There seem to be two types of customers at Walmart. Some shop and pay for everything in their cart, while others pay for “almost” everything. If you have nothing to hide, it is quick and easy to use self-checkout, but if you’re tempted to skip items while scanning, one content creator in Montgomery, Alabama, is warning people to think twice. She explained in a TikTok video that Walmart is not only watching customers at these stations but also building cases against those who don’t pay for all their items.
In her video, the woman claimed that Walmart may not always act immediately for the first offense. Instead, she said, the company often stays quiet and keeps track of repeated thefts through cameras. She explained that even if someone skips a small item, like a pack of gum or a box of sugar, it can add up over time. Once the value of unscanned items reaches a certain amount, usually more than $1,000, Walmart may step in and prosecute.
She also said the company keeps detailed records of every missed item and can pull up a list of dates and products if the customer tries to deny it. “Don’t be surprised when you hear the doors close and the sirens go off,” she warned, adding that anyone caught may be taken to a back room and handed over to police. To her, self-checkout was less of a convenience and more of a “trap” for careless shoppers.
Here’s What Netizens Are Saying About the Montgomery Woman’s Warning on TikTok
In the comments, some viewers admitted they weren’t surprised by her claims. One person wrote, “Companies [have] been doing this… Let them get so much & then get them months later. Everything being filed in court & they must pay.” Someone else added, “If that the case, people can steal a couple of time under the limit before they are arrested. Some crooked know to steal and don’t come back 😂 [sic].” Another netizen even compared it to another chain, writing, “I saw the police tell Home Depot they can only prosecute for thefts within 30 days of the arrest.”
A few others said it explained why they avoid self-checkout altogether. “That’s why I don’t use self check out,” one comment read. Another person wondered why customers would bother stealing from Walmart. “What’s in Walmart that [is] really actually worth stealing? So embarrassing,” they commented. One viewer who found the whole thing funny joked, “Noooooo they stealing grapes!!!!😅😅😅😅😅.”
