I thought they don't want line employees to stop shoplifters because it costs them enormously in insurance and lawsuits if the employees get hurt? did the courts rule that it's all on the workers if they want the job now? not that they won't eventually, just asking if it already happened.
The goal here isn't to get employees to stop people from stealing -- you're right that it's a liability issue -- the goal is to get better video to prosecute theft after the fact. There may be some knock-on worker surveillance effects, but with how short staffed a lot of stores are I wonder how much of this footage will be reviewed unless there's something specific to go back and look for.