TJ Maxx employees wear police-style body cameras in select stores

(WJW) — It’s not just police officers wearing body cameras these days. TJX, the parent company of TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Home Goods, said it has started equipping its employees with them, too.

According to multiple reports from CNN, CBS News and FOX Business, the body cameras were introduced in select TJX stores last year to prevent theft.

TJX reportedly told outlets that the move was made to “de-escalate incidents, prevent crime, and demonstrate to our associates and customers that we take safety in our stores seriously.”

The company clarified that the cameras are worn only by specially trained loss prevention employees, not by every employee in the store. It told FOX Business that it does not share the footage unless requested by police or a subpoena is issued.

The company’s chief financial officer is working to combat the widespread problem of lost or stolen goods while also making customers feel comfortable in its stores. In a May earnings call, he said people are less likely to shoplift if they know they are being filmed.

“It’s almost like a de-escalation because people are less inclined to take action when they’re being recorded on video,” Chief Financial Officer John Klinger said during the call.

TJX isn’t the only retailer pursuing this theft prevention option. According to a 2023 survey by the National Retail Federation, about a third of all retailers are exploring the idea.

According to NRF, companies are also considering using AI technologies and have already begun eliminating self-checkout lanes in their stores.