Category Archives: Technology

As reported on the Mail Online website, Australian self-service checkouts may soon offer ‘human conversation’ in a move to combat shoplifting in supermarkets.

Researchers from Queensland’s Univeristy of Technology believe the machines may soon offer personal greetings and friendly comments to guilt shoplifters out of stealing.

The Yorkshire Times gives details of a joint operation between West Yorkshire Police and BACIL (Business Against Crime in Leeds) to run a day of action to tackle shoplifting in the city centre.

Known as ‘Operation Balmton’, the manoeuvre consisted of police officers, PCSOs and plain clothed security officers working together in teams.

The Telegraph reports that a shoplifter has been prosecuted for stealing £60 of washing-up goods – after she was caught fleeing a Savers store on Google Street View.

Whilst her face had been blurred out by Google, Cleveland Police identified Tammy McIvor from her distinctive white outfit, which she was wearing when she was arrested.

The Simply Business website reports that almost 50% of SMEs have fallen victim to invoice fraud over the past 12 months, with summer being a particularly common time for fraudsters to strike, as permanent staff take their holidays, leaving less experienced staff or temps to take care of things .

According to a piece in The Telegraph, self-service checkout technology helps turn law-abiding shoppers into petty thieves by giving them ‘ready-made excuses’ to take merchandise without paying.

A study carried out by two criminologists from the University of Leicester, found that people who are usually honest resort to theft simply because they can, and do not feel it is as wrong when there is no human interaction.

The Daily Mail reports that prolific shoplifters are being tracked by road cameras to stop them stealing in the build up to Christmas.

Police are using automatic number plate recognition to crack down on thieves at a time of when retailers see an annual boom in shoplifting.