Employees at two Abbotsford stores will be wearing body cameras starting on Friday, Feb. 14.
The Shoppers Drug Mart at the corner of Trethewey Street and South Fraser Way and the Real Canadian Superstore on Gladwin Road are among Loblaw locations across Canada that are participating in the program.
Loblaw Companies Ltd. launched a pilot program last September in which employees at several of its locations began wearing Axon Body Workforce cameras.
The program is now expanding to other locations in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.
Loblaw said in a press release issued Thursday (Feb. 13) that there has been a “notable rise” in violent incidents at retailers across Canada in recent times.
Dean Henrico, Loblaw senior vice-president of asset protection, said the company is prioritizing the safety of its customers and employees.
“During our initial pilot, we saw a significant reduction in violent incidents in stores using body-worn cameras,” he said.
“Coupled with the broader success of these measures among other retailers, this expansion in Abbotsford highlights our ongoing commitment to create a safer shopping environment for all.”
In a 2024 survey from the National Retail Federation, 73 per cent of those surveyed said shoplifters were exhibiting more violence and aggression than they were in 2023, and 91 per cent said there was an increase compared to 2019.
Another 84 per cent said violence during a crime had become more of a concern in the last year.
