Home Depot Fights Violent Thefts
One location implemented a concept that cordons off the tool section with an armed guard

'Not overkill, it's necessary,' insist Home Depot shoppers as stores make big changes to fight theft - even armed guards
Employees have been attacked and killed by thieves, and the retailer is doing what it needs to do to fight organized crime, the man said.

"Home Depot is one of the largest tool retailers in the US, but they're changing the way that they sell tools, and the reason might surprise you," one influencer told his followers. "In most Home Depots, the tools are just out there in the open, and that has led to a lot of instances of theft, and Home Depot has been targeted by thieves and organized theft rings."

He was surprised to find "news story after news story" on thieves targeting Home Depot specifically. "Thieves can easily get to tools that are worth hundreds of dollars, then they sell those tools to places like Facebook Marketplace, pawn shops, and other places online," Dave said, calling Home Depot an "easy target."

"The store associates are trained not to intervene, and so the thieves just walk out the door. And while you may think that it may be simple for employees to just step in and stop them, it's far too dangerous and that is because some thieves have become violent, even threatening employees with guns and knives," he said.

A newer Home Depot location just implemented an innovative concept in its tool section. There was only one way in and out of the tool section, and an armed guard, cashier, and cash register were positioned near the front of the section for customers to pay for their tools before they left the area.

Several people commented in support of the extreme measures. "It is NOT OVERKILL. Today's lawlessness has become a problem in which we all share. Good for Home Depot," another person said. the-sun.com


Specialized Theft Units Paying Off
'We're going to put an end to this epidemic': An inside look at how San Jose police is fighting retail crime
San Jose police detectives said their fight against retail crime is paying off. The claim comes after the San Jose Police Department was awarded an $8 million grant late last year to fight retail crime.

Police have a specialized unit dedicated only to retail thefts in the city, which the district attorney said is using a unique new law to keep the suspects in jail and throw the book at them.

Since December, San Jose police said they have been confronting the retail theft epidemic head on. NBC Bay Area has previously reported on the foot patrols at South Bay malls thanks to the grant to fight retail theft.

SJPD's organized retail theft detail includes three officers and a sergeant working overtime shifts. Those teams are backed by detectives -- retired officers with decades of experience working part time -- solely to connect the dots and put the retail thieves out of business.

The detectives work with other cities in the Bay Area and are linking suspects to crimes in their communities so they can present a solid case to the district attorney.

The district attorney is using a relatively new law, penal code 490.4, to take down down what they said is a form of organized crime. The DA needs at least two people committing a crime together.

"It's a unique standalone statute that we have that carries with it at least up to one year in jail," Boyarsky said. "And depending on the value of the property taken, we can seek a prison sentence as well, and we will." nbcbayarea.com


UK: '400% increase in Thefts'
Store thefts: I've been hit by bottles, says retailer as crime soars

"I've been bottled a number of times," says convenience store owner Ben Selvaratnam. "I've had at least 20 stitches."

The rise in thefts and violence has forced the London businessman to spend thousands on new security measures. It comes as new data shows shop owners have reported a 400% increase in thefts during 2023, setting a new record.

The Association of Convenience Stores (ASC) said shops recorded 5.6 million theft incidents last year.
That is up from 1.1 million the year previously. Violence is also up - with 76,000 incidents reported, compared to 41,000 in the 12-months prior, the ASC said.

Crime 'onslaught'

In its 2024 Crime Report, the ASC said local shops were facing a retail crime crisis, with retailers recording over 600 incidents of theft an hour over the last year. It said retailers were doing "what they can to fight back", spending £339m over the past year in areas such as CCTV and security staff.

ASC chief executive James Lowman said shop owners were facing an "onslaught" of crime, with some losing tens of thousands of pounds per year to theft alone.

Mr Lowman said while there had been "positive steps forward" with the Retail Crime Action Plan and the launching of Operation Pegasus to try and better identify prolific offenders the report showed more needed to be done.

Retail crime soars

• 87% of colleagues in convenience stores have faced verbal abuse over the last year
• 67% of retailers believe that the cost of living crisis has led to an increase in theft
• 76% of retailers believe organised crime has become more prevalent over the last year  bbc.com


Progressives Fighting to Save Prop 47 Despite California's Theft Surge
Opinion: The evidence doesn't support claims of a 'retail theft surge.' We must protect Prop 47.

Voters were right a decade ago when they said we cannot continue to rely on incarceration alone to protect our safety

As San Diego becomes the most expensive place to live in America and more San Diegans are forced to live on the streets, Mayor Todd Gloria has finally found the culprit: toothpaste cartels and Proposition 47. His solution? Lock up people, "not laundry detergent," and ignore the votes of Californians. This new stance is supported by the talking points of law enforcement, which is eager to return to the days of "tough on crime," but little to no evidence. If anything, Proposition 47 should be celebrated and built upon, not rolled back.

By approving Proposition 47 10 years ago, voters stopped sending people convicted of low-level crimes, like petty theft and the possession of drugs for personal use, to state prison for up to three years.

This commonsense approach has made all of us safer. The voters were right.

Despite their talking points, low-level shoplifting rates are 20 percent lower today than they were prior to Proposition 47. After it went into effect, statewide violent and property crime rates declined steadily. Before the pandemic, property crime rates hit some of the lowest levels in the recorded history of the state.

Voters were right a decade ago when they said we cannot continue to rely on incarceration alone to protect our safety. We must take a shared approach to public safety by prioritizing the prevention of crime and harm before they occur. Proposition 47 continues to be an important step in that direction.  sandiegouniontribune.com
 

ORC Groups Fleeing California & Turning to Nevada?
Las Vegas police targeting retail theft, question Nevada's shoplifting threshold
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police continue to target retail theft but suspect the felony threshold of $1,200 for shoplifting may make Nevada an attractive target.

The Nevada legislature increased the felony threshold from $650 to $1,200 in 2019. That means if the total amount of items someone steals is under $1,200 in value it's only a misdemeanor.

"We would be remiss if we didn't think that criminals know the law. They do," Lt. Travis Cunningham with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said. "So a lot of times we'll see criminals going into stores making sure they steal under that number because they think it's just a misdemeanor. So, in short, yes. I do think that having a high threshold does encourage to some extent, people to steal."

Lt. Cunningham oversees the Organized Retail Theft unit for LVMPD. The section was reactivated in June following an increase in people stealing from stores. He works with Sgt. Patrick Flynn to solve the crimes.

LVMPD noticed professional thieves, known as boosters, traveling to the state following California stores, placing cases around items to deter theft.

"That's one thing that California implemented within the last several years, which is why many boosters are actually migrating here now to commit those crimes," Lt. Cunningham said.

Despite the threshold increasing, Las Vegas police said boosters typically target multiple stores, and that helps officers charge the suspected criminals with a felony.  news3lv.com


Retail Crime Surge Fueling Campaign Against Los Angeles DA
The Case Against Re-electing L.A. DA George Gascón: Why Taxpayers Must Demand Accountability
As the county grapples with escalating crime rates and a homelessness crisis, taxpayers must realize the fiscal ramifications of DA Gascón's prosecutorial record, and make a change in this Tuesday's primary election.

Gascón's administration, characterized by a significant shift towards pro-criminal justice reform, has harmed victims, their families, and the average taxpayer who faces the indirect burdens of his actions. Over the last two years, property crimes have increased a staggering 14 to 42%, highlighting a troubling correlation: a spike in crime, particularly retail theft and "smash-and-grab" incidents, have surged under overly lenient policies like zero-bail and the elimination of the three-strike system. This uptick not only undermines public confidence but also imposes substantial economic burdens on a county already wrestling with affordability crises and inequality.

The economic fallout from these policies is far-reaching. LA's 460,000 small business owners, already navigating the treacherous waters of economic recovery, face increased vulnerability to property crimes, directly impacting their livelihoods and the local economy's vitality. The surge in brazen daylight robberies and organized retail theft has sent shockwaves through communities, compelling retailers big and small to shutter their doors or invest heavily in security measures, costs that are inevitably passed on to consumers. californiaglobe.com
 

Another State Pushes Retail Theft Legislation
Oklahoma bill aimed at reducing retail theft clears Senate

Senate Bill 1877 allows prosecutors to include more thefts in a single crime when charging a suspect

An Oklahoma bill that aims to reduce retail theft cleared the state Senate on Monday afternoon. Senate Bill 1877 allows prosecutors to include more thefts in a single crime by allowing courts to consider up to six months of theft crimes when charging or convicting a suspect. As of now, the maximum is three months.

Daniels said increasing the number of crimes that can be considered will make the sentence harsher and, in turn, better deter retail crime. The bill now heads to the House after passing off the Senate floor with a vote of 40-6. koco.com

 
Governor Hochul Announces Significant Progress in the Fight Against Crime in New York's Capital Region and Across the State

North Carolina: Youth crime rate is rising and community activists, officials are concerned
 

AI is Boosting the World's Most Valuable Brands
The World's Most Valuable and Powerful Brands for 2024

By Tony D'Onofrio - President, Sensormatic

With a Mix of Brand Challenges in the Retail Industry

Earlier this year, Brand Finance published its latest ranking of the world's most valuable brands. Displacing last year's number 1 Amazon, Apple has roared back to the top spot with an astonishing 74% brand value increase. The company's 2024 brand value growth is approximately equal to the total value of Starbucks's, Mercedes-Benz's, Tesla's, and Porsche's brands combined.

This article looks deeper into the success at Apple and explores the overall most valuable / strongest global brands. Finally, it summarizes the retail and apparel companies that emerged as the global brand value leaders in 2024.

The 2024 World's Most Valuable Overall Brands

For the top 10, six out of the most valuable overall global brands are from the United States, two are from China, and one each are from Korea and Germany.