A self-checkout scam so ridiculous it almost seems clever has landed an Idaho man behind bars. Dylan Rockwell, 32, thought he had outsmarted Walmart’s security by using a homemade barcode-inscribed ring to rip off the retail giant. Instead of paying hundreds for high-ticket items, he allegedly used his custom-made gadget to scan everything at the price of a can of soup.
That’s right—Rockwell walked out of Walmart with expensive merchandise while only paying for what amounts to pocket change, according to the Caldwell Police Department. But his scheme finally came to a screeching halt when he tried to pull the same trick on a $300 grill.
Police say Rockwell had rigged a ring with a barcode from a can of Great Value Tomato Condensed Soup—a product that retails for just 70 cents. The plan? He’d subtly wave his hand over the scanner at the self-checkout while pretending to scan the actual item, making it look like a normal purchase.
For a while, it worked. Authorities say Rockwell successfully swindled Walmart multiple times before finally getting caught on February 2, when store employees noticed him pulling the same trick yet again. This time, police were called, and Rockwell was tracked down at his home, about 25 miles from Boise.
When confronted, Rockwell reportedly admitted to running his scam on several occasions. But this time, his sleight of hand didn’t save him—officers recovered the stolen grill, and now he’s facing felony burglary charges.
The Caldwell Police Department even had a bit of fun at Rockwell’s expense. Chief Rex Ingram quipped in a statement, “Sorry Mr. Rockwell, your tactics didn’t work this time, but we appreciate your creativity. We know that times are tough, but your ingenuity got you some county soup for dinner.”
That “county soup,” of course, refers to whatever meal Rockwell will be served behind bars—a far cry from the luxury grill he tried to steal.
While Rockwell’s barcode scam might seem amusing, it highlights a growing trend in retail theft, particularly at self-checkouts. Big-box stores like Walmart and Target have already been battling a rise in organized retail crime, and schemes like Rockwell’s only add to the problem.
Instead of holding criminals accountable, left-wing politicians and activist prosecutors in blue cities have allowed theft to spiral out of control by refusing to prosecute shoplifters. It’s no wonder criminals feel emboldened to try stunts like this.
But Rockwell learned the hard way that you can’t cheat the system forever. Now, instead of grilling steaks, he’ll be cooling his heels in a jail cell.
