Shoppers urged to 'tell on' self-checkout thefts as survey reveals 37% admit to shoplifting

Daily Record

20-05-2025

Security gurus are encouraging shoppers to alert shop staff if they witness someone failing to scan an item at self-checkouts, a trend that is bleeding the industry of more than £4billion a year. Surveys indicate nearly two in five shoppers deliberately swipe goods without scanning them at self-service checkouts, slashing retailers' revenues by over four percent of their total sales.
Kingdom Security, allied with a host of leading retailers and supermarkets throughout the nation, notes the 'scan and swipe' trend swamping shops has become commonplace for many since the Covid pandemic began.
New data from The Grocer show that 37 percent of supermarket customers intentionally neglect to scan one or more items at self-service stations. A nationwide survey querying 1,000 UK residents revealed that 32.5 percent confess to cheating the system by weighing loose commodities inaccurately to shave off their shopping costs.
John Nussbaum, Director of Service at Kingdom Security's Retail Division, said: "It's alarming to see this rise over the past years and our officers are only seeing more and more theft in supermarkets and shopping centres across the country.
"While some might think this is somehow a lesser offence than outright stealing without paying for a thing, stealing from a machine is still stealing from the store, and ultimately stealing from fellow customers through increased costs.
"The reduction of face-to-face contact at checkouts has made some feel emboldened to shoplift in this way. We're urging vigilance to all supermarket shoppers.
"If you see shoplifting at a self-service checkout, immediately report it to instore security or staff. If you are tempted to steal at self-checkouts, remember this is a serious offence that isn't worth doing to save a few pounds."
Shoplifting adds over £137 to the average UK household's annual food bill, with inflation adjustments taken into account, according to the Police Foundation's predictions.
A significant portion of this expense stems from the measures that retailers take to ensure protection against theft and security investments aimed at curbing the annual loss of £4 billion in potential revenue, reports Bristol Live.
John further stressed the importance of not taking direct action when it comes to apprehending shoplifters, highlighting the necessity for public safety.
John continued: "I'm advising caution to those considering confronting shoplifters, ensuring your personal safety isn't risk is of the utmost concern.
"If you see shoplifting in store, immediately alert shop security or call the authorities to intervene, as they are specifically trained to deal with these situations."