. Check it out: Technology creates a nation of thieves CNBC By Katrina Bishop | CNBC – 16 hours ago .. . . Recommend 13 Tweet Print ... . . .Simon Dawson | Bloomberg | Getty Images View Photo . Simon Dawson | Bloomberg | Getty Images .. . . Focus: Careers . .. 1.3 ways to shoot yourself in the foot during a job interview . 2.Sears Canada to cut 624 jobs . 3.9 secrets of successful entrepreneurs . 4.Bell Let’s Talk: Workplace stress levels double since 2009, report say … . 5.9 must-follow Twitter hashtags for job seekers . 6.Lufthansa eyes former Deutsche Telekom CEO for top job: reports . .. . pf/careers » .. . . The U.K. is being turned into a nation of thieves by the increasing number of self-service checkouts, a new survey indicates, with one in five Brits using the technology to steal from supermarkets. Some £1.6 billion ($2.65 billion) worth of shopping is being stolen from self-service checkouts each year according to a research by the VoucherCodesPro website - and thats just in Britain. The number of self-service checkouts - which enable customers to scan and bag their own shopping - is certainly growing across the world. (Read more: Wal-Mart tests local pickup option ) There were 26,800 shipments of self-checkout terminals globally in 2012, according to consulting firm RBR, which forecasts this number to come in at 35,400 for 2013, and reach nearly 60,000 by 2018. But VoucherCodesPros survey of 2,634 people found that almost 20 percent said they had stolen items via self-service checkouts in the past - and over half said they did so because they were less likely to be caught. Some 57 percent said they were driven to stealing an item because it would not scan. According to the poll, the average person who does steal thieves £15 worth of products per month. (Read more: Sainsburys shares fall as King abdicates ) But despite the apparent ease with which shoppers are able to take advantage of the technology, lawyers were quick to point out that the act is still stealing. Theft is taking someone elses property without their consent - the way that something is stolen does not change that, Mike Schwarz, a partner at Bindmans solicitors, told CNBC. If caught, offenders could be charged with theft and, depending on the severity of the offence and the number of times they have been caught, could be fined, receive a criminal record or even face jail. Schwarz added, however, that the research did not come as a surprise. (Read more: Why your corner store isnt safe from hackers ) The temptation to steal from a self-service checkout might overwhelm people, he said. Plus, a lot of people do not have much sympathy with the supermarkets - which seem to be making a lot of money when consumers are struggling. According to the poll, the most common items to be stolen through self-service checkouts were fruit and vegetables (67 percent), bakery items (41 percent) and confectionery (32 percent). However Ian Titchener, who publishes Kiosk Europe magazine about the self-service terminal industry, stressed the issue was not with the checkouts themselves. The theft is not down to the technology in any way, he said. It comes down to the customers themselves and the supermarket attendants - who cant be everywhere at once. Titchener added that the level of theft would most likely be reduced if supermarkets allocated more staff to the self-service checkout area, which were obviously under-resourced. -By CNBCs Katrina Bishop .Follow her on Twitter @KatrinaBishop and Google More From CNBC •Wal-Mart test: Buy food online, pick up at store •Sainsburys shares fall as King abdicates •Why your corner store isnt safe from hackers Also Read .. . . . You Might Like » 1 - 4 of 20 .. . How to break it to your boss that youre ... How to break it to your boss that youre ... . How to ace an out-of-town interview How to ace an out-of-town interview . How to know if an internship is the right fit for you How to know if an internship is the right fit for you . How to keep your sanity while job-hunting How to keep your sanity while job-hunting . . . . . .. . . Latest Videos 1 - 1 of 72 .. . How to avoid auto mechanic scams How to avoid auto mechanic scams . . .. . . Most Popular . .. Retiring at 27: Ambitious, lazy or crazy? Entrepreneur . Tactics for Negotiating a Better Cellphone Contract US News . Why Google is selling Motorola to Lenovo: Patents Dashboard . Canada’s luxury real estate market on fire with double-digit gains Balance Sheet . Wind Mobile launches low-cost unlimited U.S. roaming plan Reuters . BlackBerry launches FM radio on Z30, Q10, Q5 phones The Canadian Press . 9 secrets of successful entrepreneurs US News . .. . news/most-popular » ... . . . .. .Dubais insane mega-development, District One . Dubais insane mega-development, District One Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has inaugurated District One of the Mohammed Bin Rashid … More » . We love to hate these 10 ridiculously wealthy oil barons We love to hate these 10 ridiculously wealthy oil barons Though, to be fair, some more than others... More » . Luxury or gluttony? The 12 biggest U.S. homes on the market Luxury or gluttony? The 12 biggest U.S. homes on the market Of course, largest house is a somewhat nebulous term so, to clarify: this list only takes from, ahem, … More » . .8 beach houses that will cure your winter blues . 8 beach houses that will cure your winter blues Theres no place like home, and theres no home like a beach house, where you can wake up with … More » . .These are the most expensive views in America . These are the most expensive views in America In the world of superluxury real estate, location, location, location isnt worth all that much unless … More » . .11 worst cars for the environment in 2014 . 11 worst cars for the environment in 2014 Unlike the ACEEE’s assortment of most eco-benign models, which were dominated by Japanese automakers … More » . .. . .. . . . Editors Picks . ..We love to hate these 10 ridiculously wealthy oil barons We love to hate these 10 ridiculously wealthy oil barons The Fiscal Times Though, to be fair, some more than others... … More » . Luxury or gluttony? The 12 biggest U.S. homes on the market Curbed . 11 worst cars for the environment in 2014 . Bitcoin and the fictions of money The New York Times . Most hated airline fees CNNMoney . 9 secrets of successful entrepreneurs US News . ... . . . . SearchKeyword Search .. . . Latest Photos » 1 - 4 of 300 .. . Surprisingly modest domiciles of Scarlett Johansson Surprisingly modest domiciles of Scarlett Johansson . Cadillac Canada: Latest deals, incentives, best prices Cadillac Canada: Latest deals, incentives, best prices . Best SUV deals & prices Best SUV deals & prices . Dubais insane mega-development, District One Dubais insane mega-development, District One . . . . . .. . .. Where you can retire on $800 a month Where you can retire on $800 a month . 6 affordable global destinations 6 affordable global destinations .
Posted on: Fri, 31 Jan 2014 04:17:17 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015