Customer banned from every Walmart store in the US over self-checkout

A woman faced permanent expulsion from every Walmart store in the United States after carrying out a shoplifting scheme at self-checkout points.

Police officers arrested Ashley Cross inside a Tennessee Walmart store when they witnessed her operate counterfeit barcodes on self-checkout terminals to buy products at reduced rates.

The suspect selected a cheap barcode value for a watch battery to buy high-priced merchandise including food and clothes worth $137.34. She used this approach to pay a minimal amount compared to the total merchandise value. Further police examination revealed Cross had committed multiple shoplifting offenses before.

Walmart barred Cross from all its U.S. stores while adding her name to the Authorization of Agency list which prevents her from shopping in any other retail store. Walmart authorities have arrested Cross for criminal trespass and theft resulting in detention before her judicial process.

The situation demonstrates how retailers continue to fight against retail theft as self-checkout machines gain popularity. The implementation of advanced technologies including artificial intelligence-powered cameras serves to monitor and detect suspicious activities at self-checkout stations within various stores. Walmart introduced AI systems to recognize unscanned items and observation problems because the company seeks to combat its estimated $3 billion annual theft losses.