TWO people, including a retired police officer, have been caught performing a common stealing method at self-checkouts, according to police.
The alleged thieves were caught on camera at a Walmart in Taylor, Pennsylvania.
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Police received a call on January 15 at around 2.15 pm for a report of theft at the store and soon went through the video footage to identify two people who allegedly swapped out barcodes on more expensive products for cheaper ones, per local news outlet PAHomepage.
This method is known as the "switcheroo" amongst major retailers and law enforcement.
The Taylor Police Department managed to identify Scranton resident Robert Zukoski, 60, and Plymouth resident Melinda Shoppel, 42, as suspects from the in-store footage.
According to a police affidavit, they reportedly scanned five items with incorrect barcodes at Walmart's self-checkout.
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The store's employees told police they were suspicious after all the items rang up for a 50-cent tumbler.
The real items were said to include a $1 package of gravy, a $24.96 hair trimmer, a $26.35 ribeye steak, a $19.48 slow-cooker pot roast kit, and a $23.46 half-pound package of lean ground beef, per official court documents.
According to police records, the surveillance footage allegedly showed both Zukoski, a retired police officer, and Shoppel "removing the tumbler’s pricing code stickers and putting them on the items in their cart."
Walmart employees claimed they approached Zukoski about the purchase at the time, and he allegedly informed them of his former law enforcement career.
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The 60-year-old also said he would get a local judge to “drop this thing," according to the workers.
Zukoski and Shoppel were reportedly charged with receiving stolen property, retail theft, and criminal conspiracy.
AN ONGOING BATTLE
As The U.S. Sun previously reported, retailers everywhere have been cracking down on self-checkout theft.
Employees have become more adept at figuring out how to prevent these occurrences.
Nowadays, stores are equipped with cameras, anti-theft cars, and novel technology that allows shops to find items that have been stolen.
According to the National Retail Security Survey, major store chains lost about $100 billion in shrinkage in 2022.
At Walmart specifically, theft has been "higher than what it has historically been," according to comments from CEO Doug McMillon back in December.
It’s also estimated that Walmart loses as much as $3 billion a year due to thefts, according to Reuters.
Nevertheless, the tension around self-checkout theft has led to issues for shoppers who accidentally forget to scan items.
One woman in Texas was recently banned for life at a Walmart location after she allegedly forgot to pay for a pack of candy.
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For more self-checkout content, check out The U.S. Sun's coverage of a counselor who says the machines could cost shoppers thousands at some stores.
The U.S. Sun also has the story of a lawyer who gives clients four essential tips when using self-checkout stations.
