A CRAFTY shopper found a loophole in Walmart’s self-checkout system – but it ultimately got him into trouble.
Idaho resident Dylan Rockwell, 32, admitted to repeatedly tricking the system with a custom-made ring used to swap out barcodes to slash prices.
Rockwell used a homemade barcode ring to pay just pennies for expensive items.
But his luck ran out when he tried to ring up a $300 grill for the price of a $0.70 can of tomato soup.
On February 2, police were called to Walmart for a reported theft incident. The suspect, identified as Rockwell, had already fled the scene towards the west, approximately 25 miles away from Boise, the capital city.
Walmart employees noticed the scammer and alerted authorities, leading to the recovery of stolen items at Rockwell’s home.
He was later charged with felony burglary, according to a statement from the Caldwell Police Department shared on Instagram.
During questioning, Rockwell confessed to multiple thefts, using the ring to scan high-ticket items at a fraction of their cost.
“Sorry Mr. Rockwell, your tactics didn’t work this time, but we appreciate your creativity,” said Rex Ingram, Caldwell Chief of Police.
“We know times are tough, but your ingenuity landed you some county soup for dinner.”
In response to the escalating retail theft crisis, Walmart launched new anti-theft technology in November 2024.
One solution implemented is a system that enables staff to unlock anti-theft displays using an app on their personal devices. This innovation aims to enhance efficiency by reducing the need for customer assistance and eliminating the inconvenience caused by plexiglass barriers.
Retail theft cost US businesses over $121 billion in 2023, according to Capital One’s shopping statistics.
Sam’s Club, a subsidiary of Walmart, has also introduced artificial intelligence technology at exits.
The new AI system automatically scans a shopper’s items and confirms proof of purchase, reducing wait times and streamlining the checkout process.
In response to escalating theft-related losses, Target took action by closing down nine underperforming stores in October 2023. The retail giant has since heightened its anti-theft protocols to prevent further financial setbacks.
However, increased security at Walmart is frustrating regular customers, with many planning to boycott the retailer over the new restrictions.
Latest self-checkout changes
Retailers are evolving their self-checkout strategy in an effort to speed up checkout times and reduce theft.
Walmart shoppers were shocked when self-checkout lanes at various locations were made available only for Walmart+ members.
Other customers reported that self-checkout was closed during specific hours, and more cashiers were offered instead.
While shoppers feared that shoplifting fueled the updates, a Walmart spokesperson revealed that store managers are simply experimenting with ways to improve checkout performance.
One bizarre experiment included an RFID-powered self-checkout kiosk that would stop the fiercely contested receipt checks.
However, that test run has been phased out.
At Target, items are being limited at self-checkout.
Last fall, the brand surveyed new express self-checkout lanes across 200 stores with 10 items or less for more convenience.
As of March 2024, this policy has been expanded across 2,000 stores in the US.
Shoppers have also spotted their local Walmart stores restricting customers to 15 items or less to use self-checkout machines.
A Walmart shopper complained about the store’s new layout, saying he felt like a criminal after noticing items like vacuum cleaners and paint were locked up.
One shopper expressed frustration over having to wait 20 minutes for an employee to unlock a cabinet containing items, calling the process inconvenient.
Meanwhile, the rising trend of locking up items isn’t limited to Walmart. Target, CVS, and Walgreens have also adopted the measure in response to theft concerns.
Timothy Wentworth, CEO of Walgreens, acknowledged that while the anti-theft steps are necessary, they’ve impacted sales as customers are deterred by the delays.
The situation is further complicated by rising prices, as both Walmart and Target are set to increase costs due to new tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China.
Trump’s decision to delay the start of the 25% tax on goods from Mexico and Canada has retailers scrambling to adjust their strategies.
With the tariffs set to kick in soon, stores are preparing for inevitable price hikes and changes in product selection.
Retail giants like Walmart have already been dealing with high inflation, and the additional fines will likely make keeping prices low even more challenging.
