How Self-Checkout Scanners Are Costing Businesses Money

Many businesses see self-checkout scanners as a way to slash operating costs and customer wait times.

However, self-checkout scanners can pose a variety of theft-related issues for your business. Here are some ways that thieves manipulate self-checkout scanners to steal from you.

• Altering the Item’s Weight – For items that are priced based on weight, thieves will hold the item on the scanner so it only registers a faction of its true weight, lowering its price.

• Phantom Scanning the Item – This is an old school trick that bad employees use. Now outside thieves are using it as well. While scanning one item, thieves will also be holding another item or two. They quickly place the un-scanned item in the bag or in their pocket.

• Scanning an Item as a Different Product – This is a popular tactic at grocery stores. The thief manually enters in a cheaper item for an item without a barcode on it. Typically this involves produce.

So how do you protect against these types of scams? It all starts with training your employees.

Too often there is too much emphasis on quickly getting customers through the checkout process. When this happens, employees do not have the time to watch all of the people checking out.

If you’re concerned about slowing down the checkout process, staff an additional employee to supervise the self-checkout scanners during peak shopping hours.

Additionally, consider placing high-priced items such as electronics in anti-theft casing that requires employee attention.

Finally, be sure to have security cameras positioned around the self-checkout scanners. You’ll want to regularly test your security camera surveillance system to ensure they are properly working.

At Hue & Cry, Inc., we can help you with all of your security camera needs. We install affordable high quality security camera systems throughout Northern California and Southern Oregon. To find out more, visit www.HueandCry.com or call 1-800-762-3196.