Survey Reveals 27% of Shoppers Admit to Stealing at Self-Checkouts, Highlighting Economic Strain
A recent survey conducted by LendingTree has revealed that more than one in four shoppers who use self-checkout kiosks have admitted to stealing items without scanning them. The survey, which included over 2,050 U.S. adults, found that 27% of respondents confessed to this behavior, a significant increase from 15% in 2023. The data indicates that Millennials and Gen Zers are more likely to engage in this activity, with 41% and 37% respectively admitting to it, compared to only 2% of Baby Boomers. Additionally, men are twice as likely as women to steal at self-checkouts. Interestingly, individuals from households earning over $100,000 annually are more than twice as likely to steal compared to those earning under $49,999. The survey suggests that economic pressures, such as the unaffordability of essentials and price increases due to tariffs, are driving this behavior, with nearly half of the respondents citing necessity as their motivation. 
