Three Strategies to Combat ORC
Retail resilience: Technology strategies to combat organized theft
Law enforcement and retailers can work together proactively to overcome ORT risks and deter criminal activity. Today's technology can help by improving processes and strengthening communication between agencies and businesses. Below are three strategies that leverage innovative solutions to combat organized retail theft (ORT) and foster better collaboration between police agencies and businesses.

1. Streamlining incident reporting

Due to the high volume of both emergency and non-emergency calls occupying ECC lines, retailers may experience extended wait times that can lead to frustration and underreporting. Online incident reporting systems instead allow businesses to submit reports quickly - without waiting on hold. Reporting parties can even upload digital evidence, such as surveillance video footage, to assist officers with their cases. This process improves the quality of service for businesses and frees up officers to focus on investigations instead of paperwork.

2. Improving data sharing

Once reports are approved and assigned a case number, they are integrated into the agency's record management system (RMS) and shared with relevant task forces and officers. Retailers can consider partnering with local agencies to introduce dedicated loss prevention officer (LPO) portals for more seamless information sharing when reporting and providing evidence in ORT cases.

3. Strengthening victim notification and communication
 
Building trust between retailers and law enforcement starts with transparent and consistent communication. Victims can understandably feel frustrated when they don't know when officers will arrive, the status of their investigations, or what steps are being taken to resolve their case. Automated victim notification systems bridge this gap by providing regular status updates about each case - from the initial report submission to the final resolution. This level of transparency mirrors the standards that consumers have come to expect from any organization and fosters stronger mutual trust within the community.

Empowering retailers:  securitymagazine.com


Railroads Upgrade Security Tech to Fight Cargo Theft
Union Pacific clamps down on cargo theft

Railroad deploys drones and cameras, updates security advice to shippers.

In response to rising cargo theft events, railroad operator Union Pacific is fighting back on two fronts, including technology and security investments as well as tight coordination with the shippers who supply the precious goods it carries.

The actions come as cargo theft is on the rise in seemingly every corner of the supply chain, from retail stores to trucks, warehouses, and even railroads.

In response, Omaha, Nebraska-based Union Pacific says it has invested more than $30 million since January of 2023 on security projects like 24/7 camera units and strengthened fences. The company has also launched drones with thermal imaging capabilities that can fly surveillance missions to identify would-be trespassers who get too close to its mainline tracks, rail yards and infrastructure.

But on top of those physical defense, the company says it has also redoubled efforts to work with shippers. Recommended security strategies include strengthening the locks on containers against bolt-cutters, and attaching GPS sensors to cargo to identify real-time threats both on and off the railroad.

Union Pacific also offers a list of "Shipping Do's and Don'ts" to shippers before they send their shipments. dcvelocity.com


Some Products Becoming 'Easy Targets' for Cargo Thieves
Rising prices make certain commodities more appealing to cargo thieves
A recent cargo theft in Pennsylvania involving 100,000 organic eggs has highlighted how adept thieves are at staying on top of market trends.

Danny Ramon is the head of intelligence and response with Overhaul, an Austin, Texas-based company providing "supply chain visibility and risk-monitoring solutions for in-transit shipments." Ramon said that a rapidly evolving market can lead to certain commodities becoming "easy targets" due to them not having been traditionally sought after.

"Criminals are getting more sophisticated at liquidating their stolen goods," Ramon said during a recent interview with Land Line. "They're getting to the point where the new model is now 'criminal-to-consumer,' which reaps them a much higher profit margin than it used to when they would have to go through an intermediary. ... When they do that - when they increase the amount of money they can get for any given load - it also lowers the bar for what becomes an attractive and profitable load for them to steal."

Egg prices in the U.S. are expected to increase about 20% within the year, with overall food prices forecasted to rise by 2.2%, according to the most recent outlook from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

While eggs are currently seeing the largest spike in prices, Ramon said the fluctuating value of a number of other commodities in the food and drinks category has made cargo that once was unappealing to thieves now "worth their time."

"The bottom line is, anything that is going to effect the consumer price of something is going to effect the attractiveness to a thief," he said. landline.media


Shoplifting Surge Across the Pond
UK: Crime still gets worse | Viewpoint: Pete Cheema

Over the last two-and-a-half years, retailers have been forced to contend with a disturbing escalation in both the volume and seriousness of incidents happening in stores, and it is only getting worse.

The Scottish government's own statistics published in November last year highlighted a staggering 25% increase in shoplifting over 2024 and a 70% rise compared with September 2020.

Sadly, this is just the tip of the iceberg. The latest figures that will be published in our SGF Crime Report in March will show retail crime is now endemic in many of our towns and cities, leaving in its wake a very real human cost to staff, families, and communities.

Two examples we can share now are that 83.5% of retailer respondents to the SGF Crime Survey 2024 report an increase in violence toward shop staff in the past year, alongside an annual average price tag of about £19,673 per store, because of shop theft and vandalism.

This cannot be allowed to continue, or we will be putting the lives of retailers and staff at risk. Not to mention jeopardising the viability of these convenience stores, which provide key services that are highly valued by their local communities.

We urge the Scottish government to act now, before things get even worse and will take the opportunity to amplify this call at our crime seminar in Edinburgh on 13 March. Put simply, it's not part of the job. talkingretail.com


Walmart LP Partners with PD
Store theft reports keep police busy
New Ulm Police are crediting Walmart loss prevention staff for a large number of individuals involved with theft cases in recent months. Theft reports often center on individuals not scanning all their items are self-scanning checkouts.

The Journal reviewed New Ulm Police logs and Brown County Court records for the past three months and found 26 Walmart theft convictions. Case sentences included $8,563.22 in restitution charges, averaging $329.35 per case.

A number of convictions include anti-shoplifting course completion. The online shoplifting class is an intervention course for individuals charged with shoplifting, impulse control, or petty theft. The three-hour class covers critical topics such as victim impact, legal repercussions, types of shoplifters, and behavior-change strategies.

New Ulm Police Commander Dean Barstad praised the work of Walmart store personnel as a big reason local officers are busier with theft cases in recent months.

"I think Walmart loss prevention staff are really aware of theft and do a very good job investigating it. It's keeping us busier, especially since last spring and summer. Since November, our police have cited 60 people for theft," said Barstad. nujournal.com


Who's watching the meat at Big Y? A loss prevention specialist and a lot of cameras

San Bernardino Police Target ORC Rings and Theft Linked to Economic Hardship
 

Are You Paying Attention?
Sales Capture Activities reveal hidden inefficiencies at the register

By Johnny "JC" Custer - Senior Director, Retail Risk Solutions - ThinkLP

SCA's are the actual act of "capturing", or "ringing" sales. Whether scanning an item, hand-keying, or using a departmental key - each way an item is sold can provide a ton of actionable insights.

And it's not just for loss prevention. SCA's provide valuable data to marketing, loyalty programs, operations, store leadership, and finance teams.

SCA's break down into two categories:

1. Company Insights - How well is your business executing the sales process? 
2. Customer Insights - How are your customers behaving at checkout?

Similar to SRA's, SCA's go way beyond loss prevention. It's about profit enhancement.

Sales Capture Activity allows retailers to:

• Optimize training and cashier performance.
• Streamline transactions and improve throughput.
• Detect operational inefficiencies before they kill profit.
• Fix POS and technology failures before they cost sales.
• Improve compliance and reduce policy violations.

Modern LP leaders aren't just catching bad guys; they're driving operational improvements that strengthen the business.

See the full post here: linkedin.com


Stubborn Inflation & Tariffs Posing Headwinds for Retail
Walmart Racks Up Sales Record but Sees Slower Growth Ahead

The retail giant continues to attract shoppers from across the income spectrum, but faces headwinds from stubborn inflation and the risk of tariffs.

Walmart, the largest retailer in the United States, said on Thursday that strong holiday sales propelled its revenue to another annual record but flagged slower growth ahead, as shoppers face stubborn inflation, the uncertain impact of tariffs and a potential rise in unemployment.

Walmart, which brings in millions of customers each week, is a bellwether of U.S. consumer trends. Investors recoiled at the weaker-than-expected forecast, a rare loss of momentum for the company that has posted a series of bumper results. nytimes.com


AI Price Predictors?
Walmart to deploy AI price forecasting tool

The retailer will use tech provided by Helios to predict the price and availability of agricultural commodities.

Walmart will soon begin using software that calculates climate risk and provides price forecasting for categories like produce, according to a Tuesday announcement.

Walmart aims to improve its evaluation of medium- and long-term climate risks for the global agricultural supply chain with the software provided by Helios AI, which predicts the price and availability of agricultural commodities using climate risk and artificial intelligence.

The tech partnership comes as Walmart continues its efforts to boost sustainable sourcing. retaildive.com


UK: Tougher age checks and penalties to be introduced for online knife sales

As part of the new measures, retailers will be required to implement a mandatory two-step verification process and report customers who bulk-buy blades

Online retailers selling knives will need to carry out more stringent age verification checks in response to a government review, amid rising concerns over the standards for age and delivery checks. As part of the new measures, retailers will be required to implement a mandatory two-step verification process and report customers who bulk-buy blades, to prevent them from being sold through unregulated channels. retailsector.co.uk


List of companies pulling back on DEI, including Amazon, Google, Walmart, and Meta
Many companies have pulled back or ended DEI programs amid pressure from conservative activists and a new administration.

Saks Global to close century-old Neiman Marcus flagship in downtown Dallas

Mango to open 20 U.S. stores in 2025, with growth in these markets...