NYC Wages War on Retail Theft With New Blueprint: 'Combating Retail Theft'
Plan includes increases enforcement & a new organized retail theft task force

Mayor Adams Announces Plan to Combat Retail Theft in New York City

Plan Includes Prevention and Intervention Efforts, Enhanced Enforcement to Stem Increase in Shoplifting

NEW YORK - New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the release a comprehensive plan to combat retail theft across New York City's five boroughs. With the exception of 2020, the total number of citywide shoplifting complaints has increased year over year since 2018, with the largest increase - 44 percent - taking place from 2021 to 2022. The increase in retail theft has had a particularly significant impact on retailers that are still recovering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Retail Theft Report - created through a collaborative effort between retailers, law enforcement, and other stakeholders that came together through a summit hosted by Mayor Adams at Gracie Mansion - includes both upstream, program-oriented solutions and enhanced enforcement efforts, as well as information on existing efforts across New York City agencies to combat retail theft.

"Shoplifters and organized crime rings prey on businesses that have already taken a hit due to COVID-19, but, with this comprehensive plan, we're going to beat back on retail theft through a combination of law enforcement, prevention, and intervention," said Mayor Adams. "Last year alone, 327 repeat offenders were responsible for 30 percent of the more than 22,000 retail thefts across our city."

Among the prevention and intervention strategies included in the plan, the administration will:

• Establish two new diversion programs to allow non-violent offenders to avoid prosecution or incarceration by meaningfully engaging with services to help address underlying factors that lead to shoplifting.

• Launch an employee support program to train retail workers in de-escalation tactics, anti-theft tools, and security best practices to help keep them safe.

To increase necessary enforcement against repeat shoplifters and deter organized crime rings perpetrating these thefts, the administration will:

• Create a Precision Repeat Offender Program (PROP) in which retailers can submit dedicated security incident reports to the NYPD to better identify and track repeat offenders and facilitate stronger prosecutions by the five District Attorneys' Offices.

• Establish a neighborhood retail watch for businesses in close proximity to one another to share real-time intelligence with each other and with law enforcement in the event of a theft.

• Advocate at the state and federal level for additional online sale authentication procedures to prevent the resale of stolen goods to build upon the federal Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces (INFORM) for Consumers Act, which goes into effect in June 2023.

• Establish a New York City Organized Retail Theft Task Force, comprised of retailers, law enforcement agencies, and other stakeholders to collaborate and respond to retail theft trends. nyc.gov


In Case You Missed It: Target Sounds the Alarm Over ORC
Target expects to take a $500 million hit this year due to missing inventory, and says shoplifting and organized crime is largely to blame

"It's an urgent issue,"said CEO Brian Cornell. "Not just for Target, but across the entire retail industry."

Target is expecting to take a $500 million hit in profits this year due to missing inventory, and it's largely because of theft and organized retail crime, the company said.

In a statement, Cornell said that while it is "making significant investments in strategies to prevent this from happening," it expects "inventory shrink" to make a big dent in profits this year.

On the earnings call, Chief Operating Officer John Mulligan described how "mitigation efforts," like stepped-up security staffing, adjustments to product selection, and anti-theft displays, are helping to reduce shrink in stores.

But, Mulligan added, that layer of security does come at a cost to sales, as it adds friction to the customer experience. Getting that balance right is a key priority for his team.

"The unfortunate fact is violent incidents are increasing at our stores and across the entire retail industry. And when products are stolen, simply put they are no longer available for guests who depend on them," Cornell said on a call with reporters.

"Left unchecked, organized retail crime degrades the communities we call home. As we work to address this problem, the safety of our guests and our team members will always be our primary concern. Beyond safety concerns, worsening shrink rates are putting significant pressure on our financial results," he said.

Cornell drew a direct link between crime and closing stores. On top of that, Target threw in specific financial consequences from crime: $500 million loss in profits this year, following a $600 million loss in 2022.

"Safety of our guests and employees are our top priorities," he said. "We will do everything in our power to keep our stores open." finance.yahoo.com businessinsider.com thestreet.com
 
   Click here to read the D&D Daily's Special Report on Target's ORC losses published yesterday

 
The Great Debate Over Statewide Shoplifting Crackdown Bill
Progressives oppose Alabama's new retail theft crackdown, saying it could lead to innocent people facing 20 years in prison for unintentionally forgetting to scan an item in a self-checkout lane

Guest opinion: A mistake at self checkout could make you a felon
Under a new bill in the Alabama House, HB288, you could easily be charged with a Class B felony for unknowingly committing a new crime called "retail theft". The proposed legislation has been dubbed "The Retail Crime Prevention Act," yet it does nothing at all to actually prevent crime. Although it supposedly aims to combat organized criminal groups that engage in retail theft, this bill is loaded with ambiguity - ambiguity that can be easily misapplied or misinterpreted to result in unintended and severe consequences.

For example, the bill makes it a felony to steal a shopping cart, because many shopping carts actually cost over $500. Stealing a shopping cart, by the way, is already against the law. Under this law, it would be automatically assumed that they stole it and that would be a Class B felony. If someone was with them, they would be charged as an accomplice and would face the same felony charges.

The bill also makes it a felony to participate in "aggravated retail theft", which is defined as when two or more people are suspected to be acting in concert as accomplices to commit retail theft. .

But, the real problem here might be that one distracted moment when you, or someone in your family, forgot to scan the case of bottled water or dog food that was placed under the cart and, suddenly, you are now facing up to 20 years in prison.

So, you can see how easily it could be misapplied to an innocent consumer who decided to go outside to get another item and had every intention to pay for it.

If lawmakers are truly concerned about combating criminal gangs that steal their merchandise, this bill seriously misses the mark. Simply adding harsher punishments to something already illegal is not going to do much, if anything. In effect, this bill would put more people in prison for much longer and exacerbate the overcrowding issues we struggle with now. Alabama prisons are already bursting at the seams. Tough penalties and longer sentences are not the answer.

We can all agree that stealing is wrong. Theft and shoplifting should be punished. and it is under our existing laws. This bill doesn't make our communities safer. Nor does it address rising consumer costs. Instead, it could result in innocent shoppers being accused and/or convicted of a felony. al.com


Texas Has Become America's Mass Shooting Epicenter
Mass shootings have tripled in Texas over past 5 years

Gun-loving Texas, where most households own a firearm, has become an epicenter of mass shootings
Five of the 10 deadliest mass shootings in America over the past eight years have been in Texas, the latest occurring in Allen in early May when a gunman fired an AR-15-style rifle at a crowded outlet mall, killing eight people and injuring at least seven others.

The number of mass shootings in Texas is no coincidence given the sheer number of guns in the hands of the public, several gun violence experts told CNN.

Texas has among the most expansive gun rights in the country - roughly 60% of households own at least one gun, according to an Everytown for Gun Safety analysis of 2021 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That's the second-highest rate in the country and above the national average of 55% of households owning one or more guns, according to Everytown.

There is a direct correlation between states with weaker gun laws and higher rates of gun deaths, according to a study first published by Everytown in 2021. That relation is evident in Texas, where the number of mass shootings has tripled in the past five years, while mass shootings nationwide have nearly doubled from 2018 through the end of last year, according to data compiled by the Gun Violence Archive (GVA).

Despite the rise of high-profile mass shootings in Texas - including in Uvalde, where a shooter opened fire in Robb Elementary School last May, killing 19 children and two teachers - the state has repeatedly loosened restrictions on gun ownership in recent years. cnn.com


The practical side of reopening Allen Premium Outlets. How soon is too soon?

Allen Premium Outlets managers told 120 retail and restaurant tenants Thursday that it's waiting for funeral services to be completed before it reopens.

After a weekend of funerals and memorials for the eight victims of the May 6 mass shooting at Allen Premium Outlets, the center remains closed with major questions about what happens to the popular shopping center that will forever be remembered as the scene of one of the region's most horrific acts of violence.

What's the appropriate time for a store or shopping center to reopen after a mass shooting? How does a property respectfully reopen? How do we remember victims in a place designed for carefree shopping?

There isn't one standard. Malls and shopping centers have reopened from mass shootings ranging from a couple of days to months later, as is the case of the shooting at an El Paso Walmart in 2019. dallasnews.com


$100M Brink's Jewelry Heist
(Update) Brink's drivers shocked by size of jewelry heist - stolen bling may be worth $100 million
The two drivers lingered in the darkness in the hours after their Brink's big rig was burglarized at the Flying J Travel Center. It was after 3 a.m. on July 11, and thieves had just made off with more than 20 large bags of jewelry, gems and other items that the Brink's tractor-trailer had been transporting from the International Gem and Jewelry Show in San Mateo to the L.A. area. The heist occurred during a 27-minute window.

The new details of the drivers' actions after the heist - as well as the public disclosure of their names - come from a transcript of body-camera footage recorded by the deputies. It was included in a May legal filing made by lawyers representing 11 jewelry companies that were sued by Brink's in New York court in August.

Among the revelations in the transcripts and other recent filings: Beaty said that before he and Motley left San Mateo, he told several colleagues about a man who watched him at the jewelry show, but no one followed up with him about the matter. He also said that Motley could have awakened him before heading off to eat without violating Department of Transportation regulations for commercial drivers' off-duty time.

The company's lawsuit has sought to limit any payout it could have to make to the jewelers. The complaint alleged that the stolen shipments had a declared total value of $8.7 million - much higher than a figure initially cited by Beaty, who told deputies the vehicle was transporting cargo worth $2.7 million.

It turns out the pilfered goods could be worth more than 10 times the amount cited by Brink's. latimes.com

   Click here to read the Daily's earlier coverage of this heist from August 1, 2022


Washington DC's Crime Crackdown
DC mayor proposes stronger penalties for illegal gun possession, violent crime
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) on Tuesday proposed legislation that will increase penalties for gun crimes and other violent offenses ahead of her testimony before the House Oversight Committee.

Bowser's proposal includes increasing penalties for illegal gun possession, violent crimes that target those with mental or physical disabilities, and crimes that victimize Metro and other public transportation workers. The proposal would also make strangulation a type of felony assault, which would increase the prison sentence to three years.

"We have heard from our public safety partners and from members of the community about the gaps that exist in our public safety ecosystem - this package of legislation will address those gaps," Bowser said in a statement. "This is about making sure we have the tools we need to build a safer, stronger D.C. and protect the overwhelming majority of people in our city who are doing the right thing and who just want to be able to enjoy our beautiful city and our fantastic neighborhoods." thehill.com


West Hollywood hires more police amid crime fears year after slashing staffing, hiring unarmed 'ambassadors'

Why Are Mass Shootings on the Rise This Year?

Global Expansion of Facial Recognition Continues
With proper guardrails, the technology "plays a crucial role in helping the police tackle serious offences including murder, knife crime, rape, child sexual exploitation and terrorism."

Ministers looking at body-worn facial recognition technology for police
Ministers are calling for facial recognition technology to be "embedded" in everyday policing, including potentially linking it to the body-worn cameras officers use as they patrol streets. Until now, police use of live facial recognition in England and Wales has been limited to special operations such as football matches or the coronation.

Body-worn video was brought in to capture evidence, and interactions between officers and the public. The small cameras can currently capture video in high definition and it is technically possible to link them to live facial recognition (LFR), a system that matches the biometrics of people's faces against those held on a watchlist.

Sampson said: "A camera on an officer walking down the street could check the faces against a watchlist of suspects. They could check hundreds if not thousands of people while on duty.

A Home Office spokesperson said the government backed greater use of facial recognition. "The government is committed to empower the police to use new technologies like facial recognition in a fair and proportionate way. Facial recognition plays a crucial role in helping the police tackle serious offences including murder, knife crime, rape, child sexual exploitation and terrorism." theguardian.com


Companies Settle Into Hybrid Mode
The new reality is frustrating city centers that rely on foot traffic

The Return to the Office Has Stalled

Offices remain half empty as companies settle into hybrid work plans

When average city office-occupancy rates at the start of the year surpassed 50% for the first time during the pandemic, many landlords viewed this milestone as a sign that employees were finally resuming their former work habits.

Those office-usage rates have barely budged as most companies have settled into a hybrid work strategy that shows little sign of fading.

About 58% of companies allow employees to work a portion of their week from home, according to Scoop Technologies, a software firm that developed an index monitoring workplace strategies of close to 4,500 companies.

The number of companies that require employees to be in the office full time has actually declined to 42%, from 49% three months ago, Scoop said. Employees at companies with hybrid strategies work an average of 2.5 days a week in the office.

Frustration is growing in cities that are suffering from declining real-estate values, setting the stage for lower property-tax revenues and pressuring bars, restaurants and other small businesses that rely on five-day-a-week office workers. wsj.com


ShopRite Employee Sues Former NYC Mayor Over False Crime Reporting
Rudy Giuliani sued for $2M in NYC for falsely accusing ShopRite employee of assault
A Staten Island ShopRite employee has sued former Mayor Rudy Giuliani over an incident that landed the store worker in jail overnight on charges that were quickly dismissed. It's the second time this week Giuliani has been sued in New York City.

Daniel Gill's Manhattan Federal Court lawsuit demands $2 million from Giuliani for colluding with the NYPD to throw him behind bars on a false charge of assaulting an elderly person after he patted him on the back and called him a "scumbag."

"Someone needs to remind former Mayor Giuliani that falsely reporting a crime is a crime," New York Mayor Adams said in June 2022. "What he stated, there was a lot of creativity, and I think the district attorney, he has the wrong person he is investigating. ... When you look at the video, the guy basically walked by and patted him on the back." nydailynews.com


Recalled baby formula was sent to stores in 8 states after the recall began
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc., headquartered in Kansas City, Kansas, notified the Food and Drug Administration that one of the recalled products, Gerber Good Start SoothePro Powdered Infant Formula, had been distributed to stores in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.  usatoday.com


Oklahoma City Apple Retail Union begins contract negotiations with Apple
Months after winning their union election, the Oklahoma City Apple Retail Union is beginning contract negotiations with the corporation.

San Francisco pumps $6M of improvements into several blocks near Union Square
The proposal targets vacant storefronts and beautifies the Powell Street promenade.

Container Store planning to layoff 15% of support center staff & 3% of workforce at stores and distribution centers

San Francisco, Walgreens reach $230 million settlement over opioid crisis

Amazon, Target & Walmart the biggest winners from Bed Bath & Beyond's demise

FedEx pilots agree to strike if deal not reached


Quarterly Results

Walmart Q1 U.S. comp's up 7.4%, U.S. eCommerce up 27%, global eCommerce up 26%, consolidated revenue up 7.6%
   Walmart International net sales up 12.9%
   Sam's Club comp sales up 7%, net sales up 4.5%
   Global advertising business grew over 30%

Jack in the Box Q2 comp's up +9.5%, Del Taco comp's up +3.2%, Jack in the Box systemwide sales up +9.8%, Del Taco systemwide sales up +3.2%

TJX Q1 Overall comp's up 3%, Marmaxx comp's up 5%, total net sales up 3%

Boot Barn Holdings Q4 comp's down 5.5%, net sales up 11%, FY comp's down 0.1%, net sales up 11.4%

The Container Store Group FY TSC stores up 10.8%, Custom Closets up 16%, online sales down 35.5%, Elfa up 5.9%, consolidated net sales up 10.5%
The Container Store Group Q4 TSC stores down 2.6%, Custom Closets up 3.6%, online sales down 25%, Elfa down 7.1%, consolidates net sales down 2.9%

Alibaba Q4 full year and Q4 revenue up 2%

Target Q1 comp's up 0.7%, sales up 0.5% - Shrink = $500 Million

Bath & Body Works Q1 stores - U.S. & Canada sales down 2%, DTC down 12%, Inter. up 13%, total sales down 4%