Walgreens will equip staff with physique cameras in an obvious first within the metropolis — however “Massive Brother” weary New Yorkers say they don’t need to be pharma seen.
The pharmacy retailer large — which additionally owns Duane Reade — kicked off a pilot program it mentioned is aimed toward selling the “security of each prospects and staff members.
However buyers mentioned the Orwellian tech is the most recent factor to rework a visit to the nook retailer right into a go to to a “battle zone” after years of companies taking excessive measures to fight rampant shoplifting together with locking up even fundamental merchandise behind plexiglass.
“Physique cameras may also help de-escalate conflicts, finally contributing to a safer setting for everybody,” the corporate mentioned in an announcement. “We perceive the significance of defending buyer privateness and have safeguards in place to make sure compliance with all relevant legal guidelines and rules.”
The bodycams are usually not obligatory, nevertheless — staff can resolve whether or not they need to put on the cameras whereas on the clock.
The pharmacy has not launched any further info on the pilot program, together with how it might use the footage.
Walgreens additionally hasn’t mentioned which, or what number of, of its a number of dozen Massive Apple shops, shall be enrolled within the pilot program — leaving its personal staff at nighttime.
“We don’t know,” one Brooklyn employee advised The Submit when requested if her location was requested to take part in this system.
“I noticed the information this morning, however we don’t know but,” she mentioned, including that she heard rumors that solely two shops within the borough have been enrolled.
Many purchasers expressed disdain for the brand new program, which comes greater than a 12 months after Walmart rolled out an identical program elsewhere within the nation.
“I really feel prefer it’s an enormous invasion, however like I say, I feel that we’re past it, and there’s not so much we will actually do,” Michelle Bullen, 49, advised The Submit.
“It’s type of in every single place, or just a little bit previous that. You may’t go away the home, the MTA, [Walgreens]. You see the story about Wegmans doing the very same factor, utilizing facial recognition expertise.”
Jenny, 42, of New Jersey, described this system as “excessive.”
“They have already got safety guards on the door. So… isn’t that sufficient? Is it getting that dangerous that we’ve to be that protected inside?” Jenny, who declined to share her final identify, mentioned.
“Like, you go to a bar, and bartenders are usually not sporting that, and I really feel like that’s extra harmful than a pharmacy.”
The pilot program comes simply months after Gov. Kathy Hochul revealed that retail theft had dropped 13% between January and June of 2025 in comparison with the identical time interval the earlier 12 months.
The governor had plunged $40 million right into a statewide process pressure to fight the post-COVID-19 pandemic shoplifting surge that induced huge field shops to begin locking up items.
Walgreens reported a 52% improve in “shrink” — or lack of stock — final 12 months after placing most of its merchandise behind glass, however Tim Wentworth, CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance, mentioned it was essential to curb the retail theft he mentioned was akin to a “hand-to-hand fight battle.”
In June, a safety guard at a Midtown Duane Reade was stabbed by a shoplifter who was making an attempt to steal a can of soda.
In 2023, one other brazen thief used a blowtorch to soften the plastic of locked safety circumstances at a Queens Walgreens earlier than making off with about $448 price of skincare merchandise.
Walgreens wouldn’t say whether or not the bodycams may result in choose shops eliminating the plexiglass limitations.
The rollout comes amid considerations that main retailers are breaching their prospects’ privateness, with outlets like Wegmans, Ceremony Support and Macy’s not too long ago accumulating facial recognition, eye scans and voiceprints.
Brooklyn Councilmember Shahana Hanif launched a invoice this week to ban facial recognition and different types of biometric surveillance, a mission she first tried to undertake in 2023.
That invoice didn’t go.
