{"id":1111,"date":"2025-05-25T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-25T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alaskanativeowned.com\/?p=1111"},"modified":"2025-05-28T20:29:30","modified_gmt":"2025-05-28T20:29:30","slug":"tesco-introduces-big-brother-style-self-service-checkouts-to-stores","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alaskanativeowned.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/25\/tesco-introduces-big-brother-style-self-service-checkouts-to-stores\/","title":{"rendered":"Tesco introduces\u00a0\u2018big brother\u2019 style self-service checkouts to stores"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\"Tesco\t<\/div>
Many shoppers are critical of the new technology (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tesco<\/a> has become the latest supermarket to install cameras on self-service checkouts<\/a>, with one major difference, you can watch yourself back. <\/p>\n

The new VAR-style<\/a> tills record shoppers as they scan their items, then playback video clips where you\u2019ve failed to scan an item properly. <\/p>\n

Any shoppers trying to sneak past products <\/a>or even a 25p bag at the tills will receive a warning, stating: \u2018It looks like that last item didn\u2019t scan. Please check you scanned it correctly before continuing.\u2019<\/p>\n

Tesco has not confirmed when the feature was added to the tills, but it joins a number of supermarkets cracking down on shoplifters, including Sainsbury\u2019s, who introduced the technology to its stores earlier this month. <\/p>\n

Supermarket bosses believe thieves who can see their illegal actions have been caught are far more likely to pay for them, but customers haven\u2019t taken to them so easily. <\/p>\n

What do customers think of VAR checkouts?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Tesco confirmed to Metro <\/strong>that the technology has been introduced, but not across all of its stores. They did not confirm when the feature was introduced, or how many shops it has been rolled out in so far. <\/p>\n

A spokesperson said: \u2018We are always looking at technology to make life easier for our customers.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"A\t<\/div>
Tesco has introduced the technology across certain stores (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018We have recently installed a new system at some stores which helps customers using self-service checkouts identify if an item has not been scanned properly, making the checkout process quicker and easier.\u2019<\/p>\n

After Sainsbury\u2019s introduced the self-service checkout change, one disgruntled shopper<\/a> took to social media, declaring the move \u2018more big brother tactics with more surveillance\u2019. <\/p>\n

Others called for a boycott and urged supermarkets to lower the price of their products. <\/p>\n

Author and social commentator Carl Vernon recently posted a YouTube video<\/a><\/strong> about the new Sainsbury\u2019s checkouts to his 51,000 subscribers.<\/p>\n

One viewer, @TheRailwayTourManager, accused the supermarket of punishing \u2018law-abiding members of the public\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s like a bad manager at work, who, because ONE person has done something they shouldn\u2019t, everyone gets tarred with the same brush and has some sort of restriction or sanction imposed on them,\u2019 he said. <\/p>\n

User @<\/strong>_indrid_cold_ added: \u2018I would never dream of stealing, but I detest and deeply resent what\u2019s happening now in supermarkets.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Young\t<\/div>
Some shoppers have likened the tech to ‘big brother’ style surveillance (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018I just wish that the public could be a bit more organised and properly boycott them until they get the message and take their intrusive spyware away.\u2019<\/p>\n

Sainsbury\u2019s did not directly respond to criticism of the new tills, but a spokesperson previously told Metro<\/strong>: \u2018We regularly review the security measures in our stores and our decisions to implement them are based on a range of factors, including offering our customers a smooth checkout experience.\u2019<\/p>\n

Why are supermarkets cracking down on theft?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Recent data<\/a><\/strong> from the Office for National Statistics shows that the number of shoplifting offences in England and Wales rose by 20% last year.<\/p>\n

A total of 516,971 offences were recorded, compared to 429,873 in 2023. In London alone, offences rose from 58,000 to nearly 90,000 in 2024.<\/p>\n

The rising cost of living will explain some incidences, but Metro recently spoke to \u2018casual kleptos\u2019<\/a><\/strong> who can afford food, and steal from big businesses, such as Tesco and Sainsbury\u2019s, regardless.<\/p>\n

\u2018I can definitely afford my food shop without shoplifting,\u2019 25-year-old Matilda said. \u2018But prices have gone crazy. I just feel like, why should I have to pay that price when big supermarkets<\/a><\/strong> are making the profits?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019ll take things that are quite small and will go in my bag. Like cheese or halloumi or toothpaste. Just things that are quite small but kind of expensive,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n

\u2018I like to give myself three for two deals. I\u2019ll pay for two things and steal one.\u2019<\/p>\n

Imogen, a 25-year-old therapist, also targets big shops like Asda Tesco and Sainsbury\u2019s. <\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019ve stolen haircare products like oils because they\u2019re stupidly expensive and I want them. It\u2019s the sort of thing I wouldn\u2019t get otherwise,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n

\u2018Like this is a luxury item that I\u2019m not going to be able to justify buying myself, but I can take it.\u2019<\/p>\n

Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many shoppers are critical of the new technology (Picture: Getty Images) Tesco has become the latest supermarket to install cameras on self-service checkouts, with one major difference, you can watch yourself back.  The new VAR-style tills record shoppers as they scan their items, then playback video clips where you\u2019ve failed to scan an item properly.  […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1113,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alaskanativeowned.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1111"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alaskanativeowned.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alaskanativeowned.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alaskanativeowned.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alaskanativeowned.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1111"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/alaskanativeowned.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1111\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1117,"href":"https:\/\/alaskanativeowned.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1111\/revisions\/1117"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alaskanativeowned.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1113"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alaskanativeowned.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1111"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alaskanativeowned.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1111"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alaskanativeowned.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1111"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}