What do Japanese cashiers need these balls for?

In Japan, you can see these bright orange balls in many stores, lying in a prominent place, next to the cash register. What do you think these balls are for?

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These balls are filled with a special orange paint, which, once on the body of the robber, will allow the police to easily identify him. It is assumed that the cashier will throw this ball at the robber and mark him. In order to accurately throw the balls, cashiers even take special courses. But according to statistics, such balls are used only in 3% cases, since not everyone risks throwing balls at armed criminals. Nevertheless, they perform a deterrent function, since when they see these balls, robbers prefer to avoid such stores.