New anti-theft tactic at big box stores raises privacy concerns

As retailers look to clamp down on theft, several big-box stores have implemented a new tactic to improve security, which has also raised privacy concerns.

Chains like Home Depot and Lowe’s are introducing automated license plate readers, known as ALPR, at some of their locations. The technology captures images of vehicles and their license plates as they arrive at the store.

Lowe’s notes on its website that locations with ALPR have cameras that “automatically capture images of vehicles and their license plates, along with the date, time and general location.” Home Depot says that it may “collect and use ALPR information for fraud prevention, security, and asset protection purposes.”

While theft is an ongoing issue at these types of stores, experts say there are some privacy concerns that come along with this new technology.

“They’re not held to the same standards as law enforcement,” Kimberly Przeslowki, a criminal justice assistant professor at Quinnipiac University, told NBC News Connecticut. “The legal frameworks differ quite a bit, when it comes to just oversight mechanisms, accountability, data retention.”

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The ALPR system does not catch shoplifters on its own. The technology records vehicles that enter the property or drive by a store.

If a theft is later reported, stores can check which vehicles were there at the time and provide that information to investigators.

The technology can also help police identify repeat offenders or organized theft rings.

Lowe’s and Home Depot both say they don’t sell or share information to a third party, with Lowe’s writing on its website that it “only discloses your personal information if required by law or legal process.”

In a statement to The Independent, a Home Depot spokesperson said: “We've had parking area security cameras in place at our stores for many years, as many retailers do. These cameras are used solely as a security measure to prevent theft and protect the safety of our customers and associates in our stores. We do not grant access to our license plate readers to federal law enforcement.”

The Independent has also contacted Lowe’s for more information.

Walmart has also taken to the new technology, with at least one store in Nevada using license plate readers, The U.S. Sun reports.

The Churchill County Sheriff’s Office told the outlet that the cameras take photos of license plates on vehicles traveling on public roads, then checks the plates against law enforcement databases.

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The new system “helps officers quickly identify vehicles connected to crimes, improving response times and public safety,” authorities said.

Authorities noted that the cameras only take images of “license plate numbers and basic vehicle information” and are only used for law enforcement purposes.

The sheriff’s office also noted the systems “do not track individuals, access personal driver information, or monitor people beyond what is visible on a public roadway.”

Walmart notes on its website that it utilizes ALPR “to help ensure security, prevent theft and fraud, assist with parking enforcement, and to help maintain the safety of individuals and properties.”

The Independent has contacted Walmart for more information.

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