Warning against using self-serve check-outs at the supermarket

A lawyer has warned consumers against using supermarket self-serve check-outs, telling shoppers it could land them in deep trouble.

Consumers have been warned against using self checkout machines at the supermarket amid concern they put shoppers at risk of being busted for stealing.

A lawyer based in the US told shoppers if they wanted to avoid being accused of shoplifting, their best bet was to have their groceries scanned through by a supermarket employee.

Criminal defence lawyer Carrie Jernigan detailed in a viral TikTok how a disturbing trend among shoplifters had made using self-serve check-outs difficult for everyone, including law-abiding shoppers.

Ms Jernigan said self check-outs were so smart nowadays that an old approach of sneaking a few items through without paying was virtually impossible.

Shoplifters had now adopted a trick where they attach a barcode to part of their arm, then use it to trick the system, she said.

“They come into a store with a very specific plan on what they’re stealing and what they plan to use to conceal what they’re attempting to steal,” she told viewers.

Carrie Jernigan warned shoppers against using self check-outs. Picture: TikTok/carriejernigan1

Shoplifters had made it risky for everyone else. Picture: TikTok/carriejernigan1

“Many times people will have barcodes taped to their hand to which they will scan when they’re putting through an item that’s much more expensive.”

She said because of people like this, it had become much harder for asset protection workers to identify thefts accurately.

Ms Jernigan said there were also more people now getting caught for stealing, even if they had done as a completely innocent mistake.

Asset protection were unlikely to spend time trying to determine if these people had stolen on purpose or by accident, and therefore would probably inflict penalties regardless of their innocence, she said.

“They have lost all sympathy and are just taking a ‘tell it to the judge’ approach,” she said.

Another group of people were being caught up in theft accusations out of no fault of there own whatsoever, she added.

“Most of these people are not getting charged the day of [the alleged theft]. It would be when asset protection is doing a quality control check or inventory and come up short.

Consumers were warned they could be busted for doing nothing wrong. Picture: by Mark Scott

“They would then begin watching hours of video to see the last person that checked out with a Lego set for example, and for some reason they pinpoint that they think you did it.”
Due to the high profile nature of the stores making these accusations, Ms Jernigan said they often didn’t need to present too much evidence when seeking to get an affidavit for a warrant signed.

“The charges could land you up to a year in jail … then you are fighting for your life trying to setermine what day you were at Walmart and what you bought,” she said.

The process would likely cost someone thousands just to prove their innocence.

She said it was even harder for people to prove their innocence if they paid in cash instead of with their bank card.

Even in cases where lawyers representing falsely accused consumers win their case, “so much damage” would still be done to the shopper.