe that the shopper is guilty of shoplifting (per Penal Code 459.5).
If Walmart employees suspect that you're stealing merchandise at one of the self-checkout machines, they have an option to pause your machine remotely from their handheld device. To a shopper, it looks as though the machine is dealing with a general glitch or error.
A good moment to stop shoplifters is as they leave the department or the store. However, only 5 to 10 percent of shoplifters are caught. Of those caught, only some are reported to the police and fewer are sentenced (usually to a fine).
A lot of self-checkout kiosks help prevent theft by requiring the customer to weigh their items. If the scale registers a heavier weight than what the customer scanned, the kiosk can detect this, capture a picture of the individual, and contact an employee. This method ensures every item is paid for.
Security cameras can increase the deterrence factor of your self checkouts. When people think there is a high chance they will get caught stealing, they are less likely to attempt to shoplift.
There are, of course, monitored cameras everywhere. And the employee in the self-checkout area is there specifically to spot and discourage these types of thefts. There are also novel technologies that may help retailers prevent self-checkout theft.
The Scan & Go method creates a psychological theft-barrier. Customers register in the app using their name and payment information. Using these authentication methods helps to minimize the anonymity present, which means customers are less likely to engage in theft behaviors.
A representative for a food worker union in Washington said most of the employees they represent are told to not stop shoplifters. The reason is simple, there's the chance of injury to the employee, the thief, and other shoppers. That can also lead to lawsuits.
What is the shopkeeper's privilege? Under California law, the “shopkeeper's privilege law” says that shopkeepers, or store owners or merchants, may detain a customer if they have probable cause / reasonable grounds to believe that the shopper is guilty of shoplifting (per Penal Code 459.5).
The staffer, known as Cam, showed off his handheld device that lets workers pause machines when they have suspicions. Walmart stores have dozens of security cameras that can help bosses monitor shoppers' movements.
Install cameras and mirrors. If you really want to get serious about preventing (and prosecuting) shoplifters, equip your store with cameras and security mirrors. Not only will you be able to help identify shoplifters but also the mere presence of these items will act as theft deterrents.
The “banana trick” involves ringing up a more expensive item with a code for a cheaper item. “The pass around” refers to when a more expensive item is not scanned at all. “The switcheroo” involves placing the sticker from a cheaper item over the barcode of a more expensive item, matching the weights to avoid an alert.
What triggers the alarm is the magnet. However, magnets are usually placed near the barcode so the cashier knows and can deactivate the magnet simply by scanning the item. That makes many people mistakenly think that unscanned barcodes set off alarms.
Does Walmart Have A Strict Stealing Policy? Walmart has a zero-tolerance policy against shoplifters, so you could certainly say that their policy is strict. However, there is a lot that Walmart will not do to suspected shoplifters due to legal risks to the company.
Introduction: My name is Rev. Leonie Wyman, I am a colorful, tasty, splendid, fair, witty, gorgeous, splendid person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
