JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — The Sublette County Sheriff’s Office says an investigation of what is described as a rash of thefts from local businesses in the Pinedale area has zeroed in on misuse of a popular shopping app.
The Sheriff’s Office has been working with several of these businesses to determine the extent of the thefts, and have found that they range from snacks at local convenience stores to higher-cost items including scopes, shop equipment, and hunting gear.
During the investigation, it has been found that many of these thefts are occurring through the use of the Skip app at the local Ridley’s grocery store. Skip is a self-checkout app that allows user to skip the checkout lines and by scanning with a smart phone items intended for purchase, paying from the phone, and leaving the store without waiting in a line.
With the assistance of these local businesses, a number of students have been identified as being involved. Many of the stolen items have been located and returned to local businesses.
As the Sheriff’s Office continues to identify more offenders, local businesses will be taking steps to help protect themselves from these thefts moving forward. The Sheriff’s Office is releasing this information to encourage discussion between parents and students on the consequences of taking part in these thefts.
