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

Axis Body Worn Camera Solutions

How body worn cameras will lead to smarter, safer cities

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

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