In a surreal scene at a supermarket in Saint-Étienne, a woman tried to pay a mere 88 cents for a cart full of groceries valued at over 1000 euros. However, her attempt at deception was swiftly thwarted.
Back in 2020, a 39-year-old woman approached the checkout with a cart piled high with groceries, yet she attempted to settle the bill with just 88 cents. This incident unfolded at a Géant hypermarket located in Saint-Étienne, Loire.
Unsurprisingly, the customer was caught red-handed. Nonetheless, her scam had a promising start. According to France Bleu Saint-Étienne Loire, the woman had devised a cunning technique to pilfer a cart brimming with goods.
Ingenious Theft Method
Here’s how her scheme unfolded: she ventured into the store’s aisles and scanned items totaling over 1000 euros (including food and cosmetics) using the store’s app, purportedly designed to “save time at checkout,” as explained by the news outlet.
Caught in the Act
Once her shopping was complete, she headed to the self-checkout kiosks and proceeded to void all her purchases except for one item priced at 88 cents. Yet, her belief of going unnoticed was short-lived as vigilant security personnel spotted her and promptly scrutinized her receipt.
Their suspicions were confirmed, prompting them to alert the authorities. Meanwhile, the would-be thief was apprehended and taken into custody.
Legal Consequences
In the aftermath, the perpetrator was compelled to settle the full amount for her groceries. But that wasn’t the end of it. She was summoned to appear before the tribunal in Saint-Étienne and charged with theft in collusion, as she had been accompanied by a 16-year-old teenager.
While her attempt to defraud the supermarket may have seemed audacious, it serves as a reminder that ill-gotten gains often come with hefty consequences. As consumers, it’s crucial to uphold honesty and integrity, even in the face of temptation.
