(WJW) — It’s not just police wearing body cameras these days. TJX, the parent company of TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Home Goods, said they have begun outfitting employees with them as well.
The body cameras have been rolled out at select stores owned by TJX over the last year to help thwart theft, according to multiple reports from CNN, CBS News and FOX Business.
TJX reportedly told outlets the move was made to “de-escalate incidents, deter crime, and demonstrate to our Associates and customers that we take safety in our stores seriously.”
The company was clear the cameras are only worn by specially-trained loss prevention employees and not every employee in the store, telling FOX Business they don’t share the footage unless requested by police or through a subpoena.
Working to combat the pervasive issue of lost or stolen merchandise while still making sure customers feel comfortable at their stores, the company finance chief said in a May earnings call, that they believe people are less likely to shoplift if they know they’re on camera.
“It’s almost like a de-escalation where people are less likely to do something when they’re being videotaped,” Chief Financial Officer John Klinger said during the call.
TJX is not alone in pursuing the theft prevention option. According to a 2023 National Retail Federation survey, about a third of retailers are looking into the idea.
Companies are also considering some AI-forward technologies and have started getting rid of self-checkout registers at their stores, NRF reported.