A San Francisco woman, Aziza Graves, aged 43, was found guilty by a jury last week of utilizing Target’s self-checkout kiosks to steal $60,000 worth of merchandise from the Stonestown Galleria store. Graves made numerous visits to the store between October 2020 and November 2021, where she would select items, proceed to the self-checkout area, scan them, and then only insert a minimal amount of money, often just a single coin or bill, before leaving without paying the full price, as detailed in a press release from the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office.
Authorities became aware of Graves’ scheme and began monitoring her activities. They observed her selling the stolen goods at UN Plaza to individuals dealing in stolen property, and eventually, she resorted to selling the merchandise to anyone passing by.
Graves was convicted of one felony count of grand theft and 52 misdemeanor counts of petty theft at the Target store, along with an additional misdemeanor petty theft charge at a San Francisco Abercrombie and Fitch store. She awaits sentencing on May 24 and could face up to three years in state prison.
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins emphasized the need for accountability in such crimes, stating that their office, in collaboration with law enforcement, will continue to prosecute individuals engaged in bold acts of theft.
Despite this incident, larceny theft, including shoplifting, has seen a significant decrease in San Francisco this year, with a 30% reduction in reported crimes compared to the same period last year. Robberies have also decreased by 17% year-over-year.
In response to rising concerns over shoplifting, retailers like Target have been exploring measures to combat theft, including the removal of self-checkout kiosks. However, some retail experts suggest that part of the losses may be attributed to accidental non-scans by customers. Both Target and Safeway have quietly removed self-checkout kiosks from select stores in San Francisco.
