I’m a lawyer – taking action if you’re wrongly accused of stealing from a self-checkout at stores like Walmart and Target

SHOPPERS face a humiliating situation when they are wrongly accused of theft when using the self-checkout lane.

Customers can be pulled aside and questioned by a loss prevention officer in an office – even if they had no intention of shoplifting.

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But top legal expert Carrie Jernigan has shared a series of tips that can help customers avoid a potentially embarrassing situation when using the self-checkout at stores like Walmart and Target.

In a viral TikTok clip, the attorney commented alongside footage of a woman accused of stealing from Ralph’s La Brea store in Los Angeles.

Carrie explained, “The officer lets her go back into the store. He didn’t see anything.”

Meanwhile, Steph Tolev, the alleged shoplifter, filmed herself walking back into the store with the officer.

The buyer tried to explain to the officer what had happened.

But Carrie cautioned shoppers in a similar situation to “keep quieter” than Steph.

She added, “But it’s human nature to try and talk and want to explain yourself.”

In another video, Carrie warned viewers of the potential dangers of using self-checkout.

She claimed there was a risk that Walmart could track customers if they accidentally stole an item.

Carrie warned that stores will reach out to old buyers when reviewing lost inventory, even if it’s been months since the item left the store.

She’s not the only advocate urging shoppers to exercise caution when using the machines.

Criminal defense attorney Justin Sparks warned that a customer’s car could reveal his identity.

In a viral TikTok clip, Sparks warned that law enforcement will be watching the alleged shoplifter on camera.

He added that officers will follow her movements out of the store and into the parking lot to her car.

The lawyer explained: “You [investigators] will run this license plate through the DMV [Department of Motor Vehicles].”

Sparks revealed that cops are given a name before trying to match the driver’s license picture to the person in the footage.

The attorney also urged shoppers to “take a step back” and check their surroundings before scanning their groceries.

He also warned that customers should not try to crouch over the machine as it will raise suspicions.

The attorney also advised that self-checkout users should not obscure camera angles when scanning.

In January, The US Sun reported how Target shopper Alexis (@blexxican) was outraged after being stopped at a self-service checkout at a Florida store.

She documented being approached by a store manager who rescanned her items.

The worker reportedly claimed that the self-checkout machine had “sabotaged” and would not check out her items properly.

Alexis, who was shopping with her daughter, was furious as she said: “It feels like you’re accusing me of stealing.”

The US Sun contacted Target at the time, but received no response.