Experts see a growing risk of theft for retailers due to the use of self-service checkouts. “Thefts are increasing in such stores. Losses for retailers due to the use of self-service checkouts can amount to one to two percent of turnover. This is a lot and significantly more than in stores with traditional checkouts,” said Stephan Rüschen, professor for food trade at the University of Dual Studies in Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg.
Germany. Problem with shoplifting
Depending on the location, there are significant differences: in cities, the risk is generally higher than in the countryside, Rüschen cites conversations with traders and other industry representatives.
Despite the higher risk of theft, there’s no getting around the fact that retailers will increasingly rely on self-checkouts in the future, he says. “There’s a shortage of staff everywhere in the retail sector. What’s more, customers appreciate and expect this service because they don’t want to wait in long lines,” he adds.
Ways to deal with dishonest customers
Due to the high risk of theft, there are already many preventive measures. Stephan Rüschen cited as examples the monitoring staff in the self-service checkout area and exit gates that only open after the receipt has been scanned. Using video cameras, it is also possible to detect when customers have not scanned products or have provided incorrect information when weighing and selecting fruit types. Retailers are called upon to further increase theft prevention and detection measures, the expert says.
Police crime statistics show that shoplifting has recently increased in Germany. Rüschen is not convinced that the significant increase in the number of checkouts where customers scan their own products is the main cause of this phenomenon. He believes that it is mainly due to high inflation, rising prices and falling purchasing power.
(DPA/jar)
The article comes from the website Deutsche Welle.