Stealing is still rife at supermarket self-service checkouts

Ever since self-service checkouts were introduced in supermarkets more than a decade ago, stealing has remained a common issue with the absence of staff members making it easier for sticky-fingered shoppers to lift items without paying.

Now a new study conducted by Canstar Blue has found that stealing from self-serve checkouts is still rife, with fresh fruit, vegetables and even meat among the most likely items to be swiped by brazen shoppers.

The findings revealed that 7 per cent of shoppers have deliberately stolen groceries without paying while using a self-service checkout, while 9 per cent admitted they had cheated the system and paid less for an item by scanning it through as a cheaper alternative.

Read more: New technology set to minimise theft from self-service checkouts.

Canstar Blue Editor Simon Downes said: “Self-service checkouts appear to have opened the door to shoplifting for many Australians who would previously not have even considered it. They’re still seen as an easy target and some people will seize the opportunity to take advantage of the situation, with the risks seemingly deemed minimal, especially when you can plead ignorance in the event of being caught. It’s also worth keeping in mind that this survey reveals the number of people who admit to stealing. The true figure may be higher.”

Read more: Big changes coming to self-serve checkouts at your local supermarket.

Perhaps even more shocking is the revelation that an overwhelming majority of those who confessed to stealing got off completely scot free, with just five per cent of those who owned up to stealing food items saying they’ve been caught in the act. While one in ten of those who said they had scanned through cheaper alternatives have been caught doing so.

Downes added: “In most cases, those people caught out trying to steal simply try to blame the machine, or claim it was a mistake. These excuses seem to be seen as a ‘get out of jail free card’ because mistakes can genuinely happen. The challenge facing the supermarket staff on the front line is working out who the real offenders are and who simply made a mistake. This is where the eyes in the sky and any other tactics the supermarkets have to catch offenders come into play.”

Read more: Fuming wife dobs in husband over self-service checkout theft.

More than 2,200 took part in the survey, which also revealed the most common items that are pilfered from self-service checkouts. The findings revealed that fresh fruits and vegetables account for a quarter of all stolen items, followed by packaged food (16 per cent) and snacks and drinks (12 per cent).

Baby products were another common item stolen by shoppers, with 12 per cent of the total, while fresh meats accounted for 10 per cent of items that hadn’t been paid for.

And when it came to scanning items, but avoiding paying the full price, fruits and vegetables came out on top again with 30 per cent, ahead of snacks and drinks (15 per cent), packaged foods (12%) and baby products (8%).

What are your opinions on self-service checkouts? Do you love them, or loathe them?