Almost 20% of Americans with incomes above six figures admit to using common self-checkout shoplifting techniques.
A new study has revealed shocking data, with some people who reported shoplifting claiming they have no plans to stop anytime soon.
Although the majority of participants in LendingTree's surprising report said they had never shoplifted from a self-checkout, at least 15% admitted to intentionally shoplifting.
People who stole from kiosks were also asked if they regretted their crimes.
Shoplifters continued to be honest in surveys, with 60% saying they felt bad about their actions and 44% saying they were likely to steal again.
The percentages were further broken down through other unique questions from the researchers.
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When asked what kind of items they would try to steal, luxury or necessities, the majority (46%) said they would steal expensive items.
According to LendingTree, about 37% said they only steal food, water, and health products.
The company further narrowed its target audience by asking shoplifters who claimed to steal again to provide more information about their current salary ranges.
The surprising results showed that those who used the 'skip scan' trick the most, stole the most items, and planned to steal again were the ones who earned the most.
At least 18% of intentional shoplifters were employees with six-figure annual incomes, while the rest had salaries of less than $35,000 and those earning between $50,000 and $74,999.
Additionally, 69% of all respondents in the LendingTree survey said they believe self-checkout is the leading cause of shoplifting.
A major controversy is brewing over the introduction of self-checkout systems at retail stores across the United States in 2023.
Self-checkout struggles
As the US Sun previously reported, some experts are concerned that the technology will cause too many problems for shoppers.
One retail expert warned customers that they should never use a kiosk if they have more than 14 items. If you don't, there's a good chance your item will be accidentally mis-scanned and you could be charged with theft.
While some have called for the return of checkout lanes or the removal of self-checkouts altogether, LendingTree survey data shows that most Americans still enjoy self-checkout.
About 62% of all respondents said they liked the efficiency of kiosks, and 44% said lines were often shorter.
Still, retail giants like Walmart, Kroger and Target are all making different decisions about self-checkout in their stores.
CEO Doug McMillon said Walmart introduced receipt checks and increased security for its employees after theft reached a “historic high” in December 2022.
Anti-theft AI security cameras also monitor customer movements while scanning products.
Three Walmart stores in New Mexico have completely eliminated self-checkout systems to resolve the issue.
Kroger specifically collaborated with tech company Everseen to advance self-checkout technology.
Some stores in Tennessee have switched to self-checkout only, with employees providing assistance and other necessary duties.
Target announced the closure of at least nine stores in September, with CEO Brian Cornell citing shoplifting as the cause.
In addition to locking merchandise behind glass, Target has closed self-checkout areas at each location, along with other drastic safety measures in response to crime rates.
For more related content, check out The US Sun's coverage of the police officer arrested with his girlfriend on suspicion of stealing $400 worth of merchandise from Walmart.
The US Sun also published an article about why Kroger and Home Depot shoppers said in angry letters that the self-checkout issue was “not my problem.”
