Think nicking an apple is bad? This woman ‘stole thousands worth of electronics at self check-out’ by swapping their barcodes with cheap groceries
Cheyenne Amber West, 25, was allegedly seen by security staff peeling off codes from cheap items and slapping them on expensive tech goods
WE'VE all scanned in loose oranges as a handful of cheap carrots at self checkouts to save a few cheeky pennies at the supermarket.
But one tech-savvy suspected thief took till trickery to a new level after scanning more than £1,300-worth of electronics — and getting a bill of just £2.82.
Cheyenne Amber West, 25, was arrested on Monday and charged with theft and shoplifting from a Walmart in Florida.
She was monitored by security staff who say she switched the items' barcodes with far cheaper goods.
Her haul included a computer, video game controllers and other electronics.
An arrest report says a loss prevention officer - who monitors suspected shoplifters - at the Vero Beach store saw West covering their barcodes with stickers removed from inexpensive groceries.
According to police, she said: "I am just trying to get gifts for my son that I cannot afford", reported.
"The computer is for my husband since he just got me a Coach purse, I figured he deserved something nice as well”.
Her mum, who was with her at the time, told the paper: "I know what my daughter was doing but I never walked out with anything, and she is just trying to get gifts for her son".
She was charged at Indian River County Jail and released on £2,283 bail.
In February, a mum in Queensland, Australia carried out a similar elaborate barcode scam to steal £2,625 in groceries from Coles and Woolworths.
She photocopied the barcodes from instant noodles which she then printed and glued to sticky labels and then stuck on more expensive items.
She was jailed for nine months on 31 counts of fraud, suspended for three years, and ordered to repay £900 to retailers Coles and £1,200 to Woolworths.
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