Walmart employees have begun wearing body cameras amid growing concerns about crime and shoplifting.
The Arkansas-based retail giant recently launched a pilot test across multiple Dallas-area stores to address an alarming increase in unruly customer conflicts, the initiative said. A person familiar with the matter told The Post.
“While we do not provide specifics on our security measures, we are constantly reviewing new and innovative technologies used across the retail industry,” a Walmart spokesperson said in a statement. “This is a pilot we are testing in one market and will evaluate the results before making any long-term decisions.”
Sources said the device was discovered at a store in Denton, Texas, where an employee was operating a camera while checking customer receipts. report By CNBC.
Walmart declined to say how many stores are participating in the program or share its testing findings.
While other retailers are using body cameras to prevent theft and violent incidents, the past few years have seen a surge in crashes and snatchings hitting the retail industry, from grocery stores to department stores to high-end boutiques. Masu.
The high incidence of these crimes has resulted in expensive and popular products such as toothpaste, laundry detergent and toiletries being locked away and requiring the assistance of store staff.
According to CNBC, citing an online forum for Walmart employees and customers, Walmart employees were instructed on how to use the cameras.
A Walmart document titled “Providing Customer Service While Creating a Safer Environment” states that Walmart employees “record the event during escalating customer interactions,” and that employees They have been advised to remove cameras from rest areas and restrooms. CNBC.
Employees are instructed to log any incidents on the Ethics & Compliance app.
Walmart's initiative comes as retailers struggle to deal with aggressive customers who have mental health issues or who try to steal merchandise.
This year, the Governor of New York Kathy Hochul signed the Retail Worker Safety Act. The measure would require businesses with 50 or more employees to install panic buttons that alert law enforcement to visit the store immediately. Panic buttons will be mandatory by January 2027.
This is the first law in the United States, and Walmart opposed it, saying it would lead to false alarms.
Other retail experts argue that body cameras are effective in deterring bad behavior.
“Many of these body-worn cameras have reverse-view monitors, so you can actually see yourself in the camera on a small video screen,” says VP of Asset Protection at the National Retail Federation. David Johnston told CNBC.
“That in itself can be a huge deterrent. Maybe a moment of self-examination [when] It will change your behavior. I believe this can be achieved through the use of body-worn cameras. ”
