Self Checkout Theft Is on the Rise, According to a New Survey

More people are quietly slipping unpaid items through self-checkout, and a new national survey by Lending Tree is showing us just how common the behavior has become. 

According to their findings, many shoppers admit they have taken something without scanning it, and the top items are not luxury goods. They’re everyday essentials.

Why More People Are Admitting to Stealing

In the report, we find out that more than a quarter of the respondents had stolen at a self-checkout at least once. 

Many people said rising prices and shrinking budgets pushed them toward the behavior. These insights add new context to self-checkout theft statistics that have been steadily climbing over the last few years.

Almost half of the people surveyed said they turned to shoplifting because essentials have become harder to afford. Many also pointed to the added strain of tariff-related price increases. 

Together, these factors create a clearer picture as to why people steal from self-checkout, even when the items are relatively low-cost.

A Sign of Broader Affordability Issues

One of the more surprising findings was that people aren’t targeting electronics or high-ticket merchandise. 

Instead, many admitted to taking food, water, or household basics. Researchers say this reflects how rising living costs continue to affect everyday spending and how some people make the wrong choice when money gets tight.

The study also found that admissions of shoplifting at self-checkout have grown significantly, compared to similar surveys in previous years. This reinforces concerns about how inflation and household budgets shape our shopping behaviors.

Retail Theft Is Increasing Across the Board

Self-checkout theft is only one part of a larger trend. Retailers across the country are continuing to report an increase in shrinkage, which includes shoplifting and lost inventory. 

Retail theft trends in 2025 are also showing double-digit increases over the last two years, with incidents affecting stores of every size.

Still, companies are continuing to balance convenience and risk. Self-checkout lanes make shopping faster and reduce staffing needs, but they also open the door to accidental and intentional loss. 

Retailers need to evaluate how much shrinkage is acceptable before they change their systems.

How Stores Are Responding

Many stores have already made adjustments to tighten self-checkout security measures. Some have placed item limits on self-checkout lanes, introduced staffing at previously unattended registers, or removed the lanes entirely.

Other retailers are continuing to experiment with new systems. 

Some are using designated lanes for members-only checkout. Others are testing app-based scanning, which shifts the process off the register and onto the shopper’s phone. 

Looking ahead, analysts think AI will play a bigger role in monitoring transactions and spotting irregularities.

What Shoppers Say About Using Self-Checkout

Despite the concerns, self-checkout remains a popular choice. Many people say they prefer it because it feels quicker and more convenient than waiting in a traditional line. 

At the same time, a significant number of people believe self-checkout makes it easier for others to slip items through without paying.

Younger shoppers were the most likely to admit to intentional theft, while older generations were more likely to say the system is simply too easy to exploit. 

Some people also acknowledged that they’ve accidentally taken an item without realizing it, and not every person returned to fix the mistake.

Why This Trend Matters

Self-checkout has become part of everyday shopping, but it’s also a window into how people are coping with today’s economy. 

Many of the items people admitted to stealing were the same things they buy every week. As long as budgets remain tight and systems remain flexible, retailers expect this type of loss to continue.

For now, stores will keep adjusting their technology and staffing to find the balance between convenience and security. 

Meanwhile, we’ll continue to choose the lanes that work best for us, whether that means scanning items ourselves or saying hello to someone at a staffed register.

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