There are normally multiple cameras focused on the accused. In our experience, the self-checkout machine related cases tend to have more CCTV video footage than others. This is often from multiple camera angles at big-box style stores. Store security can move the camera, zoom in on, and document via video every transaction made at the self checkout machines. For this reason, they invest significant amounts of money to have store security guards (loss prevention) to watch and record all activity at the self checkout machines via CCTV video. While stores love self-checkout machines because they reduce their labour costs, they also know that they may tempt some people to try to cheat the system by improperly or not properly scanning items. At this point the security (loss prevention) will arrest the accused until the police arrive and criminally charge them by giving them a fingerprinting date and court date.įraud charges relating to improper use of the self-checkout machines Most of the fraud charges related to these cases happen at the self checkout machines but sometimes the accused goes through the regular cashier who just happens to notice that something doesn’t match up. Improper barcodes are sometimes obtained via the internet. In most cases the accused takes a price tag from another item in the store and sticks it on something else to attempt to pay a lower price.
Sometimes the accused will scan a barcode that does not correlate to the items they are purchasing. The most common form of fraud under charges relating to shoplifting involves people who switch a price tag or otherwise attempt to manipulate the price they pay for the item(s) they purchase in a store. Price tag switching Fraud Under $5000 cases They put a lot of pressure on the police to charge in some jurisdictions. Please also note that most stores (particularly the larger ones) have a policy to strongly ask the police to press charges. They have no power to drop the charges whatsoever. Once you receive a Form 9 or Form 10 the store is simply a Crown witness/victim and is not in charge of the prosecution. Anyone who receives these documents in Canada is being criminally charged by the police and their case will be handled by the courts.Ĭan I just go back to the store later and ask the manager or owner to drop the charges? The exact charges will by listed on the Form 9 Appearance Notice or Form 10 Undertaking. 334(b)) and Possession of Property Obtained by Crime (CC s. Some are also charged with Theft Under $5000 (CC s. Most of the cases we see come from Loblaws/Superstore, Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Shoppers Drug Mart, Costco, and Wal-Mart but this by no means an exhaustive list. 380(1)(b)) after using the self-checkout machines. As a result more people are being charged with fraud under $5000 (CC s. Most people do not realize how serious the potential consequences to their actions are until it is too late.Īs of 2022 with the increased use of self-checkout machines people are tempted to manipulate price tags, improperly scan items, fail to scan items, and sneak unpaid merchandise out of the store. When most people think of shoplifting they think of someone sneaking an item under their jacket but many cases are fraud allegations that the accused changed a price tag, obtained an improper discount, fraudulently tried to obtain store credit on a gift card for a return item, or worked in tandem with an employee to be given a discount they were not entitled to receive. Shoplifting Fraud Under $5000 charges in Canada Price tag switching, improper self-checkout activity, false returns are all classified as fraud under $5000 by s.
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