The parent company of retail giant TJ Maxx is equipping employees with body cameras in an effort to curb the shoplifting crimes that have plagued businesses across the US.
TJX Companies, which operates stores including TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods, began using body cameras at some locations over the past year to crack down on crime and show employees and customers that it takes safety issues seriously, Fox Business reported. report on wednesday.
A TJX Companies spokesman said anti-theft officers are trained to use the cameras and that video is “only shared at the request of law enforcement or in response to a subpoena.”
The Fox article continues:
“When someone comes in, it’s almost like they’re less tense and less likely to take any action while they’re being videotaped,” TJX Chief Financial Officer John Klinger told analysts on an earnings call in May.
He said the company is “still heavily focused on shrink, which is the industry term for lost or stolen merchandise.” But the cameras are just one way the company is tackling the problem, which the National Retail Federation says has led to $112.1 billion in lost revenue in 2022.
According to CBS Boston, in 2022 retailers will lost The total revenue from theft exceeds $112 billion. The outlet also noted that in Massachusetts, “shoplifting is considered a misdemeanor unless the items total a certain amount.”
Security analysts told the outlet that the amounts stolen were so large that it would be possible for a criminal to steal many items before being charged with a felony.
“When there are no consequences for bad behavior, people just take what they want,” Ed Davis explained.
According to Breitbart News, major retailers including Walmart, Target, and Best Buy have begun closing stores across the US in April 2023 due to an increase in theft incidents.
The most recent incident involved a Target employee who stopped an alleged thief outside a Target store in Gloucester Township, New Jersey, the outlet reported on April 26.
According to a recent Fox report, Klinger said TJX Companies is working hard to ensure customers can continue to shop safely in its stores.
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