If you've found yourself questioning how easy it would be to accidentally-on-purpose forget to scan an item or two when using the self-service check-outs in your local supermarket, you're most definitely not alone.

Whether it comes down to sheer fury that you've tried and failed to scan a particular item or you harbour a niggling desire to beat the system, the introduction of self-service tills has reportedly had a profound effect on consumers' moral compasses.

According to research from the University of Leicester, the availability of self-service devices has seen an increase in the level of theft experienced by supermarkets, with figures indicating a 122% increase when items are self-scanned.

The data which harnessed information from a staggering 12 million shopping trips across four countries do much to highlight the inadequacies of the system.

While retailers can invest less in staff and technology, and customers are seduced by the convenience of the service, the downsides are numerous.

Commenting on the results of the study, Professor Adrian Beck of the Department of Criminology explained that the negative implications of supermarket self-service are being acknowledged more and more by retailers.

"Retailers are becoming aware of these problems and introducing ways of 'amplifying' risk in the mobile scan and pay environment, trying to ensure that all that ends up in the basket also makes it onto the receipt."