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Strengthen Retail & Law Enforcement Alliances at NRF PROTECT

Experience the NRF Fusion Center at NRF PROTECT, happening June 4-6 in Long Beach, Calif.

What is the NRF Fusion Center?

• The NRF Fusion Center is the central command center for retailers to connect with law enforcement at the federal, state and local level as well as mall security and organized retail crime associations.

How can you take advantage of it?

• Connect and Collaborate: Share valuable information, pose questions and foster stronger relationships with colleagues interested in your organization's protection.

• Strategic Discussions: Get new insights and tools to counter retail theft, fraud, cybersecurity threats and enterprise risk issues.

• Interactive Demos: Check out K-9 demonstrations by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Experience the NRF Fusion Center for free!

• Get access to the NRF Fusion Center, 220 solution providers, Exhibitor Big Ideas Sessions and networking events like the NRF PROTECT Opening Party when you register for a Free Expo Pass.

C-Stores & Gas Stations Made Up 4.5% of All Violent Crime in 2022
Convenience Store Operators Grapple With Rising Crime

According to the FBI, 4.5% of all reported violent crime in 2022 took place at a gas station or convenience store.

In the convenience channel today, retail crime, violence and theft are impacting the industry at unprecedented levels. National crime statistics from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) showed that robberies alone increased 1.3% across the country in 2022. Looking specifically at the convenience store industry, c-stores and gas stations combined were the site of 13.8% of robberies that year. According to the FBI, 4.5% of all reported violent crime in 2022 took place at a gas station or convenience store.

The National Retail Federation's "2023 Retail Securing Survey" reported that the average shrink rate for the 2022 fiscal year increased 1.6%, up from 1.4% for the 2021 fiscal year. When applied to NACS' 2022 "State of the Industry" data, where industry dollar sales were calculated at $906.1 billion, this represented a c-store industry loss of more than $40 million every day.

In the face of these statistics, convenience store retailers should take a multipronged approach to mitigating potential crime. The best first line of defense is to provide comprehensive training to employees that includes prevention and safety measures, as well as guidance on how to respond if a robbery occurs. This training should take place early in the onboarding process, ideally in an employee's first three to five shifts.

Operational training and keeping an orderly store can deter theft as well, according to Strasburger, who believes that one of the best measures convenience store operators and their store employees can take against shoplifting is ensuring shelves are stocked properly and items are front-faced so that it's obvious when something is taken off the shelf.

Some other simple measures are keeping windows clean, so nothing obstructs the line of sight to outside the store; making sure displays are where they're supposed to be and keeping aisles clear; and checking that surveillance cameras are functioning correctly.

The Role of Technology: csnews.com


Fighting Crime in C-Stores
Tackling Retail Crime With Store Design

C-store retailers should be data-driven in their efforts to assess the problem of shrink within their operations.

Shoplifting is becoming a bigger problem in retail overall, leading some big names to shutter some stores in high-crime areas, and convenience store chains are not immune to this epidemic.

So, what can be done to deter theft and crime? Owens points to store design as one piece of the equation, but it's important to remember that effectively combating shrink involves a lot more than the store itself.

Convenience retailers who want to quantify the problem, whether chainwide or store-by-store, should run internal investigations, commission third-party studies by loss-prevention experts and do deep dives into security footage to come to the table with actual data.

As c-store executives engage with their designers on new or redeveloped stores, they should discuss a few basic, orienting questions from the outset, such as:

1. What more could be done to fight shrink by adjusting basic elements such as layout, customer flow, shelf height, mirrors, lighting and the placement of gondolas, merchandise and security cameras?

2. What items are highest on the priority list of would-be thieves? What are the highest-value items in that store? How can you protect them without creating excessive waits and headaches for customers?

3. How is the overall approach to security going to work in terms of technology platforms, personnel, alarm systems, etc.?

The Self-Checkout Conundrum:  csnews.com


Shoplifting in Florida Has Dropped 30% Since 2019
"We will not tolerate retail crime ... and the lawlessness that they allow in California & New York."

Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Action to Eliminate Retail Theft
Governor Ron DeSantis announced proposed legislative action to curb the growing nationwide uptick of retail theft and porch piracy. In 2022, retailers across the country lost $112 billion to retail theft, with sharp increases in major cities like New York, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. In Florida, shoplifting has decreased by 30% since Governor DeSantis first took office.

"If you commit a crime in Florida, you are going to be held accountable," said Governor Ron DeSantis. "We will not tolerate retail crime, porch pirates and the lawlessness that they allow in California and New York."

In high-crime states like New York, retailers lost more than $4 billion, while shoplifting has increased by 63% in New York City alone. To combat this growing problem and to ensure it does not come to Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis is building on previous actions by proposing the following:

• Third degree felony if you commit retail theft with five or more individuals.
• Second degree felony if criminals use social media to solicit others to participate in retail theft.
• First degree felony if an individual commits retail theft with a firearm or has already had two or more prior convictions of retail theft.
• Reducing the stolen property value necessary to charge criminals with a felony for stealing delivered packages. flgov.com


UK's 'Project Pegasus' to Fight Surge in Shoplifting
Strategies for safeguarding retailers in challenging times

Recent data paints a concerning picture of shoplifting offences across England and Wales, with rates reaching their highest levels in two decades.

Crime statistics

According to the latest Crime Survey for England and Wales, there were over 402,000 recorded offences by Police in the year to September 2023, a significant increase from the previous 12 months' 304,459 incidents.

In October 2023, reports came in of shoplifting hitting another record high of 1,000 offences a day. A significant proportion of this is down to the value of internal theft by employees working in distribution centres and stores.

Government response

While it's commonly assumed the surge in shoplifting is a direct result of the cost-of-living crisis, evidence suggests otherwise. Approximately two-thirds of individuals stealing from local shops are repeat offenders, some with ties to organised crime.

Action is being taken to combat the rise. In October last year, the government launched an "action plan to tackle shoplifting" after increased pressure from businesses.

Known as Project Pegasus, this is a business and policing partnership that is intended to "radically improve the way retailers can share intelligence with policing, to better understand the tactics used by organised retail crime gangs and identify more offenders." This includes the development of a new information-sharing platform and training for retailers.

Need for security industry action: ifsecglobal.com


Retail Response to Time Square Store Shooting
Business Leaders See Signs of Change Despite Times Square Store Shooting
While the New York City Police Department was continuing to search for a 15-year-old suspect who shot a tourist Thursday night in a Times Square JD Sports store, two business-minded executives spoke of initiatives that have improved public safety in the neighborhood.

Times Square has a dedicated 137-person NYPD unit and two police precincts - Midtown North and Midtown South - within its borders and the police presence was slightly greater Friday, according to Tom Harris, president of the Times Square Alliance, which houses about 600 retailers. He described the shooting as "an unfortunate incident.

Harris said there have not been any other shootings in a Times Square store this year. In addition, the NYPD revealed Thursday that a police unit is being assigned to increase patrols around theaters.

Neighborhood crime rates and the conditions on the street have improved "dramatically" in the past three to four months, Blair said. Last year Midtown South robberies decreased by nearly 32 percent and burglaries were down by 38.2 percent compared to 2022, according to NYPD statistics. In addition, the annual rates for murder and rape declined by 62.5 and 39.1 percent, respectively. Petit larcenies, however, increased by 17.6 percent in the precinct.

"We're on the right track. There's a lot that's being done with the police. One of the problems that we have is with the courts that don't [always] lead to prosecution even when [some] people have [committed] multiple violations, crimes and summonses," Blair said. "It's not the police because [the robbers are sometimes] getting arrested over and over again. The judges are not holding them even in some cases where the district attorney has attempted to hold some of them."

Blair said that she and "a bunch of Midtown BIDs" [Business Improvement Districts] are advocating to state officials for legislation related to involuntary removal from the street, if someone is a harm to themselves or others.  ca.news.yahoo.com


Simple Theft Solution That Could Be Adopted Nationwide?
Beyond self-checkout: Walmart and Target take on retail theft

Both retailers have struggled with how to handle rising cases of retail theft and people trying to cheat at self-checkout.

Many retailers check to see if certain customers have a pattern of not scanning expensive items at self-checkout or leaving a few items on the bottom of their cart.

It's a challenge even for large retailers like Walmart and Target because even though they have loss prevention departments, they don't have their own police force. Neither retailer fully shares the steps it takes to prevent shoplifting and retail theft, but in some cases, store employees get the police involved.

A new program being tested by smaller retailers in the Bronx, N.Y., may actually have a solution to at least some of the retail theft problem plaguing both chains.

Small retailers try a basic tech solution

A new program being tested in the Bronx allows small retailers to use WhatsApp instead of calling 911 to communicate with the police. Retailers can upload photos and videos of shoplifters swiping merchandise in real-time. While the pilot is only weeks old, Bronx business owners say that having direct access to officers has already resulted in arrests."

Police can use the channel to identify theft patterns and find people who are exceeding the standard from a misdemeanor to a felony. It's a simple solution that could easily be applied at Target and Walmart locations. thestreet.com


Thieves Encouraged by 'No Consequences'
Retail chain CEO warns on 'brazen' theft after cameras show thieves stealing goods
The CEO of a major retail company has called on local governments to enact stronger consequences against shoplifters as retail theft continues to run rampant.

Tom Anderson, CEO of The Paper Store, has claimed retail theft has turned into organized criminal activity, making the shoplifters a lot of money at the expense of retailers. Anderson told the outlet that The Paper Store locations in Massachusetts alone have been targeted by thieves at least 17 times in the past month.

"They know there's really no consequences to their actions, so they don't have to rush. They don't have to hide it," he said.

In order to combat the theft, the CEO explained that his company has had to spend tens of thousands of dollars to protect their products with high resolution security cameras and locking security measures. While he indicated he is attempting to help local law enforcement identify the perpetrators, it is not enough.

"I think the state needs to work aggressively on this," Anderson said.

David Johnston, the NRF Vice President for Asset Protection and Retail Operations, has warned the situation "is only becoming more dire."  Ryan Kearny, the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, revealed to WBZ-TV that theft in Boston alone is up around 12%.

"The more as we treat this as a non-issue, the more brazen folks become," he told the outlet, calling for stricter laws. the-sun.com


Card networks to implement gun code in California: report
Visa, Mastercard and American Express are moving forward with use of a new gun merchant category code for credit card purchases in California, according to CBS News.

Michigan to enforce gun safety storage law following mass shootings

More than 40 violent crimes reported over the weekend in Minneapolis

RCC Retail Secure Conference | March 21, 2024 | The International Centre

Violence, vandalism, and retail theft have reached a tipping point. How can retail businesses take action to protect their frontline workers and customers? Retail Council of Canada's Retail Secure Conference is bringing leading experts on these crucial topics to its mainstage. Save $100 with early bird rates until February 21. Don't miss out!

Cobb County, GA: Sneaker consignment shop closed after $50k robbery, but clients think owners are stealing from them
Culture Atlanta sells a variety of high-end sneakers and other designer items at Cumberland Mall, but the store announced it's closing due to multiple break-ins that have resulted in stolen money and inventory. A group of consigners that say they sold merchandise in the store say they picked the store for more visibility. Many of the consigners say they work full-time selling merchandise. "I've been working so hard for this," said consigner John Gabriela. Now everything inside the store at Cumberland Mall is gone, even the signs. "I'm out about $35,000 altogether. With my brother alone, it's another $15,000," said Gabriela. "I'm getting married next month, I lost about $10,500," said consigner Stephen Kane. At least 15 consigners told Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell that they've been left in the dark about the store's closure and what will happen to their inventory. "They won't reply to any of us," said Kane. Some say they found out about the closure on Culture Atlanta's Instagram page which showed security video of someone breaking into the store. Under the security video, the store announces it's relocating due to ongoing break-ins that have resulted in stolen money and inventory. They say the burglars got away with $50,000 in cash.  wsbtv.com


Las Vegas, NV: Video shows thieves steal thousands of dollars in merchandise from Las Vegas Apple store
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department made an arrest after a pair of thieves stole thousands of dollars worth of merchandise at the Apple Store in Downtown Summerlin on Saturday. Las Vegas Real Estate Agent Bryan Lebo, who was inside the store when the theft took place, recorded it all. Video Lebo provided to News 3 shows customers and employees standing in shock, unable to do anything, as two hooded and masked individuals ripped security sensors off of several laptops inside the store. At one point Lebo says he asked as a store employee whether he should intervene and stop the thieves. However, Lebo says while he could have stepped in legally, he wasn't sure if he'd be able to, saying he did not want to escalate the scene into something worse. "It's just a statement of where we are as a society that we have allowed people to be brazen enough to take these types of circumstances and that we don't have laws to protect us as citizens," Lebo said.  news3lv.com


Washington County, UT: Woman faces charges in Washington Co. for stealing calculators
A woman with a history of stealing calculators was arrested in Washington, Utah, and is accused of being a repeat offender. Rosa Preda, 25, was arrested Sunday on suspicion of retail theft and a pattern of unlawful activity, the Washington City Police Department said. On Sunday evening, WCPD officers responded to reports that a woman, identified as Preda, had left a retail store after taking multiple expensive graphing calculators, the affidavit states. Preda reportedly has a history of retail theft. She was involved in at least three retail theft incidents, two of which occurred in Washington County and involved stealing calculators, police said. As officers were talking with the loss prevention employee, they said they found out Preda had been found in Hurricane after officers there stopped her for traffic violations. Hurricane police reportedly found 11 Casio graphing calculators in her car, worth about $1,170. Later, upon reviewing surveillance footage, police said Preda could be seen taking the calculators that were hanging on display. She initially placed the calculators in her shopping cart, concealed under a dark blanket or towel, but later put them in a large purse.  abc4.com


Reading, CA: Oroville man arrested for $5,000 grand theft, false military impersonation
Police arrested an Oroville man for stealing thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from businesses in Redding on Tuesday. At around 12:40 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 13, police received a call about a man stealing $5,000 worth of jewelry from Fetch! Body Piercing on Hilltop Drive. Witnesses reportedly saw the suspect get into a silver Jaguar and attempt to flee the area. However, police say their Neighborhood Police Unit (NPU) were in the area and pulled over the Jaguar before it left the parking lot. Officers detained the suspect, identified as Bernard Curtis, 72, of Oroville. Police say Curtis was found to be in possession of stolen property, a large amount of cash and stolen merchandise from other local businesses. Additionally, police say Curtis was intentionally dressed in a uniform that was a combination of US Navy and US army garments and rank insignias. Police say Curtis was entering businesses with a picture of his disabled son and would request money from employees to support his son's disability.  krcrtv.com


Chicago, IL: Burglars took $20,000 worth of top-shelf liquor from a Japanese steakhouse

Leesburg, VA: Mother, daughter charged with 5 counts of shoplifting totaling $1,500 at Leesburg Premium Outlets

Sioux City, IA: $1400 Walmart Theft in South Sioux City leads to Sioux City pursuit