Overview

• Sainsbury’s has rolled out overhead cameras at self-service checkouts nationwide to address unscanned-item theft.
• The system displays a replay of packing actions with a message prompting customers to verify if an item has been scanned correctly.
• This measure comes as police reported a record 516,971 shoplifting incidents in England and Wales in 2024, a 20% increase from 2023.
• The British Retail Consortium estimates retail theft is costing UK businesses £2 billion annually, with many incidents going unreported.
• Customer reactions to the system have been mixed, with some citing false triggers for light items and others humorously engaging with the replay feature.