AI is Transforming Retail Security Operations
AI can help retailers deal with threats from traditional theft and more complicated criminal activities such as sophisticated break-ins and vandalism

Combating Retail Crime and Fraud with Artificial Intelligence

The use of AI in retail security operations provides a transformative solution to the biggest issues retailers face.

As retail organizations continue to recover from the obstacles brought on by the pandemic, the landscape of retail security is shifting drastically. Retail organizations, particularly large ones in urban areas, continue to confront persistent threats from traditional theft and more complicated criminal activities such as sophisticated break-ins and vandalism. The presence of loiterers, aggressive panhandlers, and unlawful encampments near stores exacerbates the situation, requiring an innovative solution.

The Importance of AI in Improving Retail Security

The use of AI in retail security operations provides a transformative solution to these issues. AI-powered systems can analyze massive volumes of video data in real time, detecting suspicious activity and potential threats before they evolve into crimes. This proactive method enables instant response, which could range from activating alarms to relaying live audio warnings that effectively prevent criminals.

Proactive Monitoring and Real-Time Intervention

AI-powered security systems can provide dynamic live voicedowns. Unlike pre-recorded messages, these live interventions are tailored to the scenario at hand, making them far more successful at deterring intruders. This feature is important for preventing theft as well as reducing vandalism and unwanted entry to restricted areas.

AI-Enhanced Security for Cost Savings and Operational Efficiency

Implementing AI in security systems can potentially result in significant cost savings. Retailers can reduce operational costs while increasing security efficiency by lowering the need for physical guards and minimizing false alarms. Additionally, AI systems generate detailed incident reports that are required for legal and insurance claims, expanding their utility beyond security.

The Broader Impact of AI on Retail Safety and Community - Why Traditional Security Systems Fall Short:  devprojournal.com


Retail 'RoboCop' Systems Pop Up in ORC Hot Spot
'RoboCop' security systems pop up in Maine as concerns over retail theft rise

The flashing blue lights atop poles in some Maine parking lots are designed to deter criminals, but some question the balance of safety vs. privacy.

Tall poles with flashing blue lights, solar panels, cameras and loudspeakers are popping up in the parking lots of some Maine businesses, drawing attention, questions and criticism. Every 15 minutes at the Walgreens on Marginal Way, a robotic voice bellows from a speaker 22 feet in the air: "This is Walgreens security services. This property is being monitored 24/7."

The poles are mobile surveillance systems, installed to scare off would-be criminals and curb growing retail theft around the country. But critics argue that increased surveillance creates privacy concerns and may do more harm than good.

The mobile security systems, designed by Utah-based LiveView Technologies, or LVT, feature 24-hour, 360-degree cameras, motion sensors, two-way speakers, flashing blue lights, alarms and real-time alerts. Viper Security, which contracts with LVT, is getting regular calls to set up the mobile surveillance systems in Maine, according to owner Matt Goodwin.

Goodwin, who is based in New Hampshire, said he's installed at least three systems in the state in the last six months - two in Portland, at Walgreens on Marginal Way and the Hannaford on Forest Avenue, and one at a 7-Eleven in Lewiston. He knows of at least one other in a Lowe's parking lot, but is not sure which of the company's 11 Maine stores has it.

"They are growing in popularity pretty rapidly," Goodwin said. "The big retailers are finding them helpful to deter crime and record what's happening in parking lots that they can't see with regular cameras."

Retail theft has always been a problem in Maine, but organized retail crime is on the rise, said Curtis Picard, president of the Retail Association of Maine. A December 2023 report by Forbes ranked Maine the third worst in the nation for retail thefts.  pressherald.com


Plano Police Department: Model for Fighting ORC?
Plano Police Earn Recognition for Combating Organized Retail Crime with Local Retail Partners
The Plano Police Department is making headlines for its collaborative efforts in combating organized retail crime, a battle waged alongside local retailers and the broader community. Recent police work has resulted in a string of arrests and has earned the department plaudits from the businesses they protect.

Of note, the Plano detectives received a certification of appreciation from the TJX Companies National Task Force. The award, dished out by the parent company of retail chains such as T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, signifies the department's commitment to "safeguarding businesses and our community." The police shared the news with pride on their official Facebook page, which included the certification and photos of the honored officers.

"In recognition of your outstanding support in combating Organized Retail Crime, your dedication and collaboration with TJX Companies National Task Force have been invaluable," read the certificate, praising the detectives, per the Plano Texas Police Department. This sentiment has been echoed by many in the retail sector, who see the Plano Police Department as a key ally in the ongoing fight against theft rings that can significantly impact their operations and profitability.

The recognition comes amidst a growing concern over retail crime nationwide, an epidemic affecting businesses both large and small. With organized crime rings becoming more sophisticated, the partnership struck between law enforcement and private companies, like TJX, serves as a model for proactive measures against these disruptive thieves. Keeping up their efforts, the Plano Police Department announced, jubilant in their resolve to "have no intention of slowing down" in serving the community.

Followers have lauded the police's commitment, with the post garnering supportive comments and shares. "Well done detectives!" concludes the social media shout-out, encapsulating pride in the department's vigilance against these organized retail criminals, according to the Plano Texas Police Department. hoodline.com


Oklahoma Rolls Out Tougher Shoplifting Penalties
Criminal justice reform: Where key bills stand as legislative session winds down
Bills to charge more shoplifting offenses as felonies and mandate lenient prison sentences for domestic violence survivors are in limbo with three weeks to go in the legislative session, but several other criminal justice measures have been signed into law.

Claiming a spike in theft, lawmakers in both chambers approved versions of Senate Bill 1450, which would lower the felony theft threshold from $1,000 to $500. The bill would also increase the theft aggregation period from 90 days to one year and deputize several retail theft officers under the Attorney General's office.

The measure is pending in a Senate conference committee, where lawmakers look to iron out differences and arrive at a single version of a bill.

Proponents argue the measure is necessary to protect business owners and deter repeat shoplifting offenders. Critics point to state crime data that shows a slight decrease in larceny rates over the past three years and analysis that shows changing the felony theft threshold could cause the state's prison population to increase.

If enacted, SB 1450 would be a partial rollback of State Question 780, the 2016 voter-approved criminal justice reform measure that reclassified several drug and property offenses from felonies to misdemeanors. Oklahoma's prison population dropped by nearly 20% within five years of the measure taking effect. oklahoman.com


Crime Pushes Another Walgreens Out of Business
'There's so many delinquents who rob and steal,' shopper cries as chain with 8,500 stores closes branch due to theft

Pharmacy customers blame uncontrollable theft as a local storefront closes up.

Another Walgreens has shut its doors, this time at White Oak Shopping Center in Maryland. The location was known for instances of theft, ranging in levels of violence, leading to its closure. Staff and shoppers said that the store was closed due to high rates of theft and crime, reported ABC affiliate WJLA-TV

Crime is not only high in numbers but brazen. Despite the understandable reason for closing, customers are left with fewer options for their much-needed medication.

"This is the only pharmacy we have in this area and suddenly they close, we don't understand."

This location's closure comes after executives announced that the pharmacy chain with over 8,500 storefronts would close at least 150 this year.  the-sun.com


Migrant crime is politically charged, but the reality is more complicated
National statistics show no sign of a migrant-driven crime wave. Violent crime is trending down, after the spikes of 2020-2021, even as migration has surged. Past studies have found immigrants to be less likely to commit crimes. While it's possible the newer arrivals are contributing to crime rates, it's nearly impossible to tell how much, as the FBI's statistics aren't parsed by immigration status. Still, at the local neighborhood level, some see a problem. npr.org


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STORM-0539 Hackers Target Retail Gift Card Operations
FBI Issues New Warning As 2024 Gift Card Hackers Blitz Retailers
The FBI has been busy of late with security warnings regarding email hackers and road toll scammers. The warnings are still coming though, with the latest revealing how one hacking group called STORM-0539 is targeting retail gift card operations.

The FBI's Private Industry Notification 20240506-001

The FBI's latest private industry notification was published on May 6 to highlight how one financially motivated threat group is targeting employees at U.S. retail and corporate offices with a fraudulent gift card endgame.

Starting in January 2024, the FBI said it had noted an uptick in the activity of a cybercrime group that has been tagged as STORM-0539, although sometimes referred to as Atlas Lion when it comes to phishing and text message campaigns aimed at the retail sector. Specifically, "to target employees and gain unauthorized access to employee accounts and corporate systems" in the gift card departments located in corporate offices of national retail groups.

Who Is STORM-0539?

According to Microsoft, STORM-0539 is a group of cybercriminals that specialize in attacking retail organizations using "highly sophisticated email and SMS phishing" during holiday periods for the purpose of perpetrating gift card fraud. Active since late 2021, STORM-0539 has carried out "extensive reconnaissance of targeted organizations in order to craft convincing phishing lures and steal user credentials and tokens for initial access," Microsoft said. Furthermore, according to Microsoft, STORM-0539 is capable of leveraging resources from those retailers' cloud services in order to progress with post-compromise activity.

The FBI warning comes as the law enforcement agency has noted how the cybercrime group is using so-called smishing campaigns, phishing using SMS messages, to gain unauthorized access to employee accounts and corporate systems. "Once they gained access," the FBI said, "STORM-0539 actors used phishing campaigns to target other employees to elevate network access and target the gift card department in order to create fraudulent gift cards."  forbes.com


Ransomware Surged 67% in 2023
Global ransomware crisis worsens
Ransomware and extortion incidents surged by 67% in 2023, according to NTT Security Holdings' 2024 Global Threat Intelligence Report.

After a down year in 2022, ransomware and extortion incidents increased in 2023. More than 5,000 ransomware victims were detected or posted across multiple social channels, up from approximately 3,000 in 2022. The number of victims is likely higher because the research does not reflect incidents where ransoms were paid before the listing was made public.

"Our 2023 report highlighted the increase in cyberthreats affecting day to day life, economic conditions, and privacy," said Jeremy Nichols, NTT Security Holdings' Global Threat Intelligence Center director. "We expect this to soar in 2024 as threat actors create more sophisticated attacks using artificial intelligence to exploit growing attack surfaces and take advantage of limited cyber budgets and staff shortages."

Humans remain the weakest link in cybersecurity, and it is getting worse. Hybrid cloud environments, bring your own device, and third-party integrations have expanded the attack surface for most organizations. Cybersecurity roles and responsibilities are expanding, cyber budgets are getting slashed, and there are more tools to complete these responsibilities, increasing staff fatigue and burnout. helpnetsecurity.com


Cyber insurance costs are stabilizing as global market grows

Increased capacity is helping to meet rising demand for cyber coverage and more insurers are using tools to assess potential risk, a report from S&P Global Ratings shows.

A once volatile cyber insurance market has stabilized considerably as new companies have entered an increasingly competitive market, helping lower premium costs and raise coverage limits, according to S&P Global Ratings research released last week.

Insurance companies have evolved underwriting methods by incorporating sophisticated tools to assess potential cyber risk with more flexibility and personalization, according to S&P.

Municipal governments have made significant advances in their ability to manage cyber risk and respond to malicious attacks, too, S&P found. After years of foregoing expensive commercial policies, these local organizations are now incorporating cyber risk coverage, while smaller governments in many cases are joining cyber risk pools. cybersecuritydive.com


'The Mask' Espionage Group Resurfaces After 10-Year Hiatus
An advanced persistent threat (APT) group that has been missing in action for more than a decade has suddenly resurfaced in a cyber-espionage campaign targeting organizations in Latin America and Central Africa.

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