Electricals group Dixons aims to reduce shrinkage in stores by 10 per cent or more by inviting staff to sign up as special constables.
Woolworths is also involved in the initiative, part of the Metropolitan Police Shopwatch scheme.
Joe Garner, operations and business development director of the eponymous Dixons chain said: 'In the four stores where we already, by chance, have special constables employed as staff, shrinkage is 40 per cent lower than in other stores.
'We need to reduce shrinkage by about 10 per cent for the scheme to pay for itself.' According to Garner, Dixons and the police will each cover 50 per cent of the cost of the initiative.
The project should help maintain a safer shopping environment on the high street and help staff deal with incidents in-store. 'It will be a great opportunity for our employees and it will be good for customers,' Garner said.
Dixons expects to have the first five participating members of staff active in Camden and nearby London stores by the end of February. Two north London Woolworths shop workers are taking part, while Boots and M&S have also expressed an interest.
Garner said Dixons hopes to introduce the scheme to other stores by the end of the summer.
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