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Andrew Cahill, LPC promoted to
Director of Investigations for Whole Foods Market
Andrew has been with Whole Foods Market since 2022. Before his promotion
to Director of Investigations, he served as Sr. Regional Asset
Protection & Safety Manager. Prior to joining Whole Foods, he served as
District Asset Protection Manager for Lowe's, Regional Asset Protection
Manager for Dollar General, District Asset Protection Manager for
JCPenney, and Asset Protection District Manager for Rite Aid, among
other retail LP roles. Congratulations, Andrew!
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Robert Burton promoted to Regional Loss Prevention Manager for J Crew |
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Ashley Shimek named Regional Loss
Prevention Manager for Madewell |
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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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The Hayes Report on Loss Prevention
Quarterly - Spring 2024 - Vol. 39 No.
2
Annual Retail Theft Survey - Trends in Dishonest Employee Statistics - Safety
Violations: OSHA's Top 10 - Testing For Success - The Bulletin Board
 Mark
Doyle Talks --- No Time to Waste in 2024
The thieves are not waiting for you, so your 2024 Store & DC Loss Prevention &
Safety Programs should now be implemented in the field with your Focus/Target
locations getting extra attention in your shrink reduction efforts. Don't be too
narrow focused by addressing shoplifting only, as all the shrink causing factors
in your locations (Internal Theft, Shoplifting, Vendor Fraud, Operational &
Supply Chain issues, etc.) need attention for your company to be successful in
2024. Be sure your program requirements are being audited and reviewed on a
consistent basis to help ensure compliance, and promptly take corrective actions
as needed. Let's make 2024 a very good shrink year!
Read more in the Vendor Spotlight column below
Security Industry Leader to Deliver Leadership Keynote Presentation at the 2024
TMA Virtual Mid-Year Meeting, April 22nd
 March
19, 2024, McLean, Va. -
The Monitoring Association (TMA)
is pleased to announce Kirk MacDowell, president, MacGuard Security Advisors,
Inc., will present the opening keynote for its 2024 Virtual Mid-Year Meeting on
Monday, April 22nd at 11:00 AM/ET. TMA's Virtual Mid-Year Meeting explores
topics from leadership excellence to cutting-edge technology to operational
strategies. In 2024, the virtual education and networking conference event will
take place April 22-24.
Learn more at
https://tma.us/events/2024-virtual-mid-year-meeting/.
The U.S. Crime Surge
The Retail Impact
How Two Unlikely Allies Are Taking Down ORC Mobs
The top
crime-fighting executives from CVS and eBay have closed 600 cases
To Catch Retail Thieves, This Unlikely Duo Treats Them Like the Mob
Would-be rivals CVS and eBay joined forces to go
after theft rings with tactics the feds use against organized crime.
 Christian
Hardman, Supervisor North America Criminal and Regulatory Investigations and
PROACT for eBay,
and
Ben Dugan, the head of central
investigations for CVS
- executives from one of
America's largest retailers and one of the biggest online marketplaces - may
have
more experience taking down
retail theft rings than anyone.
Since joining forces 15 years ago,
they've closed 600 cases.
Their secret? Treating
it like organized crime. They go after the kingpins
- building cases using racketeering statutes once reserved for the mob and
cartels.
But even with their experience and close partnership - a rarity in the retail
industry - Hardman and
Dugan still face an uphill battle.
They say that since the pandemic these crime rings are stealing more with
increasing sophistication.
The
store is just the first stop
in a highly developed retail theft empire.
People known as "boosters" snatch in-demand products, such as Olay moisturizers
and Crest Whitestrips. They
sell them for pennies on the
dollar to a "fence," a
middleman between the boosters and the often unwitting buyers of stolen items.
Savvier fences thoroughly clean the goods by removing labels, scratching out
serial numbers and changing expiration dates.
Then the items are posted on
marketplaces like eBay, Amazon or Facebook.
As retail crime became used by some as a symbol of beleaguered, post-pandemic
cities, attention focused on keeping theft out of stores.
Retail executives, lobbying
groups and politicians have called for stricter laws and tougher sentencing to
make it easier to charge and imprison boosters.
"There are bad laws across the country," says
Lisa LaBruno, senior executive
vice president at the Retail Industry Leaders Association,
a trade group.
 But
Dugan and Hardman say just focusing on the people who steal from stores can
become a game of whack-a-mole. Instead,
the duo uses their perches at
two major retailers to identify - and take down - the people running things.
By teaming up,
they can follow a retail crime
ring from the pharmacy chain's shelves to eBay's checkout page.
Dugan and Hardman realized that to dismantle these crime rings, they had to
sidestep these grievances and get organized.
They got their teams talking
almost weekly about investigations.
CVS
shares what's happening on the ground, and eBay does the same for the web
- a relationship that helps them cut through bureaucracy and speed things up.
That close relationship
has also helped them win over state attorneys general and law enforcement
officials, who
historically categorized shoplifting as a low-priority crime.
bloomberg.com
Stores Lean on Anti-Theft Tech to Balance
'Convenience vs. Security'
Retailers pile on new tech to deter theft
Locked cases, security turnstiles, AI-equipped
cameras, receipt scanners, off-duty cops, license plate recognition - retailers
are piling on anti-theft technologies
Why it matters:
Striking the right
"convenience vs. security"
balance is critical for retailers, who need to thwart shoplifting without
turning off legit customers.
Retailers "know that locking up items does impact their sales," says
David
Johnston, vice president of asset protection and retail operations at the
National Retail Federation.
"They spend millions of dollars on displays and creating the shopping
experience," he notes. Locking up merchandise is "something they really don't
want to do."
Retailers are "looking at various
technologies that allow them
the freedom of a positive shopping experience, with the control of inventory,"
Johnston says.
Case in point:
"Anti-sweeping" shelves
use rails, tracks or
sensors to keep people from grabbing lots of items at once.
New AI
cameras use
"loitering analytics" and face-matching tech
designed to spot known offenders.
RFID systems - which mark each item with a tiny tag
about the size of a piece of glitter - are increasingly used to track stolen
merchandise.
Audio detection alerts
store managers to the sound of gunshots or breaking glass.
"Pushout
prevention" systems
lock shopping carts before they exit a store.
License plate recognition
cameras monitor
store parking lots.
Some stores are deploying Indyme's
Freedom Case,
which shoppers can
unlock by sharing their
phone number or using the store's loyalty app.
Today's security camera technology, meanwhile, is "much more searchable" with
"much greater resolution," says
Read Hayes, director of the
Loss Prevention Research Council,
which lab-tests anti-theft products.
The bottom line:
The latest anti-theft
technologies deter thieves and catch criminals,
experts say - so expect
to see more of them.
axios.com
FBI Data Shows Continued Drop in Crime Nationwide
Murder Down
13%, Violent Crime Down 6%, Property Crime Down 4%
The U.S. crime rate is still dropping, FBI data shows
Why does the public think it's going up? "There is
definitely more disorder in cities than there was five years ago," said one
expert. "People confuse disorder and crime."
 New
FBI data confirms previous indications that
crime in the U.S. declined
significantly in 2023,
continuing a post-pandemic trend and belying widespread perceptions that crime
is rising.
The new fourth-quarter
numbers showed a 13% decline in murder in 2023 from 2022, a 6% decline in
reported violent crime and a 4% decline in reported
property crime.
That's based on data from around 13,000 law enforcement agencies, policing about
82% of the U.S. population, that provided the FBI with data through December.
"It suggests that when we get the final data in October, we will have seen
likely
the largest one-year decline in murder that has ever been recorded,"
said Jeff Asher, a former CIA analyst who now studies crime trends.
In October, the FBI
will release its final and most comprehensive look at crime in 2023.
Asher and other experts say the biggest
factor behind the drop in
crime may simply be the resumption of anti-crime initiatives
by local governments and courts that had stopped during the pandemic. Asher
said, "The tools that we ordinarily have used to interrupt these cycles of
violence were gone in 2020 [and] 2021."
In a statement on Tuesday, President Joe Biden called the new numbers "good news
for the American people" and touted his efforts to combat gun violence.
Attorney General Merrick Garland also issued a statement praising the drop in
crime and noting that,
in May 2021, the Justice Department launched a strategy aimed at addressing the
spike in violent crime
that occurred during the pandemic.
nbcnews.com
'America's Most Dangerous City' Turning a Corner?
Oakland mayor touts public safety successes as stats tell encouraging story
Leaders say the crime trends are turning a corner
in the East Oakland neighborhood where In-N-Out will soon close
The city has witnessed
continuous fallout from its struggles with crime,
but somewhat encouraging recent data trends led Oakland's leaders on Monday to
suggest that their efforts to turn things around may be paying off.
The commercial district has been
plagued by a long history of
burglaries and robberies that's led businesses to shutter
- including an In-N-Out burger location whose upcoming closure has drawn
national headlines.
But community leaders say
the situation is starting to
improve, and they credit a $250,000 investment by the city last year
in the nonprofit group Black Cultural Zone, which pays
35 "safety ambassadors" to
bolster foot traffic on
sidewalks and offer resources to those in need.
Meanwhile, an ongoing
expansion into Oakland by the California Highway Patrol,
which since last month has made
168 arrests
throughout the city, has involved some focused enforcement on Hegenberger Road.
More security cameras have
been installed in the area,
including at the airport.
Recent crime trends in both the area in question and across the city indicate
positive momentum in some
categories, though not
in others.
Reports of
burglaries this year had
dropped by 47%
citywide through March 10 compared to the same period of time in 2023, per data
provided by the Oakland Police Department.
Gunfire reports saw a 17% dip,
but
robberies had actually ticked up by 32%.
In the policing area that covers part of East Oakland, including the Hegenberger
corridor,
reported burglaries had
declined 70% as
of March 10 from year-to-date data last year, with
gunfire down 18% and robberies
up 36%. mercurynews.com
Maryland considers tougher laws on organized retail theft
Tennessee Senator passes 2 bills to help tackle juvenile theft crimes
The Self-Checkout Shakeup Continues
Walmart Self-Checkout Experiment Sparks Controversy
 Walmart
self-checkout lanes in some stores are
being reserved for select
customers like Walmart+ subscribers and delivery drivers.
This move, reported by Business Insider, is part of an experimental phase where
different methods are being tested to assess what works best in each location.
Joe Pennington, a spokesperson for Walmart, emphasized that this
shift isn't uniform across all
stores. Instead,
individual managers possess the autonomy to experiment and implement strategies
tailored to their specific locations.
Retailers, including Walmart, are
reassessing the efficacy of
cashierless options amidst concerns such as theft and slow queues.
Target, for instance, began restricting its self-checkout lanes to transactions
of 10 items or fewer on March 17.
Certain Walmart outlets, along with over
300 Dollar General stores,
have even eliminated self-checkout
completely in specific areas, signaling a strategic shift in handling
cashierless systems.
Additionally, some
Walmart outlets are now enforcing a 10-item cap
in self-checkout lanes, redirecting customers with larger purchases to
conventional checkout counters. Similarly, other retailers, like
Target, have designated
specific time slots for self-checkout availability.
Walmart's strategy concerning self-checkout is evolving,
mirroring broader shifts in
the retail sector. As
the company adapts to this transition, it's evident that unrestricted access to
self-checkout may soon become a thing of the past, marking a significant change
in consumer experience.
In light of these changes,
consumers may need to adjust
their shopping habits,
considering factors such as checkout wait times and convenience. This shift
prompts retailers to reconsider their approach to customer service and
technology integration.
retailwire.com
The Impact of Target's New Self-Checkout Limit
Target says 10-item limits made self-checkout twice as fast - and your store is
likely next
Target says item limits helped make self-checkout twice as fast.
 Big
baskets will be banished
from self-checkout at most Target locations starting Sunday.
The bull's-eye retailer is making the policy change it calls Express
Self-Checkout following
a test run of limiting
self-service lanes to 10 items or fewer at about 200 stores
in recent months. Shoppers with higher item counts will be directed to
traditional staffed lanes to complete their transactions.
One result of the test:
Self-checkout was twice as
fast with item limits than without,
the company said.
Target also says store
leadership has "flexibility" to set the hours that self-checkout is available,
in other words opening lanes later and closing them earlier than their store's
operating hours.
The move is one of many that
major retailers have taken in
the past year to get a handle on some of the challenges
posed by the widespread adoption of self-service kiosks.
businessinsider.com
Cities Nationwide Restricting Dollar Store
Openings
Cities want
to 'study the public health and safety impact' of the stores
Canton Council approves moratorium on dollar stores, new rules to come
With an 11-1 vote, Canton City Council on Monday approved a
moratorium
on issuing any zoning or building permits or any new licenses and occupancy
certificates for dollar
stores and similar discount retailers in the city until Jan. 1.
Nearly 20 discount stores exist within city limits, according to city officials.
The proposed rules would
restrict how close the stores
could be to each other, require them to better match the neighborhoods they
serve, require them to
keep their property free of
litter and debris, and
require them to offer
fresh produce and healthier food options,
according to information previously presented to the city's Planning Commission.
The proposed rules have yet to be formally presented as legislation to council.
Louisville also passed a dollar store moratorium
Louisville also has
joined Canton and other
cities
nationwide in restricting the proliferation of dollar stores within its
municipal limits.
City Council on Monday approved
a two-year moratorium on
permits or administrative approvals for small-box discount stores in all zoning
districts. The
moratorium would affect stores between 3,000 and 15,000 square feet that
dedicate less than 20% of their inventory and shelf space to fresh food and
produce and sell their products directly to the consumer for less than $10.
Stores whose primary purpose is liquidation-type sales of goods or merchandise
or liquidation outlet stores also would be included.
Interim City Manager Andrew Turowski said the moratorium gives city officials
time to
study the impact of the
proliferation of discount stores on the public health and safety
of surrounding neighborhoods. He said Louisville has four dollar stores within
its city limits.
cantonrep.com
Macy's 'Bold New Chapter'
Macy's eyes $100M in savings from streamlined supply chain
The company's "Bold New Chapter" will feature
automation, distribution center closures, and more.
Macy's three-point
transformation plan to
combat sliding market share - dubbed the "Bold New Chapter" -
will rely heavily on its
supply chain.
The retailer plans to
close distribution centers, increase automation, and implement other tactics
that help the corporation improve inventory, productivity, and, ultimately,
sales, the corporation's CFO and COO, Adrian Mitchell, said in a Q4 earnings
call.
Altogether, supply
chain efforts should result in $100 million in cost savings
in the current fiscal year, eventually rising to annual run-rate savings of some
$235 million by 2026, Mitchell added in the late February call.
retaildive.com
Kroger Sells Specialty Pharmacy Business Amid Merger Concerns
Supermarket retailer
Kroger recently made a move to sell its specialty pharmacy business to
CarelonRx, a subsidiary of Elevance Health. This decision comes
amidst discussions of a
$24.6 billion merger with
Albertsons, a grocery
store chain.
The sale, announced on Monday, indicates Kroger's belief that its
specialty pharmacy business
will thrive better as a standalone entity.
Despite the ongoing merger talks, Kroger clarified that the sale isn't directly
related to its plans with Albertsons.
retailwire.com
Will Sustainable Second-Hand Clothing Remain Retail Viable?
Trader Joe's Cashews Recalled in 16 States Due to Salmonella
Want to feel special? Stores and restaurants with paid memberships are betting
on it
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All the News - One Place - One Source - One Time
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 Hayes Report on Loss Prevention
Quarterly - Spring 2024 - Vol. 39 No.
2
Annual Retail Theft Survey - Trends in Dishonest Employee Statistics - Safety
Violations: OSHA's Top 10 - Testing For Success - The Bulletin Board
Mark
Doyle Talks --- No Time to Waste in 2024
The thieves are not waiting for you, so your 2024 Store & DC Loss Prevention &
Safety Programs should now be implemented in the field with your Focus/Target
locations getting extra attention in your shrink reduction efforts. Don't be too
narrow focused by addressing shoplifting only, as all the shrink causing factors
in your locations (Internal Theft, Shoplifting, Vendor Fraud, Operational &
Supply Chain issues, etc.) need attention for your company to be successful in
2024. Be sure your program requirements are being audited and reviewed on a
consistent basis to help ensure compliance, and promptly take corrective actions
as needed. Let's make 2024 a very good shrink year!
The End Has Come --- Annual
Retail Theft Survey
After 35 years we have decided to discontinue our Annual Retail Theft Survey. We
conducted this survey at our own expense with no vendor/supplier support, and
truly appreciated all the retailers who supported us over the years. It has been
a great run, and we would like to say a big "THANK YOU!" to all participating
retailers. This survey could not have been completed without their highly valued
participation, and it is greatly appreciated by us and many in the retail
industry! Survey results have been used in many ways to benefit the AP/LP
Industry including:
 •
AP/LP Executives have used the survey to help justify their budgets and minimize
staff reductions.
• Various media outlets have publicized our statistics to help educate the
public and create greater awareness as to the seriousness of retail theft.
• Survey results were an excellent reminder to many retail Executives that their
AP/LP personnel play a critical role in helping to improve overall company
profitability.
We
hope you have enjoyed & benefited from our Annual Retail Theft Survey over the
past 35 years!
Click here
to read the full newsletter |
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Targeting Executives with Cyberattacks
'Conversation Overflow' Cyberattacks Bypass AI Security to Target Execs
Credential-stealing
emails are getting past artificial intelligence's "known good" email security
controls by cloaking malicious payloads within seemingly benign emails. The
tactic poses a significant threat to enterprise networks.
A novel cyberattack method dubbed
"Conversation Overflow"
has surfaced, attempting to get credential-harvesting phishing emails past
artificial intelligence (AI)-
and machine learning (ML)-enabled security platforms.
The emails can escape AI/ML algorithms' threat detection through use of hidden
text
designed to mimic
legitimate communication,
according to SlashNext threat researchers, who released an analysis on the
tactic today.
So, the attack works like this: cybercriminals craft emails with two distinct
parts; a visible section prompting the recipient to click a link or send
information, and
a concealed portion
containing benign text intended to deceive AI/ML algorithms by mimicking "known
good" communication.
The goal is to
convince the controls
that the message is a normal exchange,
with attackers betting humans won't scroll down four blank pages to the bottom
to see the unrelated fake conversation meant for AI/ML's eyes only.
In this way, the
assailants can trick
systems into categorizing the entire email and any subsequent replies as safe,
thus allowing the attack to reach users' inboxes.
Once these attacks bypass security measures, cybercriminals can then use the
same email conversation to deliver authentic-looking messages
requesting that
executives reauthenticate passwords and logins, facilitating credential theft.
darkreading.com
Companies Still Grappling with New SEC Cyber
Disclosure Rules
What's material to the SEC, 3 months into cyber disclosure rules?
As attacks become more sophisticated and destructive, companies are struggling
to find conclusive estimates of the financial impact of cyberattacks.
Three months since the launch of the Securities and Exchange Commission's cyber
incident reporting rule, companies are grappling with
the question of when
the impact of a breach or attack is considered material.
The rule,
which went into effect Dec. 18,
requires publicly
traded firms to report an incident within four business days
of determining materiality.
In the immediate aftermath of several high-profile cyber disruptions in recent
months, companies have
scrambled to
immediately determine if the incidents were technical breaches or malicious
attacks.
The materiality assessments have thus far proven to be far more complicated.
Companies have to
examine the scope of data loss, the downstream impact on operations and the
longer term implications
from regulatory, financial and brand reputation.
"When it comes to disclosing cybersecurity incidents to the SEC,
companies face a balancing act,"
said Maksim Vander, KPMG U.S. partner, audit, technology assurance, said via
email.
Companies need to begin thinking about the 8-K as soon as the initial incident
takes place, but
organizations need to consider
a mix of qualitative and quantitative factors when assessing materiality,
according to a report released by KPMG.
cybersecuritydive.com
Just a 'Trickle' of Companies Have Disclosed
Cyber Incidents
How companies describe cyber incidents in SEC filings
The words businesses use in cybersecurity
disclosures matter. They can channel confidence in the recovery process,
potential impacts and legal liabilities.
It's been three months since the Securities and Exchange Commission's cyber
disclosure rules took effect and
rather than creating a
deluge of incident revelations, only a trickle has emerged.
Companies have
submitted 12 initial Form 8-K, Item 1.05 filings, the form the SEC began
requiring businesses to file for material cybersecurity incidents
on Dec. 18. Each of these filings mention an "incident," and all but two said
the activity or access was "unauthorized."
Across the filings Cybersecurity Dive analyzed,
none of the businesses
described the incident as a breach or data breach
in the filing with the SEC - and
that was likely by
design.
"Words like 'breach'
and 'data breach' have very specific legal meanings and consequences,
and they also have a particular meaning within what I'll call the public
consciousness," said Travis Brennan, partner and chair of the privacy and data
security practice at Stradling.
"It's just become
a very loaded term,
generally, and I think it's one that companies in these disclosures will
studiously avoid using in most cases," Brennan said. "Once there has been a
breach, as opposed to merely an incident, that suggests that
the risk of harm has
just gone up a few notches."
cybersecuritydive.com
3 Ways Businesses Can Overcome the Cybersecurity Skills Shortage
Harnessing the power of privacy-enhancing tech for safer AI adoption |
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Last Chance to Register!
Retail Secure Conference | March 21, 2024, Int'l Centre, Mississauga
Top retail loss prevention experts and security and law enforcement
professionals are gathering on March 21, 2024 at Retail Council of Canada's
Retail Secure Conference.
The full agenda includes retail loss prevention leaders and industry experts
such as:
✔ Mike Lamb, Vice President of Asset Protection & Safety
✔ Chris Nelson, SVP and Head of Asset Protection, Gap Inc.
✔ Sharon Bauer, Privacy Strategist & Founder, Bamboo Data Consulting
✔ Dr. Larry Barton, Risk Management Consultant
✔ Mark Dapat, Deputy Chief of Community Safety and Well-being Services Command,
Peel Regional Police
Don't miss
out on Canada's premier event for retail loss prevention professionals! To view
the full agenda and buy tickets, visit
RCCRetailSecure.ca.
Canada's Shoplifting Crackdown Continues
Police extend shoplifting crackdown into Spring Break
Winnipeg Police is
extending its Retail
Theft Initiative to include the upcoming Spring Break.
Similar to the
Christmas season crackdown,
the
Property Crime Unit working in conjunction with Community Support Units and
their loss prevention partners
will be conducting focused enforcement at various retail locations throughout
the city over Spring Break, said Insp. Jennifer McKinnon at a media briefing
Monday.
"Once again, you won't know when and
you won't know where we
are but we will be there,"
said McKinnon. "If the intention is to shoplift during Spring Break, chances are
we are going to be out looking for you."
During the Christmas Retail Theft Initiative which included warrant sweeps, the
Crime Stoppers' Retail Theft 10 Most Wanted and focused
enforcement at
identified retail hot spots throughout the city,
138 individuals were arrested for shoplifting offences. Last year, police saw a
14% drop between November and December that wasn't observed in 2022, McKinnon
said.
In December, there was
459 shoplifting incidents as opposed to 640 reported the previous month.
The initiative also included
investigations into
individuals selling stolen property online.
"What was really interesting in the Retail Theft Initiative that we started in
November and December was it
brought forward
identifiable individuals that were chronic offenders coming in, stealing
specific amounts of property and selling them online
on different social media platforms like Facebook Marketplace," said McKinnon.
"We do these focused enforcements but the other layer to this is actually now
looking at these people that are selling this stuff online and shutting down
those operations."
Last May,
Winnipeg Police initiated Project Falcon with additional resources deployed in
and around CF Polo Park to stop retail thefts, assaults and other serious crime.
In the first 10 weeks of 2024 as compared to the same time last year, Waddell
said they had seen a 17.3% reduction in the almost 1,200 proactive policing
hours spent there and made 348 arrests.
winnipegsun.com
Loblaw Balancing Security & Convenience
Canadian Retailers Test Anti-Theft Technology
Retailers are turning to locked cases, AI-enabled
cameras, receipt scanners, and more to deter theft and reduce shrink.
Canadian grocery chain
Loblaw is testing receipt scanners at four of its locations.
The technology requires self-checkout customers to scan their receipt's barcode
to open a metal gate positioned at the exit, according to CBC News.
Loblaw suggested that
organized crime is
driving much of the retail theft at grocery stores,
according to the report.
"Organized retail crime across the entire industry is a serious issue, and
has only gotten worse,"
said Loblaw spokesperson Catherine Thomas. "We are working hard to balance
a need for enhanced
security while at the same time preserving a welcoming and convenient customer
experience."
The grocery chain
faced backlash by
shoppers while testing the technology,
with many noting how it inconveniences shoppers.
There is
a fine balance between
convenience and security
that shoppers must attain to disincentivize shoplifting without turning away
customers, reports Axios.
The report emphasized how many
retailers across the
U.S. are taking similar steps as Loblaw to deter theft.
In Washington D.C., for example, Giant and Safeway supermarkets are installing
security gates and checking customers' receipts before they leave in addition to
locking up more items.
specialtyfood.com
Loblaw Under Fire
Public Backlash Escalates Amidst Corporate Missteps
Buckingham Palace certainly had a rough week in the public eye, but so did
Loblaw, once again finding itself at the
center of a social
media storm due to unflattering digitally altered images.
It's fair to say that Loblaw is currently facing some of the most intense
criticism of any grocer in the country, if not in North America. Reporters from
around the globe are now turning to Canadian experts to better understand what
has been termed the "Loblaw phenomenon." Despite Galen Weston's disappearance
from the airwaves almost a year ago, in April 2023, animosity toward the company
and him remains palpable.
On social media, numerous websites are dedicated to criticizing Canada's leading
grocer, and this criticism has been ongoing for several months, showing no signs
of slowing down. Nevertheless, Loblaw's stock price remains remarkably strong,
making it one of the best-performing stocks on Bay Street. At over $150 a share,
it is 30% higher than 12 months ago and nearly 130% more than 5 years ago.
Loblaw is undeniably a well-managed company, boasting a highly efficient food
innovation supercluster called President's Choice. In addition to its success in
the food sector, Loblaw generates revenue from real estate, financial services,
and Shoppers Drug Mart, which serves as a key component of its portfolio. Its
breadth and diversification are truly impressive.
Whether or not Loblaw's
critics like to admit it, the company, which is also the largest private
employer in Canada, is thriving financially.
However, from a public relations standpoint, the company is struggling.
retail-insider.com
Home Depot to open new Greater Toronto distribution centre catering to pros
Toronto Retail Market Stabilizes in 2024 with Economic Challenges and Limited
Leasing Options
Richmond, B.C. , Canada: Mounties seize stolen Lego, Jellycat toys, clothes
worth $150,000
 A
large haul of stolen Lego and plush toys recovered at a home in Richmond, B.C.,
represents far more than child's play, RCMP say. The recovered items - including
toys and clothing valued at over $150,000 - illuminate what police describe as
the "dark corners of the retail theft sector." A 46-year-old man from Richmond
has been arrested in connection with the seizure of over 1,000 allegedly stolen
items and released on conditions, RCMP said Thursday in a release. The
detachment's property crime unit began investigating after receiving tips from
the public about potentially stolen items being sold online. Officers found the
stash on Feb. 29 while executing a search warrant.
cbc.ca
Two men arrested for allegedly robbing jewelry store with hammers: Halifax
police
Halifax Regional Police has arrested two men who allegedly used hammers to rob a
jewelry store in Bedford, N.S., on Wednesday afternoon. According to a police
news release, officers responded to a robbery at Charm Diamond Centres at 1658
Bedford Highway around 1:55 p.m. They learned two men with hammers allegedly
smashed jewelry cases and stole merchandise. An off-duty officers at the scene
arrested one of the suspects. The other suspect fled in a vehicle after
allegedly threatening the officer. Police later arrested the suspect in Halifax.
atlantic.ctvnews.ca
Alleged knife-wielding shoplifter sought for threatening Vaughan LCBO store
staff
A suspected shoplifter is sought for allegedly threatening loss prevention
officers with a knife at an LCBO store in Vaughan on Wednesday. York Regional
Police say officers responded to call at the store near Dufferin St. and Major
Mackenzie D. W. around 8 p.m. after two loss prevention officers attempted to
arrest a suspected shoplifter and one of them was assaulted.
torontosun.com
Brampton, Ont. man charged after series of armed robberies
At least one in custody after attempted robbery at jewelry store in Bedford mall
2 men plead guilty to 2022 armed robbery at B.C. car dealership
RCMP called to incident that closes West Kelowna drug store |
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Is Amazon Turning a Corner on Worker Safety?
Amazon reports 'measurable progress' on worker safety: Critics object
Amazon's safety data shows
a
decline in its warehouse injury rate in 2023,
marking an improvement for the second consecutive year, but critics disagree
with how the company measures its worker safety.
 Amazon
says the numbers point to a year of "meaningful, measurable progress,"
as it continues to bring its injury rate down with investments in new
technologies, training and "safety professionals."
But two labor advocacy groups say the company's numbers don't tell the full
story and still show that
workers inside Amazon are at a dangerously high risk of injury.
"This is no great cause for celebration-improvement
from a horrific injury rate ... to a merely horrible injury rate,"
said Irene Tung, a senior researcher and policy analyst at the nonprofit
National Employment Law Project.
The Seattle-based e-commerce giant's recordable incident rate-a calculation of
any work-related injuries that require more than basic first-aid treatment,
according to Amazon-improved
8% from 2022 to 2023,
based on the company's annual safety report released last week.
In 2023, it reported
4.7 injuries per 200,000 working hours at its global facilities,
compared with 5.1 injuries per 200,000 working hours the year prior.
That marks
a significant decrease
from 2019, one of the
first years of data Amazon released publicly. That year, Amazon recorded 6.7
injuries per 200,000 working hours globally. That number dropped in 2020 to 5.1
before spiking again to 5.7 in 2021.
Looking only at
Amazon's U.S.
facilities, the injury rate is higher.
In 2019, Amazon recorded 8.7 injuries per 200,000 working hours in the U.S. By
2023, that number dropped to 6.3.
Sarah Rhoads, Amazon's vice president for global workplace health and safety,
wrote in a blog post last week that
the company knows there
is still work to be done.
techxplore.com
Amazon 'Disaster Relief Hub'
Amazon opens emergency supply facility in Germany
Amazon has expanded its Disaster Relief Hub model
overseas.
The retail giant has opened its
first Disaster Relief
Hub in Europe. Located
in Amazon's fulfillment center in Rheinberg, Germany, the
more than
21,000-sq.-ft. facility will be filled with 1,000 pallets of relief items,
enough to fill a Boeing 737 plane 20 times.
Amazon opened its
first-ever Disaster Relief Hub near Atlanta in June 2021.
The main purpose of the facilities is to enable Amazon to use its logistics
network to quickly send critical products to nonprofits and community partners
in the wake of natural disasters.
At the hub in Germany, Amazon
will store and pack items that are most needed following damaging storms,
earthquakes, wildfires, floods, and other emergencies.
The company selected the locations because it offers easy access to major
international airports and transport networks.
chainstoreage.com
Online retailers disappoint customers - here's how
Amazon facility in Alcoa temporarily closed after fire |
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Los Angeles, CA: Update: L.A. smash-and-grab trio who targeted Prada, Versace
and Gucci charged by AG after LAPD probe
A Los Angeles smash-and-grab theft crew targeting Prada, Versace, Gucci and
other high-end stores across California have been arrested by an LAPD task force
and charged with 27 felonies, the state's attorney general announced Tuesday.
Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta said the trio is accused of stealing more than $300,000
worth of merchandise in Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Los Angeles, the Bay Area and
San Diego. Bonta said the ringleader of the crew faces up to 35 years in prison
if convicted of all the charges related to smash and grabs from December 2022
until last month. "To be clear, this isn't about a couple of one-off instances
of a shoplifted Louis Vuitton wallet or swiped a pair of Prada sunglasses. This
was organized. These were organized burglaries and attempted burglaries where
suspects would rip the bags off the displays, even when the products were
secured to displays with locks," Bonta said, speaking at LAPD headquarters.
Workers at Burberry, Prada, Sunglass Hut, Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta, Michael
Kors, Gucci, Coach, Versace, and Maison Margiela were put at risk by the
bandits, who allegedly shoved aside store workers as they snatched designer
clothes and accessories, he said.
ca.news.yahoo.com
Update: Glendale, AZ: Tanger Outlets theft ends in 7 arrested; suspects are all
from South America
 The
masked robbers who allegedly stole thousands of dollars worth of merchandise at
the Tanger Outlets in Glendale on March 14 were found to be from South America.
A total of seven suspects are behind bars after a joint effort between Glendale
Police and surrounding agencies. The incident happened on Thursday afternoon
when a group of men allegedly broke into a UPS truck, stole merchandise and
drove off. Police were able to track them down to 79th Avenue and Loop 101 using
traffic cameras when the suspects scattered from the van on foot. All seven were
eventually caught. Bond for the suspects was set at $50,000, and they're accused
of several charges. The suspects allegedly used burglary tools and stole several
boxes of new merchandise from multiple stores. Police believe more suspects
involved got away. "There were more subjects involved. Unfortunately, we weren't
able to apprehend all of them, but seven suspects were taken into custody,"
Glendale PD said.
fox10phoenix.com
 Sunrise,
FL: Pair pepper-spray employees after shattering display inside Sawgrass Mills,
stealing purses
Police are searching for a pair of suspects who stole expensive purses from the
Sawgrass Mills Mall in Sunrise. The crime occurred Tuesday afternoon inside the
Neiman Marcus store. According to police, two suspects smashed a glass display
with an unknown object and stole several purses. As they were making their
getaway, police said the suspects pepper-sprayed two employees before jumping
into a white van and driving away. Authorities have yet to provide a description
of the suspects, but the investigation remains ongoing. No injuries were
reported outside of those impacted by the pepper spray.
local10.com
Monroe County, PA: Three women charged with retail theft at Pocono Outlets
Three women have been charged after allegedly committing retail theft at stores
located in the Pocono Premium Outlets. On March 11 around 1:00 p.m., officers
with the Pocono Township Police Department were called to Old Navy in Pocono
Premium Outlets to investigate a retail theft. Police say through the
investigation it was found the following three women from New York are accused
of shoplifting from Old Navy and one from Gap Factory; Janessa L. Irons, 29,
Ulandria T. Linen, 31 and Janiah S Brunson, 28. All three were taken into
custody and charged with various retail theft offenses. The women were placed in
the Monroe County Correctional Facility on a $2,000 bail.
pahomepage.com
Rehoboth, DE: Three arrested in connection with Rehoboth Beach shoplifting
Delaware State Police have arrested three men from New York in an organized
retail theft operation following a series of shopliftings from multiple Rehoboth
Beach outlets on Saturday evening. The suspects, 44 year-old Oscar Mosquera, 48
year-old Alex Toro-Londono and 28 year-old Dagoberto Vargas-Hernandez, were
apprehended during a traffic stop on Coastal Highway near Wilkins Road in
Milford on March 16. At approximately 6:39 p.m., a state trooper noticed a white
Honda Odyssey tailgating another vehicle. Upon conducting a stop, the trooper
identified the driver as Mosquera, with Toro-Londono and Vargas-Hernandez as
passengers. A routine check revealed an outstanding warrant for Mosquera from
the Hudson County Sheriff's Office in New Jersey, leading to his arrest.
wrde.com
Youngstown, OH: Shoplifters go on a spree at Boardman stores
A 26-year-old Youngstown man currently faces theft and other charges filed in
eight open cases filed since December in Boardman Court. Police reports say
Griffin walked out of the Meijer Supermarket on Boardman Canfield Road on March
11 without paying for a shopping cart filled with $736 worth of items. Store
security tells police that Griffin returned later that day and tried to leave
with 23 items but left without the goods when confronted by a store employee.
Four days later two women at the Boardman Walmart pretended to scan baby oil, an
air mattress, and other items then left the store with a haul worth a total of
$537. Police have the license plate number of the car involved and are working
on charges. On Monday, a man and two women allegedly walked out with
$2,150 worth of merchandise
from a store at the Southern Park Mall.
The store's loss prevention officer told police that the three took two hats, 37
pairs of boxer shorts, 40 pairs of socks, two jerseys, and two pairs of shorts.
The loss prevention officer had so many shoplifting incidents involving one
suspect, that they reported the crimes all at once. Police were told that the
same man came into a store at the Shops at Boardman Park on three different days
in March, walking out
with shopping carts filled with a total of thirty items including Lego sets,
vacuum cleaners, puzzles, and other goods.
wfmj.com
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Shootings & Deaths
Charlotte, NC: Cook Out Employee murdered on the job, co-worker arrested
Malek Crosby, 20, was arrested on March 17, 2024 accused of murdering Jaselyn
Horne, 26, at the Cook Out restaurant on Sunset Rd. Charlotte, NC. Malek and
Jaselyn worked at the Cook Out. Jaselyn was shot and killed on March 17, 2024.
Jaselyn and Malek were in a dispute at the Cook Out after their work shift.
Malek is accused of then shooting Jaselyn, she died on the scene in the Cook Out
parking lot at 5 a.m. Malek was arrested and charged with murder.
charlottealertsnews.com
Bronx, NY: 2 killed, multiple arrests made in Mount Vernon double homicide;
gunman still at large
Officials are searching for the gunman responsible for a double homicide at a
Mount Vernon smoke shop. Gunfire broke out just steps from Fordham University on
Tuesday morning. Authorities say the shooting happened amid an attempted robbery
at the store on South 5th Avenue. When police arrived at the scene, they found
two victims. Officials say one person died on the scene and another died at a
local hospital. The identities of the victims have not been released. Several
people believed to be involved in the gunfire were arrested at the scene. The
NYPD and FBI are still working together to find the suspected gunman. It's not
clear yet why the FBI is involved.
abc7ny.com
Memphis, TN: C-Store shooting leaves teen dead, man injured
A shooting in South Memphis left a teenager dead and a man injured on Tuesday,
according to the Memphis Police Department. Around 1:30 p.m., officers say they
responded to a shooting at the Parkway Market convenience store on South
Parkway. Two victims were found suffering from gunshot wounds. he teen was taken
to Regional One Hospital in critical condition where he later died. The other
male victim, identified as 65-year-old Phillip Martin, was taken to the hospital
in non-critical condition. He was shot in the leg. "I started running and I fell
on the floor. I felt the shot hit me in the leg," Martin said. "I always sit
back and talk about how other people, innocent people done got shot just doing
nothing, not involved in anything. But I never thought it would happen to me."
Memphis Police say the suspect had previous issues with the intended victim.
Witnesses say they saw the two arguing before the shooting happened.
wreg.com
Miami, FL: Victim hospitalized after accidental shooting in South Beach liquor
store
Authorities were called to the scene of a shooting in Miami Beach early Tuesday
evening. It happened at Ocean 9 Liquor, a store located along the 800 block of
Collins Avenue at approximately 7:30 p.m. According to police, the shooting
appears to be accidental. Investigators who viewed surveillance video said it
looked like the subject accidentally discharged their gun while inside a
business. Police said the bullet hit an innocent bystander in the "lower
extremities." The victim, a woman, was taken to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson
Memorial Hospital by Miami Beach Fire Rescue in stable condition. Police said
the gun owner was taken into custody and the investigation is ongoing.
local10.com
Robberies, Incidents & Thefts
Los Angeles, CA: Serial burglars target mom-and-pop LA pharmacies
LAPD officers are looking for a burglary crew believed to be responsible for at
least seven break-ins at local pharmacies. There are at least six people
involved, all wearing masks, gloves and hoodies. Police say the suspects saw
down the gates, break down the doors, and dash for the same aisle, scanning for
liquids. They're after the highly-addictive promethazine-codeine cough syrup.
However, none of these mom-and-pop pharmacies carry it...yet the criminals keep
coming back. They've escaped with other medications, cash and even candy bars.
The latest burglaries include Lorena Pharmacy in Boyle Heights, York Discount
Pharmacy in Highland Park, and Normandy Pharmacy in East Hollywood. The crew is
believed to be responsible for at least seven break-ins since December.
foxla.com
Montgomery County, TX: 16-year-old led Montgomery County authorities on 120 mph
high-speed chase following Walgreens robbery
On Monday around 10:45 a.m. the Montgomery County Precinct 4 Constable's Office,
led by Constable Hayden responded to a report of a Robbery In-Progress at
Walgreens on FM 1314 in Porter, along with the Montgomery County Sheriff's
Office. The caller claimed a male forced himself into the cash register,
injuring the cashier in the ensuing struggle, before leaving in a red Honda
sedan.. Deputies spotted the vehicle near US Highway 59 and FM 2090 in
Splendora. A high-speed pursuit reaching up to 120 miles per hour ensued and
spanned multiple counties, including Liberty, San Jacinto, and Polk.
The 16-year-old male driver
from Harris County surrendered around 11:30 a.m. about 28 miles from the scene.
fox26houston.com
Oklahoma City, OK: Suspect wearing 'Jesus saved my life' sweatshirt knocks store
clerk unconscious
 Police
say a male suspect in a recognizable sweatshirt attacked a store clerk in
Oklahoma and knocked him unconscious after asking to purchase a cigar. The
Oklahoma City Police Department shared surveillance video, dated March 5,
showing the attack inside a gas station on SW 59th Street near South May Avenue.
"This one will make you mad," police said in a social media post describing the
video. A suspect wearing a sweatshirt with the text "Jesus saved my life"
written across his chest became angry when the worker asked for identification
before selling him a cigar, according to police. The suspect then punched the
clerk, knocking him out before fleeing from the store with another male
individual.
kktv.com
Patrick County, VA: Two plead guilty to 2022 Patrick County gun store burglary
Berkeley County, WV: BCSD Deputies arrest two for early February Walgreens Armed
Robbery
Fire/Arson
Boiling Springs, SC: Upstate CVS store damaged in fire
 Firefighters
responded to a CVS store in Spartanburg County on Tuesday. According to
dispatch, the crews responded to the CVS along Boiling Springs Road at 3:26 p.m.
According to Boiling Springs Fire Department officials, crews arrived at the
scene and discovered that a trashcan outside had caught on fire and spread to
the building. Officials explained that bystanders began putting out the flames
before crews arrived and helped contain the fire. They added that the building
had minor fire damage but extensive smoke damage. No injuries were reported
following the incident.
foxcarolina.com
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•
Auto - Luzerne County,
PA - Burglary
•
C- Store - South
Windsor, CT - Armed Robbery
•
C-Store - Oklahoma
City, OK - Robbery
•
C-Store - Memphis, TN
- Armed Robbery - 1 shot-killed
•
Dollar - Newark, NJ -
Robbery
•
Hardware - Laredo, TX
- Robbery
•
Jewelry - Miami, Fl -
Robbery
•
Jewelry - Kennewick, WA
- Robbery
•
Pets - Evansville, IN
- Burglary
•
Pharmacy - Montgomery
County, TX - Armed Robbery
•
Pharmacy - Los
Angeles, CA - Burglary
•
Neiman Marcus -
Sunrise, FL - Robbery
•
Tobacco - Bronx, NY -
Armed Robbery / 2 shot-killed
•
Tobacco - San
Francisco, CA - Burglary
•
Walmart -
Fayetteville, GA - Robbery
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Daily Totals:
• 11 robberies
• 4 burglaries
• 2 shootings
• 3 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
industry.
Filled your job? Any good candidates left over?
Help Your Colleagues - Your Industry - Build
a 'Best in Class' Community
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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Featured Jobs
To apply to any of today's Featured Jobs,
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We've all got great ideas and plans. The problem lies in putting them together,
rolling them out and maximizing speed to market. Making it happen quickly and
efficiently - that's the key to success. The first obstacle is always fear of
risk. Making an idea a reality requires risk taking and sometimes you've just
got to make it happen if your inner self, or the bird on your shoulder, tells
you it's the right thing to do. I was writing this e-newsletter for a year
before one morning in 2010, on March 25, I walked in and just said hey we're
doing it. Yes, I was absolutely fearful of all the critics and naysayers, but I
took the risk and made it happen. There will always be torpedoes in the water
and sometimes they hit. But to make things happen you've got to jump in the
water and swim as fast as you can.
Just a Thought,
Gus
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