You picked an interesting time to get involved in Retail Loss Prevention

By Judd Cain, President - North America at Auror

"You picked an interesting time to get involved in Retail Loss Prevention" was the first thing a close friend said when I explained that I had joined Auror. He has a gift for understatement.

Ensuring associate and guest safety during the pandemic has been a huge challenge for the industry, and as usual, retail professionals have risen to meet it. Unfortunately, retailers have just solved for this new normal when along comes an old problem, but on a vastly larger scale: Organized Retail Crime (ORC) and recidivist offending. It's true that AP/LP is more important than ever.

Over the last several weeks I've had the privilege of talking to dozens of people in the industry, including AP/LP practitioners, retail executives, law enforcement officers, and solution providers - an incredible array of experience and wisdom.

Besides being struck by the high level of focus and commitment coming through from everyone I talked to, I was also surprised at how consistent everyone's feedback was about the challenges that confront the industry, and what opportunities we have to deal with them. Reflecting on what I've heard, I think it all fits neatly into the well-used framework of mindset, skillset, and toolset.

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US: 78.3M Cases - 928.8K Dead - 48.2M Recovered
Worldwide: 398.8M Cases - 5.7M Dead - 318.7M Recovered

Former Senior Loss Prevention Executive
Know of any fallen LP exec? Let's remember & recognize.

Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 346   Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: 631
*Red indicates change in total deaths

Cases are one-third of the peak 3 weeks ago
Here's where the US stands on other COVID metrics
The Omicron wave of Covid-19 cases has receded significantly in the US over the past few weeks, but more people are dying each day from the contagious illness than died during the peak of the Delta wave last summer.

The mixed metrics on Covid have created a contrasting, roses-and-thorns situation for Americans. Cases are declining and the burden on hospitals is lessening even as more than 2,400 people have died every day over the past seven days.

The US is now averaging just over 290,000 new Covid-19 cases per day, according to Johns Hopkins University. That's a higher daily total than in any previous wave of Covid-19, but it's a steep drop from just a few weeks ago.

Cases now are a third of what they were three weeks ago, when the total peaked at about 800,000 new cases per day. cnn.com

The End of California's Mask Mandate - Feb. 15
California confirms it will end universal indoor mask mandate next week
California's statewide mask mandate, which requires everyone wear face coverings indoors regardless of vaccination status, will be lifted Feb. 15 as anticipated, health officials said Monday, noting that cases have dropped dramatically from the peak of the omicron surge.

It was not immediately clear whether all Bay Area counties would also lift local mask mandates, some of which have been in place for six months. Several counties previously had said they planned to align with the state and ease their mandates right away. Others have hinted that they plan to apply new metrics for removing mandates, likely based around hospitalization rates.

The easing of the state order next week will not apply to K-12 schools, where indoor masking will continue to be required for all students and staff. Face coverings also will still be required on public transportation due to a federal health order, and in certain congregate settings like nursing homes.

Also, people who are not vaccinated will still be required to wear masks indoors in all public settings.

State officials said Monday that they felt confident lifting the mask mandate next week due to improving conditions from the omicron surge, plus the expectation that children under age 5 will soon be eligible for vaccines, and that drugs to treat COVID will be more widely available.

Cases statewide have dropped by more than 60% since the peak of the omicron surge three weeks ago, and the number of people hospitalized with COVID has fallen more than 30%. Deaths were climbing until recently, but appear to have leveled off over the past few days. sfchronicle.com

New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Oregon Also Lifting Mask Mandates
Growing numbers of states saying mask mandates will end in coming weeks
With daily new coronavirus cases declining in every U.S. state over the past week, more states are opting to drop their indoor mask mandates as soon as next month, a glimpse into living with coronavirus.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced Monday that the state's indoor mask mandate will expire Feb. 15, as new cases have decreased by 65 percent. Unvaccinated people will still be required to wear masks indoors.

New Jersey, Connecticut and Delaware announced plans to drop statewide school mask mandates, while Oregon health officials said the state would drop its indoor mask mandate and school masking order by the end of March.

Infectious disease experts have warned that moving into the endemic phase of the coronavirus is a gradual process and not likely to happen overnight amid leaders hearing the exhausted demands of their constituents and adjusting public health ordinances accordingly. washingtonpost.com

Permanent Panic Buying?
Two Years Into Pandemic, Shoppers Are Still Hoarding

Bulk-buying habit is expected to stick as people eat more at home, supply remains uncertain and inflation rears up. Retailers and producers are shifting operations as a result.

Retailers and analysts predicted that the bulk buying in the early days of the pandemic, when supplies of many goods were constrained, would subside once people returned to work, stores were able to restock and vaccinations became widespread. Instead, Americans continue to stockpile food and household goods.

Many are spending more time at home and remain uncertain about product availability. Some have moved from tight-spaced apartments in cities to more spacious suburban homes, and inflation is spurring a search for savings by buying in bulk.

After more than 20 years of steady but slow sales growth, sales at bulk retailers Costco Wholesale Corp., Walmart Inc.'s Sam's Club and BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings Inc. rose 26.6% in dollars and 18% in volume during the fourth quarter of 2021 compared with the same quarter of 2019, according to IRI, far greater than any other type of retail including dollar stores, grocery, drugstores and mass merchants.

The return of bulk shopping is forcing changes at retailers, consumer-products manufacturers and appliance makers. "We thought we'd have a lull in demand because people bought so much initially. But the reality is [consumers] have established a new inventory level," and want more items stocked in their freezers, says Conagra's Mr. Nolan. wsj.com

Unvaxxed Employee Terminations
T-Mobile to terminate employees if not fully vaccinated against COVID-19
Gov. Greg Abbott has declared vaccine mandates illegal in Texas. However, private companies like T-Mobile are enforcing one for COVID-19.

An email sent to T-Mobile employees on January 28, stated workers will have until April 2 to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination and obtain a "Magenta Pass." Any employee that does not have proof of vaccination will be terminated.

For call center employees, the deadline to show proof of at least the first dose is February 21 before being put on unpaid leave.

In a statement T-Mobile sent to ValleyCentral, the company said: We understand that this is a deeply personal decision for some employees but we believe that taking this step will put us in the best position to protect our T-Mobile community. valleycentral.com

Nationwide Rollout of COVID Test Vending Machines
IBrands Global installs COVID test kit machine in Jersey store
IBrands Global, a supply chain platform and brand collective that recently acquired Vendx, an touchscreen vending machine provider, has deployed its first COVID test kit vending machine at the FindTape retail store in North Brunswick, New Jersey, according to a press release.

With a touchless system, users may scan the machine's QR code and purchase a kit using Apple Pay or credit card. IBrands Global will be alerted when machine stock is running low and refill to capacity.

The company is looking to place additional machines throughout the Tristate area, with plans to roll out additional touchless machines nationwide. retailcustomerexperience.com

Connecticut, New Jersey & Delaware set timelines to end school mask mandates

Grocery E-Commerce Surges
Walmart, Amazon lead as consumers' online grocers of choice

Nearly three-quarters of shoppers say they're e-grocery users, Chicory survey finds

Walmart stands well ahead of Amazon as consumers' main destination for online grocery shopping, according to new research from CPG/grocery digital commerce platform Chicory.

Of more than 1,000 U.S. adults polled in January, over 35% named Walmart as the retailer they use most often to buy groceries online, the third annual Chicory Online Grocery Usership Survey found. E-tail giant Amazon finished a distant second, cited by about 23% of respondents as their most-used online grocer. Third-party online grocery provider Instacart was the only other company to reach double digits, named by 10% of survey participants.

Also cited by consumers as top online grocery destinations were Target (9%), Kroger (7%), Albertsons/Safeway (3%), Stop & Shop/Giant Food (2%) and Target's Shipt delivery subsidiary (1%). About another 8% of respondents named other retailers. (*Note: Percentages are approximate.)

"Walmart and Amazon come in as the top online grocery retailers for the third year in a row," New York-based Chicory stated in the study. "Instacart, notably, held its position at No. 3. Considering Instacart has no brick-and-mortar locations, and is solely focused on grocery delivery, its place at No. 3 is impressive and reflective of the overall rise in popularity of digital grocery solutions."

As of January, 72% of shoppers surveyed by Chicory said they purchased groceries online in the past 90 days. That percentage reflects increased e-grocery use since before the pandemic, as just over 70% of consumers bought groceries online in the previous 60 days as of January 2021 and more than 50% did so as of January 2020. supermarketnews.com
 
Amazon-Peloton Buyout Deal?
Amazon, other potential buyers are courting a possible Peloton deal, per WSJ

Amazon is exploring a possible deal with Peloton, The Wall Street Journal reported.

After a rough month of tumbling shares and internal company struggles, Peloton's stock surged more than 30% on Friday after The Wall Street Journal reported several potential buyers, including Amazon, are eyeing a possible deal.

The publication reported that Amazon has spoken to advisors about a potential acquisition, though an arrangement is neither guaranteed nor imminent. Peloton is working with its own advisors as well, according to The Journal report.

Other possible buyers are also looking at acquiring the exercise-equipment creator, whose market value plummeted from nearly $50 billion last year to a current value of around $8 billion.

Other suitors could include Nike, Apple or private equity firms, the Financial Times said. businessinsider.com retaildive.com

Made-To-Order Online Shopping Is Here, But It's Just One Piece Of Retail's Sustainability Puzzle

"Operation Secret Shopper"
Escambia County, FL: State Law Enforcement Charges Two In Escambia Retail Theft Ring
Investigators with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) targeted organized retail theft rings in Escambia County as part of "Operation Secret Shopper," leading to the arrests of two people. OALE collaborated with a national retailer to identify several members of theft rings known to conceal Romex electrical wire rolls in shopping carts and pass all points of sale without paying for the items. The thieves are known to sell stolen wire directly to the public or to area metal recyclers. Law enforcement investigators used direct surveillance techniques to observe Scott Hollingsworth and two other suspects steal wire rolls and lighting valued at $2,461.42 from a local retail store. Following day, OALE law enforcement investigators observed Patrick Callahan steal wire rolls and a rug valued at $1,006.56 from a local retail store. Scott Mariane Hollingsworth, 39, was charged with felony grand theft, using or possessing the identification of another person, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Warrants are also being sought for Hollingsworth's accomplices. Patrick Michael Callahan, 62, was charged with felony grand theft, and possession of a controlled substance. Both suspects remained in the Escambia County Jail Sunday morning. Romex wire is electrical cable used to wire circuits for wall outlets, lights and more. northescambia.com

Dallas, TX: Suspect steals $100,000 worth of western clothing, boots, hats and belts
Investigators are asking for the public's help identifying someone who stole more than $100,000 of western clothing and materials, according to the Dallas Police Department. On Jan.15, around 1:20 a.m., a suspect broke into the Gomez Western Wear store located in the 1600 block of S. Buckner Boulevard in Dallas. This is just east of Umphress Park. The suspect took an assortment of clothing, boots, hats, and belts valued at over $100,000, according to police. The Dallas Police Department is asking for help identifying the burglary suspect seen in images taken from surveillance video. wfaa.com

Oak Brook, IL: Woman arrested during smash-and-grab robbery near Chicago
Bond was set at $50,000 Sunday for a Chicago woman accused of stealing more than $17,000 worth of merchandise from the Neiman Marcus store in Oak Brook. Terri Collins, 21, of the 100 block of West 110th Street, appeared in Bond Court yesterday morning where Judge Leah Bendik has been charged with one count of burglary and one count of retail theft, according to DuPage County State's Attorney's Office news release. On Feb. 5, at approximately 2:54 p.m., Collins, along with several other individuals, entered the store and met up with two males who were already in the store. Collins and the individuals with whom she entered the store, along with the two males who were previously in the store, allegedly went to a coat section of the store. Collins and the others cut the security wires off numerous Monclear coats and ran toward the store's exit. As Collins and the other individuals attempted to leave the store, a loss prevention officer knocked the items out of Collins' hands, including coats and a pair of wire cutters. She was detained at the scene while all the other individuals were able to flee prior to the arrival of Oak Brook police. Additional coats were found outside the store. shawlocal.com

Exton, PA: $10K in Merchandise Taken From Ulta Beauty
The West Whiteland Township Police Department states that thousands of dollars worth of merchandise was stolen from the Ulta Beauty store, located at 131 E. Swedesford Road in Exton, on Thursday, February 3, 2022. Authorities say that the two pictured suspects took roughly $10,000 worth of makeup before fleeing the store. West Whiteland Police are investigating. mychesco.com

Plymouth Township, PA: Police Looking For $2000 Ulta Beauty Store Theft Suspects
Local police are asking for the public's help in identifying two individuals who were caught on video stealing around $2,000 worth of merchandise from the Ulta Beauty Store on Chemical Road in Plymouth Meeting last month. patch.com

Bannock County, ID: Man who pleaded guilty to Home Depot thefts gets probation
A man who pleaded guilty to a string of thefts at a local Home Depot store has been sentenced to probation. Micael Wayne Roden, 61, was sentenced to five years of felony probation by 6th District Judge Javier Gabiola at a hearing Thursday. A two- to seven-year prison sentence was suspended, and a 120-day discretionary prison sentence was attached to the probation. Roden was arrested in June after store loss-prevention officers reported a string of about 28 thefts spanning about a year. Along with the probation, Roden has been ordered to pay $4,944.22 in fines. eastidahonews.com

Suffolk County, NY: Man Accused Of Stealing $350 In Items From Long Island Dick's Sporting Goods Store

Dallas, TX: Police searching for person suspected of stealing more than $100,00 of Western Apparel