Could Texas Walmarts Remove Self-Checkout to Stop Shoplifters?

A Missouri Walmart saw a major drop in shoplifting after removing all of its self-checkout lanes. Could Walmarts in Texas be next?

The Self-Checkout Problem No One Talks About

It’s no secret that people have been attempting to steal from stores via self-checkout lanes for years. Shoplifters think they’re being slick by paying for a few things while quietly slipping items they didn’t pay for into shopping bags. But the truth is employees they usually know when someone is doing it.

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My experience is that these days, they typically capture videos of you while using a self-checkout. I’ve had workers step in a couple of times because I did something the security system flagged to review the video before allowing me to continue scanning items. It’s definitely something they take seriously.

So, I wasn’t surprised when I read that Walmart in Shrewsbury, Missouri, abruptly removed all its self-checkouts after years of frequent thefts via their self-checkout lanes, according to Yahoo News.

Big Results: Theft Reports Dropped by 64%

Between January and May of last year, the Shrewsbury Police Department responded to 509 shoplifting calls. During the same period this year, shoplifting calls dropped to 183. Talk about a massive drop in shoplifting.

Personally, I would hate to see Walmart completely remove its self-checkout lanes. They’re fast and super convenient when you only need to grab a few items. But I wouldn’t blame them for trying to cut down on shoplifting.

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