Home » Business » Rise in Shopping Bans: Self-Checkout Thefts and Consequences for Customers in The Netherlands

Rise in Shopping Bans: Self-Checkout Thefts and Consequences for Customers in The Netherlands

Marieke* from Amsterdam was banned from shopping for twelve months. “I wasn’t allowed into the store for a year because I forgot to scan a paper towel,” she says.

“A copy of my ID was made”

It happened unintentionally, she assures. “I was fiddling with that scanner enormously. When a security guard asked if he could check my receipt, it turned out that the paper towel was not on it.”

“I then had to fill in a form with my details and a copy of my ID was made. I was not allowed to come for a year. If I did come, they would call the police because I would then commit trespassing.”

Shopping bans

According to Arie Jan van Os, thousands of shopping bans have been issued to customers for shoplifting in the past year. With his company Soda (Service Organization Direct Liability) he handles the civil law, in other words: damage repair. “A retailer informs us that he no longer wants to see a certain customer for a certain period of time.”

The shopkeeper therefore decides for himself whether someone will be banned from shopping and for how long. “The ban can be for six months, a year or two years. The retailer can also determine whether it applies to one store or an entire shopping area, in consultation with other stores.”

It is not known how many shopping bans have been issued for shoplifting at the self-checkout. We know from police figures that the number of shoplifting increased by 30 percent in the past year.

Additional measures

There is no data on thefts at self-checkout checkouts, but according to supermarkets and retail chains, an increase is visible. “We see that it has increased recently,” says an Albert Heijn spokesman. “That is why we have also taken extra measures.”

The increase in the number of shoplifting is partly because it is easier to steal via the self-scan. Whether a customer accidentally fails to pay for something, or deliberately scans only one product and leaves with a full cart: it happens.

Retail expert Eelco Hos said earlier that tens of millions of dollars are stolen from supermarkets every year in this way. Some customers will accidentally fail to scan some products, but often enough it happens on purpose.

Self-checkouts removed

Measures are not only being taken at Albert Heijn to combat shoplifting. For example, the self-scan checkouts have been removed in some Action branches. Employees tell RTL Nieuws that this was decided because of the high number of thefts, but according to the head office, ‘that is not so much’ the reason.

The Action spokesperson cannot say much about other measures that are being taken. It is confirmed that a shopping ban is one of the options. “It’s no different with us than with other stores.”

The imposition of a shopping ban is also one of the measures at Kruidvat. “The safety of customers and employees is paramount and that is why we are imposing a shopping ban,” says a spokesperson. “If someone comes with a ban and is recognized, the police will be called.”

‘Very complex measure’

If you get a shopping ban, then it is forbidden to enter a store (or stores). If you do this anyway, it is immediately a question of trespassing. But, says Van Os: “It is rare that you can say right away: Mrs Jansen, I am arresting you, because you are guilty of trespassing.”

According to him, there is rarely any prosecution and the measure costs quite a bit of administration. “I think it is a very complex measure. I am the communication channel, but I do not find the effect of the measure demonstrable.” The police disagree. They write that on their own site ‘collective shopping bans help in the fight against shoplifting’.

Photo in canteen

In addition, it sometimes happens that a retail chain hangs a photo of the thief in the canteen, so that employees recognize the person more easily. “I don’t think that’s possible,” says Van Os. “If someone who refills the coffee maker also comes there and happens to be someone’s neighbor, you have a problem.”

In addition to the shopping ban, Soda also recovers 181 euros in compensation from the thief. “That is compensation for the damage caused: the delay and the nuisance.”

Tim* from Amsterdam also received a shopping ban. He came home from school and went to the supermarket to get dinner. “I had about ten products, including several tuna cans and olives,” he says. Unlike Marieke, he acted consciously.

‘I won’t get caught’

“With a few things I thought: well, it doesn’t really matter if I don’t scan it, I’m sure I won’t get caught.”

But that turned out a bit differently. “When I walked out, a security guard suddenly came after me. They had seen on the cameras that I had not scanned all the products. I was called back and had to sign a form stating that I would not be in that supermarket for a year was allowed to come. The police were never called.”

declaration

According to Van Os, he does have a lot of contact with the police and the municipality with Soda. “We handle the civil law, the police handle the criminal. An example: if you kick a dent in my car and that costs 400 euros, you can do two things. Either you call the police and you get punished. Or you do If not, let us sort it out.”

In a response, the police said that in case of shoplifting, the supermarket determines whether a report is filed. “A theft is of course just a theft. There is a fine for that. We don’t put extra agents next to the store. It stands or falls with a report.” Enforcement of a shopping ban is initially done by the retail chain itself. “If both parties cannot come to an agreement, we will be called.”

*The names of persons in this article have been changed. The real names are known to the editors.

Shopping ban rules

The police have on the website posted an explanation of the shopping ban. The main points:

  • The entrepreneur decides for which forms of nuisance or which criminal offenses a shopping ban will be issued.
  • In principle, a shopping ban lasts for 12 months, which can be up to a maximum of 24 months.
  • You are not allowed to discriminate with a shopping ban.
  • A shopping ban can be imposed verbally or in writing

2023-06-02 15:15:47
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