A resident of Śrem County has been charged with multiple frauds at the Biedronka store chain by exploiting vulnerabilities in the self-checkout system. The woman conducted 59 transactions using a service code that allowed her to take goods for minimal amounts, causing the chain losses of approximately 5200 PLN. Charges were presented to her by police officers from Śrem in mid-February.
Systematic checkout fraud
For several months, from May 22 to September 26, 2025, the woman cheated during purchases at the Biedronka discounter by using a service code.
Material damage of 5200 PLN
As a result of 59 fraudulent transactions, the retail chain suffered losses estimated by police at approximately 5200 złoty.
Detention and charges
Police from Śrem presented the woman with charges in mid-February 2026, concluding a several-month investigation into the case.
Exploitation mechanism
The accused, who was not a store employee, obtained a special code authorizing payment of symbolic amounts for full carts of goods.
A resident of Śrem County was charged in mid-February 2026 with multiple counts of fraud at stores of the Biedronka chain. Investigators found that between May 22 and September 26, 2025, the woman conducted 59 transactions exploiting vulnerabilities in the operation of self-checkout machines. The fraud involved using a special service code that enabled paying symbolic amounts for full shopping carts. The woman, who was not employed by the chain, obtained this code through unauthorized means. As a result of her actions, the discounter suffered material losses, which police estimated at a total of about 5200 złoty. The case was handled by police from the station in Śrem. 59 — times the woman cheated at the checkout Self-checkout machines became widespread in Polish retail in the early 2010s, offering customers faster shopping and reducing personnel costs for chains. With their growing popularity, new methods of abuse emerged, from classic failure to scan items to more advanced software manipulations.This incident fits into a broader trend of abuses related to self-service technology, which, while increasing convenience, also generates new challenges for security and store loss control. Police did not specify in their statement exactly how the accused obtained the code, or whether they suspect employee involvement. The Biedronka chain typically does not comment on ongoing criminal proceedings.Chronology of events: May 22, 2025 — Start of fraud; September 26, 2025 — Final incident; mid-February 2026 — Charges filed Articles differ slightly in emphasis but agree on key facts: the number of incidents, their duration, the amount of losses, and the location. All sources point to Śrem County as the location of the crime. In a legal context, the act may be classified as fraud under Article 286 of the Penal Code, which is punishable by imprisonment.