In a striking display of audacity, a California woman has been found guilty of exploiting Target's self-checkout service to steal an estimated $60,000 worth of merchandise over a series of 100 visits.
This incident underscores the vulnerabilities of self-checkout services, which are increasingly being adopted by retailers in lieu of traditional cashier-staffed checkouts.
Aziza Graves, 43, was reported by the New York Post to have frequented the Target store at Stonestown Galleria in San Francisco an astonishing 120 times between October 3, 2020, and November 16, 2021.
Graves' modus operandi involved selecting items from the store shelves and proceeding to the self-checkout counter. Here, she would scan her items and pay a token amount, often as little as a single bill or coin, before absconding with her ill-gotten gains.
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins commented on the case, saying, Individuals such as Aziza Graves commit egregious thefts through brazen and repeated conduct that greatly impacts retailers ability to operate and serve the general public in their area."
Graves' criminal spree was brought to an end in November 2021 when investigators, in collaboration with the San Francisco Police Department, tracked her down inside the Target store. After each theft, Graves would reportedly head to the city's United Nations Plaza, where she sold the stolen items to vendors dealing in stolen property.
Jenkins added that Graves "subsequently began to sell her stolen goods to anyone passing by," highlighting the brazen nature of her actions. The District Attorney further noted that "[r]etail theft continues to have a major impact on San Francisco businesses from the small mom-and-pop corner store to the large retail stores."
Following a jury trial, Graves was convicted last Friday of one felony count of grand theft and an astounding 52 misdemeanor counts of petty theft from Target. She was also found guilty of one count of misdemeanor petty theft related to a theft at an Abercrombie and Fitch store in the city.
Reiterating the severity of Graves' actions, Jenkins stated, Individuals such as Aziza Graves commit egregious thefts through brazen and repeated conduct that greatly impacts retailers ability to operate and serve the general public in their area.
Jenkins emphasized the need for accountability, stating, These crimes demand accountability and we need to send the message to others who engage in open and brash thefts that, with the support of our local law enforcement partners, our office will continue to pursue and prosecute those involved."
She concluded, This verdict emphasizes that the citizens of San Francisco will not tolerate these offenders who attempt to take advantage of our business community. However, Jenkins did not propose any specific measures to curb the rising tide of theft and crimes against businesses.
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