Admissions of Theft Are Rising
A new national survey from LendingTree shows a significant rise in shoppers openly acknowledging that they have stolen items while using self-checkout kiosks. More than a quarter of respondents, about 27 percent, admitted to intentionally skipping scans or taking merchandise without paying. This marks a sharp increase from the previous year, when roughly 15 percent reported doing the same. The trend spans across age groups but is most common among younger shoppers, who continue to engage with self-checkout systems at higher rates.
Why People Say They Steal
The survey found that economic pressure is a major motivator. Nearly half of respondents who admitted to stealing said high prices pushed them to take items without paying. Many pointed to inflation and the rising cost of essentials as the driving force behind their decisions. A meaningful portion of these individuals also said they would likely steal again, underscoring how normalized the behavior has become in some consumer circles.
The Retail Trade-Off
Self-checkout systems continue to appeal to retailers because they reduce labor costs, speed up transactions, and meet consumer demand for efficiency. However, this convenience comes with a cost. As more stores add self-checkout lanes, theft rates rise alongside them. Retailers face a difficult balancing act: maintaining the efficiency that customers expect while confronting higher levels of shrinkage tied directly to these systems.
Expert Perspective
LendingTree analysts note that the very design of self-checkout creates opportunity. With minimal oversight and the ability to handle multiple lanes with a single employee, the system relies heavily on customer honesty. As economic pressure intensifies, more shoppers are taking advantage of the limited supervision. Analysts emphasize that while self-checkout remains beneficial overall, the growing theft problem is becoming harder for retailers to ignore.
Still a Net Positive, But Under Pressure
Despite the losses, experts say self-checkout remains a net positive for many retailers because the savings in labor and increased checkout speed still outweigh the cost of theft. However, the new data suggests that the balance is shifting. What was once considered a streamlined, customer-friendly improvement is increasingly becoming a source of loss and frustration. If theft continues to climb, retailers may need to rethink how these systems operate or how closely they monitor them.
