Retail giant Target has limited self-checkout to customers with 10 items or less, but denies claims the move is due to theft.

Like several other retail stores, the Minneapolis store has been hit with huge losses due to shoplifting, but says the checkout change is all about helping customers get in and out smoothly.

A representative told Fox News Digital the change has been in the works for over a year, and was spurred on by internal testing that showed it increased customer satisfaction.

But industry experts say theft is a major reason behind the shift.

Target has been grappling with staggering losses due to what retailers call “shrink,” a term that includes shoplifting and inventory errors. In 2023, the company reported nearly $500 million in shrink-related losses compared to the previous year, according to Business Insider.

In one dramatic case that captured national attention, a California woman was convicted of stealing over $60,000 in merchandise from Target stores by using self-checkout machines during a 100-visit crime spree. ABC7 News reported that she would scan items, insert a small coin or bill, and simply walk out the door.