TWO shoppers have been accused of stealing $900 worth of goods at a Dollar General store.
Cops said the duo failed to scan the goods at the self-checkout kiosk inside the discount store.
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Francis Marshall, 46, and Jeremiah Kiger, 27, are accused of carrying out the theft at the store in Le Roy, Illinois, per local NBC affiliate WEEK.
Cops alleged the shoppers committed theft at least 16 times.
Marshall and Kiger were arrested on Thursday before being released the next day.
Self-checkout theft has become more widespread as major retailers install kiosks in stores.
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It has led to store workers coining new lingo to describe the tactics used by alleged shoplifters.
The so-called pass around trick refers to shoppers deliberately failing to scan items at the self-checkout, per The Atlantic.
Meanwhile, the switcheroo is where shoppers rip off the barcode of a cheap item and put it over a pricier good.
Retail theft is a major issue for huge chains as a 2021 study from the National Retail Federation revealed that firms lose almost $100billion.
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Execs at major firms have warned about the impact of shoplifting on consumers and have scrambled to find ways to tackle the issue.
Ida Kress, the president of Giant Foods, slammed organized crime rings.
Kress told the Washington, DC radio station WTOP News: “They steal everything from roasts to shrimp to deodorant to razor blades, you name it.”
He said the increased violence that comes with shoplifting may cause Giant Foods stores to start shuttering.
Kress warned: “What we always must do is ensure we can run our stores safely and profitably.
“If I can’t do both of those things, I’ll have no choice but to close a store. This clearly takes a toll.”
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon told CNBC Squawk Box in December last year that theft "is higher than what it has historically been."
Fred Meyer is teaming up with the city of Portland, Oregon, and introducing a raft of measures to tackle retail crime.
Chiefs are investing in doorway security protocols, an elevated store interior, and innovative security technology.
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Todd Kammeyer, the president of grocery chain Fred Meyer, said: "At Fred Meyer, we understand the role we play in providing critical goods to the Portland community and we take that very seriously.
"We have a moral responsibility to seek solutions that will allow us to continue to serve our hometown for another 100 years."
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