|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Juan Villegas, LPC promoted to Zone AP
Manager for 7-Eleven
Before his promotion to Zone Asset Protection Manager for 7-Eleven, he
served as Asset Protection Specialist for three years and Field
Consultant for nearly eight years. Prior to joining 7-Eleven, he spent
more than 13 years as Battery First Sergeant/Personal Manager for the
United States Marine Corps. Congratulations, Juan!
|
|
See All the LP Executives 'Moving Up' Here | Submit Your New Corporate Hires/Promotions or New Position
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The U.S. Crime Surge
The Retail Impact
Shoplifting & Larceny Surge - Is Bail Reform to
Blame?
Scourge of shoplifting plays new role in debate over bail changes
New data helps explain complicated picture of
retail theft across New York
After
a local man was arrested 22
times last year for shoplifting,
Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple went public with his concerns. "I know
everybody is sick of hearing about bail reform, but this goes hand and glove
with it," Apple said Thursday following a news conference at Colonie Center -
where the Macy's store at the north end was the site of many of the 22 alleged
thefts - to
push for legislation that would make it easier for judges to hold repeat
shoplifters in jail while they await trial.
Apple's comments came nearly
five years after the
Democratic-controlled state Legislature retooled the state's bail and pretrial
discovery laws as part
of an effort to reduce systemic poverty and potential injustices that can result
from excessive incarceration. But the latest attempt to rethink - or perhaps
re-rethink - the state's controversial and often politicized bail laws comes at
a delicate moment.
The latest six-month packet of state data on the issue shows
judges are, more than in
preceding years, setting bail or remanding to jail individuals awaiting trial
on one crime who are then arrested for shoplifting.
But those changes are modest and reflect substantial differences by county,
suggesting
judges or prosecutors may be interpreting the extent of their
discretion in different ways.
It also comes as instances of
shoplifting or petit larceny
remain at or near historic levels,
a fact that weighs heavily on the minds of New Yorkers as they navigate
pharmacies and department stores where household goods are often locked behind
glass.
Hochul is
calling for task forces and
special crime units to
address organized retail theft,
while also adding laws that would make it easier for district attorneys to
prosecute shoplifting rings and assaults on retail workers.
timesunion.com
Chicago's Retail Crime Task Force Seeing Results
$3.8M
Recovered in 2 Years - But More Work to Be Done
CPD uses task force to push back in battle against brazen retail burglaries
Organized Retail Crime Task Force has so far
recovered $3.8 million worth of merchandise stolen from retailers
The small team of Chicago police officers has kept busy over the last two years.
Formed in late 2021
in response to an ongoing spate of smash-and-grab burglaries,
CPD's
Organized Retail Crime Task Force
has
so far recovered $3.8 million
worth of merchandise
stolen from retailers in and around the city, according to the department.
Sgt. Ryan Delaney, who heads the
task force of fewer than a
dozen officers, said
the group's long-term investigation has
focused
largely on illegal fencing operations
- the resale of ill-gotten goods.
In the 24 months since the task force was formed, the investigation has led
officers throughout the city and suburbs, even crossing state lines. So far,
180 open cases have resulted
in an arrest, Delaney
added.
Smash-and-grab burglaries
remain relatively common
despite the dozens of arrests netted by the task force. One burglary attempt
last month, also in the Gold Coast, led to a shootout between police and the
alleged suspects.
Aside from forming the task force, CPD has tried other tactics in recent years
to tamp down the theft and violence seen in the downtown area since the summer
of 2020, when
widespread looting broke out
across the city in the wake of George Floyd's murder
by a Minneapolis police officer.
More than
7,400 burglaries were reported
citywide in 2023, a 2% decrease from 2022,
according to CPD data.
chicagotribune.com
Will Retail Theft Become a Major Presidential
Campaign Issue?
Democrats want to stop retail theft crisis to boost crime claims ahead of
election
Democrats are banking on
solutions for shoplifting,
a type of crime plaguing cities and growing in popularity,
as a way
to take away the Republicans' winning platform on public safety and criminal
justice this
election season.
Retail theft is gradually
becoming a serious problem in many Democratic-run areas,
particularly in
California, New York, and
Washington, D.C., to
name a few. Democratic leaders, who have struggled to run a platform on curbing
crime while working toward comprehensive criminal justice reform, believe a
solution to retail theft could be the key to rallying voters in the 2024
election.
In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) is looking to
toughen up criminal penalties
for shoplifting and to allocate additional funding
for preventive measures in her $233 billion budget. The governor is looking to
create new police teams focused on the matter, as well as offering a tax credit
for businesses to help bolster their security systems.
"I think this is really
smart politics from the governor,"
Democratic consultant Alyssa Cass said in an interview with Politico. "It's
taking away a big talking point for Republicans. They talk about this retail
stuff all the time."
In Washington, the Council of the District of Columbia is considering the Secure
D.C. omnibus bill, which would
lower the threshold of a felony for retail theft from $1,000 worth of
merchandise to $500,
among other provisions.
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA)
announced a
crime bill addressing retail theft earlier this month.
California prosecutors and business leaders have long criticized the state's
Proposition 47, which classifies nonviolent property crimes that do not exceed
$950 in value as misdemeanors, as "toothless" and to blame for the rise in
shoplifting and other thefts.
gazette.com
Theft Impact: Self-Checkouts Turning into '10
Items Only' Lanes
A grocery store chain is limiting how many items you can buy at its
self-checkouts as concerns over theft mount
Schnucks customers soon won't be able to buy more
than 10 items at its self-checkout.
Midwest
grocery store chain Schnucks is
putting a cap on how many
items customers can buy
at its
self-checkout.
From Thursday, self-checkout
lanes in all Schnucks stores will be limited to customers buying 10 items or
fewer, the
retailer confirmed to Business Insider. Customers with more than 10 items will
be
redirected to its staffed
checkout lanes, it
said.
"While the primary intention is to improve customer service and checkout
efficiency,
we do expect there to be some
benefits to stopping theft,"
Schnucks said in a statement. "Because self-checkouts are more susceptible to
theft, this item limit will help us maintain our costs while keeping the prices
lower for our customers."
Schnucks operates 115 stores
in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
It told BI that all its stores had self-checkouts, with between four and eight
on average at each location.
Retailers across the US are rethinking their self-checkout strategies as
companies
fear that they're facilitating
theft.
In some cases the shrink, as it's known in the industry, is intentional -
customers deliberately don't scan some items or put them through as
lower-cost products -
while sometimes it happens by accident.
businessinsider.com
Will Brick & Mortar Anti-Theft Measures Send
Shoppers Fleeing to Amazon?
Walmart customer slams store policy: 'pretty soon Amazon will have no
competition'
Customers
have blasted Walmart for their new anti-theft policies in store, with chain
store looking to curb its $100 billion shoplifting disaster.
One measure it has taken is to
lock certain items behind protective screens.
There are similar policies in place in Target and one social media user uploaded
this video to X, showcasing the huge amount of items that are now locked away.
The video focuses on the
personal hygiene aisle of the
store, showing that
toothpaste was locked behind the secure, plexiglass screens.
Replying to Melissa Jean's post, other social media users vented their anger at
these anti-shoplifting measures,
both in Target and in other
stores. One frustrated
customer warned the chain stores that these
policies
would drive shoppers away and see them instead do their shopping online.
"Walmart had socks locked up the other day. $12.00 bundles of socks.
Pretty soon Amazon is going to
have no competition,"
the social media user wrote.
There has been a "historic high" in theft across Walmart stores, according to
the chain's President and CEO Doug McMillon. "Theft is an issue. It's higher
than what it has historically been," he told CNBC.
irishstar.com
Store Shooting Prompts New Body Cam Bill in PA
PA lawmaker urges passage of body camera resolution following Fairhill corner
store shooting
State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., said it's imperative the House pass legislation
(H.R.
113) that would study and bring accountability to the
use of body-worn cameras by
law enforcement,
following the Tuesday release of surveillance footage of the shooting death of
Alexander Spencer.
"The people of the commonwealth deserve accountability from law enforcement, and
body-worn cameras are vital to the protection of both civilians and officers,"
Rabb said. "Pennsylvania deserves to know
how body cameras are being
used by our law enforcement agencies across the state, which departments are
utilizing body-worn cameras,
and how we can continue to support the individuals that have sworn to protect
and serve us."
The resolution would direct the Joint State Government Commission to
study how body-worn camera
footage is currently used and stored
in this Commonwealth and require the commission to
prepare a report assessing the
cost of filming, storing and reviewing complete body-worn camera footage,
provide recommendations on how to ensure that footage is used for the justice of
all and shielded from cyber threats, and establish an advisory committee
comprising individuals who have expertise and experience fields, positions and
situations relating to criminal justice, cyber security, ethics and law
enforcement.
pahouse.com
A 'crackdown' is underway to halt organized retail theft in Los Angeles
Trial date set for white supremacist who targeted Black shoppers at Buffalo
store
The Reason So Many Retailers Are Cracking Down on
Returns
Saks is seeing return fraud "more than double" over past few years
Retail return fraud is rising as consumers send back purchases in droves
Retail return fraud is on the rise, and companies are watching closely as many
consumers have until the end of January to send back unwanted holiday gifts.
As
more consumers shop online and send back more of those orders, retailers have
moved to crack down on fraud. In some cases,
shoppers can send back different items than the ones they bought, return stolen
items or claim a purchase never got delivered when it really did.
Retailers estimate
13.7% of returns, or $101 billion worth, were fraudulent last year,
according to a survey by
Appriss Retail and the National Retail Federation. The share of returns
expected to be fraudulent during the peak holiday season was even higher at
16.5%, or $24.5 billion worth, the survey found.
Those
goods are still flowing back in, as many retailers extend return windows for
purchases made in November and December through the end of January.
As retailers field those returns, fraud has become their top concern, industry
experts said.
"Fraud
is No. 1, and it's not even close to No. 2,"
said Vijay Ramachandran, vice president of go-to-market enablement and
experience at shipping and mailing firm Pitney Bowes.
"In cases where fraud is on the rise, like this year, what we've seen in the
data, retailers are forced to, at minimum, change their policies slightly to
accommodate for that potential fraud and abuse," according to
Michael Osborne, CEO of Appriss Retail,
which helps companies manage theft and fraud. "It does increase their costs and
essentially erode their margin."
Saks CEO Marc Metrick
said at the NRF Big Show in mid-January that while the retailer has long
received legitimate complaints from customers about missing items,
fraudulent "merchandise not received" complaints to the
company have more than doubled over the past several years.
cnbc.com
Walmart Has Weathered the Economic Storm
How Will 150 New Walmart Stores Affect the US Economy?
In a bid to expand its already significant presence,
Walmart is planning a significant escalation in its reach across the U.S.
The retail company's plans include the construction or conversion of
over 150 large-scale stores within the next half-decade. The new stores will
be predominantly new establishments, although some will be upgrades from smaller
locations to Supercenters, which offer a wide variety of groceries and products.
Walmart opted to keep the locations and cost of these new stores under wraps. As
it stands,
the company boasts over 4,600 stores nationwide, with almost 600 Sam's Club
warehouses in its portfolio.
The latter, too, is set to grow, with plans to open over 30 new additions in the
U.S. This expansion underlines Walmart's confidence in its physical stores'
future, despite facing stiff competition from e-commerce giants like Amazon and
SEHIN, and its own efforts to boost online sales and its third-party
marketplace.
The retailer has demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of the economic
climate, outperforming other retailers who have suffered due to a pullback in
discretionary spending. As the country's most prominent grocer and a favored
discounter,
Walmart has so far weathered inflation and managed to charm more affluent
households into its stores.
retailwire.com
Recession Looking Less & Less Likely
U.S. economy adds whopping 353,000 jobs in January as labor market heats up
The U.S. economy added
353,000 jobs in January, while the unemployment rate held at 3.7%,
the Labor Department said Friday. The first look at the 2024 labor market shows
it's on fire - not
slowing down as previously thought.
The January payroll figures show hiring picked up from the 333,000 added the
prior month, which itself was revised higher by 117,000. Job gains in November
were revised slightly higher, too, by 9,000 to 182,000 jobs added.
The hiring boom last month came amid
strong job gains in health care, retail and
professional and business services,
while mining and oil and gas extraction are among the sectors that shed jobs.
axios.com
But NRF Says There Are Still Some Areas to Watch
With No Sign of Recession, NRF Economist Says Labor Market and Interest Rates
Will Play Major Roles in 2024
fter a better-than-expected performance in 2023, what happens with the economy
in
2024 could depend largely on the labor market and what the Federal Reserve does
with interest rates, National Retail Federation Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz
said today.
"Federal Reserve officials have tough policy choices ahead as they decide on
what to do and when," Kleinhenz said. "There is still a risk that keeping rates
too high could curb the economy's momentum more than necessary. Yet if they
lower rates too soon, it
could allow the economy to re-inflate and make it harder to contain inflation
pressures."
nrf.com
Walgreens lays off another 145 employees
Malls are coming back - take a look inside the American Dream mall
Deloitte: Consumers value price over loyalty in 2024
Last week's #1 article --
Coordination - Aggregation - Prosecution: Keys to
Fighting Retail Crime?
Three Ways to Combat Retail Crime in 2024
Retail crime creates higher prices for
consumers, results in stores having to close their doors, and communities left
without vital goods and services.
The
U.S. Chamber of Commerce has focused intensely on addressing retail crime since
defining it as a national crisis in a letter to Congress in March 2022.
The Chamber recommends three key steps communities should take to combat retail
crime:
Coordinate resources among business and law enforcement
To effectively fight rampant crime,
local businesses must coordinate and share information on criminal strikes to
discern trends and effective responses.
This coordination can occur under the umbrella of a local chamber of commerce
like the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce's Organized Retail Crime Association or
the Ohio Chamber's Crime Task Force. Gathering local businesses, law
enforcement, and policymakers in one setting dedicated to confronting crime
fosters shared solutions that can increase community detection and quicken
response efforts.
Aggregate offenses to punish repeat offenders
-
Prosecute aggressively to combat lawlessness:
uschamber.com
|
|
All the News - One Place - One Source - One Time
Thanks to our sponsors/partners - Take the time to thank them as well please.
If it wasn't for them The Daily wouldn't be here every day for you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Axis Body Worn Camera Solutions
How body worn cameras will lead to smarter, safer cities
By
Andreas Göransson, Manager, End Customer Marketing
- Axis Communications
With our
body worn camera solutions, we have an eye not only on the immediate
benefits body worn cameras can bring to law enforcement and private security
companies, but other areas of life where the presence of a body worn camera can
have a positive impact.
The urban environment is an obvious place where body worn cameras will have a
significant and increasing presence, and once which will help cities reach goals
in security and safety. Indeed, as a greater proportion of the world's
population increasingly lives in cities, safety and security are high on the
agenda of citizens in relation to the perception of a city's livability and
attractiveness.
Capturing evidence and affecting behavior
The presence of a body worn camera can improve behavior of both citizens and the
wearer of the camera, which can not only reduce the number of incidents, but
also the number of complaints against officers. Both are positive factors in the
sense of city livability.
In addition, footage from body worn cameras can be extremely useful in
situational training and evaluation. Using real-world footage of the management
of incidents - including both seeing and hearing how law enforcement or security
personnel managed a particular situation - greatly enhances the brings to life
the theoretical taught in the classroom.
Body worn beyond law enforcement and security
Unfortunately, a fact of urban life can be verbal and physical abuse of workers
perceived to be in positioning of authority, or a focal point of citizen
frustration. Public transport operatives and ticket inspectors, emergency
services personnel, healthcare professionals, teachers, utility workers and many
others can become targets for aggression and abuse, and while it's often borne
out of citizen frustration and stress, it is clearly entirely inappropriate.
The
mere presence of a body worn camera and the knowledge that a citizen is being
filmed can have a calming effect, reducing the likelihood of an incident
escalating to abuse and violence and overall levels of antisocial behavior. The
increased feeling of safety and security for the wearer should also not be
underestimated, and their increased confidence in doing their job can lead to
more positive interactions with the public. And again, the footage from body
worn cameras can be an invaluable enhancement to training courses for employees
across multiple city functions and roles.
We're early into our journey into the body worn camera segment, but the
potential for improving the lives of citizens and workers in our urban
environments is clear and exciting.
Read the full article here
Do you have a smart
city agenda? Here is eight key reasons why Axis is the perfect solution provider
to your smart city:
Read the 2022/23 Axis Smart City Magazine |
|
|
|
|
|
|
International Cybercriminal Takedown
Interpol's 'Synergia' Op Nabs Dozens of Cybercriminals, Zaps Global C2s
The largest number of takedowns in Africa were
in South Sudan and Zimbabwe.
An
operation to combat the surge of phishing, banking malware, and ransomware
attacks worldwide
saw command-and-control (C2) servers taken down across Africa and the Middle
East.
The
Interpol-led Synergia operation
involved 60 law enforcement agencies, including 17 from across the Middle East
and Africa (MEA) region.
The largest number of takedowns in Africa were in South Sudan and Zimbabwe, and
they resulted in four arrests. Kuwait law enforcement meanwhile worked closely
with ISPs to "identify victims, conduct field investigations, and offer
technical guidance to mitigate impacts," according to Interpol.
Interpol worked with local law enforcement and outside cybersecurity firms on
the effort (including Group-IB, Kaspersky, ShadowServer, Team Cymru, and
TrendMicro).
The operation ran from last September through November, and resulted in the
arrests of 31 individuals globally,
and the identification of an additional 70 suspects.
The Synergia operation also
identified malicious infrastructure and resources in more than 50 countries,
distributed
across more than 200 Web hosting providers around the world.
So far, 70% of the command-and-control (C2) servers have been taken offline, and
the rest are under investigation.
"The results of this operation, achieved through the collective efforts of
multiple countries and partners, show our unwavering commitment to safeguarding
the digital space," said Bernardo Pillot, assistant director to Interpol
Cybercrime Directorate, in a statement. "By dismantling the infrastructure
behind phishing, banking malware, and ransomware attacks,
we are one step closer to protecting our digital ecosystems and a safer, more
secure online experience for all."
darkreading.com
Ethical AI
Proof of Concept: How Do We Ensure Ethical AI Systems?
In the latest "Proof of Concept," Sam Curry of Zscaler and Heather West of
Venable assess
how vulnerable AI models are to potential attacks, offer practical measures to
bolster the resilience of AI models and discuss how to address bias in training
data and model predictions.
Anna
Delaney, director, productions; Tom Field, senior vice president, editorial; Sam
Curry, vice president and CISO, Zscaler; and West, senior director of
cybersecurity and privacy services, Venable - discussed:
•
Methodologies for assessing the vulnerability of AI models;
•
How to evaluate and mitigate privacy concerns in AI systems;
•
How to identify and address biases in training data and model predictions.
Curry previously served as chief security officer at Cybereason and chief
technology and security officer at Arbor Networks. West focuses on data
governance, data security, digital identity and privacy in the digital age at
Venable LLP.
careersinfosecurity.com
CISO: The Cyber Incident 'Fall Guy'?
The CISO Role Undergoes a Major Evolution
When CISOs are hired, they're often described as being responsible for
implementing effective security, information security, and risk management
frameworks at their organizations. But lately, some might say the CISO the
job description should include "Fall guy in the face of a cyber incident"
in the wake of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charges against the
SolarWinds CISO.
A CISO is an essential decision-maker regarding every security matter at an
organization. But now, even though SolarWinds is trying to get the SEC suit
dismissed, there's a precedent around personal legal responsibility for breaches
and attacks, and some say that's
created a deterrent for the CISO role at public companies.
With this new responsibility top of mind, it's a good time to talk about what it
takes to be a good CISO - and where the job goes beyond the description. For
instance,
ensure you have a strong team around you. Assume that accountability rules could
change at any time. And know that being "on" all the time is part of the role.
darkreading.com
Unpacking the challenges of AI cybersecurity
UK: AI and cybersecurity in the retail sector webinar |
|
|
|
|
|
The Global Fight Against Fake Reviews & Hidden
Charges
UK: Fake reviews and hidden online charges to be banned under new rules
Drip pricing is said to cost consumers £2.2bn, with entertainment providers,
hospitality and transport sectors all using the practice
Fake reviews and unavoidable hidden online charges - which cost consumers £2.2bn
a year - are to be
banned under new laws to force businesses to be more clear with shoppers.
Under the new rules, which will become law as part of the digital markets,
competition and consumers bill currently progressing through parliament,
mandatory fees must be included in the headline price or at the start of the
shopping process,
including booking fees for cinema and train tickets.
However, optional fees such as airline seat and luggage upgrades for flights - a
huge revenue generator for airlines - will not be included in the measures.
Drip pricing occurs when consumers are shown an initial price for an item or
service, only to find additional fees are revealed later in the checkout
process.
Research suggests that drip pricing, where consumers are shown an initial cost
only to find unavoidable fees added later, is widespread. More than half of
entertainment providers,
56% of the hospitality industry, and 72% of the transport and communication
sectors use the practice,
according to the government.
Some analysts think that about one in seven reviews in the UK are not the real
deal, with
blame often directed at groups that proliferate on social media.
theguardian.com
Using Generative AI in the E-Commerce Space
Amazon announces AI shopping assistant called Rufus
Amazon on Thursday announced Rufus, a shopping
assistant that uses generative artificial intelligence to help users search for
products.
Amazon on Thursday announced a new
artificial intelligence assistant for shopping called Rufus.
The tool is designed to help users search and shop for products. Shoppers type
or speak a question into the search bar in Amazon's mobile app and a chat window
will appear at the bottom of their screen. Users can ask conversational
questions such as, "What are the differences between trail and road running
shoes?" or "Compare drip and pour-over coffee makers."
"Rufus meaningfully
improves how easy it is for customers to find and discover the best products
to meet their needs," Amazon said in a blog post.
Rufus uses Amazon's product catalog, customer reviews and Q&As, as well as
information from across the web to answer questions, the company said.
Amazon said it's testing the feature with a small subset of users in the U.S.
but
intends to roll it out nationwide in the coming weeks.
cnbc.com
Is the $139 Amazon Prime Subscription Still Worth It?
Jeff Bezos may cash out billions in Amazon stock this year |
|
|
|
Los Angeles County, CA: DA files 200 cases to fight against Organized Retail
Theft
The
Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced on Thursday that it had
filed nearly 200 cases throughout 2023 to fight against organized retail theft.
"Organized retail theft is not a victimless crime, it harms our community's
sense of security while shopping at these retailers, and the ability for local
businesses to succeed," District Attorney George Gascón said. "When we saw a
rise in organized retail theft crimes, I committed to holding these individuals
accountable." The string of organized retail thefts caused millions of dollars
of losses for businesses and frightened shoppers when the thieves ravaged
department stores in broad daylight during flash mob robberies. One of the most
notable cases was the heist at the West Topanga Shopping Center when at least 20
people stormed through a Nordstrom and stole nearly $300,000 in merchandise,
according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The robberies prompted law
enforcement from all over LA County to band together and form an Organized
Retail Theft Task Force. "Organized retail theft stole the feeling of safety and
security from Angelino's and business owners alike last year," said LAPD Chief
Michel Moore. "This regional organized retail theft task force has restored much
of this, although, there is work still to be done."
The Los Angeles Sheriff's
Department said that the task force is responsible for 438 arrests in 309 cases
that have been filed to the district attorney.
We are not only focused on the individuals responsible for the thefts, but those
that are in the criminal chain-the getaway drivers, those that harbor them, and
those that sell the stolen merchandise," LASD Major Crimes Acting Captain Rob
Peacock said. "These individuals need to understand that there will be
consequences-we will use all our resources to identify, pursue, and arrest these
suspects."
cbsnews.com
Leesburg, VA: Two Alleged Shoplifters Charged in $158,000 Organized Crime
Investigation
The Leesburg Police Department has arrested two suspects in a local Oct. 27,
2023, shoplifting case who investigators say were involved in the theft of
merchandise valued at more than $158,000 in three states. Roxana Dumitru, 29,
and Ionut-Robert Ionescu, 30, both of Laurel, MD, are charged with grand larceny
and larceny with the intent to sell, both felonies, following the investigation
of thefts at the Ulta store in the Village at Leesburg. In that case, the pair
allegedly stole merchandise valued at more than $6,400. Dumitru was arrested
Jan. 26 in Prince George's County, MD, and was held at the Prince George's
County Detention Center. Ionescu was arrested Jan. 27 in Orange County, CA. Both
await extradition to Virginia. According to the department, investigators have
connected the suspects with other similar crimes and said
the couple is responsible for
the organized retail theft of more than $158,000 from stores in Virginia,
Maryland, and North Carolina.
"In the fight against organized retail theft, it is essential to recognize that
this is not a victimless crime," Police Chief Thea Pirnat stated. "Every stolen
item represents more than just a loss for businesses; it impacts the livelihoods
of hardworking individuals and jeopardizes the economic health of our
community." The
department was supported in the investigation by Ulta Loss Prevention officers,
Homeland Security Investigations, the Prince George's County (MD) Police
Department, and the Buena Park (CA) Police Department.
loudounnow.com
Miami, FL: DOJ: Final Member of Cargo Theft Ring Convicted of Stealing 19,000
Pounds of Perry Ellis Perfume Worth Over $230,000
The evidence at trial revealed that Eligio Bacallao, 69 and his co-conspirators
stole over $230,000 of Perry Ellis perfume, weighing in at over 19,000 pounds,
from the inside of a steel-sealed, GPS-monitored tractor trailer in April 2016.
The shipment was destined for Laredo, Texas, but 22 of the 24 pallets of perfume
never left Hialeah, Florida because of the theft. Two of Bacallao's
co-conspirators were previously found guilty for their roles in the theft, in
July 2017. U.S. District Judge Joan A. Lenard is scheduled to sentence Bacallao
on April 10, 2024. The defendant is facing a total statutory maximum penalty of
10 years' imprisonment.
justice.gov
Los Angeles, CA: Man arrested for allegedly stealing $31,000 worth of Target
merchandise in Silver Lake
A man was taken into custody in connection with multiple thefts totaling
approximately $31,000 worth of merchandise that occurred within seven months at
a Target store in the Silver Lake area, police announced Thursday. According to
the Los Angeles Police Department, Brandon Krause, 34, was arrested Wednesday
afternoon in the parking lot of the store in the 600 block of North Dillon
Street, after he allegedly walked out with more than $700 worth of merchandise
without paying. He was booked on suspicion of grand theft and was being held on
$35,000 bail, police said.
cbsnews.com
San Francisco, CA: Group of Suspects Ransacks and Robs Walgreens
The
Walgreens at Castro and 18th streets was robbed Tuesday night by an organized
group of smash-and-grabbers who came with garbage bags to fill. A bystander took
video of the robbery, obtained by KRON4, which shows the group of about eight
young-looking, masked thieves who exited the store with an untold amount of
merchandise. A photo from inside the store shows what appears to be a cosmetics
aisle ransacked, with whole shelves cleared. As with many group retail
burglaries like this, no one tries to stop the thieves, and they just walk out.
Another Walgreens further up Castro Street, in Noe Valley, was hit with a
similar burglary by about 15 suspects in November.
sfist.com
Buffalo, NY: 'Not going to tolerate this': Buffalo man pleads guilty in
connection to organized retail theft ring
The Erie County District Attorney's Office announced that 45-year-old Rico D.
Small of Buffalo pleaded guilty in Erie County Court to one count of enterprise
corruption. The district attorney's office said Small admitted to being a member
of a local organized theft ring. He oversaw the operation of the group and
employed others to steal from various retailers throughout Erie County in
exchange for financial compensation. Small, working in concert with others, sold
the stolen merchandise for profit. The Erie County District Attorney's Office
announced that 45-year-old Rico D. Small of Buffalo pleaded guilty in Erie
County Court to one count of enterprise corruption. The district attorney's
office said Small admitted to being a member of a local organized theft ring. He
oversaw the operation of the group and employed others to steal from various
retailers throughout Erie County in exchange for financial compensation. Small,
working in concert with others, sold the stolen merchandise for profit.
According to the district attorney's office, this is the first time someone has
been charged with enterprise corruption in connection to retail theft in Erie
County. Police said the group is believed to be responsible for up to half of
the organized retail theft in Erie County lately and adds up to hundreds of
thousands of dollars in stolen goods, possibly topping $1 million. Small was
held on bail set at $200,000 cash or bond. He is scheduled to be sentenced on
March 6 and faces a maximum of 25 years in prison.
wkbw.com
Berkeley, CA: Two Teens arrested after $18,000 theft from Berkeley Lululemon
Riverton, WY: Man Faces Up To 10 Years In Prison For Shoplifting Tide Pods;
Repeat offender
Philadelphia, PA: Philly cargo thieves make off with $20K in frozen meat
Milford, DE: State Police Arrest Milford Man for $4000 Lowe's Theft
Mt. Laurel, NJ: Police Suspects Tried Stealing Nearly $1K in Fire Alarms at Home
Depot
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shootings & Deaths
Baltimore, MD: Royal Farms Security Guard convicted in Baltimore shooting
sentenced to 60 years in prison
A Baltimore judge sentenced a Royal Farms security guard who fatally shot a man
at a Southwest Baltimore store in October 2022 to 60 years in prison Thursday.
Circuit Judge Kendra Ausby ruled that Kanisha Spence, 45, will receive the
maximum sentence for charges of second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in
the commission of a crime of violence. In August, a jury convicted Spence on
those two counts but acquitted her of first-degree murder, which carries a
maximum sentence of life without parole. During trial, Spence's attorney Roya
Hanna said she was acting in self-defense when she shot Marquise Powell in the
head Oct. 30, 2022, following an argument. Powell died six days later at
University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center. Prosecutors called the death an
execution.
baltimoresun.com
Old Bridge, NJ: NJ teen charged with murder in hit-and-run following altercation
with Wawa employee
A 17-year-old teen from Old Bridge was charged with murder in an altercation
with a Wawa employee last month, according to prosecutors. Officials say the
teen and Andrew Padulano, 61, got into an altercation on Dec. 4, 2023, outside
of the Old Bridge convenience store on Route 34. That's when officials say the
teen hit Padulano with his Ford truck. After striking Padulano, prosecutors say
the teen fled the scene. He was arrested and later released by the court.
Padulano, of Old Bridge, sustained serious injuries and was transported to
Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge and later transferred to Jersey Shore
Regional Medical Center to receive treatment. Officials say he died last week
from his injuries related to the crash. Charges against the juvenile were
upgraded to first-degree murder and second-degree leaving the scene of a crash
resulting in death, according to prosecutors. The teen remains on home detention
and will return to court in February.
newjersey.news12.com
Oconee County, SC: Woman hit, killed in Food Lion parking lot
A woman died Wednesday after being hit by a vehicle while leaving an Oconee
County grocery store. The Oconee County Coroner's Office said a 79-year-old
woman was leaving the Food Lion on Bilo Place and walking back to her vehicle
when she was struck around 11:30 a.m. The coroner said the vehicle fled the
scene but has since been located. The woman was taken by helicopter to Oconee
Memorial Hospital where she died a short time later. South Carolina Highway
Patrol is investigating the crash.
wspa.com
Memphis, TN: MPD arrests second person involved in Bel Air Mall shootout
MPD arrested a second suspect in the Bel Air Mall shooting on Jan 11. Police
identified Travell Ward, 19, as one of the individuals involved in the incident.
Ward was taken into custody on Jan. 31 and is charged with two counts of
shooting into a building, according to the jail log. No injuries were reported.
fox10tv.com
Cave Creek, AZ: Man admits to firing shots to 'scare' Cave Creek Walmart
employees after argument
A 19-year-old man is in custody, accused of shooting at loss prevention
employees after an argument at a Cave Creek Walmart store Sunday evening.
According to police documents, the incident occurred around 5 p.m. at the store
located near Cave Creek Road and Carefree Highway. Investigators learned that
two men were inside the store
when they were approached by employees while allegedly attempting to shoplift.
The employee reportedly convinced the men to pay for the items and the men left
the store. Police say one of the men then got into an argument with the
employees in the parking lot, pulled out a handgun, and fired several shots
toward the employees. Detectives later served a search warrant on the
suspect's home and the suspect barricaded himself inside. After several hours of
negotiation, he was taken into custody. Multiple weapons were found in the
suspect's home. The suspect told police he was "being harassed by the store's
loss prevention... and decided to confront them," police documents say. He
reportedly admitted to firing shots toward the front doors of the store "in
order to scare" them. The store was left with multiple broken doors and damage
to the walls and trim. No one was hurt during the incident.
abc15.com
Robberies,
Incidents & Thefts
Auburn Hills, MI: Suspects arrested after allegedly stealing $170K in jewelry
from smash-and-grab robberies
Nearly $170,000 worth of jewelry was stolen and recovered after the arrest of
six suspects in connection to multiple smash-and-grab robberies, the Troy Police
Department said. On Jan. 13, there was a smash-and-grab robbery at the Helzberg
Diamonds in the Great Lakes Crossing Mall in Auburn Hills. Three men were
wearing hoodies and surgical masks, entered the store, smashed the cases, and
stole several thousand dollars worth of jewelry, police said. The suspect
vehicle was identified and was registered to a rental company. A short time
later, the vehicle was returned to a Lansing rental location, and a new vehicle
was rented, investigation shows. On Jan. 22, the Troy Special Investigative Unit
was notified by the Lansing Mall of a smash-and-grab at Kay Jewelers. During
this time, the Eaton County Sheriff's Office found out the suspect vehicle from
the theft was the recently rented vehicle. Further investigation showed it was
the same group responsible for a total of six robberies in Michigan and Ohio.
cbsnews.com
Pineville, NC: Attempted Smash And Grab Robbery Happened At Jewelry Store Inside
Carolina Place Mall
Witnesses tell WCCB that an attempted smash and grab robbery just happened at a
jewelry store inside Carolina Place Mall in Pineville. The incident happened
before 11am. Witnesses on the scene say they heard loud noises. Witnesses also
say mall security and police determined someone tried to smash the glass to one
of the jewelry cases inside Diamonds By David at the mall.
wccbcharlotte.com
Uniondale, NY: 2 people wanted for robbing Macy's at Roosevelt Field Mall
According to police, two people walked into Macy's and started taking and
concealing several items. The pair tried to leave and two loss prevention
employees approached them, officials say. A struggle ensued and the woman
started pushing and kicking the security officer. Both suspects ran off toward
the blue parking garage. As News 12 has reported, there have been several
incidents at the mall in recent months.
longisland.news12.com
Blount County, AL: FedEx driver accused of dumping $40,000 worth of packages is
ordered to pay $805
A 22-year-old FedEx driver dumped 400 packages worth nearly $40,000 in an
Alabama ravine in 2021, deputies said. Now, he's been ordered to pay $805. Four
out of five theft charges against him were dropped, and he pleaded guilty on
Jan. 10 to one count, which was reduced to a misdemeanor in the plea agreement,
the Blount County clerk's office told McClatchy News. The charges stem from a
series of incidents in November 2021 in which
the worker threw the packages
into a ravine because he said he didn't want to deliver them, the Blount
County Sheriff's Office said. When questioned,
the FedEx driver told deputies
he had been grieving the death of his uncle and was dealing with other personal
issues, Sheriff Mark Moon said in a news conference on Dec. 10. The
property where the FedEx worker dumped the packages was vacant, but the owner
was in the process of selling the land, Moon said. The owner was showing a
potential buyer around the property the day before Thanksgiving when they saw
the discarded packages.
yahoo.com
|
|
•
Auto - Elmhurst, IL -
Robbery
•
Bicycle - Richmond, CA
- Burglary
•
C-Store - Colorado
Springs, CO - Armed Robbery
•
C-Store - Buffalo, NY
- Burglary
•
C-Store - East Granby,
CT - Burglary
•
C-Store - Guilford, CT
- Burglary
•
C-Store - Salt Lake
City, UT - Armed Robbery
•
C-Store - Columbia, SC
- Burglary
•
C-Store - Aurora, CO -
Armed Robbery
•
Clothing -
Albuquerque, NM- Burglary
•
Clothing - Berkeley,
CA - Robbery
•
Dollar - Charlotte, NC
- Armed Robbery
•
Gas Station - Franklin
Square, NY - Armed Robbery
•
Gas Station -
Huntington, WV - Armed Robbery
•
Grocery - Tulsa, OK -
Burglary
•
Grocery - Mt Laurel,
NJ - Robbery
•
Guns - Oregon, WI -
Burglary
•
Hardware - Milford, DE
- Robbery
•
Hardware - Mt Laurel,
NJ - Robbery
• Jewelry - Valley
Stream, NY - Robbery
• Jewelry - Las Vegas,
NV - Robbery
•
Liquor - Boone County,
KY - Armed Robbery
•
Macy's - Uniondale, NY
- Robbery
•
Restaurant - Medford,
OR - Armed Robbery
•
Tobacco - New York, NY
- Robbery
•
Tobacco - Delhi
Township, OH - Burglary
•
Tobacco - Des Plaines,
IL - Burglary
•
Walgreens - San
Francisco, CA - Robbery |
|
Daily Totals:
• 18 robberies
• 10 burglaries
• 0 shootings
• 0 killed |
|
Click map to enlarge
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
None to report.
|
Submit Your New Hires/Promotions or New Position
|
|
|
|
|
|
Featured Job Spotlights
An
Industry Obligation - Staffing 'Best in Class' Teams
Every one has a role to play in building an
industry.
Filled your job? Any good candidates left over?
Help Your Colleagues - Your Industry - Build
a 'Best in Class' Community
Refer the Best & Build the Best
Quality - Diversity - Industry Obligation
|
|
Asset Protection Specialist
Newburgh, NY -
reposted
January 2
The Asset Protection Specialist role at Ocean State Job
Lot is responsible for protecting company assets and monitoring store activities
to reduce property or financial losses. This role partners closely with store
leadership and the Human Resources team, when applicable, to investigate known
or suspected internal theft, external theft, and vendor fraud...
|
Featured Jobs
To apply to any of today's Featured Jobs,
Click Here
|
View Featured
Jobs |
Post Your Job
|
|
|
|
|
Surveys show that happiness at work significantly improves performance and
productivity. It translates into higher energy levels, better reviews, faster
promotions, higher wages, better health and overall a better environment. While
it shouldn't be surprising it often times needs to be remembered. When fellow
executives are unhappy for long periods or with their co-workers it needs to be
addressed because productivity and overall team health will suffer. Attitudes
are contagious and happier teams produce more and have better results. Is your
team happy?
Just a Thought, Gus
|
We want to post your tips or advice... Click here
|
|
Not getting the Daily? Is it ending up in your spam folder?
Please make sure to add d-ddaily@downing-downing.com to your contact list,
address book, trusted sender list, and/or company whitelist to ensure you
receive our newsletter. Want to know how?
Read Here |
FEEDBACK
/
downing-downing.com
/
Advertise with The D&D Daily |
|