More shoppers are stealing from self-checkouts and what they're taking may surprise you.
In a new study by Lending Tree, 27% of respondents admitted to stealing something from the self-checkout without paying for it, and a large number say they're taking food staples.
Nearly half, or 47% of the more than 2,000 respondents, said unaffordable essentials and price increases tied to tariffs (46%) are the main motivations for stealing.
Self-checkout lanes in grocery and retail stores are convenient for shoppers and can help businesses save on labor costs.
But some self-checkout areas are not monitored by a worker or only have one worker for several registers, so the potential for theft could increase.
