A WALMART branch has reduced its self-checkout aisles to combat a rise in theft.
The Missouri store has been hit by hundreds of theft incidents so far this year.
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Shrewsbury Police reported that 309 shoppers were charged with shoplifting between January and May this year, it said. Times Newspapers.
That’s a big increase from the same period last year, when about 45 to 50 retail thefts occurred, Police Chief Lisa Vargas told the Shrewsbury Board of Aldermen.
She also said at the June 11 meeting that the arrests and prosecutions were mostly happening at just one store.
And that was the Walmart branch at 7437 Watson Road in Shrewsbury.
“Most of these people are taking their things to self-checkout, packing them up and not paying,” Vargas said.
The board was informed that in May alone, there were 16 citations for shoplifting at this Walmart branch.
THEFT EPIDEMIC
However, robberies are now expected to decrease as store bosses have removed self-checkout aisles.
Vargas told the meeting that self-checkouts were removed in May because of the theft epidemic.
On June 12th, the force recorded an incident involving “a Walmart customer realizing she lost her credit card in the store.”
The buyer “later discovered that it had apparently been ‘found’ and used fraudulently at other Shrewsbury businesses.
“Finders Keepers does not apply. The investigation is ongoing,” Vargas added.
Latest self-checkout changes
Retailers in the US are evolving their self-checkout strategy in an effort to speed checkout times and reduce theft.
Walmart shoppers were shocked when self-checkout lanes at several locations were made available only to Walmart+ members.
Other customers reported that self-checkout was closed at specific times and more cashiers were offered in its place.
While shoppers feared that shoplifting would fuel the upgrades, a Walmart spokesperson revealed that store managers are simply experimenting with ways to improve checkout performance.
One bizarre experiment included an RFID-powered self-checkout kiosk that would thwart fiercely contested receipt checks.
However, this test has been discontinued.
At Target, items are being limited in auto-checkout.
Last fall, the brand researched new express self-checkout lanes in 200 stores with 10 items or less for added convenience.
In March 2024, this policy was expanded to 2,000 stores in the US.
The Times said that when its reporter visited the branch, customers had to use the Walmart app.
Anyone who wants to continue purchasing their own items must use the app instead of self-checkout – as this option no longer exists.
Walmart’s self-checkout aisles have been replaced with staffed counters, he added.
News of its removal appears to have been well received by buyers.
“Remove them and hire people,” said one woman on Facebook
“They are more jobs for people and being a union member, I don’t use them [self-checkout]”, agreed a man.
However, several people were angry because they “actually like self-checkout because customers are slow.”
The US Sun reached out to Walmart regarding the theft issue.
QUEUES
But the shoplifting problem comes at a time when the big retailer is busy getting rid of self-service kiosks in other locations.
This action follows complaints about long queues and waiting times.
“We believe the change will improve the in-store shopping experience and give our associates the opportunity to provide more personalized and efficient service,” said spokesman Brian Little. Business Insider.
This includes several New Mexico Walmart stores, which have already removed their self-checkout kiosks.
Locations in Cleveland, Ohio, and St. Louis, Missouri, also previously removed theirs.
“Checking out @Walmart is a hassle right now!” complained a Walmart shopper on X, formerly Twitter.
“There are no human cashiers and the self-checkout line is ALWAYS fucking long! Who thought THAT was a good idea?!”
Walmart apologized to the customer and asked him to provide more information to avoid further problems at his local branch.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
