Walmart employees have started wearing body cameras in response to increasing concerns about crime and shoplifting.
The retail giant, based in Arkansas, has initiated a pilot test in multiple stores in the Dallas area to address issues with unruly customers, according to a source familiar with the program.
“While we don’t disclose specifics about our security measures, we are always exploring new and innovative technologies used in the retail industry,” said a Walmart spokesperson in a statement. “This is a pilot program we are testing in one market, and we will assess the results before making any long-term decisions.”
Employees at a store in Denton, Texas were seen with the cameras while checking customers’ receipts, as reported by CNBC.
Walmart has not disclosed the number of participating stores or shared any results from the testing.
Other retailers utilize body cameras to prevent theft and violent incidents, which have increased in recent years due to smash and grab incidents affecting various types of stores.
As a result, valuable merchandise like toothpaste and clothing detergent is now locked up, requiring assistance from a store clerk.
According to CNBC, Walmart employees received training on how to use the cameras and are instructed to record escalating interactions with customers. The cameras are not to be used in employee break areas or bathrooms, as per a document titled “Providing customer service while creating a safer environment.”
Employees are also required to log any incidents in the “ethics and compliance” app.
Walmart’s initiative comes at a time when retailers are grappling with how to handle aggressive customers, particularly those with mental health issues or attempting to steal merchandise.
This year, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Retail Worker Safety Act, mandating panic buttons in stores with 50 or more employees to alert law enforcement immediately. Walmart opposed this law, citing concerns about false alarms.
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