By Ishita Srivastava for Dailymail.Com 3:24 pm Oct 14, 2023, updated 8:11 pm Oct 14, 2023
- Walmart uses false scan detection technology at its self-checkout kiosks to reduce theft
- This has resulted in customers reacting confused, defensive or sometimes aggressive
- Employees say shoppers began throwing merchandise in their faces
Walmart’s decision to install anti-theft technology in stores nationwide has made customers “hostile and dangerous toward untrained staff,” employees told Insider.
The retailer’s computer vision technology, which closely monitors self-checkouts and deters potential theft, causes customers to react confused, defensive or sometimes aggressive, according to employees.
The system, which employees internally call Missed Scan Detection, works by flashing a light above each counter when the system detects an item that hasn’t been scanned.
Walmart’s decision to install anti-theft technology in stores across the country has made customers hostile and dangerous toward untrained employees. Walmart has clearly instructed its employees to “play dumb” and has strictly prohibited directly accusing anyone of theft. The retailer’s computer vision technology, which closely monitors self-checkout checkouts and deters potential theft, causes customers to behave confused, defensive or sometimes aggressive, employees said
The machine then stops and sends a text notification to a nearby employee, forcing the customer to “ask for help.”
The employees then act as if there was something wrong with the machine and direct the shopper to the checkout.
Walmart has clearly instructed its employees to “play dumb” and has strictly prohibited directly accusing anyone of theft.
But the loss-cutting system has begun to backfire when it comes to store employees, with some even throwing merchandise in their faces, according to Mendy, a 10-year employee at a Walmart store in Arkansas.
Joe Pennington, a Walmart spokesman, told Insider: “As with other retailers, theft is always a challenge, and we are always looking for better ways to address this issue. “This includes improved technology at our checkouts.”
News of customers attacking employees comes a week after a woman on a scooter punched a police officer in the face during a store meltdown after being accused of theft.
In the outrageous clip on Reddit, the suspect is seen arguing with the officer at the checkout before attacking him.
While the officer cannot be clearly heard in the video, viewers can hear the woman screaming, “Yes, I did.” “Yes, I did,” over and over again.
She repeatedly says, “Pull me the fuck out,” before the cameraman changes his angle to a shot from a nearby register.
The unidentified woman then grabs items from her belt and hurls a bottle of ginger ale at the officer and a bag of classic Lay’s chips at the cashier next to her.
She then browses the aisle snack aisle and stands up from the scooter as she browses the goods on the other side.
An oversized black woman in a gray T-shirt and bright purple leggings is seen riding a scooter as a white police officer wearing glasses approaches her online. The police officer and the suspected thief had a brief argument as the woman pushed a shelf and candy and magazines onto the floor just before the officer attacked her
To stop the customer from causing more damage, the officer grabbed her by the shoulders and she immediately punched him in the face, ripping off his glasses.
The two had a brief argument as the woman pushed a shelf, candy and magazines onto the floor just before the officer attacked her.
Customers could be seen crowding around while Walmart employees tried to keep them as far away as possible.
The officer could be seen trying his best to control the woman by sitting on top of her. Her left shoe fell off as she said, “Fucking white trash.”
At this point, another officer, who appeared to be wearing casual clothing, began clearing the area around the other officer, who continued to fight with the woman.
“Take me to jail,” the woman screamed as the officer still tried to get her under control.
He soon managed to handcuff her while she loudly chanted “Walmart is racist.”
More and more spectators crowded around the disturbing scene as the lone police officer struggled to handcuff her but ultimately succeeded. He turned her onto her front as she continued to scream, “Walmart is fucking racist.”
It’s still unclear what she was accused of stealing and what happened after the wild encounter.
The Atlanta store is scheduled to open in May 2024 after being closed for nearly a year after shoplifters set the building on fire to distract from their theft (picture of suspect).
In January, a Walmart employee was caught on camera getting punched in the head after two suspected thieves tried to flee the store with a few shopping carts filled to the brim.
In a short clip posted on TikTok, two brazen shoplifters were caught on cell phone footage pushing their fully loaded shopping carts toward the store’s exit.
One of the thieves can be seen grabbing several clothes hangers and hitting a store employee several times in the head.
The employee ducks to avoid being hit, but it makes little difference.
Then a second shoplifting accomplice shows up, wearing a bright red towel over his head to avoid being identified.
Instead of confronting the store worker, they walk right out the door, knowing the device is up.
Last month, a Walmart in Atlanta said it was ready to build a police station or mini-precinct on site that would double as a deterrent to shoplifters and a workplace for officers.
The store is scheduled to open in May 2024 after being closed for nearly a year after shoplifters set fire to the building to distract attention from their theft.
In addition to deterring criminal activity, the mini-precincts serve as a place for officers to recharge their batteries and complete paperwork.
Earlier this year, a Walmart employee took to TikTok and revealed that while he stopped 373 customers from shoplifting over the course of 12 months, he only received a 60 percent raise as a reward.
Alexander Buckner of Alabama said, “I realized that last year I caught 373 people stealing from Walmart and only got a 60 cent raise.”
In the comments section, many were divided over the company’s reward.
In September, it was reported that Walmart alone was losing a whopping $3 billion annually due to theft and shoplifting.