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The retail company said the cameras are a “balance between protecting goods and making sure that customers can shop easily.”
WASHINGTON — TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods stores have equipped some employees with body cameras to help curb shoplifting.
In an earnings call last month, parent company TJX’s financial chief John Klinger revealed that the body-cam initiative on some employees began late last year. The retail company said the cameras are a “balance between protecting goods and making sure that customers can shop easily.”
“It’s almost like a de-escalation.” Klinger said in the May 22 call. “People are less likely to do something when they’re being videotaped.”
The body cameras are being worn by the retail stores’ unarmed security guards, referred to as Loss Prevention Associates. Klinger said the company is focused on flattening out business shrinkage or “shrink,” a term referring to stolen or loss inventory.
The retail company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
TJX stores aren’t the only retailers looking to thwart shoplifters.
In March, Dollar General announced it would be removing self-checkout completely from hundreds of locations with the highest amount of shoplifting and product losses, while adding restrictions for self-checkout in thousands of other stores.
Additionally, retailers have been adding cameras or sensors at self-checkout kiosks to monitor shoppers.
Kroger, for example, has deployed artificial intelligence technology at a majority of stores that triggers alerts when something is amiss. For example, if a shopper fails to scan a particular item successfully, the system flags the error on the screen and prompts the customer to self-correct. If customers are unable to resolve the issue themselves, a light above the self-checkout blinks to attract workers’ attention.
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