Man Charged with Fraud After Alleged Self-Serve Checkout Scam in Ormeau

A 55 year-old man has intentionally failed to scan multiple items upon checking out, resulting in thousands of dollars worth of unpaid groceries over a four week period.

Finn Johnson

Jun 20, 2024 - 1 min read

Pimpama Police have charged a 55-year-old Ormeau Hills man with multiple counts of fraud following an alleged scam at a supermarket in Ormeau. The charges stem from a series of incidents between May and June 2024, during which the man reportedly used self-service checkouts to evade full payment on numerous items over a four-week period.

According to police reports, the man is alleged to have entered the supermarket with a shopping trolley, selected various food items across multiple aisles, and then proceeded to a self-serve checkout. While scanning his items, he allegedly failed to scan several products correctly, enabling him to leave the store without paying for them. Police claim he repeated this method over 16 shopping trips, during which he allegedly avoided paying for a total of 214 grocery items valued at approximately $3,199.

Following customer complaints and irregularities flagged by store management, Pimpama Police launched an investigation. On July 11, officers executed a search warrant at the man’s residence in Ormeau Hills, where they reportedly found property linked to the alleged offences.

The man now faces 16 counts of “Fraud – Dishonestly Obtain Property” and is scheduled to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on August 8.

Sergeant Jamie Allen from Pimpama Police Station highlighted the advancements in retail technology that make it easier to detect such activities at self-service checkouts. “Grocery stores have technology that identifies irregular and improper transactions at self-serve checkouts. When irregularities are flagged, stores can provide police with video footage that may later be used as evidence in court,” Sergeant Allen said. “All matters brought to our attention will be thoroughly investigated.”

The case underscores the growing reliance on self-service technologies in stores and the importance of using these responsibly. Police encourage businesses and customers alike to be vigilant and report suspicious activities to help prevent further incidents.

Stay tuned to The Gold Coast Torch for updates on this case and other crime and community alerts across the Gold Coast.