Large supermarket chains are always an attraction for thieves or scammers looking for a benefit from these brands that not only handle money but also people. A security team must be present at all times in these cases to act when required.
If you want to seek employment at Walmart and be hired at Walmart Fast, you should know that the chain trains its workers to avoid a series of scams or seek to stop a robbery if necessary (as long as the conditions are established), along with technology that seeks to provide knowledge in this cause.
Keep in mind that as workers or as customers, you must not only know the closing hours of the Walmart pharmacy or whether Walmart does money orders. It is also essential to know about the issue of thefts that are so frequent.
Consequences of stealing at Walmart
For long periods at Walmart, there have been numerous thefts at the self-checkout counters, an area where security is not 100% required, only the cameras are there to record the events.
The CEO of the retail brand has issued stern warnings to the practitioners of these alarming acts in the population.
According to a statement, the amount of shoplifting cases has increased considerably. This problem can lead to important consequences such as:
- The closure of certain stores
- Price increases in many products, due to the acquisition of new technological measures or trained security personnel
- Fear of going to Walmart
- Layoff of personnel or reduction of payments due to thefts
Walmart is known for offering its customers a wide selection of products at the best prices. However, a spate of shoplifting has spread throughout the U.S., putting the chain’s situation in increasing jeopardy.
To remedy this serious problem, self-checkout machines have been upgraded with more advanced technology that aims to eliminate one of the most common shoplifting practices to date, known as the banana trick.
What is the banana trick?
Over the years, thanks to the knowledge we acquire and new technologies, impressive benefits have occurred in the population, but they have also brought negative consequences.
One scam executed by thieves in self-pay stores is the well-known banana trick, which consists of scanning a more expensive item with the code of a cheaper one, such as a banana or a potato.
This way, instead of paying for the originally scanned item, you pay less for the code of the cheaper item. The goal is to trick the system into charging a lower price for the item being grabbed that would be the more expensive one.
This trick is used to try to steal products from stores without being caught. Nowadays there are cashiers who do not have a person in front of them to verify what they have obtained, to reduce queues and personnel who could be in another activity.
A study by the University of Leicester in 2015, determined 1 million transactions by autopsy were made, with profits of 21 million dollars and almost 850 000 in goods and products leaving the store without scanning or paying, thanks to the banana trick.
This is further evidence of an inadequate security system in those stores evaluated and the unlawful exploitation of these criminals toward retailers.
What solution can we apply to avoid these tricks or thefts?
This tag trick has been a headache for Walmart over the years, which is why they have implemented security and technology measures in their self-checkouts.
One of the most important measures is the implementation of AI technology, which Edgify has produced. This new system gives the device the function it needs to see what product is being scanned by the customer and if it matches the tag on it, for prior sale.
On social networks, it can be seen how several customers have already gone to their nearest Walmart store to check if this update in the system is effective or not.
Being a pleasure for everyone, because the autopay machine can identify the product and compare it with the label it has effectively and thus avoid any trick or theft.
In this way, it not only improves the autopay machine system but also brings confidence to the consumer, which is precisely what is sought to completely curb theft and create harmony in the environment for the worker.
The change of labels is a waste of money for the supermarket chain, a situation that cannot continue or be repeated to a large extent. If the problem does not change for the better, Walmart executives will take drastic measures that will affect loyal customers.
Artificial intelligence: A benefit for Walmart and its branches
Supermarket chains must prepare every day to avoid problems and scams, and artificial intelligence has come not only to stay, but to be a direct support for food chains and their workers.
Because a theft difficulty means losses for your company and payroll deductions for security personnel. This should not happen to any extent and AI (artificial intelligence) driven machines can stop this efficiently.
In the case of self-payments, they do this by recognizing the product and whether it matches the label. Companies such as SeeChange Technologies and Diebold Nixdorf, are focusing on retail or retailer-based AI technology, and with this create “AI-driven self-checkout solutions (SCO)” with Fresh Produce Recognition.
For example; in New York, reported retail shoplifting reached record levels for the second year in a row in 2022, and according to police analysis that year, the problem was not only at Walmart but at other well-known chains.
Statistics reveal that the number of reported shoplifting reports rose to more than 63,000 last year, a 45% increase over the approximately 45,000 reported in 2021 and a nearly 275% increase compared to the mid-2000s, in the Big Apple.
References
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“Can Walmart Come after You Later for Shoplifting at the Self Checkout If You Get Away? – Quora.” Quora, https://www.quora.com/Can-Walmart-come-after-you-later-for-shoplifting-at-the-self-checkout-if-you-get-away.
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Leishman, Fiona. “Walmart Issues Warning over Self-Checkout Theft as It Plans New Technology to Crack down – Mirror Online.” Mirror, mirror, https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/walmart-issues-warning-over-self-29885059.