Woman caught stealing thousands of dollars in self-service checkout scam
A woman from the US has been caught trying to use the self-service checkout to scam over $A2,300 worth of electronics for just $A4.20.
Cheyenne Amber West from Florida removed the stickers from clearance items in Walmart and put them over the barcodes of an Omen computer, video game controllers and other electronic items.
The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office revealed that Cheyenne and her mother, Alicia, were caught by staff watching on video surveillance.
“Walmart loss prevention continued physical surveillance of the suspects as they moved into the clearance department where they removed the labels from clearance items and placed them over the UPC’s (Universal Product Codes) of some of the other selected merchandise,” the deputy told Sebastian Daily.
Cheyenne was arrested and transported to the Indian River County Jail where she was charged with felony grand theft and retail theft.
When asked about her actions, Cheyenne said she was trying to get some nice gifts for her family.
“I am just trying to get gifts for my son that I cannot afford. The computer is for my husband since he just got me a Coach purse, I figured he deserved something nice as well,” she said.
Cheyenne’s mother was aware of her daughter’s actions but defended her.
“Yes, I know what my daughter was doing but I never walked out with anything, and she is just trying to get gifts for her son," the mother told the deputy.
Earlier this year, a Queensland mum faced court for a barcode scam that enabled her to steal $4500 in groceries from Coles and Woolworths.
The woman photocopied the barcodes from two-minute noodle packets and then stuck them on expensive items.
She was jailed for nine months on 31 counts of fraud; however, the sentence was wholly suspended for three years.
She was ordered to repay $1545 to Coles and $2070 to Woolworths.