That's not really a self-checkout problem though is it. I mean, SF has stores that don't have self-checkout but the thieves that come in and wheel out a tobacco shelving unit are not taking advantage of "self-checkout"... they are taking advantage of the fact that 1) there is no proper security and 2) the police don't respond.
My point is that anywhere that unmanned stores with cameras can work, so would self-checkout.
I think there's an important difference between unmanned and self checkout which you missed from the post you replied to: the person who scans a few items but steals others at a self checkout. In a no checkout store you already identified yourself in order to get inside and the store knows what you picked up and took out.
Their high precision scale works remarkably well for this though. It forces you to put all your stuff on the scale and so it becomes obvious to the one store clerk if you leave stuff in your cart that means you haven't scanned/paid for them.
My point is that anywhere that unmanned stores with cameras can work, so would self-checkout.