The Great Debate Over America's 'Shoplifting Epidemic'
Retailers want federal action and tougher penalties to curb organized retail crime

Is there really a shoplifting 'epidemic?'
Legislators in California, Florida, Louisiana and North Carolina have answered the pleas of big retailers who want stiffer penalties for shoplifters, particularly those who work in groups to steal lots of stuff, sometimes from several stores over a day or two. Louisiana moved one form of shoplifting into a category of crimes that carries a long prison sentence.

Two big groups that represent retailers have estimates of the size of the shoplifting "epidemic." The National Retail Federation says organized retail crime, or ORC, is up. The Retail Industry Leaders Association estimated the problem to be around $69 billion a year.

The National Retail Federation says a big reason for the rise in theft is that such crimes are not vigorously prosecuted. As states hike up their retail theft penalties, the National Retail Federation is pushing Congress to pass legislation to battle the problem.

Would stronger penalties slow retail theft?

The Marshall Project's investigation found:

An analysis of arrest data in New York shows few people committed new crimes while out on bail. And crime-deterrence research demonstrates that harsher penalties do little to prevent crime. Instead, people are much more likely to respond if they feel there's a high likelihood of getting caught and swiftly punished.

Since 2000, at least 39 states have increased the value of stolen goods required to trigger a felony charge. States that increased their thresholds experienced the same overall decline in property crimes over the last two decades as states that did not, the analysts found.

The main focus, retail lobbyists say, needs to be on punishing the masterminds behind the crime rings who exploit the shoplifters. To do this, the federation encourages lawmakers to enact statutes that create a new category of crime: organized retail theft. The industry defines organized theft as anyone shoplifting for personal gain versus personal use. To date, the federation says it has helped enact such laws in 34 states.  poynter.org


NYC's Retail Crime Crisis: Glimmer of Hope in New Data?


Robberies, Burglaries & Shoplifting Finally Dropping in NYC
NYC murders, shootings, subway crime dropped in February, continuing downward trend, say NYPD brass
Crime stats in the subways and the neighborhoods they serve are finally moving in the right direction, with notable reductions in serious crimes, and safer days right around the corner, NYPD officials said Friday.

In February, there were 519 fewer of the seven felonies that comprise the crime rate compared to February 2022, good for a 6% drop.

Murders dropped 28% citywide last month, as police counted 26 murders compared to 36 reported in February 2022, according to the stats. Rapes dropped 22%, burglaries 15% and robberies 11% last month compared to February 2022, according to the police.

Shootings also fell, 15%, from 75 in February 2022 to 64 in February 2023, with Chief of Crime Control Strategies Michael LiPetri noting there were zero shootings last month in three commands typically among the most violent.

Optimistic police officials said the numbers don't lie - but cynical New Yorkers weren't buying them.

Cops concede that misdemeanor assaults are still a problem - which were up 8% on the streets and 13% in the subway system in February 2023 when compared to February 2022. The same goes for petty larcenies, up 6% above ground and 44% below over the same time periods.

LiPetri said shoplifting, which soared during the pandemic, dropped in February. The recent declines in crime follow nearly three years of a surge in crime, particularly in shootings, that began in 2020.

Last February, the NYPD assigned 1,000 more cops to the subway system and promised a renewed focus on quality-of-life offenses, with services provided for the homeless and mentally ill. A month later, it established the Neighborhood Safety Unit, tasking its officers with getting guns off the street, and announced a renewed focus on quality-of-life infractions.

Police have said the unit has helped tamp down gun violence in various neighborhoods, though the crime rate is still up significantly compared to 2019.  nydailynews.com


What's Behind NYC's Drop in Retail Theft?
Retail theft dips slightly, NYC officials vague on what led to drop
There were nearly 500 fewer sticky-fingered shoppers in the city last month - although police officials Friday were vague on what drove the welcomed dip amid an unprecedented surge.

"This is the first time that I can remember that we've seen a decrease in shoplifting in February," said NYPD Chief Mike Lipetri.

Police recorded 4,276 shoplifting complaints last month compared with 4,757 the year prior, according to Lipetri, who joined Deputy Mayor of Public Safety Phil Banks during his new weekly public forum.

The just-over 10% dip could only be credited to a "collaborative effort" with businesses, pols and district attorneys.

The NYPD's crime strategies chief dodged the question of whether cops made more shoplifting arrests.

The Big Apple has seen a historic rise in shoplifting complaints over the last few years. In 2022, more than 63,000 reports for retail theft were made - a 45% jump from 2021 when just over 43,000 complaints were recorded. In 2019, the tally was just under 38,000.

It's so bad in Midtown, the 34th Street Partnership has hired its own K-9 units to deter the thieves. nypost.com


States Continue to Target Organized Retail Crime


Another ORC Task Force Seeing Results
Arizona task force targets organized retail theft of baby formula, SNAP benefits
Authorities revealed the results of a six-month investigation into organized retail theft in Arizona on Thursday, including thousands of cans of baby formula seized by investigators.

"Those participating in organized retail theft are on notice that in Arizona, their organizations will be disrupted, they will be apprehended, and they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Attorney General Kris Mayes said in a press release.

The Organized Retail Theft Task Force investigation, which is ongoing, is a joint effort of the Arizona Department of Economic Security, Gilbert Police Department and U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Phoenix Police Department also participated.

"Organized retail theft and fraud harms all of us, from the victims themselves to regular Arizonans facing increased prices that result from theft," Mayes said. "I want to thank our state agency and law enforcement partners, as well as our retail partners, for their support and work on this investigation."

In addition to 3,200 cans of baby formula, the task force uncovered the theft of approximately $1.2 million in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from over 2,700 victims.

More than 1,200 cloned SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards were also seized, including skimming devices and equipment used to make fake EBT cards. ktar.com


Nevada AG Introduces New ORC Bill
AG Introduces Bill for Office to Investigate, Prosecute Organized Retail Theft
Attorney General Aaron D. Ford this morning presented Assembly Bill 50 to the Assembly Committee on Judiciary.

The bill, according to AG Ford, would allow the office of the Attorney General to investigate and prosecute organized retail theft crimes.

AG Ford says organized retail theft crimes are criminal actions in which thieves target retailers to steal a large amount of products, and then resell the items in different venues either in-person or online.

The bill would also allow the office to investigate counterfeit goods and fraudulent transactions.

AG Ford's office points to a 2021 National Retail Foundation Survey, which named Las Vegas as one of the top 10 cities impacted by organized retail crimes.  2news.com


Crime Continues to Close Stores Across the Nation


Walmart Pulls Out of Portland Amid Crime Surge
Walmart Set to Close All Stores in Portland amid Record-Breaking Retail Theft
Walmart announced its plan to close its final two locations in Portland, Ore., at the end of March following underwhelming financial results.

"We have nearly 5,000 stores across the U.S. and unfortunately some do not meet our financial expectations," the corporation said in a statement according to KPTV. "While our underlying business is strong, these specific stores haven't performed as well as we hoped."

The closures, which will result in nearly 600 employees being laid off, come after a statement by Walmart CEO Doug McMillion in December 2022 noting that record-breaking retail theft had undercut the company's economic performance of late.

"Theft is an issue. It's higher than what it has historically been," McMillon told CNBC. Prices "will be higher and/or stores will close," the executive added if Oregon authorities failed to address rampant shoplifting.

Companies shuttering stores in Portland has become increasingly common. Last year a clothing store, Raind PDX, shut down operations with the company specifically citing the cost of doing business in the wake of historic retail theft.

"Small businesses (and large) cannot sustain doing business, in our city's current state. We have no protection, or recourse, against the criminal behavior that goes unpunished," a letter posted on the company's store read. "Our city is in peril."

In a similar vein, Nike and Cracker Barrel locations closed in 2022 with companies citing similar reasons.

In late February, Walmart announced a series of other closures across the United States including in Florida, Illinois, Arkansas, and Wisconsin. nationalreview.com


Portland Store Calls It Quit Amid Theft Surge
After 19 shoplifting incidents in a year, a store at Washington Square mall is calling it quits

Shoplifters have hit the upscale consignment store 19 times, stealing more than $56,000 in luxury bags, clothing and shoes over the past year.

Portland, OR: The small business owner hoped the mall location, right next to the retail giant Nordstrom, would bring more eyes to her luxury merchandise. What she didn't realize was many of those watching were thieves.

Over the past year, crooks have hit Consign Couture's Washington Square location 19 times, stealing more than $56,000 dollars in merchandise, according to the owner.

After a year in business at Washington Square, Young plans to close her shop at the end of March. She's not renewing her lease. Consign Couture can't absorb the losses or pay for security in the same way big retailers can, she said.

"The amount of work that goes into running a small business, down to the research, tags and training to do this the right way and then someone just steals a day's worth of all your work, it's like - 'What's the point?'" asked Young. kgw.com

In Case You Missed It: Apple abruptly closes NC store after series of shootings


Another Mall Grapples with Increasing Violence


Another Mall Beefs Up Security Following Shooting
Update: Mall addresses recent shooting, announces more security measures
The shooting at Northlake Mall on Feb. 28 along with other crimes at the mall has prompted additional security efforts.

"Northlake Mall was devastated to learn of the events of February 28, and is grateful that everyone is safe. Still, this reckless act―and other crimes committed in recent months―have shaken our community. We stand hand-in-hand with our valued retailers in prioritizing the safety and well-being of Mall employees and the many shoppers who enjoy our retail experience, and will continue to ensure that anyone who enters the Mall can do so comfortably," according to a statement from mall leadership.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department already has a 'robust' presence at Northlake Mall, according to the statement, and there is 24-hour security. Still, additional efforts are underway to prevent additional incidents.

"We are rolling out additional security measures to further fortify the property and provide peace of mind to our community. Northlake Mall is unwavering in its mission to ensure the Mall is a premier retail destination―one that is unburdened by acts of violence and other misconduct that have no place in this wonderful community," the statement reads.

"The Northlake Mall has been a vigilant and dedicated partner on these incidents in ensuring a safe environment for our community. They are working on several safety measures through a continued partnership with CMPD. Public safety remains our top priority, and we look forward to our continued work with the mall, area businesses, community members and others as we address these incidents," CMPD Chief, Johnny Jennings said. wbtv.com

'People don't feel safe': Violence at Northlake Mall taking toll on nearby businesses

Northlake Mall, CMPD vow changes after spate of shootings

New York Businesses Make 180-Degree Shift from Mask Mandates
Police are urging stores to enforce mask-free mandates in order to cut down on crime

New York police say shoppers should take off face masks before entering stores
Face masks, once an essential Covid-19 protective measure, are now being worn by criminals to conceal their identities, according to New York police who are urging businesses to unmask customers before letting them in stores.

The recommendation is a 180-degree turn from mask-wearing norms at the onset of the pandemic. During peak periods of infection, federal agencies mandated mask-wearing in public places, while many businesses required customers to wear them on the premises.

Now, however, some businesses are banning customers from entering the premises with face masks on, saying the policy change is needed to identify thieves. And after numerous incidents, the New York Police Department is urging business owners to make shoppers remove their face masks and flash their features before being let in.

He acknowledged that during the pandemic, most businesses wouldn't allow patrons to enter stores without masks, and sometimes even gloves. Pre-pandemic, however, most businesses wouldn't allow you to walk in there with a mask and latex gloves on, he said.

"Condition of entry"

"We're asking the businesses to make this a condition of entry: That people, when they come in, they should show their face, they should identify themselves," Maddrey added. "And if they feel like they want to put their mask on after they identify themselves for their safety, by all means, they should do so."

"It can be a condition of entry that a mask is removed, and once the person is identified, they can put their mask back on for safety," he said. cbsnews.com


America Gets Through Winter Without Massive COVID Surge
The Winter COVID-19 Surge That Never Came

Is it the first surge-less winter of many? Or could it make Americans complacent and fuel an increase once immunity levels have waned?

The predictions ranged, but some of the warnings were stark: 100 million Americans could be infected with COVID-19 in what would be a massive fall and winter surge. Ultimately, though, the U.S. ended up with its first winter of the pandemic without a large wave of coronavirus.

"This winter there was no major surge similar to what we have seen before," says Ali Mokdad, an epidemiologist with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington. "No major increase in hospitalization or mortality. And that's true across the Northern Hemisphere, where winter is what we expect from now on as we will have a seasonal increase in COVID-19." usnews.com


Is the COVID-19 pandemic over?

COVID: Indoor masking still recommended for 10 Florida counties
 

Solink Explains: Loss Prevention And Security Audits In Retail

By Cathy Langley, Senior Leader, AP - Major Accounts, Solink

When looking to design, implement, and track a loss prevention and security audit program across a national retail chain, there are two big questions to consider:

• What are you attempting to resolve, influence, and/or measure?

• What is the priority?

The first point is to understand if there are any specific pressing concerns. If there are procedures not being followed by staff in the stores, then you want to come up with a program that is going to actually influence the way they work. Remember to not build your program(s) in a silo, work with your business partners.

Low-Priority Points

Then, everyone is accountable for their budgets. That means you need to be able to define success, make an argument for it, and measure your results against that goal. Whether that's reduced theft or making my stores safer for your employees and customers, we need to be able to measure that impact.

The second point is just as important. If everything is a priority, nothing is. Too often loss prevention/asset protection (LP/AP) communication is cluttered with high- and low-priority points. Keep it simple, and try to resolve a couple key items. It's also critical to stay aligned with your company's strategic plan. The mantra 'inspect what you expect' emphasizes that you can not assume just because an expectation was communicated that it is actually being/been done. Whether it's security, operational, or health and safety violations, always follow-up and over communicate.

Loss Prevention Audits

Finally, don't forget about the communication post audit. It provides a strong perception of control and accountability. It also reminds everyone of the key points that you are looking for.

Remember that, although you want compliance, what you really need is commitment and buy-in for your strategic plan. If you strive for commitment, compliance will follow.

Remote Vs. In-Person Audits - Remote Loss Prevention - Health and safety regulation issues - Point Of Sale Issues - Several Operation Issues - Cash Handling Procedures:  securityinformed.com


Amazon Brick & Mortar Cost-Cutting Closures
Amazon to close eight cashierless Go convenience stores in cost-cutting move

Amazon is closing eight Go convenience stores in Seattle, New York City and San Francisco.

Amazon plans to close eight of its Go convenience stores, the company said Friday, a decision that coincides with a pullback in its physical footprint and a broader effort to cut costs.

The company will shut two Go stores in New York City, two locations in Seattle, and four stores in San Francisco. The stores will close on April 1, and Amazon said it will work to help affected employees secure other roles at the company.

"Like any physical retailer, we periodically assess our portfolio of stores and make optimization decisions along the way," Amazon spokesperson Jessica Martin said in a statement. "In this case, we've decided to close a small number of Amazon Go stores in Seattle, New York City, and San Francisco. We remain committed to the Amazon Go format, operate more than 20 Amazon Go stores across the U.S., and will continue to learn which locations and features resonate most with customers as we keep evolving our Amazon Go stores." cnbc.com


Retail's Wage War Continues
Kroger latest retailer to spend big on employee wages as job market tightens
The grocery chain will spend $770 million more on employee pay and benefits in 2023, it said after reporting earnings on Thursday. Kroger's previous investments in compensation since 2018 raised the average starting rate at the company to $18 an hour.

The Ohio-based grocer follows companies like Home Depot and Walmart in committing to raise wages this year. In February, Home Depot said it would up spending on wages by $1 billion and raise its minimum hourly rate to $15 across the US. Walmart said in January that it would increase its minimum wage to $14 from the previous $12-an-hour rate.

The higher pay is part of "labor hoarding," or companies trying to keep workers for fear of not being able to fill positions if they leave. businessinsider.com


Ross Stores to open 100 new stores in 2023

Best Buy plans to open more outlet stores selling used and refurbished items

QVC, HSN parent lays off 12% of its workforce

Victoria's Secret to bring back fashion show after 4-year hiatus


Last week's #1 article --

Walmart is closing a batch of stores in 2023 - here's the full list

Retailer Refuses to Pay Ransomware
Indigo Books Refuses LockBit Ransomware Demand

Canada's largest bookseller rejected the pressure of the ransomware gang's countdown timer, despite data threats.

Indigo Books, the company behind Chapters stores and the largest bookseller in Canada, let the deadline to pay a ransomware demand expire, risking the release of employee data.

A LockBit ransomware affiliate group set a Thursday at 3:39 p.m. EST deadline to pay, but Indigo flatly rejected the notion, explaining the extortion money could "end up in the hands of terrorists," according to a statement. So far, contrary to the ransomware group's threat, the compromised Indigo employee data has not been publicly released, according to CBC News.

Indigo was first compromised on Feb. 8, shutting down the retailer's operations down for days. CBC News added that the operation is still struggling to stand up the business with as many product offerings as it had before the ransomware attack.

In an email to employees provided to CBC News, Indigo president Andrea Limbardi wrote that "privacy commissioners do not believe that paying a ransom protects those whose data has been stolen."

CBC News has reached out to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada to confirm its stance on these matters, but in a previous statement the Commissioner's office said it was aware of the privacy breach at Indigo and remains in contact with the company.

Indigo added that it does not know the identity of the group behind the attack. LockBit has been involved in previous cyberattacks, including one that targeted Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children. darkreading.com  cbc.ca


Customers Personal Information Exposed
Chick-fil-A Customers Have a Bone to Pick After Account Takeovers

A two-month-long automated credential-stuffing campaign exposed personal information of Chick-fil-A customers, including birthdays, phone numbers, and membership details.

Fried chicken specialist Chick-fil-A has alerted customers to an automated credential stuffing attack that ran for months, impacting more than 71,000 of its customers, according to the company.

Credential stuffing attacks employ automation, often through bots, to test numerous username-password combinations against targeted online accounts. This type of attack vector is enabled through the common practice of users reusing the same password across various online services; thus, the login info used in credential stuffing attacks is typically sourced from other data breaches and are offered for sale from various Dark Web sources.

"Following a careful investigation, we determined that unauthorized parties launched an automated attack against our website and mobile application between December 18, 2022 and February 12, 2023 using account credentials (e.g., email addresses and passwords) obtained from a third-party source," the company noted in a statement sent to those affected.

The compromised personal information included customers' names, email addresses, membership numbers and mobile pay numbers, as well as masked credit or debit card number - meaning unauthorized parties could only view the last four digits of the payment card number. Phone numbers, addresses, and birthday and month were also exposed for some customers.

Chick-fil-A added that in the wake of the attacks, it has removed stored credit and debit card payment methods, temporarily frozen funds previously loaded onto customers' Chick-fil-A One accounts, and restored any affected account balances. The fast-food chain also recommended the best practice that customers reset their passwords, and use a password that is not easy to guess and unique to the website. darkreading.com


Data Breach Hits British Retailer
British retail chain WH Smith says data stolen in cyberattack
British retailer WH Smith has suffered a data breach that exposed information belonging to current and former employees. The company operates 1,700 locations across the United Kingdom and employs over 12,500 people, reporting a revenue of $1.67 billion in 2022.

Customer data is safe

"WH Smith PLC has been the target of a cyber security incident which has resulted in illegal access to some company data, including current and former employee data," reads the company's cybersecurity notice filed with London's Stock Exchange.

"Upon becoming aware of the incident, we immediately launched an investigation, engaged specialist support services, and implemented our incident response plans, which included notifying the relevant authorities" - WH Smith

The company states that the attack did not impact its trading business. Customer data was not affected because this information is stored on separate systems that remained safe from unauthorized access.

The notification to London's Stock Exchange includes few details and the company did not share the nature of the incident, which could be a ransomware attack. bleepingcomputer.com


How Will This Impact the Growing Number of EV Delivery Trucks?
EV Charging Infrastructure Offers an Electric Cyberattack Opportunity

Attackers have already targeted EV charging stations, and experts are calling for cybersecurity standards to protect this necessary component of the electrified future.

As electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure rushes to keep pace with the dramatic rise in sales of electric vehicles in the United States, cyberattackers and security researchers alike have already started focusing on security weaknesses in the infrastructure.

The risks are not just theoretical: A year ago, after Russia invaded Ukraine, hacktivists compromised charging stations near Moscow to disable them and display their support for Ukraine and their contempt for Russian President Vladamir Putin.

The cybersecurity concerns come as electric vehicle sales have taken off in the United States, accounting for 5.8% of all vehicles sold 2022, up from 3.2% the previous year, according to JD Power. Currently, less than 51,000 Level 2 and DC Fast charging stations are available in the US, representing the capability to charge 130,000 vehicles simultaneously, according to the US Department of Energy. With more than 1.5 million electric vehicles registered as of June 2022, that means there are 11 vehicles for every public charging port.

To keep up with demand, the major players in the EV charging sector all have significant expansion plans, and the Biden administration aims to increase the number of vehicle chargers to 500,000 by 2030.  darkreading.com


Attackers are developing and deploying exploits faster than ever

Vulnerabilities of years past haunt organizations, aid attackers

Anti-shoplifting 'blitz' in NE Portland sends message police 'cracking down'
Portland Police conducted their second retail theft "blitz" mission of the year at the Gateway and 205 malls in northeast Portland on Sunday. The goal was to curb shoplifting at businesses in the area but there were also arrests for outstanding warrants, car thefts, and more. Josiah had his car stolen last weekend out of his northeast Portland driveway. One week later, it was spotted at a McDonald's on Southeast Powell Boulevard. "My friend spotted it which started the chase and everything," Josiah said. Police working the retail theft mission in the gateway area responded in full force, chasing the car from McDonald's to the corner of Northeast 92nd Boulevard and Northeast Schuyler Street. The man inside the car was arrested and Josiah got his car back. He said he was grateful officers were conducting their retail theft mission in the same area where his car was found. "I'm all for it," Josiah said. "It's getting crazy." Portland Police said these missions to crack down on petty crime have been a huge success in the past. In February, a similar mission led to 40 arrests and 60 warrants serviced. Law enforcement handed out 32 felony charges and 28 misdemeanor charges. Plus recovering more than two thousand dollars of stolen merchandise. A two-day mission in December of 2022 led to 64 arrests and 70 warrants serviced. Officers recovered 10 stolen vehicles, three firearms, and nearly $9,000 in stolen merchandise. kptv.com


Portland, OR: Beloved clothing store shutters for good during 'retail apocalypse' after $56,000-worth of designer items stolen
Nearly $56,000 in bags, clothing and shoes were stolen from the luxury consignment store in 2022. Owner of Consign Couture Tamara Young opened a second location of her shop in Portland last March in what she thought was a secure area. She said: "I told them when I decided to lease this space that I felt like this was a more secure place to sell Louis Vuitton and Chanel bags." Her shop has been described as "an inclusive, well-curated consignment store for high-end men's and women's apparel and accessories". But after a year of thievery, she's shutting the doors of her high-end consignment shop.  the-sun.com


Macedonia, OH: Trio open credit card with victim's information to use at Ulta
A trio of suspects are wanted for allegedly opening a credit card using a Lake County resident's information, the sheriff confirmed, and detectives need help identifying them. The fraudulent credit card account was used at the Ulta store in Macedonia, according to Lake County Sheriff Frank Leonbruno. Leonbruno said authorities suspect they are also using falsified Ohio identification cards with the victim's information to verify identity with the store. cleveland19.com


Pleasant Hill, CA: Police seeking armed suspect in Verizon robbery
Police in Concord and Pleasant Hill are looking for a suspect who may have been involved in an armed robbery of a mobile phone shop in Pleasant Hill on Saturday. The Pleasant Hill Police Department received a call Saturday afternoon about a robbery at a Verizon store in their jurisdiction. Two suspects entered the store, "threatened employees that they had a gun," and stole numerous cell phones, police said. The suspects fled in a vehicle and were located by Pleasant Hill Police in Concord, near Concord Avenue and Harrison Street. When officers attempted to confront and detain the suspects, the suspects did not surrender and the driver of their vehicle "ran into" one of the officers, police said. This officer fired at the suspects' vehicle, hitting the car, but not the driver. Police chased the suspect's vehicle and the driver was eventually arrested in Bay Point, Pleasant Hill police said. The second suspect fled on foot and is actively sought by the police. thebharatexpressnews.com


Tewksbury, MA: Police Officer suffers broken ribs after alleged attack from Marshall's shoplifter
A Lowell man is facing charges after he assaulted a Tewksbury Police Officer when he was caught shoplifting at a local department store, according to officials. Police responded to a Marshall's store on Main Street in Tewksbury Thursday night for reports of a shoplifter. Upon arrival, officers were told by employees that a man, later identified as Angle Luis Perez Rosario, 35, of Lowell, was allegedly putting on merchandise and filling up a carriage while walking past the registers, showing no intention to pay. Officers then attempted to speak with Perez Rosario as he was leaving the store, but he allegedly fled on foot. Officers ordered him to stop and when he did not, they pursued him on foot. According to police, Rosario allegedly struck an officer in the chest before officers were able to bring him into custody. The officer who was struck in the chest was transported to a local hospital, where it was determined he suffered a broken rib from the assault. Police located a small bag containing Fentanyl as well as Xanax pills on Perez Rosario. It was determined that he also had a warrant out for his arrest through Lowell District Court. Perez Rosario appeared in Lowell District Court Friday for charges of possession of class A & E drugs, larceny, resisting arrest, and assault and battery on a police officer.  news.yahoo.com


Memphis, TN: $9,000 in tobacco items stolen from Southeast Memphis store

Beaver County, PA: PA State Police investigating Burglary/ Theft at Sand and Gravel company

Pittsburgh, PA: Multiple felony charges filed against Cheswick man accused of being serial shoplifter at Walmart

Farmington, NM: Police seeking suspect in Best Buy theft

Wilkes-Barre, PA: Woman facing felony theft at Walmart , Police discover nine packets of suspected fentanyl