WALMART shoppers are spotting a new addition at some checkouts.
Shoppers are noticing a new safety measure at some checkouts, prompting surprise and questions about privacy.
Walmart is testing body cameras on cashiers at some manned checkouts (stock image)[/caption]
The cameras are meant to record interactions if a situation with a customer escalates (stock image)[/caption]
The move comes amid rising retail theft[/caption]
The rollout has reached stores across the US, including locations in Florida, where employees have been spotted wearing the body cameras while on the job.
The program isn’t new. Walmart began testing body cameras in December last year.
Shoppers are only just noticing as more stores adopt the devices.
A Reddit user posted recently: “My Walmart is rolling out body cams for all cashiers. Is anyone else’s store using them?”
Many commenters were shocked but unsurprised.
One wrote: “I was shocked to see them in use but it shouldn’t surprise me as we already have security guards & lot cop security system outside.”
Another joked: “When do they issue me a sidearm and handcuffs though.”
A CNBC report states that in a company document, employees are instructed to “record an event if an interaction with a customer is escalating.”
The cameras are meant to help staff handle conflicts safely.
The company has not shared full details on the program, saying it’s a pilot being tested in one market before deciding on wider implementation.
David Johnston of the National Retail Federation said retail theft and violence have been increasing, often linked to organized crime groups.
Walmart isn’t alone.
TJX, which owns TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, and Marshalls, started equipping some workers with body cameras earlier this year.
Retail theft has surged in recent years, with smash-and-grab incidents hitting headlines.
What is Walmart’s Scan and Go?
Walmart’s Scan and Go was made to save time for shoppers
Walmart’s Scan and Go system was created to help customers scan items as they shop, pay, and leave without waiting in long checkout lines.
The retailer describes the new system to be done in a few easy steps:
- Customers first need to have the Walmart app downloaded on their phones with their location access enabled.
- On the Store Mode landing page, shoppers must click the Scan and Go option.
- Customers can scan each item and place them in their carts as they shop.
- At the end, they’ll be prompted to view the cart to make sure the quantity on the app matches the ones in their carts.
- Shoppers will press “Check Out” and head to a self-checkout kiosk.
- They’ll be prompted to scan the provided QR code at the register and confirm their payment method.
- Once the transaction is complete, shoppers can leave the store without worry.
Many critics blame laws they say are too lenient on crime.
Stores have responded by increasing security, adding uniformed personnel, and installing cameras.
Some retailers, including CVS and Walgreens, have locked up products like makeup and toothpaste, requiring clerk assistance to access them.
Retailers reported a 93% increase in shoplifting incidents last year compared to pre-pandemic levels, costing more than $121 billion, ABC News reported.
It’s not clear how many Walmart stores are using body cameras.
Some locations now display signs at entrances warning shoppers of “body-worn cameras in use.”
The devices are strictly for safety, to be activated when employees feel situations are escalating.
Employees and customers alike are adjusting to the new measure as Walmart evaluates the pilot program.
As the rollout continues, shoppers are becoming increasingly aware of the cameras and raising questions about privacy and safety.
The move is part of a larger trend in retail, where stores are testing new ways to protect staff and merchandise from rising crime rates.
Walmart has not indicated when or if the body camera program will expand nationwide.
Walmart did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The U.S. Sun.
