An Arizona woman is claiming she was cited for shoplifting after making an innocent mistake while using the self-serve checkout at Walmart, and is calling for regulation of those machines.
The shopper — who is in her 60s and did not wish to be identified — told local Tucson station KGUN 9 that she was “in complete and total shock” from the experience after cops slapped her with a petty theft citation after she forgot to scan some items.
“I had absolutely no knowledge, let alone the intention of not paying for my items,” she said.
Lawyers have cautioned shoppers about using self-serve machines. LightRocket via Getty ImagesThe woman isn’t alone: Sixty-two other people were cited and released by police at the same Tucson Walmart between January 2021 and April 2022.
The shopper claimed that the police told her the amount stolen was over $30.
“I’ve never been arrested in my life,” she said.
The woman claims she was cited over a simple mistake at Walmart. Bloomberg via Getty Images
The store in Arizona has been the site of many charges of shoplifting. The Washington Post via Getty ImLawyer Sandra Barger has called for some form of regulation regarding self-serve machines after noticing that this woman isn’t unique. Barger claims she was getting a lot of clients cited for theft from the Walmart on La Cholla in Tucson.
Barger told KGUN 9 in March 2022 that she had 14 clients who were cited for petty theft from the store, with items they were accused of stealing ranging from kitty litter to a bottle of bleach.
“It’s the same story,” she tells the outlet. “‘I’m standing there scanning, I had my children with me.’”
Barger’s call comes after another lawyer on TikTok warned shoppers against using self-serve machines, alleging stores are using security footage at the register to accuse innocent customers of theft.
According to Carrie Jernigan, mega-retailers like Walmart usually have to present very little evidence to get an affidavit for warrants on the charges.
“The charges that could land you up to a year in jail,” she cautions in one video. “You have to spend thousands of dollars hiring a lawyer, and we have to go through grainy video footage to try to determine what all you bought that day.”
Jernigan urged people to pay with a card for larger purchases and always keep proof of purchase.
A spokesperson for Walmart told The Post that they are aware of the TikTok video.
“This is not a practice Walmart participates in,” they said.
