WALMART is cracking down on theft at its self-checkout registers and has started arresting those they suspect of stealing.
The retail store recently upped their alertness to self-checkout thievery, checking the security cameras of the machines more frequently and even arresting perpetrators.
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The self-checkout gives shoppers an easy, intuitive way to pay for their items and possibly get out of the store faster but it also leaves room for more scams and stealing.
An alleged former Walmart staff member has revealed some of the store's anti-thieving practices.
Employees utilize a tricky device to interfere with people who aren’t scanning their products to prevent shoplifting, Tell Me Best reported.
The workers who man the self-checkout have a device with software that halts the scanning procedure, pausing the register machines if the employee notices shoplifting.
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Stopping the register results in the customer ultimately needing an employee to come over and assess the issue.
Then that allows the worker to then see if the customer has scanned all of their items properly or not.
The former Walmart worker said that employees are told to pretend there’s a problem with the machine the customer is using instead of jumping to conclusions so that it doesn't come across as aggressive.
Once the employee approaches the alleged thief, they simply directed the shopper to a checkout line with an actual human working the register.
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When the employee scans the alleged shoplifter's entire purchase in a standard fashion, the shoppers aren’t immediately blamed for thievery, while staff ensures that all products are properly purchased.
Real retail charges
In the past few weeks, a Walmart in Alpena, Michigan has caught shoppers allegedly stealing products through the self-checkout area on two separate occasions.
A man turned himself in August when a warrant went out for his arrest after Walmart caught him and his girlfriend swapping out barcodes on the surveillance cameras.
The security footage of the couple switching barcodes on items since March was later used to catch the shoppers in action, according to FOX2 Detroit.
Michael Ray Jackson, 39 was charged with first-degree retail fraud in September but the woman involved has not yet been charged.
The couple allegedly stole $1,100 worth of merchandise from the store by switching out barcodes, according to the police.
Not even a month later, a 34-year-old woman was arrested for reportedly stealing from the same Walmart.
TeddyJo Marie Fliam was allegedly skipping items as she was scanning her purchases at self-checkout, the surveillance video revealed after an employee confronted her and she denied it agitatedly.
It was found that had stolen more than $1,000 worth of merchandise since April by not scanning it.
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Fliam was arrested at her Alpena home on September 29 and charged with first-degree retail fraud.
She had her initial appearance in front of a judge this past Tuesday at an Alpena County courtroom.
