'Crime on the Rise: How Lawlessness is Impacting Main Street America'
Another Congressional Hearing on How Crime is Hurting Businesses

Retail Crime Is Rising: NACS Expresses Concerns to House Committee

NACS urges Congress to pass the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023.

In response to the alarming spike in crime across the nation and its detrimental effects on small businesses, the House Committee on Small Business held a full committee hearing today titled "Crime on the Rise: How Lawlessness is Impacting Main Street America." Witnesses testifying before the Committee include small business owners, activists and law enforcement representatives.

In advance of the hearing, NACS, along with industry partners NATSO and SIGMA, sent a letter to Committee Chairman Roger Williams (R-Texas) and Ranking Member Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) expressing concern that the level of violence and frequency associated with crime in their members' stores has evolved drastically over recent years.

In addition to the amount of crime and theft at retail stores, the nature of those crimes has changed as thieves have become more brazen and more violent when conducting their crimes. Citing NACS's 2023 Crime & Loss Prevention Survey, the letter states that one of the fastest-rising areas of concern for the industry is the "potential for violent crime against employees."

"It is imperative that customers and employees feel safe in our stores. The Associations' members have therefore invested in ways to combat crime and promote security in their locations-resources that negatively impact on their bottom line. Our members have spent resources on security cameras, alarm systems and technology solutions and, for some, security guards."

The associations urge Congress to pass the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023, which would increase the federal enforcement of organized retail crime. They also ask Congress to explore potential avenues to make the reporting of crimes easier and less burdensome for businesses and law enforcement, and to investigate how substance abuse and mental health issues also contribute to rising levels of crime.

The full letter to the Committee can be found here.

The hearing can be viewed online here.


Sparks Fly in New York's Debate Over Retail Crime Surge

'Too Early' for the NYC Mayor to Declare Victory Over Crime
Shoplifting in the city is up 64% since 2019

Editorial: No, Mr. Mayor, NYC hasn't 'turned a corner' on crime
Overall crime in New York City dropped in 2023 over 2022; we're still the "safest big city in America," as Mayor Adams boasted recently - but that's cold comfort when we're still far behind 2019, the last year before the destructive effects of our criminal-justice "reforms" made themselves visible.

Crime is up 31% overall since 2019, with big jumps in felony assaults (almost 35%), shootings (27%) and robberies (26%).  Yes, crime fell in 2023 over 2022 in five of the seven major crime categories, including a 12% drop in homicides and 25% in shootings. But that's still a 21% rise in murders over 2019.

And these numbers don't even touch our shoplifting plague, which led the country from mid-2019 to summer 2023 with a 64% increase (does anyone think it's gotten better since then?).

It's left retailers (those that haven't closed) locking up goods and their employees vulnerable to unstable repeat offenders, all efforts to accommodate a new reality created by progressive indifference to the plight of average New Yorkers.

And the overall bad vibes that are keeping tourists away from Broadway: 2023 ticket sales are down 17% versus the 2018-2019 season (the last full season per COVID) - with a big chunk of older visitors from the suburbs, a key demo, saying they are now staying away for safety reasons.

Adams and NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban are fighting the good fight on crime; this is ultimately a problem caused by the leftist ideologues who dominate Albany and our own City Council.

But with the NYPD's ranks shrinking and those lefties looking to pump out more justice "reforms," it's far too early for the mayor to crow "We have turned the corner of crime in our city."  nypost.com


New York Governor's Anti-Theft Proposals: Empty Slogans?
Congressman Lawler Offers Sound Solution for Ending $4B in Retail Theft in NYS
Following Governor Kathy Hochul's declared war against shoplifters in her 2024 State of State address yesterday, Congressman Mike Lawler offers the logical solution that should be obvious to anyone with an honest intent to stop shoplifting.

"If you want to stop shoplifting," Lawler states on X, "here's novel concept: prosecute criminals and implement jail time. $4 billion in retail theft last year with no end in sight."

The sound logic was posted this morning in response to the governor stating the obvious regarding the fact that shoplifting has gotten so bad that many products in stores re kept under lock and key. Yet, her solutions do nothing to get to the root of the problem.

While Hochul's big revel yesterday of how she is going to combat escalating retail theft includes additional penalties for offenders who assault retail workers, there is no mention of the simple solution Lawler brought up after hearing all of the governor's empty slogans.

Other empty initiatives that will do nothing to address the fact that catch-and-go practices do nothing at all to hinder the explosion in crime that is driving honest businesses into the ground include:

• Providing tax credit to help store owners cover security costs and the financial loss resulting from shoplifting.

• Forming new joint state, local, and federal retail theft operation.

• Expanding the work of Crime Analysis Centers, which collect evidence from retailers victimized by organized crime.

• Nothing was mentioned bout tougher penalties. All of the many new initiatives re simply bandits for the gaping wounds shoplifting is wreaking cross the state. rocklanddaily.com


80+ Cities in California Band Together to Fight Retail Crime
California cities unite to tackle soaring retail theft crisis

The cities' actions are driven by alarming statistics and a statewide response.

The California Contract Cities Association (CCCA) is taking a bold stand against the rising tide of retail theft plaguing local communities. Committed to fostering safer neighborhoods and shielding businesses from harm, the CCCA is actively engaging in the pursuit of policy solutions.

Its proactive stance is now evident as it seeks participation in discussions led by the California Assembly's Select Committee on Retail Theft. CCCA legislative chair, John Erickson, reveals startling figures: California law enforcement has made more than 1,250 arrests linked to retail theft since 2019, with recovered stolen goods valued at a staggering $30.7m.

Statewide response and advocacy

California authorities are allocating $267m through the governor's Real Public Safety Plan to bolster law enforcement capabilities and combat organized retail theft. The funds aim to enhance patrols, acquire surveillance equipment, and bring perpetrators to justice.

Formation of select committee marks turning point

The CCCA commends the establishment of the Select Committee on Retail Theft, scheduled to convene throughout the 2024 legislative session. This initiative aims to engage stakeholders and formulate policy solutions to address the crisis.

A unified front for safer retail environments

By working collaboratively with the State Legislature, the CCCA seeks to advocate for robust policy solutions. Representing more than 80 cities in California, the association aims to create a safer retail landscape and foster a secure environment throughout the state. retail-insight-network.com


UK Retailers Using Facial Recognition to Fight 'Shoplifting Epidemic'
London shops deploy facial recognition in theft epidemic
London is in the grip of a shoplifting epidemic that's seen a huge spike in crimes over the past year. Evening Standard crime correspondent Anthony France reports how store theft in the capital now costs retailers over £9 million every month as offences soared by almost 50 per cent.

It comes as the head of the British Retail Consortium, writing in this newspaper, reveals how "violence, abuse and theft are all significantly up on pre-Covid levels". Helen Dickinson says thieves are becoming bolder and more aggressive, contributing to what she calls "a torrent of violence and abuse" against shop staff".

But Dickinson adds that only seven per cent of violent and abusive incidents leading to prosecution - with the figure even less for shoplifting. Increasingly brazen thieves are bursting into stores with wheelie bins, suitcases and holdalls to clear shelves of items.

Staff who try to intervene are subjected to racist and sexist slurs, threats and violence. One inner London Co-op supermarket was looted three times in one day by organised gangs.

Facial recognition technology trials are being promoted as a possible solution to help stop shoplifters - although privacy campaigners warn increasingly saturated CCTV comes at the expense of the civil liberties.

Meanwhile, out on the capital's streets, Londoners with high-value watches continue to be targeted in violent robberies. uk.news.yahoo.com


50% Decrease in Law Enforcement Deaths - 124 Deaths in 2023
12 Deaths in December: 4 Gunfire, 3 Heart Attack, 5 Auto/Vehicle-Related
In December, twelve law enforcement officers died in the line of duty. The cause breakdown (December 2023 only) is: 4 gunfire, 3 heart attack, 3 automobile crash, and 2 vehicular assaults. This means that the year-to-date total for line of duty deaths is at 124, a 50% decrease from the same time last year.

The Officer Down Memorial Page extends our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and agencies who lost a loved one to a line of duty death this past month. We encourage our supporters to read the memorials of each of the officers who died in the line of duty. odmp.org

Another State Rolling Out Legislation to Fight ORC
Maryland: Lawmakers passing legislation to reduce retail organized crime
Retail owners have expressed concerns to Maryland lawmakers about organized retail theft that they say is going unpunished. State Senator Ron Watson is sponsoring SB 100. The legislation aims to combine multiple individuals working together to steal, as one offending group. The idea is to reduce the repeat offenders who are using the law to their advantage, say lawmakers.

The bill would also include the damage caused during smash and grab thefts, with the price of the stolen merchandise, for felony offenses of theft over $1,000.

"When there are a group of folks that work together in tandem to go and steal from our retailers, the arrogate amount of what they steal, if it hits $1,500 or above, everyone involved gets charged with felony theft," Sen. Watson said.

Retailers are also asking for an amendment to the legislation to allow tying theft charges across state lines; they say some organized theft operations are stealing from store in different counties to avoid the felony theft charge. wmdt.com


'It's going to make people safer'
DC Councilmember Pinto introduces crime legislation
Ward 2 D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto introduced public safety legislation on Wednesday that she says will fill several gaps and make you safer. Members of the D.C. Council introduced multiple pieces of legislation last fall that got hearings and public input, with violent crime top of mind with a 39% increase last year.

The bill addresses what Pinto calls continued gaps in public safety. There's an accountability component for adults and juveniles: New felony firearm offenses, making permanent an assumption of pre-trial detention for those charged with violent crimes, establishing a new crime for organized retail theft, expanding the definition of carjacking to include if someone is near their vehicle and not necessarily in it, creating the possibility for harsher penalties for crimes involving guns. It includes more holistic components too: establishing career training programs at the D.C. Jail to improve outcomes when people are released, grant programs to improve safety in commercial corridors, giving police the ability to declare drug-free zones in crime hotspots.

Pinto says there are around 100 components in this bill meant to improve all things public safety. fox5dc.com


Oklahoma tries to tackle trend of shoplifters targeting local stores

The View from the Left: The Shoplifting 'Epidemic' is a Lie

eBay Fined $3M Over 'Harassment Campaign' By Security Executives
eBay Inc. to Pay $3 Million in Connection with Corporate Cyberstalking Campaign Targeting Massachusetts Couple
BOSTON - eBay Inc., the global ecommerce company, has agreed to pay a $3 million criminal penalty for an August 2019 harassment and intimidation campaign targeting a Massachusetts couple in retaliation for their online coverage of eBay, and for its obstruction of the investigation that followed.

eBay was charged criminally with two counts of stalking through interstate travel, two counts of stalking through electronic communications services, one count of witness tampering and one count of obstruction of justice and has entered into a deferred prosecution agreement. Pursuant to the agreement, eBay admitted to a detailed recitation of all the relevant facts about its conduct and agreed to pay a criminal penalty of $3 million, which is the statutory maximum fine for these six felony offenses. As part of this resolution, eBay will also be required to retain an independent corporate compliance monitor for a period of three years and to make extensive enhancements to its compliance program.

"eBay engaged in absolutely horrific, criminal conduct. The investigation led to felony convictions for seven individuals, all former eBay employees or contractors, and the ringleader was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison."

Levy continued, "Today's criminal resolution with the company imposes the maximum fine that the law allows under the statutes, holding eBay accountable for a corporate culture that led to this unprecedented stalking campaign. The corporate monitoring of eBay will be in place for the next three years and will ensure that eBay's senior leadership sets a tone that makes compliance with the law paramount, implements safeguards to prevent future criminal activity, and makes clear to every eBay employee that the idea of terrorizing innocent people and obstructing investigations will not be tolerated."

According to eBay's admissions, between approximately Aug. 5, 2019 and Aug. 23, 2019, Jim Baugh, eBay's former Senior Director of Safety and Security, and six other members of eBay's security team targeted the victims for their roles in publishing a newsletter that reported on issues of interest to eBay sellers. Senior executives at eBay were frustrated with the newsletter's tone and content, and with the comments posted beneath the newsletter's articles. The harassment campaign arose from communications between those executives and Baugh.

Baugh and his co-conspirators executed a harassment campaign intended to intimidate the victims and to change the content of the newsletter's reporting.

Click here to read the full story, including the list of ex-eBay Security executives involved, pleas, sentences & awaiting sentencing + previous coverage. justice.gov


Walmart Hit With $100M Lawsuit Over 'False Shoplifting Incident'
Texas man suing Walmart asks for $100M or unlimited free shopping for life
A Texas man is suing Walmart in federal court and seeking $100 million in damages or free unlimited shopping at any of its stores for life.

Roderick Jackson, of Waskom, Texas, filed two handwritten complaints saying he was suing Walmart for an incident that took place at a store in Omaha, Nebraska, in March 2021.

One complaint was over a "false pretense of shoplifting" and the other claims he "suffered civil rights violations based on race/color."

In addition to money, Jackson is asking for Walmart to pay all court fees associated with the lawsuit. Court records show that Walmart has not yet been served with the lawsuit.

Nexstar's KNWA reached out to Walmart for comment, and the retail giant released the following statement: "We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind. We are aware of Mr. Jackson's complaint and intend to defend the company against the allegations once we have been served."  wgntv.com


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OSHA Record Keeping & Reporting Cheat Sheet
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