Walmart outfitting its workers with body cameras to deter shoplifting and increase safety might sound like the plot of a dystopian movie, but here we are, watching retail America adapt to a crime wave that feels less like a ripple and more like a tsunami. As shoplifting and safety concerns spiral out of control, big-name stores like Walmart are taking drastic steps to protect their employees and their bottom line. But here’s the question no one seems to be asking: why is this even necessary in the first place?
The pilot program, reported by CNBC, involves some Walmart employees wearing body cameras to capture escalating interactions with customers. Signs warning shoppers of the cameras are popping up at store entrances, and employees are being trained on when and how to use the devices. According to internal documents, they’re told to start recording if a customer interaction gets heated but not to wear the cameras in break rooms or bathrooms. Makes sense. No one wants Big Brother watching them eat their PB&J in the break room.
Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, has started giving associates body cameras to wear as part of a pilot program at a few of its U.S. locations which reportedly includes multiple stores in North Texas. https://t.co/er0e5SXQwn
— WFAA (@wfaa) December 18, 2024
On the surface, this might seem like a smart move. After all, body cameras have worked well for law enforcement, and smaller retailers already use them. But here’s the rub: what does it say about society when Walmart, of all places, has to resort to outfitting its cashiers with body cams just so they can do their jobs without fear? Retail used to be about ringing up sales and chatting with customers—not dodging threats from shoplifters emboldened by soft-on-crime policies.
The rising tide of theft has put retailers in a bind. Shoplifting isn’t just a “petty crime” anymore; it’s evolved into organized retail theft, costing stores billions of dollars annually. And let’s not forget the safety risks to employees. In October 2023, Walmart workers voiced concerns about an uptick in violent incidents tied to shoplifters. Yet instead of addressing the root cause of the problem—crime that goes unpunished—corporations are left to implement Band-Aid solutions like body cameras.
Here’s the kicker: a lot of this chaos stems from policies that prioritize offenders over accountability. Certain cities and states have practically decriminalized theft under a certain dollar amount, creating an open invitation for repeat offenders to grab and dash. The results? Retailers rethink self-checkout systems, slash employee hours, or even shutter locations in areas where crime is rampant. And who bears the brunt of this? Everyday Americans who now have to drive miles to find a grocery store or endure longer lines because fewer staff are on duty.
Walmart’s response—testing body cameras—is a symptom of a much larger problem. It reflects a breakdown in law and order, where shoplifting has become so normalized that retailers feel powerless. Sure, these cameras might deter some theft or help document incidents for law enforcement, but they’re no substitute for actual enforcement of laws. And let’s be honest. They probably aren’t going to stop the most brazen thieves who already know they’re unlikely to face real consequences.
BREAKING: Violent crime and shoplifting under Biden-Harris is so bad that Walmart employees are now wearing body cameras for their safety. pic.twitter.com/YrriLjcFoQ
— Dapper Detective (@Dapper_Det) December 17, 2024
It’s ironic, isn’t it? Politicians claim to champion working-class Americans, yet their soft-on-crime policies are putting the very people they claim to protect—cashiers, stockers, and store associates—in harm’s way. Walmart’s body camera pilot program is just one more reminder of how misplaced priorities are leaving the hardworking folks on the frontlines to clean up the mess.
Instead of asking workers to wear cameras, maybe we should be asking policymakers to show some backbone and make retail theft a priority again. Until then, don’t be surprised if Walmart’s next innovation involves Kevlar vests.
