Retailer's fast action leads to high-value liquor booster detection, deterrence, arrest, prosecution

How proactive face matching makes your stores safer

Here's another great win from a FaceFirst client that led to the arrest and prosecution of a prolific liquor booster with warrants in multiple states. It started when the AP team observed a man stealing a cart full of high-value liquor and wine. After the man left, they ran a visitor search for all their stores. The FaceFirst search instantly showed that individual had made 30+ visits to eight of their stores in two states during the prior 90 days. He had stolen $1,000 to $2,000 worth of liquor and wine during each visit.

The investigators enrolled the man as a known offender in their custom database. They started with defense. Each time the man returned, FaceFirst sent an immediate notification to the manager with the client's guidance: "Provide excellent customer service. Say, 'If you need anything, I won't be far.'" They repeatedly deterred the man from high-value cart pushouts with simple, polite customer service.

The man persisted, so the investigators shifted to offense. They briefed local law enforcement with video evidence from FaceFirst, got their buy-in, and changed the managers' alert guidance for the man's next return: "Do not approach. Call the police." The man returned to a client store the very next night. The store team called local authorities and kept their distance. Again, the man loaded a cart with high-value liquor and wine and left the store without paying. Police officers arrested the man with the stolen items in the store parking lot.

Turned out this serial liquor booster had been active nationwide, with warrants for his arrest out in California, Nevada, Oklahoma, and South Carolina.

FaceFirst's face matching technology alerts retailers instantly when known threats enter their stores, providing both life safety and loss prevention advantages. FaceFirst gives retailers tools to investigate incidents more effectively and efficiently, which helps law enforcement officers and prosecutors keep dangerous individuals out of your stores and off the streets.

Calculate the risks of being caught unaware when a known offender enters your store. If you knew there was a proven solution to keep your valued customers and employees safer from violent offenders and prevent loss, would you implement it? The real risk is answering no.

FaceFirst is deployed in three top 10 U.S. retailers, more than 50 grocery banners, as well as home improvement, luxury apparel, and discount department stores. FaceFirst's solution is fast, accurate, and scalable-take action today at facefirst.com.
 

Body Cams Help Bring Down Theft & Violence
Retailers Turn to Body-Worn Cams as Stores Grapple with Crime

By the D&D Daily staff

In recent years, retailers have increasingly turned to body-worn cameras (BWCs) as a strategy to combat rising incidents of theft and violence in stores. This trend reflects a broader effort to enhance security measures and protect both employees and customers.

Adoption of Body-Worn Cameras in Retail

Major retailers are at the forefront of this movement. For instance, Walmart initiated a pilot program in late 2024, equipping employees in select Dallas-area stores with body cameras. The primary goal is to enhance worker safety and deter confrontational incidents. Employees are advised to activate the cameras during escalating interactions with customers, aiming to de-escalate potential conflicts and accurately document incidents.

Similarly, TJX Companies, the parent company of TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods, began outfitting some store employees with body cameras in mid-2024. This initiative aims to deter theft and protect employees from aggressive behavior.

Impact on Theft and Violence

The implementation of BWCs in retail settings has shown promising results. In areas where body-worn cameras were introduced, incidents of theft and violence decreased by an average of 45% compared to non-equipped stores. Staff members reported feeling safer and more secure, contributing to a more positive work environment.

Additionally, the presence of body cameras serves as a powerful deterrent against theft. Potential shoplifters are less likely to engage in criminal activities when they know they are being recorded. Employees equipped with body cameras can monitor and document suspicious activities in real-time, providing valuable evidence for investigations and legal proceedings.

Conclusion

The growing adoption of body-worn cameras in the retail sector represents a proactive approach to addressing the escalating issues of theft and violence in stores. While challenges exist, the potential benefits in enhancing security and protecting employees make BWCs a valuable tool in modern retail operations.

   Related Coverage:

   - Walmart tests body cameras for store employees as retail crime surges

   - 'My uniform's more valuable than I am': a security guard's take on bodyworn cameras

   - Why supermarket staff are wearing body cameras


Some Canadian Retailers Use Body Cams to Fight Theft
Body cams at Shoppers a sign of bigger problems in downtown Victoria, say business owners

A Victoria Tim Hortons has removed all the tables and become a takeout service only, which means it doesn't have to open its washrooms

Retail employees wearing body cameras are another sign that the province is dragging its feet in dealing with the mental-health and addictions crisis gripping B.C., says the head of the Downtown Victoria Business Association.

Jeff Bray said Loblaws' decision to equip some employees at its downtown Victoria Shoppers Drug Mart location with body cameras as part of a company pilot project underlines the need for more action to deal with theft and disruptive and abusive behaviour from people in crisis.

Loblaws, the parent company of Shoppers Drug Mart, said only trained asset-protection representatives, third-party security, store management and authorized team members at the Douglas Street Shoppers will be wearing the cameras.

The company also stressed it's voluntary, and not all employees will wear them. Loblaws had been running the pilot program in Calgary and said it found camera use coincided with a significant reduction in violent incidents at its stores.

"As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance store security, we are expanding the pilot of body-worn cameras to additional locations, including Victoria," Loblaws said in a statement Tuesday. "This technology is intended to help de-escalate situations and create a safer experience for both customers and colleagues." vancouversun.com


Store Owners Doubt California's Prop 36 Will Help Drive Down Theft
'We're going to support' small businesses: DA says California's Prop. 36 should help reduce retail thefts
A new California state law aims to minimize theft and retail crime, and while some officials applaud its passage, many residents doubt the measure's effectiveness.

The law allows law enforcement to charge people with felonies for thefts under $950 if that person has two prior theft convictions. It's a change aimed at helping stave off burglaries that largely affect local businesses.

"I think it's a way of telling the businesses that we are going to do our jobs, and we're going to support you," said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman. "Our job is to make sure that that's done without the small business getting ripped off or getting stolen from."

However, some residents and shop owners doubt that the new law will actually make a difference. "Theft is high in California. People are going to keep stealing," said Brian Carter, a Downtown Los Angeles resident. "And they're going to just keep stealing right into that dollar amount."

He said the law still doesn't help security guards, who often put themselves in harm's way to prevent burglary.

"I think it makes jobs harder for security guards and police. That's stressful," Carter said. "A lot of these people, if they're at the point where they're going to steal it, they're fighting for something else."

According to the Public Policy Institute of California, which examined data from 2023 California Department of Justice findings, shoplifting surged 29.3% from 2019 to 2023 statewide. cronkitenews.azpbs.org


ORC Legislation Moves Forward in New Jersey
New Jersey Bill to Address Rampant Retail Crimes Passes Judiciary Committee

Legislation to Target Retail Theft Rings, Protect Retail Workers, And Curb the Online Sale of Stolen Goods

The Senate Judiciary Committee passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Holly Schepisi (R-39) that would target the rising threat of organized retail crime by increasing penalties for retail theft and enhancing law enforcement's ability to address these crimes.

"The rampant rise of organized retail crime has cost businesses billions, raised costs for consumers, and endangered the safety of employees who are increasingly subjected to violence from organized theft rings," said Sen. Schepisi. "We've witnessed an alarming rise in large-scale theft operations across the nation, especially here in New Jersey, where stolen goods are quickly sold for illegal profits. This bill would impose tougher penalties to deter criminals and their theft organizations, and, most importantly, improve safety for retailers and their valued customers."

Senator Schepisi's bipartisan bill, S-3587, outlines various changes to New Jersey law related to organized retail crime, the online sale of stolen goods, gift card fraud, and the assault of retail workers. The bill additionally provides prosecutors the ability to aggregate shoplifting violations when determining the degree of the offense.

Gift card fraud, in particular, has been linked to organized crime in China and the production and smuggling of fentanyl. To combat this, the bill would establish stronger packaging and consumer notice requirements.

"At the heart of this issue is the safety of our communities, said Sen. Schepisi. "Retail employees shouldn't have to fear for their safety, and shoppers deserve peace of mind that the products they buy are safe and haven't been tampered with in any way."  senatenj.com


Retailers Across the Pond Battle Violence Surge
The good news? Businesses are reporting more retail crime incidents

UK: 'Brazen stealing is worse than ever', shops warn
Businesses across the South East say shoplifting has become "much more brazen" with staff being shouted at and abused. Independent businesses say they are footing the bill for an increasing number of thefts as they have to install security measures and offer de-escalation training for their staff.

The say they fear wrongly accusing shoplifters due to worries about how bad reviews could affect their reputation.

A British Retail Consortium (BRC) survey showed retail crime was "spiralling out of control" while 2024 statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed shoplifting reached new highs in the South East since the beginning of the cost of living crisis.

Laurissa Woolgar, manager of Siesta Crafts in Palace Street, Canterbury, Kent, said shoplifters in the store had become "much more brazen" as thieves "just don't seem to care at all".

A crime survey by the BRC found retail abuse and violence had risen by around 50% in the past year. In the South East, shoplifting figures rose by 42.6% in Surrey, 8.5 % in Kent and 13.5% in Sussex, according to ONS figures.

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said she welcomed the shoplifting figures as she said it showed businesses were reporting more retail crime. bbc.com


COVID-Era Crime Wave Over?
Early data show homicides dropped 16% in 2024
Preliminary data show homicides in the nation's largest cities fell by 16% in 2024 from the previous year, and overall violent crime appears to have dropped as well.

Why it matters: Stats compiled by the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA) suggest that the COVID-era crime wave all but evaporated during President Biden's final year in office, even as Donald Trump's claims that crime was rising became a key part of his winning election strategy.

Zoom in: Violent crime, especially homicides, rose during Biden's first two years as president before dropping dramatically the next two years, the MCCA data show.

An Axios analysis of the preliminary crime data for 2024 from 69 self-reporting large police departments found that violent crimes decreased overall by 6%.

Overall, robberies (9%), rape (6%), and aggravated assaults (5%) all declined, the Axios analysis found. Many cities had significantly larger declines in homicides. They dropped 35% in Boston and New Orleans, 26% in Cleveland and Dallas, 34% in Philadelphia and 32% in Washington, D.C.

One caveat: The data from cities didn't include New York City, the nation's largest city, which didn't submit crime numbers. The city releases crime stats on its own website and has reported declining crime in 2024. axios.com


Report: NOPD's data blunder costs New Orleans $1.1M in victim aid
 

How Tech & Automation Helps Target Solve Supply Chain Challenges
Target strives for better inventory management, unloading processes

The retailer's supply chain chief said technology and automation can help produce a more efficient inventory mix and flow into stores.

Target is pushing to solve two of its top supply chain challenges - inventory management and trailer unloading - via technology improvements, according to Chief Supply Chain and Logistics Officer Gretchen McCarthy.

The retailer's wide-ranging mix of inventory helps it attract shoppers, but it also can be "hard to predict, hard to forecast, hard to move," McCarthy said during a panel at Manifest 2025 on Wednesday. This means the company must weigh what products to prioritize in a pinch and accept "that not all inventory is created equal."

"If you don't have the right inventory coming through your supply chain, you're going to gum up the works faster than anything," McCarthy said. "You're going to have empty shelves, and you're going to have a full supply chain."

McCarthy said Target has the opportunity to reduce its owned inventory by leveraging AI to improve the retailer's forecasting algorithms, inventory positioning and decision making with the products it has.

Strengthening inventory management has been an ongoing priority for Target, particularly after a prolonged battle in 2022 with excess stock strained its financial performance. Enhanced demand forecasting, along with leveraging AI and machine learning, was among the company's supply chain focus areas, EVP and COO Michael Fiddelke noted on an earnings call last year. retaildive.com


Retailers 'Must Stay Agile' As Tariffs Loom
How Tariffs May Impact Retailers in 2025

By the D&D Daily staff

In 2025, newly implemented tariffs are set to challenge the retail sector, increasing costs and disrupting supply chains. Tariffs of 25% on imports from Mexico and Canada, which were delayed until next month, and 10% on Chinese goods will elevate procurement expenses for retailers, forcing many to choose between absorbing costs or passing them to consumers through higher prices.

Retailers reliant on international supply chains, like apparel and electronics, will face the toughest challenges. Some are exploring alternative sourcing options, but shifting suppliers can be costly and time-consuming. This uncertainty complicates inventory planning and pricing strategies.

Consumers are likely to react by seeking promotions, delaying purchases, or shifting loyalty to retailers offering better deals. Companies like Walmart have already expressed concerns about potential price hikes affecting shopper behavior.

However, off-price retailers like T.J. Maxx may find opportunities, benefiting from excess inventory as suppliers adjust to market disruptions. Ultimately, retailers must stay agile, balancing cost management with competitive pricing in a rapidly evolving landscape.


200 Store Closures
Forever 21 reportedly considering bankruptcy, closing stores
The struggling fast-fashion retailer is considering filing for bankruptcy and is planning to close 200 stores as its efforts to find a buyer for its U.S. leases have come up short, reported Bloomberg. The company currently operates some 350 stores nationwide.

Forever 21 filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September 2019, with a plan to close some 178 stores. It was later acquired by a group that that included Authentic Brands Group and landlords Simon Property Group and Brookfield Property Partners.

The formerly high-flying company has struggled in recent years, amid increased online competition, particularly from Chinese budget retailers Shein and Temu, and the rising popularity of resale among teen shoppers. chainstoreage.com

 
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