The Financial Impact
How much damage does this cause? In 2015, criminologists from the University of Leicester analyzed one million self-checkout purchases over a year. Total sales reached $21 million, yet nearly $850,000 worth of merchandise was never paid for.
Why Do People Steal?
Leicester researchers point to convenience as a major factor. Individuals who normally wouldn’t steal are now more tempted simply because the opportunity exists. As the researchers explained, “People who traditionally don’t intend to steal [might realize that] … when I buy 20, I can get five for free,” [2]. Many shoppers don’t plan to steal when they enter a store, but once they reach self-checkout and recognize how easy it is, they act on the impulse.
Additionally, penalties for retail theft have become less severe. In Dallas, Texas, police stopped routinely responding to thefts under $50, later increasing that threshold to $100 in 2015.
