• by Tanya Gazdik , June 6, 2024

The parent company of T.J. Maxx, Homegoods and Marshalls is requiring some employees to wear body cameras in order to deter thieves.

A TJX spokesperson explained that not every associate will be eligible to wear a body camera within its stores.

“However, loss prevention associates who are trained to use the cameras will be the ones wearing them while in the store,” according to USA Today.

The videos will only be available to law enforcement officers or as at the result of a court-ordered subpoena, the spokesperson said. 

TJX isn’t the only company taking such measures. 

“In a survey of major chains by the National Retail Federation last year, 35% of US retailers said they were researching body cameras for employees,” according to CNN Business. "The manufacturer of Taser devices and other security companies are now designing and marketing body cameras specifically for retail workers.”

Whether it’s actually a deterrent is up for debate.

“Although retailers say they’re looking to cut down on costly merchandise loss and keep stores safe, outfitting workers with body cameras may do little to stop shoplifting, some criminologists say,” according to CNN Business. “Worker advocates say improved training, better staffing levels in stores and other safety investments will go further to protect frontline workers and reduce shoplifting.”

The retailer began testing the cameras late last year.

“When somebody walks in, ‘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 told Wall Street analysts,” according to CBS News.  

The body cameras are aimed at deterring crime and to “demonstrate to our associates and customers that we take safety in our stores seriously,” according to the TJX spokesperson.