TJ Maxx is reportedly equipping some of its store employees with body cameras as part of its anti-shoplifting efforts.
TJX, the parent company of TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods, said in an earnings release in May that it implemented the policy to deter shoplifters amid a rise in thefts at retail stores nationwide. CBS News.
Chief Financial Officer John Klinger reportedly told Wall Street analysts that the cameras were “almost like a de-escalation measure, making people less likely to do anything while they’re being recorded.”
Other retail brands are considering similar policies: A 2023 survey found that more than a third of retailers are considering outfitting employees with body cameras. National Retail Federation SurveyEleven percent said they were already “piloting or testing” cameras. (Related article: Thieves reportedly employed 9-year-olds to target luxury stores)
The average contraction rate for fiscal year 2022 increased slightly to 1.6% from 1.4% in fiscal year 2021, according to the survey. This equates to a loss of about $112.1 billion compared to $93.9 billion in 2021.
“Currently, body cameras are used by select anti-theft officers who have received extensive training on how to effectively use the cameras in the course of their duties,” a TJX spokesperson told CBS News. “Video footage is only shared at the request of law enforcement or in response to a subpoena. We hope that these body cameras will help de-escalate incidents, deter crime and demonstrate to our associates and customers that we take the safety of our stores seriously.”
TJ Maxx is equipping its store employees with body cameras to deter shoplifters. https://t.co/h7ooQYxQHL pic.twitter.com/KyIIxVmVVj
— KY3 News (@kytv) June 5, 2024
But there are signs that body cameras may not be as effective as thought in deterring retail theft. One TJ Maxx retailer in Florida said: CNN The employee said the devices were “just for show” and that having them installed doesn’t make employees feel safer at work. He explained to the media that a security guard’s job is “just to put on a tactical vest that says ‘security’ and stand there with a camera attached to the vest.”
“It feels like the introduction of this camera program isn’t meant to accomplish anything, but simply to make the company seem safe,” the employee reportedly added.
The Daily Caller has reached out to TJX, the parent company of TJ Maxx, for comment but has not yet heard back.
