Woman stealing film from Walmart store faces 2-year ban

In a shocking incident that highlights the growing issue of retail theft, a TikTok user has gone viral for filming himself shoplifting at a Walmart self-checkout. The clip, which has garnered more than 2.2 million views, shows the moment caught on camera by the retailer's AI-powered surveillance system. Police were called to the scene after the woman was apprehended by Walmart store employees.

“POV: When you usually don't get caught and now you've been banned from all Walmarts in my area for 2 years,” Nesha captioned her video. The footage shows her scanning a few items before trying to hide a backpack in her shopping bag without scanning it properly.

As Nesha continues her checkout, the screen suddenly shows a notification that says, “Associate is on the way”, preventing her from proceeding. When an employee arrives and scans his card, the display changes to a “missed scan detected” message, accompanied by an overhead video recording of him dragging his backpack over the scanner without scanning the barcode.

In her video, Nesha captures the moment and pans the camera to the employee, who is seen laughing but eventually alerts management. “She laughed though… she called the manager, the police and got us out,” she wrote, adding the hashtag “#stealinggonewrong.”

The incident points to an alarming trend in retail theft. A recent LendingTree study revealed that nearly 15% of shoppers admitted to stealing items at self-checkout, with only 33% caught.

According to Gitnax, a market research platform for businesses, Walmart has been proactive in its fight against theft, allegedly losing an estimated $3 billion (Rs 25.19 crore) annually due to shoplifting. To combat this, the retailer has introduced several anti-theft systems including advanced AI technology. The “missed scan detection” system, first implemented in 2017, uses AI-powered cameras to reduce theft and inventory loss.

In a recent upgrade, Walmart also adopted nearly invisible barcodes for its store-branded items, allowing for seamless scanning without the need to scan each barcode individually. The innovation is part of a $3 million partnership with Digimark.

Despite these measures, some Walmart locations have seen high levels of theft, leading to the closure of self-checkout areas in certain stores. However, the company maintains that these changes are aimed at enhancing the overall “in-store shopping experience”.

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