<The Worsening Issue of Shoplifting by Foreigners> The "Invisible Net" in the Era of Self-Checkout—An Active Security Officer Reveals the Fate of "Shoplifters Who Are Allowed to Act"

The "Invisible Net" in the Era of Self-Checkout—An Active Security Officer Reveals the Fate of "Shoplifters Who Are Allowed to Act"

2025年07月10日 20:00

1 The Shock of Fast Retailing's "Full Damage Claims"

In July 2024, Fast Retailing, which operates Uniqlo, announced that it would recover damages through civil procedures without exception when affected by shoplifting. This decision was influenced by an incident where three Vietnamese women in Osaka, Hyogo, and Tokyo stole about 3,200 items, including underwear and hoodies (worth a total of approximately 12.15 million yen), and resold them domestically and internationally.Shueisha OnlineX

The group of perpetrators shared on social media that "Japan's self-checkouts are lax," targeting highly resalable apparel. The store aims to prevent the "unfair gamble of profiting even if caught" by claiming damages equivalent to the amount of the loss.



2 "Invisible Inflation" Reflected in Statistics — 98,000 Shoplifting Cases

According to the National Police Agency's "Crime Situation in 2024," the total number of penal code offenses increased for the third consecutive year to 737,679 cases. Of these, theft offenses accounted for 501,507 cases, with shoplifting making up 98,292 cases (a 5.5% increase from the previous year).National Police Agency

While the damage amount for high-priced items like gaming consoles, cosmetics, and branded clothing is increasing, statistics count each incident equally as "one case," making the losses more severe than the numbers suggest. Consequently, "shoplifting insurance premiums" are passed on to product prices, unknowingly burdening consumers.



3 "Feigned Forgetfulness" and "Letting Them Swim" Tactics Seen by Active G-Men

Yuu Ito (Shoplifting G-Man)
"It is often assumed that self-checkouts have blind spots, but in reality, an 'invisible net' is in place. AI analysis automatically extracts unnatural operations like 'Bean Sprout Pass*,' and habitual offenders are allowed to continue while evidence is gathered."

  • Bean Sprout Pass: Replacing the barcode of cheap bean sprouts with that of a high-priced item for checkout.

  • One-Hand Checkout: Pretending to scan an item with one hand while placing it in the scanned basket with the other.

  • Feigning Scan Forgetfulness: Passing an item through the scanner while keeping the barcode hidden.

According to Ito, "The first time may be resolved with guidance, but from the second time onward, it becomes a definite target for internal investigation." By matching evidence footage with operation logs, the crime of computer fraud (up to 10 years imprisonment) can be established.Shueisha Online



4 AI Cameras and POS Logs Create "Movement Profiles"

Retail chains combine existing cameras with edge AI to perform person identification, behavior recognition, and POS integration. The system from Earth Eyes detects "scan omission simulations" and "prolonged stays in restricted areas" in real-time, notifying staff of suspicious individuals.earth-eyes.co.jp

AWL, a startup from Fukuoka, offers "AWLBOX," which facilitates tracking of the same individual across multiple cameras, even outside the store. While data is anonymized, it can be linked to "face, ID, and purchase history" when matched with electronic money or point cards.note



5 It's Not Just Because They're Foreigners — The Background of Organization

In the 2010s, the "run-stayler type," where the same offenders moved around Japan, increased. Currently,

  1. Cross-Border Part-Time Type: International students take on "errands" via social media, shipping internationally with suitcases.

  2. Technical Intern Resale Type: Stealing in large quantities before returning home and reselling at high prices in their home country.

  3. Tourist Visa Immediate Resale Type: Pretending to be tourists, traveling around various places in a week.

Cash-out routes and manuals are bought and sold in social media groups, spreading the false information that "self-checkouts are free for stealing." However, as mentioned earlier, they are in a state of being "allowed to swim," with high compensation and re-entry bans awaiting after arrest.Facebook



6 How Do Companies Protect Themselves? — The Dilemma of Security and Customer Experience

  • Return to Staffed Lanes: Directing only high-priced items to staffed checkouts.

  • Weight-Based Self-Checkout: Automatically verifying weight after scanning.

  • Image Readers: Automatically identifying items by shape and color in addition to barcodes.

  • Post-POS Payment Apps: Highlighting suspicious items before payment by integrating with in-store cameras.

However, excessive surveillance can lead to a "deterioration of the shopping experience," so the key is "moderate friction" — designs that allow brief eye contact with staff are considered effective.



7 The Current State of Legal Systems and Sentencing Enhancements

In addition to theft under the Penal Code, self-checkout fraud can constitute computer fraud (Article 246-2) if barcodes are tampered with, and crimes such as destruction of vending machines or obstruction of business. The draft amendment to the Penal Code in the fall of 2024 includes provisions to enhance the evidentiary capability of store scan data, and discussions are underway to mandate the preservation of security logs.



8 Who Pays the Cost of Shoplifting?

Shoplifting losses, classified as **Shrinkage**, like logistics, procurement, and disposal losses, average 1.1% of total sales. Including camera installation costs and G-Man personnel expenses, it is estimated to be about 900 billion yen annually for the entire Japanese retail industry, resulting in "hidden inflation" of daily necessities.



9 "Cooperative Security" That Consumers Can Do

  1. Electronic Receipt Verification: Preventing mis-scans while proving suspicious behavior with data.

  2. Sharing Shopping Routes: Bi-directional sharing of reminders like "this item is easy to miss" with stores via apps.

  3. Crime Prevention Volunteers: Supplementing plainclothes security by collaborating with community watch.



10 Conclusion — The Future of Self-Checkouts Lies in the Dual Wheels of "Trust + Evidence"

Self-checkouts are not "unmanned = defenseless." By linking AI surveillance with POS logs,all actions become timestamped data. Ito's statement that "they are being allowed to swim" suggests this "time bomb trap."


Behind the convenience we enjoy lies a struggle between ethics and technology. The challenge is how consumers, stores, and public-private sectors can collaborate to foster an atmosphere that not only creates a "system that cannot be stolen" but also discourages the intent to steal.



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