The Most 'Underutilized' Retail Crime-Fighting Tool?
RFID has been around for decades. Now it's becoming retailers' best crime-fighting tool as theft surges.

The tech has long been used for inventory management, but is being affixed to more merchandise and yielding more data.

An increasing number of retailers are dusting off a decades-old technology in order to streamline their inventory management, and some experts believe it could go far in tightening up the industry's loose accounting of shrink and theft.

It's handy in inventory management throughout the supply chain, which is why it's been employed by retailers for at least 20 years. The tech uses electromagnetic fields to wirelessly transmit data between a reader and a tag affixed to an item.

Despite its already routine and expanding use - 61% of retailers plan to be using it by 2026, according to Zebra Technologies' latest global research - it remains underutilized, experts say. Yet, RFID could be instrumental in solving shrink and theft issues that are confounding the industry. More than 60% of shrink is due to reasons within a retailer's own operations, and RFID tech allows retailers and brands to glean and integrate information about where an item is or where it went, when it was sold and at what price, whether it was lost, and more.

Inventory management: The most obvious use of RFID tags may be to track inventory. At Macy's, which has employed RFID in some capacity for nearly 14 years, inventory counts that once could be taken only once a year have been drastically compressed and can be done more often, according to Joe Coll, Macy's vice president of asset protection operations and strategy.

Tagging everything, everywhere: One reason many retailers miss out on the full potential of RFID is the belief that only certain types of merchandise, or only expensive products, benefit from being tagged. But "if you sell it, we can tag it."

Loss prevention, or at least detection: Expanding the use of RFID technology could provide the retail industry with sorely needed data around shrink and theft. Widespread use of RFID could provide a more thorough picture that could finally enable true loss prevention, he said, speaking to the NRF audience.

"Especially for chain stores - they steal from one store and they return it to another store," Hardgrave said. "With RFID, you capture that when you've got full visibility through point of sale." retaildive.com


Small Retailers Adding Staff & Limiting Customers to Fight Theft Surge
Shoplifting Surge Overwhelms NYC's Small Businesses

Mom and pop stores have had to add staff or limit the number of customers, as thieves have gotten bolder.

"What we are focused on is what has become a sophisticated organized retail operation, the smash-and-grab efforts. They go in and swipe everything off the shelves," New York Gov. Hocul said. But store owners in the city and retail theft experts say that is only part of the problem and that the governor's efforts are unlikely to help them very much.

"We have groups who come in and grab stuff and run," said Robert Morales, whose 784 Hardware store in East Tremont in the Bronx has been in his family for 40 years. "And we have people who come in and wait for the store to get busy and take power tools."

The story is similar in Manhattan, where Deborah Koenigsberger's Noir et Blanc clothing boutique is seeing her profits eroded by persistent theft.

New York City saw the largest surge in shoplifting between 2019 and mid 2023, according to a study of 24 cities by the Council on Criminal Justice, with an increase of 64%. Los Angeles was close with 61%.

Small merchants like Morales and Koenigsberger have had to change their operations in ways that are clearly reducing sales or adding costs. Morales only allows one or two people in the store at a time, forcing other customers to wait in an area by the door until one of his employees can help them.

Instead of only one employee at slow times, Koenigsberger has decided she must have three workers in the store at all times. "It's really bad for morale," she said. "People say, 'I don't want to be here, I am scared.'" thecity.nyc


Trying Minors as Adults for ORC Charges
Tennessee bill to try minors as adults for organized retail crime moves forward
A bill that would give Tennessee judges and prosecutors a new tool to crack down on organized retail crime is moving through the state legislature. For the first time, children as young as 15 who are charged with felony theft as a member of one of these groups to be tried as adults.

We've seen the images people running into stores and grabbing expensive merchandise and running out. It's a $100 billion a year problem in the U.S. and we've seen our share in Nashville, but if this bill passes, underage thieves who get caught could be in for real punishment.

"The DA will petition the court to move this individual to adult court, and that judge will make a ruling, and they will either send that individual to adult court or keep them in the juvenile court system," said bill sponsor Rep. Rusty Grills.

It's a bold move that gives some lawmakers pause, including representative Gloria Johnson who believes teens can be rehabilitated.

The bill reserves this treatment for teens who work with others to steal at least $1,000 worth of merchandise in a 90-day period. This bill is moving forward in both the state House and Senate. fox17.com


New Concerning National Trend - Assaults on Law Enforcement
2020 Largest Increase in Homicides in U.S. History

Trend: In Minnesota, attacks against police are on the rise
Reported assault incidents against officers across Minnesota are up 160% from a decade ago - a metric including everything from intimidation, biting and punching to an assault with a deadly weapon- according to data tracked by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Officers have reported at least 3,400 assaults in Minnesota since 2021, with a 10% increase last year, according to the BCA data. Ninety-four occurred last month, slightly behind the number reported in January 2023.

The recent Minnesota data tracks with a trend emerging across the United States: Killings of police are down, but law enforcement are reporting more overall assaults.

"This is unacceptable in a democratic country," said Maki Haberfeld, professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City.

Those who study policing say there is no single explanation for what is driving the attacks. They say the increase tracks with a surge in violent crime and the COVID-19 pandemic, along with anti-police sentiment, staffing crises in major law enforcement agencies and a rise in gun ownership.

"Gun violence against law enforcement tends to follow a similar pattern for violent crime in the general population," said John Shjarback, professor at Rowan University's Department of Law and Justice Studies. "And 2020 was the single largest increase in terms of national homicide in our country's history." startribune.com


Robberies & Violence Against USPS Triggers Nationwide Protests
USPS letter carriers organizing rally in Dallas amid robberies, safety concerns

Union members plan to gather outside of the main post office location on I-30 in West Dallas at 4 p.m.

On Thursday, the National Association of Letter Carriers - the labor union representing United States postal workers - is organizing a rally to raise attention to assaults and robberies of letter carriers on delivery routes in recent months.

Members plan to gather outside of the main post office location on I-30 in West Dallas at 4 p.m. for one of several rallies that have been taking place across the country in recent weeks. Federal authorities have been investigating a string of armed robberies in DFW, that have left mail carriers on edge and fearing for their safety.

"We've had at least eight armed robberies within the last few months. And in my career, we may have had eight robberies in 36 years," said Kim Lewis, NALC Branch 132 president, which represents USPS letter carriers in the East Texas and Dallas area.

Lewis said the robbers seem to be targeting checks and they think economic struggles since the pandemic might have something to do with it. Robbery of on-duty postal employees is on the rise across the nation, according to statistics provided by the inspector's office.

The number of cases reported in 2022 was 423, exponentially higher than the 94 robberies reported in 2019. A fraction of these federal crimes result in arrests and convictions, according to the data. Convictions can carry up to ten years in federal prison. nbcdfw.com


71 Arrests After 5-Day Crime Crackdown in Oakland, Calif.
CHP surge to crack down on East Bay crime ends after five days
Ordered by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, the deployment sent 120 CHP officers to Oakland and nearby cities from Feb. 5 through Feb. 9 to help with a crackdown on crimes like auto burglaries, retail theft, vehicle theft and violent crime, the governor's office said in a Wednesday news release.

The operation resulted in 71 arrests and the recovery of 145 stolen vehicles, the governor's office said. Some of the charges in the arrests included possession of stolen property, auto theft, drug possession, DUI, felony gun possession and outstanding warrants.

During the operation, CHP also seized four firearms linked to crime. The operation also included the arrest of a man who is suspected of stealing 50 iPhones, valued at $49,230, from an Emeryville Apple Store last week, the governor's office said. In a viral video taken during the robbery, a hooded man is seen ripping the iPhones from display tables as multiple alarms sound.

Though CHP ended its short-term effort, the agency will deploy officers to the area again in "unannounced surge operations" with local law enforcement, Coffee said. In these future surges, CHP plans to deploy 40 to 65 officers. sfgate.com


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Safety More Important Than Pay?
Some Workers Will Take Pay Cut for Better Safety Culture

A new survey says 17% would sacrifice pay for safety.

Wanting to understand how important safety is to both current and potential employees, DuraPlas asked 1,000 US workers for their views for the 2024 Workplace Safety Culture Report.

Here are the results:

Q: Would you be willing to take a pay cut for a job with a better safety culture?

31% Maybe
24% Unlikely
19% No
17% Yes
9% Unsure

Q: Have you ever declined a job because of safety concerns?

No -- 61%
Yes -- 39%

"Culture is something communicated through actions as much as it is through words," DuraPlas President Paul Phillips said, in a statement. "So, if you're an organization that has a true culture of safety, it's going to come through in more than posters hung in a breakroom or a days-safe countdown whiteboard on a production floor. It's going to be communicated through the trainings you offer and the maintenance you do and the equipment you provide your workers. With this survey, we learned that employees are paying attention to these things, asking about them in the job-hunting process, and they are willing to sacrifice pay for a place that puts a priority on their safety."  ehstoday.com


Despite Backlash, Self-Checkout Remains Popular
Survey: Self-Checkout Adoption Among Retailers Rising
According to a survey conducted on behalf of NCR Voyix by Incisiv, 43 percent of retailers have mature self-checkout in place, and an additional 17 percent are further scaling their self-checkout deployments.
 
SCO adoption rates vary by retail vertical - about half (53 percent) of retailers in the food and grocery segment have mature self-checkout adoption, compared to 34 percent of retailers in convenience and fuel. However, convenience and fuel retailers plan to catch up quickly, with 37 percent piloting or scaling self-checkout deployments.

Executives who have already implemented self-checkout in their stores report benefits for retailers and shoppers, including:

• Seventy-nine percent say it provides better customer experience;
• Seventy-five percent say the tech enhanced store layout and space utilization;
• Fifty-eight percent say it's lowered labor costs; and
• Fifty-one percent believe that it provides improvements in its operational efficiency.

"Self-checkout is now essential for retailers aiming to provide a better and more convenient checkout, while also freeing up employees for other engaging and critical tasks like helping customers in the aisles or keeping inventory stocked," said Eric Schoch, EVP and president of retail at NCR Voyix.

"NCR Voyix will continue to lead the industry in SCO deployments and enable retailers to optimize their store technology for faster, frictionless customer experiences."   theshelbyreport.com


'Stores of the Future'
Retailers embrace tech, upgrade stores to elevate in-person shopping

Most people (57%) still prefer buying from a physical store versus online

In April 2020, the New York Times declared "the death of the department store." But since the pandemic, shoppers have been eager to go back in person. U.S. brick-and-mortar retail revenue hit $6.18 trillion in 2022, up 11% from the year prior and outpacing online sales growth.

As a percentage of total sales, e-commerce purchases have more than doubled over the past decade but still account for just 15% of U.S. retail sales. And research shows most Americans across all age groups still prefer physical stores to online shopping.

Instead of abandoning in-store shopping, major retailers are updating their stores to meet consumers' evolving needs.

Walmart recently announced plans to remodel hundreds of "Stores of the Future," featuring "digital touchpoints" that will provide "more info on products and services." JCPenney is set to spend more than $1 billion remodeling its stores as well as upgrading its app and website. Target has also spent big, updating its stores to now double as fulfillment hubs for online orders.

The look and feel of those futuristic stores will vary from retailer to retailer as more companies find non-traditional ways to make use of their space, said John Talbott, director of the Center for Education and Research in Retail at Indiana University. newsnationnow.com


'Security-by-Design'
Fixing physical security issues can increase construction costs by 20%
Although many construction practitioners are committed to principles of security-by-design, a recent report by Brivo reveals that there are still shortcomings in the industry. Despite attempts to integrate physical security with building design, many buildings do not meet security standards and are subject to post-build fixes that can increase costs by 20%.

This report surveyed 800 building design decision-makers internationally and indicated that physical security is among the top three focuses in building design, with safety and sustainability at the top of the list. Among Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) practitioners, 56% have a system in place to make physical security a part of building design. 41% are in the process of establishing such a system.

94% of AEC practitioners agree that physical security must be a key element in building design rather than an afterthought. The need for retroactive fixes creates additional expenses and poses risks, including contractual issues and legal actions. securitymagazine.com


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Senior LP & AP Jobs Market

Director, Asset Protection job posted for Goodwill in Phoenix, AZ
Oversees and directs the development, implementation, and management of Asset Protection programs, Policy and Procedure, Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) certification, Business Contingency Plan, and general compliance programs for Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona (GCNA) and its affiliated entities. goodwillaz.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com


Director, Divisional Asset Protection, Supply Chain job posted for Walmart in Bentonville, AR
This position is responsible for the operation of multiple facilities and provides overall direction by developing Asset Protection strategies. Provide guidance to business leaders on issues related to asset protection, including workplace safety, compliance, and security. Directs the consistent execution of the company's asset protection practices, systems, and personnel-related activities by auditing asset protection practices. walmart.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com


Security Director job posted for MariMed Advisors in Mount Vernon, IL
The Director of Security will work with the General Manager, COO and outside Security firm in coordinating and directing all functions relating to the security of the facility and safety of the employees, patients, purchasers and general public visiting the dispensary. The Director of Security will also work directly with the security staff regarding staffing scheduling, issues, etc., and other related work as required. indeed.com
 

AI-Enabled Cybersecurity Can Reduce Costs of Data Breaches
Data Breaches Cost 40% Less for Companies with AI-Enabled Cybersecurity
AI has been going through a major growth spurt in recent years, and cybersecurity is no exception. The technology is creating some significant downsides: 85% of security experts blame AI for increased cyberattacks, 39% expressed concern about privacy issues and 37% worry about undetectable phishing attacks.

On the plus side, enabling cybersecurity with AI can significantly reduce the monetary damage from a data breach. Without AI-enabled cybersecurity, the average cost of such a breach to a company was $4.45 million in 2023, 40% higher than the $2.65 million cost for those with AI-enabled protection. Another benefit: AI helped identify breaches more quickly, in 177 days versus 277 for those not using AI.

Find out more about AI's impact on cybersecurity in this infographic from Techopedia.  retailtouchpoints.com

Costly Business Outages
Active Directory outages can cost organizations $100,000 per day
Nearly every organization has core systems services tied to Active Directory that will go down during an outage, according to Cayosoft.

The impact of just one system being down can devastate business operations and cause significant financial and operational losses, from preventing customer purchases and supplier communications to disrupting core functions, such as email access and device logins. According to the report, the most common AD-enabled systems include accounting, marketing, and software and services development.

The report revealed a 172% increase in forest-wide Active Directory outages since 2021, due to a confluence of factors including escalating cyberattacks, the growing complexity of hybrid environments, and human error. Yet despite the striking rise in Active Directory outages, few businesses can respond and recover quickly.

Only 6% of enterprises and 16% of businesses overall can recover their Active Directory in less than an hour. Notably, almost half of respondents report that it can take days, weeks, or even months to rebuild.

Though daily testing could significantly reduce Active Directory outages, 73% of respondents reported testing less than once per month, with 23% testing just once per year. helpnetsecurity.com


'Taking Out Wide Swaths of the Internet'
'KeyTrap' DNS Bug Threatens Widespread Internet Outages

Thanks to a 24-year-old security vulnerability tracked as CVE-2023-50387, attackers could stall DNS servers with just a single malicious packet, effectively taking out wide swaths of the Internet.

Although it's been sitting there since 2000, researchers were just recently able to suss out a fundamental design flaw in a Domain Name System (DNS) security extension, which under certain circumstances could be exploited to take down wide expanses of the Internet. DNS servers translate website URLs into IP addresses and, mostly invisibly, carry all Internet traffic.

The team behind the discovery is from ATHENE National Research Center for Applied Cybersecurity in Germany. They named the security vulnerability "KeyTrap," tracked as CVE-2023-50387. According to their new report on the KeyTrap DNS bug, the researchers found that a single packet sent to a DNS server implementation using the DNSSEC extension to validate traffic could force the server into a resolution loop that causes it to consume all of its own computing power and stall. If multiple DNS servers were exploited at the same time with KeyTrap, they could be downed at the same time, resulting in widespread Internet outages, according to the team of academics. darkreading.com


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