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Greg Neforos named Director of
Operations for LPRC
The Loss Prevention
Research Council introduced its new Director of Operations, Greg
Neforos. Greg has several years of retail experience at Caleres, Chico's
FAS, Total Wine & More, IKEA, Town Sports International, and more. LPRC
is excited as he joins them to help navigate and plan the LPRC's rapid
continued growth. Congratulations, Greg!
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See All the LP Executives 'Moving Up' Here | Submit Your New Corporate Hires/Promotions or New Position
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Genetec Introduces Enterprise-Grade, Unified, SaaS Solution
Security Center SaaS redefines the possibilities for cloud-based physical
security.
 Montreal,
February 21, 2024 --
Genetec Inc. ("Genetec"),
a leading technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations,
and business intelligence solutions, today announced Security Center SaaS. Built
with cybersecurity and privacy at its core, the new offering is a massively
scalable, open, and unified software as a service solution (SaaS). Combining
access control, video management, forensic search, intrusion monitoring,
automation, and many other advanced security capabilities, Security Center SaaS
ushers in a new chapter in the technology evolution of the physical security
industry.
"The physical security industry has not been able to get cloud or software as a
service quite right, especially for enterprise customers," said Christian Morin,
Vice President of Product Engineering and CSO, Genetec Inc.
"With Security Center
SaaS, organizations are no longer beholden to proprietary or feature-poor as a
service solutions that needlessly force a choice of either all on-prem or all
cloud.
The enterprise
capabilities and open architecture of Security Center SaaS are designed to
enable
 systems
to handle complex workloads where they make the most sense to be deployed. This
flexibility addresses a longstanding need of end users and fills an important
gap in the market."
Read full press release here
The U.S. Crime Surge
The Retail Impact
Workplace Violence Laws Impacting Retail & Other
Industries
New York's Retail Workplace Violence Prevention Bill Continues Trend of State
Law Workplace Violence Prevention Measures
In response to an increase in workplace violence incidents,
many states are
enacting laws or regulations designed to prevent workplace violence-a
legislative and regulatory trend expected to continue. New York is the latest
example.
S8358, titled the "Retail Worker Safety Act,"
a bill recently introduced in the New York State Senate,
would require retail employers in New York to assess workplace violence hazards
and develop and implement comprehensive written workplace violence plans.
States are increasingly addressing workplace violence prevention, with at least
twelve states having
enacted workplace violence prevention laws or adopted regulations
applicable to healthcare settings.
OSHA
has also taken steps to
develop a workplace
violence prevention standard
for healthcare settings.
The U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS)
reported in July 2022 that
from 2014 to 2019, the
number of workplace homicides in the United States increased by 11 percent.
The BJS also reported that from 2015 to 2019, there was an annual average of
1.3 million incidents
of nonfatal workplace violence-a
rate of eight nonfatal violent incidents per 1,000 workers age sixteen or older.
New York's S8358 is just the most recent example of the growing trend of state
laws and regulations designed to require employers to address workplace
violence. Along with New York, other states are taking action outside of
healthcare settings, with
workplace violence
prevention laws or regulations applicable to general industry.
For example, California took the lead with the recent enactment of Senate Bill
(SB) 553, which comes into effect on July 1, 2024, and
requires the vast majority of California employers to implement a comprehensive
workplace violence prevention program,
including, among other things,
written procedures
to prevent workplace violence and to respond to workplace violence emergencies,
methods for employees
to bring forth workplace violence incidents,
employee training,
and
recording incidents
on a violent incident log.
Texas also recently
enacted a law that
requires employers to post a notice poster to employees in English and Spanish
about how to report incidents of workplace violence to employers.
jdsupra.com
Retailers Worldwide Calling for Stricter
Penalties Against Retail Crime
Australia: National Retail Assoc. welcomes stricter penalties against retail
crime
It's not just America: Australian retailers are welcome applauding tougher
penalties
 In
a pivotal move to address the
rising tide of violence
against retail workers in Western Australia,
the National Retail Association (NRA) has welcomed the announcement by the State
Government to introduce stricter penalties against retail crime. The proposed
legislative changes, set to be implemented in WA, are a response to the
alarming escalation of
assaults on retail workers.
While the NRA applauds the introduction of these measures, we also urge the WA
Government to
take inspiration from
successful models in New South Wales (NSW) and South Australia,
where
harsher penalties against retail crime and abuse have been adopted.
Urgent Need for Stricter Penalties:
The NRA
emphasises the frightening
escalation of violent
behaviour against retail workers across the state,
with particular concerns for those in regional Western Australia. To address
this growing concern, we call upon the WA Government to act swiftly in
implementing harsher penalties against retail crime.
Government Support to Combat the Epidemic:
The NRA stresses the crucial role of state and judicial bodies in the
success of laws that
punish violent behaviour against retailers.
Ensuring Meaningful Consequences:
We believe that
meaningful consequences
are essential to deter reoffenders and potential offenders,
sending a clear message that violence against retail workers will not be
tolerated.
Supporting Small Businesses:
Recognizing the
financial constraints faced by small businesses, the NRA calls for the
introduction of
funding programs that
support security upgrades.
Protecting Young Workers - Preventing Recurrence and Economic Impact:
nationalretail.org.au
Crime is Exploding in D.C. - Retailers Go on
Lockdown
D.C. stores up security to fight widespread theft
As D.C. continues to struggle with crime,
area stores are taking
new measures to try to
curtail widespread theft. A spree of DMV retail thefts
means empty shelves and heightened security in many stores,
while residents are left frustrated and scared.
Giant has increased
store security, locked up and limited products,
and, in some locations,
reduced exits and
started to use cameras to track items
through registers, the company tells Axios. It also has started receipt checks
at its Alabama Ave. location in Southeast.
Meanwhile,
Safeway has installed
high-tech security gates
at some of its D.C. stores, requiring customers to
scan receipts before
leaving. Safeway
confirmed in a statement to Axios that recent updates were made to some local
stores to "maintain a safe and welcoming shopping experience" and "deter
shoplifting."
The Capitol Riverfront BID is
working with D.C.
police and Navy Yard retailers and property owners
to host monthly safety meetings,
employ off-duty
officers to patrol the area, and up security camera usage,
according to a BID statement to Axios.
In Georgetown,
businesses have hired
off-duty police officers and security and installed security cameras,
says a Georgetown BID spokesperson. The Golden Triangle BID is
hiring a safety and security coordinator - a position "newly created
to address current needs" and support area businesses and property managers with
crime prevention and
safety, according to a
statement shared with Axios.
2023
saw a general crime surge in D.C., and it was the
city's deadliest year
in over two decades.
axios.com
Is Old School Security Still the Most Powerful
Deterrent?
Security Guards Offer Best Protection Against Growing Retail Theft
Growing number of retailers using security guards to cut down on store crime.
 Retail
theft and violent crime are taking a toll on retailers according to a
2023 Retail Security Survey by the National Retail Federation. Forty-five
percent of those surveyed reduced their operating hours, 30 percent decreased or
altered in-store product selections and 28 percent closed specific store
locations because of increased theft and violence.
A growing number of
retailers are using security guards to cut down on crime in their stores.
"The
physical presence of security guards makes most criminals think twice about
attempting to steal,"
says Fahim Abid, security director for Access Patrol Services (APS), a security
guard company serving California and Arizona. "Our guards are placed in retail
stores experiencing a high amount of theft. We've found that
a uniformed guard is a
powerful deterrent for
most would-be thieves."
APS guards are
stationed at exits and
near items that are often targeted by criminals
(jewelry, athletic clothes and shoes, mobile devices, alcohol and cosmetics). "Store
employees shouldn't be asked to step in
when they see suspicious behavior," says Abid. "That's the job of trained guards
who will detain thieves until police arrive."
A
new push in California
and Arizona is underway to enhance the penalties for those who take part in
organized crime.
"Unfortunately, retail theft will always be an issue," says Abid. "Security
guards are a cost-effective way to reduce losses
and keep customers and employees safe."
fox40.com
Small Businesses at the Center of California's
Theft Fight
California Strikes Back Against Retail Theft: A New Dawn for Small Businesses
The Retail Theft
Reduction Act, a comprehensive strategy to combat the rise in shoplifting and
organized retail theft, seeks to protect small businesses by implementing
penalties for possessing stolen property with intent to sell, restoring balance
and ensuring the sustainability of small businesses in the state.
In a recent pivotal move, the California legislative session has unfurled the
California Retail Theft
Reduction Act, a beacon
of hope for beleaguered businesses grappling with the escalating menace of
shoplifting and organized retail theft. At the heart of this legislative
endeavor is a fervent attempt to fortify the state's commercial landscape
against the onslaught of professional retail thieves,
a phenomenon that has
increasingly terrorized communities and eroded the vitality of small
enterprises.
The narrative of the California Retail Theft Reduction Act is interwoven with
the broader challenges faced by California employers,
particularly small
businesses, in the
legislative sphere. The introduction of the Retail Theft Reduction Act is a
critical countermeasure, aimed at
restoring balance and
ensuring the sustainability of small businesses amidst these challenges.
The Act not only addresses the immediate threats posed by retail theft but also
serves as
an essential corrective to the unintended consequences of previous legislative
actions, such as Proposition 47.
In doing so, it offers
a glimmer of hope for
small businesses that have long felt sidelined
in the legislative discourse, promising a more secure and prosperous environment
for commerce and community alike.
With its focus on
targeting professional
retail thieves and providing a safeguard for small businesses,
the Act is poised to redefine the commercial landscape of California.
bnnbreaking.com
In Case You Missed It: Violence against retail
staff escalates
Violence and abuse against retail staff has increased by
50% in the last year, according to a report from
the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The number of daily incidents such as
racial abuse, sexual harassment, physical assault and threats with weapons, have
risen from 870 per day in 2021-2022 to 1,300 a day
in 2022-2023.
VOTE: Does organized retail theft deter you from shopping in public?
In wake of mass shootings, some hesitate bringing kids to big events
The Debate Over Self-Checkout & Shrink
Should Target Be Limiting Self-Checkout Hours?
Target is limiting access to self-checkout terminals in some locations as part
of
efforts to reduce
shrink while directing more customers to cashiered terminals.
 Self-checkout
lanes in select stores are open from 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. or 8 p.m.
according to an
r/Target Reddit thread. Regular business hours at most Target stores are
from 7 a.m. or 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Target employees' thread also noted that
some stores are
keeping a limited
number of self-checkout stations open
during non-peak times mid-week while keeping all open over the busy weekends.
Comments in the thread ran largely negative to the development, with many
Target employees
fretting about long lines
with fewer checkout lanes being open amid understaffing challenges.
Employees
told Business Insider that Target is looking to limit the number of
self-checkouts in part
to reduce shrink, both
from shoplifting and "partial shrink," or when a customer deliberately
misidentifies items,
such as keying in a cheaper code for the fruit and vegetable they're purchasing.
A
survey from LendingTree found
15% of self-checkout users have purposely stolen an item
- including 31% of Gen Zers and 21% of millennials - and 44% of self-checkout
thieves plan to do it again.
Last fall,
Target
began restricting self-checkout to customers buying 10 or fewer items
at some locations in a test designed to shorten wait times and "better
understand" shopper preferences.
Retailers
appear to be rethinking self-checkout, with
Walmart, Costco,
ShopRite, Five Below, and
Dollar General among those either removing and reducing self-checkout
stations, adding staff
to assist at self-checkouts, or emphasizing cashiered stations.
retailwire.com
More Obstacles for Kroger-Albertsons Merger
(Update) Kroger-Albertsons merger could be halted if FTC, states sue to block it
The suit is expected before Feb. 28, when an agreement not to close the deal
between the companies and the FTC expires.
 The
U.S. Federal Trade Commission and
a group of states are
poised to sue as soon as next week to block the tie-up
between supermarket
giants
Kroger Co. and
Albertsons Cos.,
according to people familiar with the plans.
The suit is
expected before Feb. 28,
when an agreement not to close the deal between the companies and the FTC
expires.
Several states are
expected to join the suit
alongside the federal antitrust enforcers, the people said.
The companies are
working to schedule
meetings with FTC Chair Lina Khan
and the agency's other commissioners in an effort to persuade the antitrust
agency not to sue over their proposed deal, said one of the people, who asked
not to be named discussing confidential matters.
A Kroger spokeswoman said the company remains in ongoing discussions with the
FTC and state regulators and that
the merger will lead to
lower prices, more union jobs and broader choices
for consumers.
dallasnews.com
Click here to read the D&D Daily's reporting about
Colorado's lawsuit & Kroger's response
The Evolving Role of an EHS Executive
EHS Professionals are Going Beyond Compliance
"EHS&S is driving shareholder value in setting and supporting ESG goals and
strategies," says Nicole Wilkinson of NAEM.
In
The National Association for Environmental, Health, Safety and Sustainability (EHS&S)
Management (NAEM) blog,
Nicole Wilkinson, executive director of Corporate Health, Safety and Environment
at CVS Health,
and board member of NAEM, talks about the expanding role of the profession. "Post
pandemic our profession is further elevated, and our companies rely more on us
now than ever."
She outlines some new opportunities that are evolving in the profession. Here is
an excerpt:
EHS&S is going beyond health and safety, towards setting standards for total
worker health and wellness.
We are not only responsible for keeping our colleagues physically safe but also
promoting their overall health and wellness and improving and enhancing their
lives with wellness resources and programs such as mindfulness, fitness and
stretching programs.
We are collaborating
with our HR partners to create recognition programs to help promote a
safety-first culture.
We have also had to learn
how to lead effectively
in remote or hybrid environments.
Moving beyond the
basics of safety
because we know when we cultivate a psychologically safe environment, we
encourage open communication where our workers feel they can share concerns and
ideas which
leads to improved
engagement and safer outcomes.
We understand that
overall health and
wellness allows our workers to bring their best to work every day.
EHS&S is delivering value through cutting-edge software management solutions and
technology applications that allow our companies to be leaders.
Our metrics and dashboards are playing critical roles in supporting our
operations partners not only to track compliance but to help them deliver
operational excellence and promote a strong EHS culture.
ehstoday.com
The Shelby Report:
SpartanNash Rolling Out Simbe's Tally At 60 More Stores
 SpartanNash
plans to add Simbe's autonomous inventory robot Tally at
60 additional
company-operated stores across the Midwest.
Simbe's Store Intelligence platform informs product stocking, ordering,
merchandising and e-commerce fulfillment, with real-time inventory insights
across every store area.
The
data precision that
Tally gives ensures
items are available for SpartanNash shoppers with accurate location and price,
while freeing up associates for more engaging, guest-facing work.
"We first
piloted Tally in 15 stores, and the success of that launch motivated us to
expand Tally across more locations
to help associates save time in inventory tracking and spend more time on the
floor serving our store guests," said Tom Swanson, EVP of corporate retail.
theshelbyreport.com
HanesBrands to lay off nearly 160 employees in North Carolina distribution
center
The Body Shop to axe almost half of stores and 40% of head office jobs
Bed Bath & Beyond, Overstock name new CEOs
Amazon adds advance grocery pickup/delivery window
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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.
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The Tide is Changing
In the dynamic world of retail, shoplifting
remains a constant challenge. For years, retailers have been in an ever-evolving
battle with shoplifters, seeking innovative ways to protect their merchandise
while ensuring a pleasant shopping experience for their customers. In
particular, high-value items like Tide® laundry detergent have borne witness to
this relentless game of cat and mouse, embodying the changing tides of theft
prevention strategies. In the relentless quest to outwit shoplifters, the advent
of Gatekeeper
Systems' Purchek® heralds a new dawn of intelligent and non-confrontational
theft prevention.
Read Gatekeeper's full blog
here |
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Top Ransomware Group Dismantled in Global Law
Enforcement Takedown
LockBit operations dismantled following international takedown
A global coalition of law enforcement partners
seized the infrastructure of the prolific ransomware group, obtaining decryption
keys along the way.
An
international group of
law enforcement partners
said it disrupted LockBit ransomware operations Tuesday, seizing the
infrastructure of one of
the most prolific
ransomware groups in recent history.
The
Department of Justice,
working in conjunction with U.K. authorities
and other international law enforcement agencies, unsealed indictments against
two Russian nationals, Artur Sungatov and Ivan Kondratyev, charging them with
deploying LockBit against numerous companies around the U.S. and other targets
overseas.
The
FBI and U.K. National
Crime Agency, working with multiple partners,
also seized numerous public facing websites and servers used by Lockbit.
Authorities obtained decryption keys that will allow hundreds of targeted
organizations and others to regain their stolen data.
LockBit has targeted more than 2,000 ransomware victims, ranging from large
enterprises to small, local businesses,
collecting more than $120 million in ransom payments, according to the DOJ.
LockBit was considered
the most dominant
threat group in 2023, commanding 25% of the ransomware market,
according to SecureWorks. The next-most prolific group AlphV, which is also
known as BlackCat, controlled 8.5% of the market.
cybersecuritydive.com
Corporate Data Exposed
Misconfigured Custom Salesforce Apps Expose Corporate Data
Enterprises typically use the Java-like
programming language to customize their Salesforce instances, but attackers are
hunting for vulnerabilities in the apps.
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new security advisory
warns Salesforce users
with customized instances to check for common programming errors and
misconfigurations that can expose their sales data.
At the heart of the problem is the Apex programming language, a Java-like tool
that allows companies to add functionality to their Salesforce instances and
developers to create apps for the Salesforce AppExchange marketplace.
Simple errors and
misconfigurations while using the tool, however, can result in vulnerabilities
that undermine security
of corporate Salesforce applications, security experts at data security firm
Varonis say.
Varonis researchers discovered that multiple government organizations and
companies had customized or added on features to their Salesforce Apex code that
leaked data, allowed
data corruption, or allowed an attacker to disrupt business functions.
The at-risk data included sensitive information such as
phone numbers, home
addresses, and SSNs, but also credentials, such as usernames and passwords,
says Nitay Bachrach, senior security researcher at Varonis, who conducted the
assessment.
"In some cases, the exploitation was very tricky and required techniques we
developed in-house, and in others, it was a simple oversight - the guest user
was just able to execute code for no reason, and that leaked sensitive data," he
says. "Under the shared responsibility model,
users can choose to
write code, but they're also responsible for making sure it is secure.
Salesforce is not responsible for Apex code ... uploaded by the users to their
Salesforce instances."
darkreading.com
Q&A: The Cybersecurity Training Gap in Industrial Networks
Cyberattacks and threats increasingly are honed in
on ICS/OT networks, but security training for operators of these critical
infrastructure environments is perilously scarce.
Cyberattacks on
critical infrastructure are steadily increasing,
driven by geopolitical conflicts as well as the longtime problem of poorly
secured devices that remain exposed and unprotected on the public Internet.
But with cyberattacks on water treatment plants rising and the US federal
government issuing a high-profile warning about China's plans to disrupt US
critical infrastructure, the
stakes could not be
higher for protecting today's ICS/OT systems.
darkreading.com
Why identity fraud costs organizations millions
Critical infrastructure vendor PSI Software hit by ransomware |
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Early Bird Rates End TODAY
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!
Canada: Safe Space for the World's Biggest
International Criminals?
Lethal Exports: Why Canada is a 'global refuge' for Hells Angels, crime networks
Unfettered access to chemicals used to make illicit drugs turned B.C. into a
major exporter of both homemade methamphetamine and fentanyl. The Hells Angels,
United Nations gang, Asian syndicates and Mexican cartels work together and
leave a trail of destruction around the world.
Critics say the lack of consequences is just one of the reasons B.C. - and
Canada - has become a safe place to do business for some of the biggest
international criminals.
Postmedia spent three months investigating the transnational links of Canada's
most notorious criminals.
The investigation found that kingpins connected to the
Hells Angels, the
United Nations gang, the Sam Gor syndicate, the Sinaloa cartel and Middle
Eastern crime groups
are working together internationally to smuggle supersized loads of
methamphetamine and cocaine into Oceania through the South Pacific, leaving a
trail of devastation.
Some of the
big operators are now
based outside of Canada for fear of becoming targets in the 20-year-old B.C.
gang war they helped
start, and, of course, to evade law enforcement.
But they continue to
use Canada to produce
an array of deadly synthetic drugs and the Port of Vancouver to export or
transship them. Delta
Mayor George Harvie has been raising the alarm for months about the
presence of organized
crime at the port's largest container facility in his city
- something Postmedia has reported on extensively in the past.
He hired Peter German, a consultant, lawyer and retired RCMP deputy
commissioner, to prepare a report about the current state of security at the
port 26 years after Port Canada Police was disbanded by Ottawa.
German's conclusions about the port were blunt:
it's infiltrated by
organized crime, there are few criminal investigations in most large drug
seizures, and there is inadequate or non-existent security clearance
for tens of thousands of port workers.
vancouversun.com
'Recognizing Leadership & Achievement'
Canadian Security announces Top 10 Under 40 recipients for 2024
Canadian Security is pleased to announce the recipients of the
sixth annual Top 10
Under 40.
We offer our congratulations to all the winners and our thanks to the nominators
who took the time to submit entries on behalf of their co-workers and
colleagues. The number and quality of nominations was very high this year,
making it a difficult task to select only 10 winners.
Winner profiles will appear in the Spring issue of Canadian Security
which will be available in March. They are (in no particular order):
•
Mathew Zielinski, VP operations, Paladin Security, 39
•
Hadis Karimipour, associate professor, University of Calgary, 38
•
Paul Nicholson, director of security, Baycrest, 34
•
Tanisha Singh, manager, cyber security awareness and training, Loblaw Companies
Ltd., 27
•
Laura Percy, senior forensic investigator, Canadian Tire, 29
•
Aaron Ramhit, manager, risk prevention & physical security, Scotiabank, 26
•
Mariam Chakvetadze, crime prevention manager, Rogers Communications, 31
•
Melissa Plourde, security services manager, Red Deer Polytechnic, 38
•
Katarzyna Szumacher, operations manager, ASP, 39
•
Derek Burns, regional director, GardaWorld, 32
canadiansecuritymag.com
Mixed Bag for Canadian Retail in 2024?
What to Expect for the Canadian Retail and Hospitality Sectors in 2024
The Canadian retail sector in 2024 is a page out of a Charles Dickens novel
where we had the best of times with robust consumer real estate construction and
leasing activity with
new retail brands
expanding in the Canadian market along with sales surges in the luxury and value
sectors, says Michael
Kehoe,
Broker/Owner of Fairfield Commercial Real Estate in Calgary.
"Certainly the best of times in Alberta continue with significant
population growth driving new household formation and retail and restaurant
sales," he said.
"Charles Dickens would agree that
it's also the worst of
times for some retailers as it was a mild fall and winter
in some parts of the country and for many this resulted in underwhelming and
lacklustre sales performance. Retail sales were up in some sectors but
disappointing in others."
Kehoe said many
retailers are
challenged with controlling their overhead, particularly the cost of wages and
salaries, escalating rents and occupancy costs.
Other challenges continue like interest rates, supply chain issues, the payback
of pandemic era government loans, slimmer tenant improvement incentives and now
rising theft and shrinkage. There is definitely a flight to quality locations
across the retail spectrum.
"The major challenge in
2024 will be catching the consumer's attention amid the noise of doom and gloom
in the media with
recessionary talk and geo-political events that include two wars. Consumer
confidence is critical," he said.
retail-insider.com
Fighting Surging Food Pricing in Canada
Loblaw & Walmart Could be Forced to Adhere to Grocery Code of Conduct with
Legislation
The Parliamentary Committee in Agriculture in Ottawa has embarked on a mission
to
address the rising food
prices, extending an invitation to both Loblaw and Walmart.
In a letter from the committee to both Loblaw and Walmart sent on Friday, Ottawa
urges both retailers to voluntarily comply with the proposed grocer's code of
conduct or risk facing legislative action.
In other words, Canada is on the verge of adopting a government-coordinated,
industry-led mandatory code-a development that heralds good news for Canadians,
though many may not yet realize its significance.
Unprecedented unity
among all political factions underscores the grocer's code of conduct as a
pivotal tool for stabilizing food prices over time.
This code aims to furnish food companies with a safe harbour for dispute
resolution through a designated secretariat, offering an alternative to the
current norm where companies have no recourse but to endure unfavourable
conditions. Its focus is not on dictating prices but on ensuring fair
contractual practices for all entities involved, including startups, farmers and
small family-owned food processors, thereby offering much-needed financial
predictability to suppliers. The industry, plagued by unilateral decisions and
broken agreements by grocers, stands to gain from the equitable playing field
this code promises.
retail-insider.com
Loblaw Announces $2 Billion Investment in Canada for 2024 with Dozens of New
Stores and 7,500 New Jobs
Loblaw Companies Limited, Canada's food and pharmacy retail leader, announced
Tuesday it expects to invest more than
$2 billion into the Canadian
economy in 2024. That
includes the creation of more than
7,500 jobs, more than 40 new
stores, expansion or
relocation of another 10
and renovation of more than
700 others.
retail-insider.com
Ontario electronics retailer Factory Direct to liquidate all 14 stores
Canada's consumer price index: Increase slows to 2.9 per cent
Upscale Pusateri's Fine Foods to Close Yorkville Grocery Store in Toronto After
20 Years
Duo arrested in jeweler's shooting face charges in other armed robberies
Two
Toronto men recently charged in the 2022 shooting of a London jeweler also face
dozens of charges related to armed robberies and gun-related crimes in the
Toronto region in the months surrounding the botched London heist, court records
show.
Two men recently charged in the
2022 shooting of a
London jeweler also face dozens of charges related to armed robberies and
gun-related crimes in
the Toronto region in the months surrounding the botched London heist, court
records show.
Last week, London police announced Travis Hinds, 23, and Nickell Isaac, 23, are
charged in the
shooting that seriously
injured Riham Kamil, the co-owner of RK Forever Jewellery
at 490 Wonderland Rd., on July 27, 2022.
Hinds was arrested in Quebec on Jan. 31, while Isaac already was in jail on an
unrelated matter and a third suspect has since died, police said.
Court records show Hinds and Isaac already are facing
a combined 109 charges
for an alleged crime spree stretching across the Greater Toronto Region in the
summer of 2022. The two
men are accused of
robbing multiple people
at gunpoint while
having their faces covered with masks between July 9, 2022, and Sept 15, 2022,
in the Toronto area, the documents say.
lfpress.com
Man shot during attempted jewelry store robbery in Surrey's Guildford area
Mounties are investigating an attempted robbery in Surrey's Guildford neighbourhood that left one man seriously injured Sunday evening. Officers found
the victim after responding to a report of gunfire at a jewelry store near 101
Avenue and 152 Street, close to Guildford Town Centre, at around 6:20 p.m. "One
person was shot by the suspects, who had fled the area prior to police arrival,"
Surrey RCMP said in a news release Monday. The victim was hospitalized with
injuries that are not life-threatening, authorities said.
bc.ctvnews.ca
Serial Shoplifter Busted After 25 Thefts
Man charged in connection with over 25 west-end shoplifting thefts
The Ottawa Police Service has charged a man in connection with
25 separate shoplifting
thefts in the city's west-end.
Police say a
five-month long
investigation into the
man led to his arrest on Feb. 13. A news release says investigators have been in
contact with business owners who have been trying to find the suspect
responsible. Police did not specify what kind of businesses were targeted or
where the thefts took place. Officers executed a warrant on Tuesday that
involved
a significant police
presence, after the suspect allegedly brandished what appeared to be a firearm
at one of the thefts.
The suspect was arrested without incident.
ottawa.ctvnews.ca
Police investigating fatal shooting in Montreal's Little Italy
3 Toronto teens among suspects charged in smash-and-grab robbery at jewelry
store
Police arrest man after 'series of armed robberies' in Yellowknife
Three arrested and one sought following armed pharmacy robbery in Milton
Third arrest made in Kitchener store robbery
Police investigating armed vehicle robbery in downtown Kitchener |
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Online Retailers Make U-Turn on Free Returns
No more free ride: Returning stuff you buy online is about to get really
expensive
Fast, free shipping and
easy, no-cost returns have become a baseline expectation in the modern online
shopping experience.
Many consumers have grown accustomed to treating their bedrooms like store
dressing rooms, confident they can regularly buy 20 items of clothing, try them
on, and then send all but one back, no questions asked. Waiting even two days
for a purchase to arrive seems like forever, and anything greater than $0 for
shipping is a robbery. A December 2022 survey by the National Retail Federation
and Appriss Retail found a 16.5% return rate for that year, estimating $816
billion worth of merchandise would be sent back.
Some consumers have
taken free-return policies to such an extreme that they've been barred by
various retailers from the online shopping aisle.
A recent story in
The Cut on the end of the "return grift" reads like "r/AmItheAsshole
Greatest Hits: Retail Edition." One woman who had returned items to Urban
Outfitters once a month since high school was given the boot. Another lost her
shopping privileges at Saks after she bought - and then returned - $15,000 worth
of merchandise. Another was described as "pleading" with ASOS to earn back her
right to shop. Her pseudo-crime: returning 99% of the 172 purchases she made in
the span of a year.
Are these the greatest transgressions in the world? No. But these shoppers are
not tragic victims.
The ability to order
and return items without spending a dime is not listed as an unalienable right
in the Declaration of Independence.
But
now the tide is turning
- and not just against super-returners. Instead of fighting for market share by
offering free shipping and no-hassle returns,
retailers are trying to
squeeze more money out of every transaction.
Retail margins are tighter. The Federal Reserve's interest-rate hikes mean
borrowing money is no longer free for e-commerce companies. And investors want
to see actual profits instead of lofty promises.
As a result, a multitude of retailers - including
H&M, Zara, J.Crew, and
even Amazon -
have started to adjust their return policies. They are charging to send
stuff back, shortening
return deadlines, and refusing to accept some items entirely. Retailers want to
dissuade consumers from making returns at all - or at least force them to do it
in a more profitable manner, like physically bringing stuff back to stores.
businessinsider.com
Migrant Surge Impacting Amazon Deliveries?
Amazon driver fends off attack from drunk, naked NYC migrant
A Big Apple Amazon driver said he
had to slam a naked and
drunk migrant in the head with a snowball to keep the deranged asylum seeker
from making off with his packages
- only to find himself in handcuffs.
The migrant, identified by police sources as Yeison Sanchez, 26, was
allegedly stumbling
drunk and clutching a beer bottle when the Amazon driver said he caught him
red-handed trying to make off with packages he was delivering in Clinton Hill
around 4:45 p.m. on Sunday. That's when things got out of hand.
"I was unloading my stuff, and a guy - he was like a pervert, he had his penis
out," the driver, who asked that he only be identified as Abu, told The Post on
Monday.
Abu said, "And he went into my van where all my mail and everything was at, and
I pushed him away, and he ran towards me like he was going to aggressively hit
me."
Sanchez - who lives at a shelter just blocks away from the scene on Hall Street
-
was charged with petit
larceny and public lewdness,
cops and sources said.
nypost.com
Surge in online shopping among small town consumers after pandemic
Amazon Deserves to Be Called Out for Swindling Users |
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Miami, FL: Criminal charges filed for thieves who stole more than $100,000 in
Home Depot organized theft ring
 Attorney
General Ashley Moody's Office of Statewide Prosecution has filed criminal
charges against three thieves for operating an organized retail theft ring
stealing more than $100,000 from Home Depot stores across South and Central
Florida. According to the investigation, Vicky Popat, Christopher Abad and
Christopher Eduardo Baglin worked together to switch barcodes on expensive roof
sealers for less-expensive items. The attorney general's office said that in a
three-year period, the group stole 281 buckets of Henry 887 Tropi-Cool roof
sealer in more than 25 theft incidents from Home Depot stores throughout 11
counties in South and Central Florida. "This group switched barcodes at
self-checkout stations on expensive roof sealers for items that cost 95-97%
less, and hit multiple Home Depot stores a day-ultimately stealing more than
$100,000," Attorney General Ashley Moody said in a news release. "Florida is a
law-and-order state, and we are dismantling organized retail theft rings. Now,
this group faces our Statewide Prosecutors and time in prison, where I can
promise there is no self-checkout line." The group typically stole from two to
three stores per day, barcode switching four to 16 buckets per transaction, the
attorney general's office said.
nbcmiami.com
New York, NY: Robbers steal $50K in designer goods from Gucci store in
Meatpacking District
 Three
armed robbers stole designer luggage from a Gucci store in Manhattan on Monday,
police said. The incident happened at the Gucci store at 400 West 14th St. in
the Meatpacking District at around 11:20 a.m., according to the NYPD. The
suspects pulled a gun and told everyone to get down on the ground before taking
several pieces of luggage and other items worth over $50,000 from the luxury
store, police said. The robbers, two men and a woman, then fled in a black Honda
CRV headed to New Jersey via the Lincoln Tunnel, officials said. There have been
no arrests.
pix11.com
Gig Harbor, WA: Police arrest over 20 people during retail theft sting operation
The Gig Harbor Police Department (GHPD) arrested over 20 people during a retail
theft sting operation in the span of two days. In a press release, police said
in collaboration with an investigator from the Pierce County Sheriff's Office
and local retail establishments, their department conducted a retail theft
suppression operation on February 14 and 15. They added that during those two
days, plain clothes and uniformed law enforcement officials made over 20 arrests
and conducted numerous contacts involving adults and juveniles to deter other
potential thefts. "I'm glad to hear that something is happening because we can't
have this where people just walk into a store and take whatever they want," said
Keli a shopper in the area. Officials said there are plans to hold similar
operations in the future, and said they look forward to working with their
retail partners to crack down on retail theft. They added their efforts are to
ensure the safety and security of the community and support local businesses.
komonews.com
Livingston County, MI: Update: All women charged in shoplifting raid of Ulta
beauty store sentenced to prison
All five women accused of committing an organized shoplifting raid at a beauty
retail store in Livingston County have been sent to prison. Laronda Nashea
Chase, 26 and Kari Deloris William, 28, were each sentenced in Livingston County
Circuit Court, Feb. 8, to serve six to 20 years in prison for their roles in the
raid at the Ulta Beauty store in Green Oak Township, near Brighton, more than a
year ago on Jan. 12, court records show. Codefendants Joya Omega Williams, 37,
was sentenced, Feb. 2, to serve 12-40 years in prison, Shanel Jean Webster, 30,
was sentenced, Jan. 4, to serve 25-60 years and Tirezah Renee Scott, 51, was
sentenced Dec. 7 to serve 17 to 40 years in prison. All the women pleaded guilty
to multiple felony charges for their roles in the raid. Additionally, each woman
was order to pay more than $9,000 in restitution. The cases stem from an 8 p.m.
incident on Jan. 12, 2023, when police were called to the Ulta Beauty store
inside the Green Oak Village Place Mall, 9930 Village Place Blvd., for a report
of multiple suspects filling bags with merchandise, according to the Green Oak
Township Police Department. Officers arrived to find five women stealing items
from the store in an apparent organized raid, police said.
mlive.com
Memphis, TN: Update: Two arrested in City Gear robbery, charged in previous
crimes
 Two
people have been arrested after a group of armed,
masked males walked out
of a Memphis clothing store carrying $20,000 worth of merchandise in broad
daylight. Police
believe the suspects were connected to several other crimes over the past few
days. At least seven people were involved in a brazen theft around 2:30 Thursday
afternoon at the City Gear in the 2900 block of Lamar. Police say the suspects
displayed weapons to intimidate employees as they carried clothes and shoes out
the door.
Jessie Lobley, 18, and
Jamario Franklin, 19, were arrested in unrelated cases Monday. According to
police, they admitted to being involved in the City Gear theft. They are charged
with aggravated robbery and burglary in that case.
wreg.com
Roseville, CA: Armed Suspect accused of $4k ORC
A man was arrested on Valentine's Day in connection with retail theft in
Roseville in December, according to the Roseville Police Department. On Dec. 6,
two people were reported to have stolen over $4,000 in retail items from a
Roseville store. Detectives were able to identify one of the suspects and
determined that the person had a history of committing other retail
theft-related crimes in the Sacramento region. On Feb. 14, the suspect was
located at the Arden Fair Mall by detectives and was arrested on charges of
grand theft and organized retail theft. The suspect was found carrying a loaded
concealed handgun during his arrest, according to police.
fox40.com
Larned, KS: 'Grab and Go' thieves hit Big R Farm and Ranch for $3000 of
merchandise
Athens, GA: NC man allegedly stole $2700 of merchandise from 9 GA stores using
stolen account numbers
Lancaster, PA: Police Hunt for Suspect in $800 Eyeglass Heist at Park City
Center
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Shootings & Deaths
Florence, SC: 2 charged with murder in SC mall shooting, police say; 1 still
wanted
Two of three suspects in Sunday's
"targeted" shooting at
Magnolia Mall in Florence have been arrested, police said. Javon Norman,
18, and a 15-year-old boy were taken into custody. Both were charged with
murder, armed robbery, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and
criminal conspiracy. A third suspect is still wanted in the shooting, police
said. Florence County Coroner Keith von Lutcken has identified the victim in the
shooting as Avery S. McDonald. McDonald, 15, was from Sellers in Marion County,
von Lutcken said. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday morning at the Medical
University of South Carolina. Capt. Stephen Starling said they found an SUV in
Marion on Monday that was possibly connected to the shooting and that it will be
processed for further evidence. "We determined that there were three teenagers
who did not live in Florence that were in the parking lot and were targeted in
what we believe to be an isolated incident," Chief Allen Heidler said at a City
Hall news conference on Sunday.
wspa.com
Santa Ana, CA: Suspect arrested in shooting outside 99 Cents Only
Police arrested a suspect in Buena Park on Monday in connection to a shooting
outside a 99 Cents Only store in Santa Ana. Around 9:45 p.m. on Sunday, officers
from the Santa Ana Police Department responded to St. Joseph Hospital in Orange,
where a man who had been shot in the forearm entered the emergency room. The man
told police he was inside his friend's car next to the discount store when he
heard gunshots and realized he had been struck by gunfire, Officer Natalie
Garcia said. A witness told police the male suspect drove away in a white Ford
Explorer. It was unclear Monday if the shooter was targeting the victim or
someone else. On Monday, the Buena Park Police Department located the suspect's
vehicle and Santa Ana police officers conducted a traffic stop as it was leaving
the area. The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Johnell Marquise Jackson, was
arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and other firearm-related charges,
Garcia said.
ocregister.com
Robberies, Incidents & Thefts
Greenville, SC: 3 stabbed at Greenville bookstore
Three people were stabbed at an Upstate bookstore Tuesday morning. According to
Greenville Police, officers responded to the 2nd & Charles bookstore on Laurens
Road for a disturbance. Police arrived to find three people had been stabbed.
The suspected stabber was taken into custody.
wspa.com
Police raid home, arrest man in connection to burglary of Aventura jewelry store
 There
was a large law enforcement response in a southwest Miami-Dade neighborhood
leading to several people being led out of a home in handcuffs Tuesday morning.
Miami-Dade Police's Special Response Team was spotted on the scene, assisting
Aventura Police in serving a warrant at the home along SW 162nd Pass. Video
showed several people sitting outside the home in handcuffs, while authorities
went inside. Some of those individuals seen detained were later released.
Authorities reportedly arrested Luis Angel Herrera Ramirez
in connection to a burglary
that took place at the International Jewelers Exchange in Aventura back in
October. Ramirez is facing one count of Burglary/Smash and Grab, one
count of Grand Theft Auto, and one count of Criminal Mischief/Vandalism,
according to Aventura Police. He will reportedly be transported to the
Miami-Dade County Jail.
nbcmiami.com
Paris, TX: 57 year old Career Criminal sentenced to 50 years in Antique Store
Armed Robbery
 In
May 2023, George Young entered an antique store in the 10 block of West Plaza,
pointed a gun at the owner and demanded money from the cash register. The woman
gave the defendant $70 and immediately called the police as he left. The
defendant was recorded on surveillance leaving the store,
ditching his jacket and gun in
an alley just south of the Lamar County Courthouse, and then going inside
the courthouse. Courthouse
surveillance video showed the defendant going to the district clerk's office on
the fourth floor to pay a fine in one of his other cases. "Young's
criminal career spans over forty years," said District Attorney Gary Young. "He
first went to prison for car theft in 1982, followed by a 35 year sentence for
aggravated robbery in 1983, a 10-year sentence for escape, a five-year sentence
in 1997 for arson, and a 15-year sentence in 2015 for burglary."
Due to the aggravated offense,
George Young must serve at least 25 years of his 50-year sentence before being
eligible for parole. He will be 82 years old when eligible for parole.
theparisnews.com
Bakersfield, CA: Jury convicts woman for stealing from Dollar General despite
manager's kindness
A woman faces up to six years in prison after being convicted of stealing from a
Dollar General after the
manager allowed the woman to use the employee restrooms, and break rooms, and
sleep in the back of the store during non-business hours. On February 15,
2024, a Kern County jury found Shelly Cannon guilty of second-degree burglary.
The court also found true that Cannon had numerous prior misdemeanors and that
she has a prior strike from a 2005 first-degree felony burglary. The DA's office
said a Dollar General manager started to know Cannon
over a course of six months.
The manager allowed Cannon to use the employee restrooms and break rooms during
business hours. She also allowed Cannon to sleep overnight in the back of the
store during non-business hours. In addition, the manager would pay Cannon with
her own money to complete minimal tasks. On November 29, 2022, Bakersfield
Police Department were called to the Dollar General store for a burglary in
progress. When officers arrived, they detained Cannon. Surveillance footage
showed Cannon stealing multiple items, according to the DA's office. Officers
later found the stolen property and clothing shown in the surveillance footage
in Cannon's make-shift home behind the store. Cannon denied stealing the items
or knowing anything about them.
Cannon's sentencing is set for
March 14, 2024, where she faces up to six years in prison.
bakersfieldnow.com
Seattle, WA: Smash-and-grab thieves target West Seattle Smoke Shop for at least
12th time within a year
Nassau County, NY: Police nab suspect in L.I. drug store burglary spree as he
crashes stolen car
Kershaw, SC: Couple quits Bojangles, breaks into store together on Valentine's
Day
Suffolk County, NY: Trio steals $640 in Häagen-Dazs from 7-Eleven
Fort Worth, TX: Thief swipes $450 cash from Girl Scouts selling cookies outside
store
New York, NY: Woman slaps tourist across face in bizarre NYC pet store outburst
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•
C-Store - Cecil
County, MD - Armed Robbery
•
C-Store - Salina, KS -
Burglary
•
C-Store - Suffolk
County, NY - Robbery
•
Dollar - Murfreesboro,
TN - Robbery
•
Eyewear - Lancaster,
PA - Robbery
•
Grocery - Newton, MS -
Robbery
•
Hardware - Larned, KS
- Burglary
•
Jewelry - Mount
Pleasant, SC - Burglary
• Jewelry - Daytona
Beach, FL -Burglary
• Jewelry - El Cajon,
CA - Burglary
• Jewelry - Gretna, LA
- Robbery
• Jewelry - Chandler,
AZ - Robbery
• Jewelry - Dunwoody,
GA - Robbery
•
Luggage - New York, NY
- Armed Robbery
•
Marijuana - Brooklyn,
NY - Armed Robbery
•
Office Supplies - Los
Gatos, CA - Robbery
•
Pharmacy - Los Gatos,
CA - Robbery
•
Pharmacy - Nassau
County, NY - Burglary
•
Pharmacy - New
Orleans, LA - Burglary
•
Restaurant - Chicago,
IL - Burglary
•
Restaurant - Tyler, TX
- Burglary
•
Restaurant - New
Braunfels, TX - Burglary
•
Tobacco - Seattle, WA
- Burglary |
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Daily Totals:
• 12 robberies
• 11 burglaries
• 0 shootings
• 0 killed |
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Click map to enlarge
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None to report.
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Submit Your New Hires/Promotions or New Position
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Featured Job Spotlights
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An
Industry Obligation - Staffing 'Best in Class' Teams
Every one has a role to play in building an
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Filled your job? Any good candidates left over?
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Refer the Best & Build the Best
Quality - Diversity - Industry Obligation
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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...
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Sometimes the best reaction is no reaction as the old expression "Silence is
Golden" is more applicable than most think. Especially in a situation where
you're unfamiliar with the surroundings, the people, the cultural beliefs, or
the boundaries. The key is having the self-discipline not to react or speak. It
can help prevent you from going too far or showing anger and it just may keep
you from destroying a relationship or your reputation. Reacting is easy -
listening and bidding your time isn't.
Just a Thought,
Gus
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