TJ Maxx is one of the most popular department stores in the country, with over 1,000 locations selling clothing and other products. The chain isn’t immune to shoplifting, so they have a detailed shoplifting policy in place.
TJ Maxx prioritizes staff and customer safety by telling workers not to approach or stop shoplifters, even if they witness the crime. However, loss prevention employees are allowed to intervene once the shoplifter has satisfied the criteria in the store’s comprehensive ‘Shoplifter Apprehension Policy’. Shoplifters can then be banned, reported to the police, and charged in court.
There are plenty of interesting things to learn about TJ Maxx’s shoplifting policy, and this guide will cover it all. Keep reading to understand the specific ways TJ Maxx handles shoplifters in its stores.
What Does TJ Maxx’s Shoplifting Policy Cover?
TJ Maxx has a very clear shoplifting policy that states what staff members can and can’t do.
For starters, the regular associates working the floor at TJ Maxx aren’t allowed to get involved when shoplifting occurs. They’re supposed to maintain a safe distance and allow the shoplifter to leave the store with their stolen goods.
Generally, staff are told to take that hands-off approach for safety reasons. Letting shoplifters go will minimize the risk of any violence harming workers or other customers.
On top of that, TJ Maxx is insured against shoplifting. That means the insurance company will reimburse the company for those losses. However, the store will have to pay higher insurance premiums as a result.
Despite those rules for employees, TJ Maxx does invest in other resources to combat shoplifting.
Firstly, you’ll find that TJ Maxx stores implement a lot of common theft deterrents that you’d find at other leading retailers. Those include:
- Cameras to monitor every area of the store, particularly high-risk areas where expensive merchandise is kept.
- Signage throughout the store that warns would-be shoplifters against stealing.
- Locked items, particularly those that face a higher risk of being stolen.
- Tagging, so stolen items will trigger alarms when shoplifters bring them past the sensors at the exits and entrances. Only cashiers can remove those tags after a customer has paid for the items.
These deterrents aren’t perfect and won’t stop shoplifting entirely. Instead, their purpose is to reduce the odds of someone stealing merchandise by making it significantly more challenging.
But let’s suppose a shoplifter has taken items off shelves, hiding them in their pockets or bags. While regular staff aren’t allowed to stop them, the store’s loss prevention employees are allowed to do so.
We’ll take a closer look at what they can do in the next section.
Does TJ Maxx Have Guards?
Yes, TJ Maxx hires security guards and loss prevention employees. While many wear uniforms on the job, the store also uses undercover or ‘plain-clothes’ detectives to patrol the floor and look out for shoplifters.
TJ Maxx’s loss prevention teams represent the more hands-on side of their shoplifting policy. That’s because these employees can stop a shoplifter and retrieve stolen items.
On top of that, they’re also the ones who will investigate thefts and report them to the police.
The loss-prevention team must follow TJ Maxx’s so-called ‘Shoplifter Apprehension Policy’, which details whether or not a store detective can catch a shoplifter and how they are meant to do that.
That policy essentially states that the loss prevention employee must:
- See the would-be shoplifter enter an area before they take anything.
- See the shoplifter take an item from a shelf. The employee must also be able to identify the merchandise as being from TJ Maxx.
- See the shoplifter hiding the merchandise and know precisely where it’s hidden.
- Watch the shoplifter constantly without any interruptions.
On top of that, the loss prevention employee must also follow three rules to prove the shoplifter is guilty, which are:
- Seeing the shoplifter hide at least 2 items under their clothing or in their bag.
- Witness the shoplifter clearly intend to steal by hiding the items or removing things like price tags and packaging from the product.
- Maintain constant and uninterrupted surveillance of the shoplifter.
When these requirements are satisfied, the loss prevention employee can stop and apprehend the shoplifter.
The policy states they can do so when the shoplifter is about to go to the fitting room or restroom.
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What Happens When Someone Steals From TJ Maxx?
There are several possible outcomes when someone steals from a TJ Maxx location. As you read above, only the loss prevention team can stop a shoplifter, and only once they satisfy the requirements stated by the company’s policy.
When that happens, the shoplifter is taken to a security room where they’ll be asked to return the stolen items. Aside from that, an employee will also take their photo and collect basic information that includes:
- The shoplifter’s name
- Their address
- Their contact details (i.e. phone number)
Then, the shoplifter is asked to sign a document to admit their guilt so they can be banned from the store.
These bans can vary in how long they last, so some shoplifters are banned for a few months while others are given lifetime bans.
Security guards and loss prevention employees will sometimes refer the case to the police. That can lead to court cases and punishments like fines, community service, and jail time.
The same is true for shoplifters who leave the store without being noticed. If their crimes are caught on the store’s camera system, they’ll be reported to the police.
Does TJ Maxx Punish Shoplifters?
Yes, TJ Maxx does punish shoplifters. However, the punishments can differ, as you’ve read in the previous section above.
TJ Maxx punishes shoplifters in ways including:
- Temporary or permanent bans from the store.
- Calling the police and pressing charges.
- Working with lawyers to issue a civil demand letter requesting money from the shoplifter to pay for the stolen goods and other costs.
As you can see, TJ Maxx’s punishments against shoplifters vary significantly. Some shoplifters get a slap on the wrist, while others are taken to court or have to deal with lawyers.
Generally, TJ Maxx and other big retailers will decide what to do based on the value of the stolen items. If the shoplifter only steals low-value items, the store might not bother going too far to punish them.
However, suppose the shoplifter walks away with a lot of expensive items. In that case, the store will likely use whatever options they have to pursue and punish the thief.
That’s especially true if the shoplifter threatened or hurt the store’s employees and other customers. If the shoplifting case turns violent, there’s no doubt that the police will get involved, and charges will be pressed.
Final Thoughts
TJ Maxx has put a lot of thought into its shoplifting policy. On the one hand, it prioritizes customer and employee safety by telling staff not to approach shoplifters.
Still, it has loss prevention employees and security guards who will stop thieves in their tracks.
Still, TJ Maxx has specific rules on how and when their loss prevention teams can stop shoplifters to ensure that things go smoothly.
Not only does that help prevent false accusations against innocent customers, but it also makes it difficult for caught shoplifters to claim they didn’t do anything.