A method for detecting a non-scan at a retail checkout station includes detecting the passing of an item across a scanner device of a retail checkout station, obtaining an image of the item passing across the scanner, detecting a scan of an item passing across the scanner to establish a scanned item, and establishing a register associated with the scanned item. A scan occurs if the image of the item passing across the scanner substantially matches the register associated with the scanned item. Conversely, a non-scan is triggered when the image of the item passing across the scanner does not match the register associated with the scanned item.