TJ Maxx security guards are now wearing body cameras in an attempt to curb theft and enhance store security.
The retailer said the body cams are intended to add pressure on people considering stealing.
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Chief Financial Officer John Klinger highlighted how additional cameras work to scare off thieves.
“It’s almost like a de-escalation where people are less likely to do something when they’re being videotaped,” Klinger told Wall Street analysts, per CBS News.
TJX is the parent company of TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods.
It said body cams began being implemented at its stores over the past year.
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“Body cameras are currently used by certain loss prevention associates, who have gone through thorough training on how to use the cameras effectively in their roles,” a TMJ spokesperson said, per CBS News.
“Video footage is only shared upon request by law enforcement or in response to a subpoena.
“We hope that these body cameras will help us de-escalate incidents, deter crime, and demonstrate to our associates and customers that we take safety in our stores seriously.”
The move to implement the body cams comes as theft cost retailers $112 billion in 2022, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation.
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“Retailers are seeing unprecedented levels of theft coupled with rampant crime in their stores, and the situation is only becoming more dire,” David Johnston, with the National Retail Federation said in the survey.
“Far beyond the financial impact of these crimes, the violence and concerns over safety continue to be the priority for all retailers, regardless of size or category.”
However, A TJ Maxx retail worker in Florida expressed that the body cameras were “just for show” and did not enhance employees’ sense of safety, CNN reported.
“It feels like the implementation of this program with the cameras isn’t meant to achieve anything, but rather just something the company can point to.”
AXON BODY CAMS
The body cams that TJX is using are by a brand called Axon.
Axon rolled out a new generation of its body cams in January specifically for frontline workers in retail stores and healthcare facilities to enhance public safety.
Axon CEO and Founder Rick Smith said the company has a mission to reduce unsafe situations for these workers.
“Public safety is about just that — people feeling and being safe in public, including while at work,” Smith said in a January press release.
“That’s why Axon Body Workforce is so critical to our mission to protect life.
“It marks a new chapter in body-worn cameras, built to address the workplace violence affecting frontline workers.”
Former Chief of the Dallas Police Department Renee Hall explained how the body cams have helped cops so far.
“The new Axon Body Workforce body-worn camera is not only useful for promoting frontline workers’ safety,” Hall said, per the release.
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“But also aids law enforcement agencies responding to the recent rise in violence in healthcare, retail, and other commercial settings by providing easily accessible digital evidence.
“This solution shows Axon’s continued commitment to keeping our communities secure as public safety challenges evolve.”
https://www.the-sun.com/news/11551199/tj-maxx-body-cameras-anti-theft-security-guards/