London:
Around one third of shoppers in Britain have admitted they steal from supermarkets at the unmanned self-service checkout points, according to a study.
The survey of 5,000 customers on money-saving website watchmywallet.co.uk, showed 30 per cent have stolen from self-service points, the Telegraph reported.
Customers said they employ many tricks to dupe the automatic machines.
While weighing their purchases, customers select "small" when asked to enter the size of items.
Some place items in plastic bags without scanning them properly, while others simply walk off with their items without paying, the study said.
Only 13 per cent said they did not steal because they were afraid of getting caught.
Another 58 per cent said they had not cheated the automated system, saying they considered it stealing and would never do it.
"Checkouts are calibrated to detect when an unpaid for item makes it into the bagging area. But staff regularly override the checkout in order to keep the queues flowing," said a spokesman for watchmywallet.co.uk.
The survey of 5,000 customers on money-saving website watchmywallet.co.uk, showed 30 per cent have stolen from self-service points, the Telegraph reported.
Customers said they employ many tricks to dupe the automatic machines.
While weighing their purchases, customers select "small" when asked to enter the size of items.
Some place items in plastic bags without scanning them properly, while others simply walk off with their items without paying, the study said.
Only 13 per cent said they did not steal because they were afraid of getting caught.
Another 58 per cent said they had not cheated the automated system, saying they considered it stealing and would never do it.
"Checkouts are calibrated to detect when an unpaid for item makes it into the bagging area. But staff regularly override the checkout in order to keep the queues flowing," said a spokesman for watchmywallet.co.uk.
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