Smile: 2 Popular Colorado Stores Use Body Cams

In an effort to combat shoplifting, some retailers are now turning to a police tactic that hasn’t been without controversy: Body cameras.

You’ve seen the videos of brazen shoplifters walking out of stores with carts of goods.

One of my co-workers saw it right in front of him during checkout at the Burlington Coat Factory in Johnstown, Colorado.

Such theft cost retailers $112.1 billion dollars, according to 2022 data from the National Retail Federation.

TJ Maxx and Marshalls use body cams to deter theft

It also cuts into earnings and investor dividends. So, in May, the parent company of TJ Maxx and Marshalls told investors that it had outfitted staff with body cameras.

TJX Companies owns the two banners and Sierra and HomeGoods among others.

Not everyone gets a camera, mind you. Loss prevention officers will wear them and only share footage with police upon request or by subpoena.

RELATED: Why so many stores are closing in Colorado

TJX isn’t the only retailer turning to these tactics. The Retail Federation reports that 11 percent of those surveyed are testing body cams in their stores.

Walmart, Target and Dollar General are among retailers that plan to remove or limit self-checkout because of theft via those stations.

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