A woman named TeddyJo Marie Fliam, aged 34 was recently arrested for first-degree retail fraud after failing to scan all the items at a self-checkout in an Alpena County Walmart. The store’s loss prevention employees noticed that Fliam had not scanned all of the items she had collected at the self-checkout, which led to her being confronted about the issue. Despite denying any wrongdoing, Fliam left the store shortly after. However, after reviewing surveillance footage, the store found that she had allegedly not paid for more than $1,000 worth of goods since April, by not scanning them at the self-checkout.
In an effort to reduce stealing at self-checkouts, the Alpena County Walmart’s loss prevention team has recently increased its efforts to crack down on theft. This includes Michigan State Police recording two similar incidents where customers were arrested after they swapped barcodes while purchasing products. Walmart has also implemented the Missed Scan Detection system, which uses artificial intelligence and cameras to ensure that every product that has been bagged is scanned correctly. The system monitors both self-checkouts and manned checkout stations and reports instances where items have not been scanned correctly, so an attendant can investigate.
Walmart has invested heavily in keeping its stores and communities safe, spending over half a billion dollars over the last three years to prevent, reduce, and deter crime. The company is continuously investing in people, programs, and technology to ensure the safety of its customers and associates. According to a Walmart spokesperson, the company’s goal is to make a true investment in ensuring the safety of its customers and associates.