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 5/25/21

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Jennifer Briggs, MBA promoted to AVP, Loss Prevention Director for The TJX Companies

Jennifer has been with TJX Companies for four years, starting with the company in 2017 as District Loss Prevention Manager. Before her promotion to AVP, Loss Prevention Director, she spent over two years as Manager of Investigations, Business Intelligence & LP Systems, TJX US Brands. Prior to joining TJX Companies, she spent more than 12 years with Target and two years with Macy's. Congratulations, Jennifer!


See All the Executives 'Moving Up' Here   |   Submit Your New Corporate Hires/Promotions or New Position
 
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Sift to acquire Chargeback

Sift, the leader in Digital Trust & Safety, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Chargeback, the pioneer in real-time dispute management for merchants. With the addition of Chargeback to the Sift Digital Trust & Safety Suite, merchants will gain access to a complete solution that addresses risk before, during, and after user transactions, including instances of "true" fraud and "friendly" fraud.

Never has there been a more comprehensive fraud prevention solution that enables businesses to stop fraud, increase revenue, and scale operations. Learn more
 



Crime, Violence & Protests


San Francisco's 'Out of Control' ORC is a Hot Topic
Shoplifting in San Francisco is so out of control that retailers are closing stores

Walgreens has closed 17 of its stores due to rampant stealing, and CVS has called the city 'one of the epicenters of organized retail crime'

Among the many problems plaguing San Francisco in recent years, business leaders say one has become so commonplace that residents barely notice it: shoplifting.

Walgreens says petty theft in the city has gotten so out of control that it's had to close 17 of its stores. CVS has told its employees not to intervene because the thieves so often attack them, calling San Francisco "one of the epicenters of organized retail crime."

"We've had incidents where our security officers are assaulted on a pretty regular basis in San Francisco," Brendan Dugan, head of CVS' retail crime division, said at a 13 May hearing with city officials, according to a New York Times report.

Police agree that the stealing has become endemic.

"The one trend we are seeing is more violence and escalating - and much more bold," Commander Raj Vaswani of the San Francisco Police Department said at the hearing. "We see a lot of repeat offenders."

Even more shocking is the fact that many shoplifters then sell their stolen goods on the street - often not far from the store where they stole them.

For example, the Walgreens at 30th St and Mission St reported 16 shoplifting incidents from November 2020 to February 2021. Just six blocks away, at 24th St and Mission, a city official said he saw Walgreens' products being sold at an outdoor market.

"Half of Walgreens was on the sidewalk. I'm not kidding," Ahsha Safaí, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, told The New York Times. "I was blown away. I've never seen anything like it in this city."

San Francisco has faced a painful set of concurring crises in recent years, including skyrocketing homelessness and an epidemic of drug overdoses. And in 2020, added to all that was the Covid-19 pandemic.

City officials say all these problems have fueled the rise in shoplifting, but other factors have contributed as well. For one thing, in 2014 California passed a ballot measure called Proposition 47, which deems any nonviolent theft of items worth less than $950 a misdemeanor, not a felony. independent.co.uk

The Simple Explanation for San Fran's ORC Explosion
Here's Why San Francisco is Experiencing a Shoplifting Surge That's Putting Some Stores Out of Business

It doesn't take a genius to figure out what's going on here.

In 2014, a ballot referendum passed that downgraded the theft of property less than $950 in value from a felony charge to a misdemeanor. In the years since, enforcement of shoplifting charges has waned significantly.

One study found that in Santa Monica, California, crimes unaffected by the ballot referendum fell by 9 percent but those that were downgraded increased 15 percent. Another analysis found that statewide, larceny thefts increased 9 percent after the 2014 change.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out what's going on here. Many different factors impact crime rates, but when the government fails to protect property rights and enforce the law, theft becomes more common and innocent business owners are victimized. The resulting economic uncertainty discourages growth and, in extreme cases like San Francisco, literally leads stores to close.

Protecting property and enforcing the rule of law is one of the core, legitimate functions of government. That the Golden State has chosen to focus its government's robust spending and involvement in social life elsewhere speaks to a grave misalignment in priorities. fee.org

Organized theft is turning San Francisco into retail's wild west
Recent reports depict a battle going on in San Francisco between retailers and organized retail crime, and the thieves are winning so convincingly that stores are closing their doors rather than trying to keep up a losing fight.

The New York Times reports that the city's board of supervisors heard last week from representatives of Walgreens who said that the number of thefts at its San Francisco locations was four times that of the average for the chain across the U.S. The drugstore giant has closed 17 stores in recent years, largely as the result of being unable to curtail profit-destroying thefts.

Brendan Dugan, director, Organized Retail Crime & Corporate Investigations at CVS Health, told the Times that San Francisco is one of the most troublesome markets in the country for the retailer when it comes to thefts at stores.

The threat of violence has led CVS to instruct its store security personnel to refrain from pursuing suspected thieves. Mr. Dugan said the chain has seen its security officers "assaulted on a pretty regular basis" in the city.

Los Angeles tops the ignomeous, list followed by Chicago, Miami and New York. Right after San Francisco come Baltimore, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Sacramento. retailwire.com

ORC Continues Making News Outlets Across the Country
AG Alliance Highlights New Trends in Organized Retail Crime
Earlier this year, the Attorney General Alliance (AGA) conducted an important webinar highlighting the risks of organized retail crime (ORC) to retail organizations, employees, and customers. ORC presents substantial dangers in both the online and brick-and-mortar settings, necessitating cooperative efforts between businesses and government actors to combat this illicit activity. Retail clients should be aware of pandemic-driven upticks in ORC, increased safety risks to employees and customers, and proposed solutions like the INFORM Act that may impose new business obligations in the effort to prevent ORC. agalliance.org

   San Francisco faces consequences for its soft-on-crime choices


Re-Fund the Police Movement Emerging?
Violent Crime Surge Flips the Script on the 'Defund the Police' Movement
The murder of George Floyd a year ago Tuesday by a now-former and convicted Minneapolis cop was the touchstone that set off a national reckoning over race and policing.

That much-needed conversation is ongoing in cities and states around the country -- and in the Senate, where a bill to create new national policing standards, like every other piece of major legislation, remains stalled.

A lot of attention was paid last year to calls for redirecting police budgets toward mental health and social services, shorthanded as "defund the police." Those moves will be complicated by an increasingly visible and alarming rise in crime over the past year.

More than 7,500 people have died from gun violence in the US this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, including at least 471 teenagers and 120 children. There were at least 12 mass shootings this past weekend. Crime is up nationwide, as CNN reported in April, looking at an uptick in homicides in major cities in 2020.

Now, police departments are reeling, police officers are changing their tactics and the country is gearing up for an unpredictable summer as the country emerges from pandemic lockdown.

The New York Times has a very specific look at policing in Los Angeles, where after George Floyd protests city leaders re-directed $150 million from the police budget. But in the face of rising crime rates, a new effort to hire 250 additional officers has the effect of re-funding the police. cnn.com

Shortage of Officers in Minneapolis as Violence Skyrockets
Minneapolis to bring in outside help to deal with surge in violence

Feds, state to help amid officer shortage, shootings.

Minneapolis police are bringing in outside help as they try to temper violence that killed four people this weekend alone, including a college senior who was out celebrating graduation. Mayor Jacob Frey said the city has asked state and federal agencies for assistance, citing the city's shortage of officers.

The increase in violence has tested the commitment of city leaders who unanimously promised to transform policing and public safety in the wake of George Floyd's death - but are deeply divided about how to proceed.

While debates about policing have proved to be divisive within City Hall, some of the victims' relatives said they hope to remove politics from the discussion. They want a solution that will keep other families from feeling pain like theirs.

The surge in violence comes as the city is grappling with the coronavirus pandemic and the aftermath of Floyd's killing. Nearly 200 Minneapolis police officers have left the department since Floyd's death, including dozens who filed PTSD claims after the unrest.  startribune.com

George Floyd Justice in Policing Act
Police reform sees momentum on George Floyd anniversary
Renewed momentum around the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act as the anniversary of George Floyd's murder on Tuesday approached has led to some optimism from those around the process that a bipartisan bill is within reach, a rare achievement in a divided Washington.

President Biden called on Congress to pass the bill by May 25 during his first address to Congress last month. But lawmakers spearheading the legislation have since said it won't be ready.

The White House has announced its intention to give lawmakers space to work, even as it said it would prioritize the legislation over a policing reform commission and proceeded to set a difficult deadline for Congress to meet. The administration is under pressure to get something done given its deliberate focus on addressing racial inequality.

The comprehensive legislation being negotiated seeks to reform key policing practices: racial profiling at every level of law enforcement would be prohibited; chokeholds, carotid holds and no-knock warrants would be banned at the federal level; qualified immunity for officers would be overhauled; and a national police misconduct registry would be created so that officers who are fired for such violations could not be hired unknowingly by another police department. thehill.com

The Capitol Security Mission is Finally Ending
National Guard's Capitol security mission ends as lawmakers feud over protection needs, costs
National Guard personnel will fully depart the U.S. Capitol grounds this week, military officials and congressional aides said Monday, bringing an end to the security mission that began when armed troops were dispatched to help quell the attack by supporters of former president Donald Trump.

The National Guard was deployed Jan. 6 to help beat back a crowd of about 10,000 rioters who had besieged the building and clear out the approximately 800 who had broken inside.

Though their mission formally ended Sunday, about 1,700 troops from nine states and Washington, D.C., remain in the District pending departures scheduled through Wednesday, according to Air Force Capt. Chelsi Johnson, a D.C. Guard spokesperson. washingtonpost.com

A year after George Floyd's death, seeking a new direction for policing

Alaska man sentenced to 20 months in prison for arson conspiracy for August 2020 fire at Seattle Police East Precinct
 



COVID Update

286.8M Vaccinations Given

US: 33.9M Cases - 604.4K Dead - 27.5M Recovered
Worldwide: 168M Cases - 3.4M Dead - 149.3M Recovered


Former Senior Loss Prevention Executive
Know of any fallen LP exec? Let's remember & recognize.


Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 279   Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: 300
*Red indicates change in total deaths


End of the Pandemic Draws Near
A vaccine marvel is bringing America back
America has never been closer to the end of this pandemic, which has inflicted the most universally experienced crisis and assault on national morale since World War II.

The near-miraculous vaccines have the virus -- which has ravaged the nation -- in retreat. Deserted cities that once echoed at night to the wail of ambulance sirens are stirring. Travelers are taking to skies and once again filling un-mothballed jets. Life, nervously for many -- and unbelievably for almost all -- is being restored.

Americans are getting used to seeing each other inside, unmasked, and learning how to hug and smile again. Grandparents are reuniting with far-flung family. Vaccinated older teens joyfully skip off to sleepovers. Sports arenas are filling for NBA and NHL playoffs.

A renaissance that started with tentative steps a few weeks ago is now moving with perceptible speed. Theme parks are opening. Welcome back to rush hour gridlock. The office beckons for those who are ready. Date night doesn't have to be in some heated restaurant tent. Back-to-school might actually mean something in September for Generation Zoom. And on Broadway, the show will soon go on.

It's now at least possible to believe Dr. Anthony Fauci's assurances in the dark days of winter that pandemics do end, even though it's natural after so much pain and deprivation to wonder whether the virus is just taking a timeout. cnn.com

Half of American Adults are Fully Vaccinated
White House expects US to reach 50% adults fully vaccinated on Tuesday
The White House expects the US will reach a new milestone on Tuesday when it comes to vaccinations, with 50% of adults becoming fully vaccinated, according to a White House official. Officials are expected to tout the numbers during today's coronavirus briefing, CNN has learned.

As of Monday, the US was at 49.8% of adults fully vaccinated, according to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. That means nearly 128.7 million adults are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Earlier this month, President Joe Biden said he wanted 160 million US adults fully vaccinated by July 4. Overall, 49.4% of the US population age 12 and above has received at least one shot and 39.3% of the US population age 12 and above is fully vaccinated. cnn.com

Unvaccinated Shoppers are Leading the Charge
Are Vaccinated Americans Powering the Economy? Not Yet, Data Show

People who haven't received the Covid-19 vaccine are more likely to be out spending

Vaccinated consumers were less likely to go out to restaurants, salons and entertainment venues than those who don't plan to get the vaccine, April spending and survey data from market-research firm Cardify.ai show.

People who aren't vaccinated, on the other hand, tend to be more risk tolerant and are already living a relatively normal life, Mr. Fung added. "As places open up, they're the ones leading the charge."

Across the country, foot traffic-a proxy for spending-at many providers of in-person services such as airports, hotels and theaters is still below pre-pandemic levels. But it is up from the winter, and has climbed more rapidly in states with Covid-19 vaccination rates below 45% as of May 3 than in states with higher rates, according to an analysis by data company Earnest Research.

The spending and foot-traffic data suggest higher vaccination rates haven't been the primary driver behind the early stages of the economic recovery, which began in earnest this spring. This dynamic will likely change in the coming months as more people are vaccinated, Covid-19 cases drop and public-health guidance evolves, analysts say. wsj.com

Retail Spaces Turned into Vaccination Centers
COVID vaccine sites breathe life into faltering NY malls and stores
More and more vaccination clinics are popping up in once-bustling retail spaces that have gone empty, marking a new - if temporary - use for stores that were casualties of an increasingly online marketplace or even the pandemic itself.

That's the case at the Crossgates Mall, where a state-run mass-vaccination clinic now occupies the ground floor of a vacant Lord & Taylor department store, which went out of business last year.

The cases remain in place but are completely emptied out. A Lancôme cosmetics sign hangs high above the recently vaccinated waiting to go home, one of the few remnants of the store's past life.

The exterior displays, which for years had featured mannequins draped in the latest fashions, now house U.S. and New York flags. The massive Lord & Taylor sign - in the company's signature font - has been replaced by a two-story banner that says "VACCINATE NEW YORK" alongside an image of a flexed bicep with a bandage on it.

The vaccination site at the Crossgates Mall in the town of Guilderland is one of numerous vaccination sites at retail centers owned by Pyramid Management Group of Syracuse.

Public records from the state comptroller's office state the Department of Health allocated $315,000 for two vaccination sites at the Aviation Mall in Queensbury and at Crossgates in Albany. pressconnects.com

May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Employer Support Increases Loyalty & Improves Managing Stress

Employees Report Their Mental Health is Improving
Employers providing mental health resources is one reason for the uptick

In a May 2021 study of 2,000 employed adults in the U.S, entitled " Travelers Mental Wellness Checkup," a large percentage, 73%, described their mental health as being good or excellent. This was up from 67% in the early months of the pandemic.

Part of the reason for these better numbers is based on the support employees felt from their employers:

About one in three workers who said their employer provides more than enough mental health resources also stated that loyalty to their employer increased (33%) compared to before the pandemic.

And 30% said their ability to manage stress improved (30%) compared to before the pandemic due to available resources.

Interestingly, millennials were more likely than baby boomers to use the mental health resources provided through an employee assistance program.

So there is a lot that still needs to do be done and much will be up to employers. But perhaps it can be an opportunity for companies to get creative in devising methods, resources and programs. ehstoday.com

Can Employers Ask Job Applicants About Vaccination and COVID-19?
More employers are asking job applicants about their COVID-19 vaccination status as they try to protect co-workers and customers. But before you add this to your list of interview questions, know that there are legal limits to such questions.

Employers that are asking these questions need to make sure they're doing so appropriately. Andrew Maunz, an attorney with Jackson Lewis in Pittsburgh, said, "Determining any type of term or condition of employment based on vaccination status is going to open up a lot of legal issues for employers, so they need to think very carefully about why the person's vaccination status is relevant."

Employers should only ask applicants vaccination questions that pertain to the job.

So, if the company is not asking employees if they have been vaccinated, it should not pose that question to applicants, either.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits employers from asking applicants questions that are likely to reveal the existence of a disability before making a job offer. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has clarified that asking employees whether they have received the COVID-19 vaccine is not a disability-related inquiry under the ADA.

"It's critical, though, that employers and their hiring teams don't overstep," Rashby said. "While asking about the vaccination itself will usually be permissible, follow-up questions that may reveal a disability can be asked only if they are job-related and consistent with business necessity." Any follow-up questions, such as asking why an individual didn't receive a vaccination, should be reserved until after making a job offer, she said.

Conditioning a job on vaccination status could lead to accommodation requests-both disability- and religious-based-and claims of discrimination by individuals under various protected bases who say they were unlawfully screened out, he noted. shrm.org

New OSHA Guidelines for COVID Vaccines
OSHA Shifts Position on Recordability of Adverse Reactions from Vaccines
In a dramatic shift in its enforcement position with respect to the recordability of adverse reactions from COVID-19 vaccines, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on May 21, 2021, published a new Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) establishing that employers do not need to record adverse reactions from COVID-19 vaccines on their OSHA 300 Logs, at least through May of 2022. The enforcement position applies regardless of whether an employer requires, recommends, or incentivizes employees to receive the vaccine.

In publishing this FAQ, the Agency simultaneously removed from its website three earlier FAQs, which had distinguished an employer's obligation to record adverse reactions from the vaccines based upon whether the vaccines were required or just recommended. OSHA had previously stated in one FAQ that adverse reactions from COVID-19 vaccines that are required by an employer would be considered OSHA-recordable if they met all other recording criteria of the rule. jdsupra.com

Half of US states have fully vaccinated at least 50% of adults

Moderna says its vaccine is safe & effective in adolescents
 



The Uneven Retail Foot Traffic Recovery
Retail foot traffic rebounding faster for some than others
Foot traffic analytics firm Placer.ai measured 2021 traffic against data from Q1 in 2019 to work around the disruption generated by last year's pandemic.

Discounters
Foot traffic at Walmart stores was still lagging behind 2019 levels by nearly 8% as of this April. By contrast, Target is seeing growth. In March and April, foot traffic was up 8% and 2.5% compared to the same months during 2019. Big Lots saw April foot traffic shoot up 28.5%.

Department Stores
Macy's stores were still impacted in a big way by pandemic-related restrictions in New York and California, although Chernofsky believes this positions the department store operation for a bigger comeback.

At Kohl's, March visits were down only around 15% compared to March 2019. Despite soaring year-over-year gains, JCPenney's traffic for March was down 34.4% compared to March 2019. Traffic at Dillard's, Bloomingdale's and Nordstrom was off by more than 20%.

Off-Pricers
Burlington has seen visit growth when compared to 2019 each month in 2021, with March and April showing increases of 17.2% and 8.4% respectively. Ross and T.J. Maxx have seen traffic increases compared to 2019. Marshalls saw foot traffic down 2.2% in March and 6.0% in April compared to 2019.

Warehouse Clubs
Costco, Sam's Club and BJ's Wholesale Club - all of which remained open during the pandemic shutdowns last year - fared well in this year's first quarter.  hometextilestoday.com

Walmart Responds to Racist Email Controversy
Walmart sent people racist emails after 'bad actor' used their details to create accounts with fake names

Dozens of people are upset after receiving emails from an official Walmart account that contained a racial slur.

Rachael Campbell, who lives in Scotland and has no access to a Walmart store, received a message from an official Walmart email address on Monday that swapped out her first name for a racial slur. Campbell shared the email from Walmart with Insider.

Dozens of other people received similar messages, and shared screenshots of their "Welcome to Walmart" emails on Twitter. The screenshots show that these emails used the same racial slur.

Walmart confirmed the issue in a statement to Insider, saying it was "shocked and appalled to see these offensive and unacceptable emails."

"We discovered that an external bad actor created false Walmart accounts with obvious intent to offend our customers," a Walmart spokesperson said. "We're looking into our sign-up process to ensure something like this doesn't happen again. We're also looking into all available means to hold those responsible accountable."

Campbell said she was "completely shocked" that Walmart's website allowed users to register for an account using a racist slur. businessinsider.com

Poor Pay & Health Concerns Pushing Workers Away
How the pandemic pushed restaurant workers over the edge
Conway is one of the millions of workers who left the restaurant industry during the pandemic and haven't come back. The industry has 1.7 million fewer jobs filled than before the pandemic, despite posting almost a million job openings in March, along with hotels, and raising pay 3.6 percent, an average of 58 cents an hour, in the first three months of 2021.

Restaurant chains and industry groups say a shortage of workers like Conway is slowing their recovery, as the sector tries to get back on its feet amid sinking covid cases, falling restrictions and resurgent demand in many areas around the country.

In interviews with The Washington Post, 10 current and former workers expressed a wide range of reasons they are or were reluctant to return to work. Some, like Conway, have left the industry or changed careers, saying they felt like the industry was no longer worth the stress and volatility.

Others said jobs that didn't pay enough for them to make ends meet no longer felt appropriate to them. Others left after disputes with managers - over issues around safety and pay - and other flash points that have emerged in the past year.

All described the pandemic as an awakening - realizing that long-held concerns about the industry were valid, and compounded by the new health concerns. And forced to stop working or look for other jobs early on in the pandemic, many realized they had other options. washingtonpost.com

Father's Day Spending to Hit $20.1 Billion, According to NRF
U.S. consumers are expected to spend more than $20.1 billion on gifts and other items for Father's Day this year, a record high, according to the National Retail Federation's annual survey conducted by Prosper Insight & Analytics. Total spending for the holiday will surpass last year's record figure of $17 billion.

The number of Americans (75 percent) who plan to celebrate the fathers, husbands and other paternal figures in their life this Father's Day is consistent with previous years. Of those celebrating, half (50 percent) plan to buy gifts for their own dad, a quarter (26 percent) plan to buy for a husband and 1 in 10 (11 percent) plan to buy for a son. nrf.com

Exercise equipment maker Peloton to build its first U.S. factory near Toledo

Disneyland and other California theme parks will return to full capacity in June



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Victim Impact Statements - Follow-through is the key to success

More than 40% of Victim Impact Statements are never returned by retailers.

Do not lose your restitution opportunities!

It is fair to say that without an organized program for collecting and responding to Victim Impact Statements, most retailers are missing an opportunity to inform jurisdictions of their full loss. Retailers may not be awarded restitution from a loss suffered in their stores, warehouses and/or corporate locations if they do not respond to official requests. Without having a central location for jurisdictions to send Victim Impact Statements, they will most likely be sent to the location where the theft occurred; where they may sit unanswered or worse yet, be discarded. Victim Impact Statements are deadline driven and normally require research and follow through. Each year thousands become stale due to lack of response or are rejected as incomplete. While the basic information may be the same, each jurisdiction has its own set of rules and expectations for completion. Knowing the nuances required by each jurisdiction can make the difference to the restitution awarded.

The Zellman Group has a long-standing relationship with thousands of Courts and Department of Corrections across the country. This relationship ensures smooth communication between all parties. Our centralized process ensures every Victim Impact Statement arrives from the jurisdiction of offense to our firm. Zellman processes all Victim Impact Statements well within deadlines and manages all follow-up. Our process ensures that our retail partners will recover substantially more money with very little expense.

Click here to learn more.

The Zellman Group, LLC is a full-service Loss Prevention provider located in Greenvale, NY. Contact us at info@zellmangroup.com or at 516-625-0006.


 

 


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Colonial Pipeline Attack Impact
Ransomware: Two-thirds of organizations say they'll boost their defenses

The impact of the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack is leading companies to re-examine their cybersecurity strategies, says report.

The severe disruption caused by the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack has alerted organisations to the need to bolster their defences against cyberattacks - and two-thirds are set to take actions required to prevent them becoming another ransomware victim following the incident.

The ransomware attack against Colonial Pipeline - one of the largest pipeline operators in the United States, providing almost half of the East Coast's fuel - caused disruption to operations and led to gas shortages, demonstrating how cyberattacks can have physical consequences.

Colonial paid almost $5 million for the key required to unlocked the encrypted systems.

The significant disruption caused by the attack and the high cost of the ransom payment appears to have been a wake-up call for organisations - a new report by IT association ISACA suggests that just over two-thirds (67%) of IT professionals expect their organisations to take new precautions in light of the Colonial Pipeline attack.

Ransomware has been a major cybersecurity threat for some time and shows no sign of slowing down: 84% of those surveyed by ISACA said they believe ransomware attacks will become more prevalent during the second half of 2021.

"The growth of this attack type is relentless, and its targets are indiscriminate: large or small, public or private, any and all industry sectors," said Chris Cooper, member of ISACA's emerging trends working group.

But despite the ransomware threat, 38% of respondents say their company has not conducted any ransomware training for their staff, something that could potentially lead to issues in the event of a ransomware attack - or even lead to a ransomware attack itself. zdnet.com

Cybersecurity Budgets to Increase
Businesses Boost Security Budgets. Where Will the Money Go?

Most organizations plan to spend more on security, leaders say in a report that explores their toughest challenges, post-breach costs, and spending priorities.

AdvertisementBusinesses plan to invest more money in cybersecurity, but it remains unclear whether extra investments will prepare them to face advanced attacks targeting the supply chain and crossing hybrid infrastructure - two trends top of mind among security leaders, a new report states.

To learn more about security teams' most pressing obstacles and spending priorities, Splunk teamed up with Enterprise Strategy Group to survey 535 security leaders. Most (88%) leaders report security spending will increase at their organization; 35% say there will be a "significant" boost. The research, conducted a year after COVID-19 lockdowns began and two months after the SolarWinds supply chain attack disclosure, reveals the response to a rise in cybercrime.

More than half (53%) of respondents said attacks increased during the pandemic and 84% have experienced a significant security incident in the past two years. The most common type of attack is email compromise (42%), followed by data breach (39%), mobile malware (37%), DDoS attack (36%), phishing (33%), ransomware (31%), and regulatory compliance violation (28%).

More than 40% said the primary cost of security incidents was the IT time and personnel needed to remediate them. Other costs included lost productivity (36%), disruptions to applications and systems (35%), disruption to business processes (32%), breach of confidential data (28%), public breach disclosure (19%), and employees terminated or prosecuted (18%).

Security leaders' job is tougher than it was two years ago, 49% of respondents said. The top challenges they cited include a more complex threat landscape (48%), moving workloads to the cloud and difficulty monitoring the larger attack surface (32%), and workforce hiring (28%). darkreading.com

Cyber Theft Concerns Surge
Consumers ID theft concerns only growing
A Benenson Strategy Group study surveyed over 700 adults on their concerns about ID theft and cybercrime, the type of help they feel they would need to address those concerns, and which institutions they trust with alleviating those concerns.

Chris Carnicelli, CEO of Generali Global Assistance, commented on the findings, "Consumers are looking for an ID theft hero that can provide them with comprehensive protection before an incident occurs and help save the day when their identity is comprised. To find that hero, they're turning to the institutions they already trust to protect their sensitive data for guidance as well as comprehensive ID theft and cyber protection services."

49% said their life would be significantly impacted if they were a victim of ID theft or cybercrime, with only 9% indicating they felt there would be minimal or no impact. 1 in 5 said they think there's a 75 - 100% chance that they'll be a victim of ID theft or cybercrime in the next five years.

Paige Schaffer, CEO of Global Identity & Cyber Protection at Generali Global Assistance, concluded, "The 76% of respondents who indicated that ID theft and cybercrime was one of their top concerns are right to be worried since identity fraud was responsible for $56 billion worth of losses last year according to Javelin's 2021 ID Fraud Study. helpnetsecurity.com

Return to Office Risks Worth Considering
Traditionally, businesses have dictated where employees work and even those that had work-from-home policies couldn't anticipate what happened in 2020. Now, they will likely discover that employees are not homogeneous in their attitude about working at the office or at home. Those who return to the office also may have different work hours expectations than they had in 2019.

"As the world begins to reopen, leaders must keep a pulse on employee sentiment and act on this feedback."

"Office re-openings are complex from a cyber risk standpoint, [so] it is important for facilities, HR, IT, security and other teams' leads to plan in advance how they align activities and communications with each other and employees," said Ellen Sundra, SVP of global systems engineering and enablement at cybersecurity solution provider Forescout.

Sundra said Forescout has seen "device decay" which occurs because a device is missing app updates, or the employee reconfigured the device to work on the home network. There could also be commingled work and personal content on the machine.

"The level of non-compliance and risk from this varies across employees and organizations, but you still need the means to detect, measure and resolve this decay before it erodes entire corporate security postures," said Sundra. "It only takes one 'problem' machine to introduce ransomware or other risks onto a reviving office network. So, all these returning devices, at scale, will overwhelm administrators without advanced planning."

Still-active credentials that are based on year-old trust but which nevertheless enable automatic network connections. Instead, zero trust defenses should be up to date. informationweek.com

2020 Gartner Market Guide for Email Security
It's not always clear how or where to invest your cybersecurity budget for the strongest protection. Gartner's "Market Guide for Email Security" is a great place to start. | Download Report

CNA Financial Paid $40 Million in Ransom After March Cyberattack

A leadership guide for mitigating security risks with low code platforms

Thoughts on Biden's cybersecurity Executive Order


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Retail-Border Protection Counterfeit Partnership
Nike is working with US border enforcement to crack down on counterfeit sneakers
Nike will work with US Customers and Border Protection to crack down on counterfeit goods entering the United States, the agency said Thursday.

CBP said it seized 26,503 shipments containing counterfeit goods in fiscal year 2020 that "would have been worth nearly $1.3 billion had they been genuine. CBP says that counterfeit goods pose a great risk to the US economy.

Quartz reported in 2020 that an international counterfeiting ring was using "an elaborate web of fictitious company names, bogus paperwork, phony email addresses, and burner phones" to ship $472 million worth of goods in the US, had they actually been real merchandise.

Authorities were able to track down the sellers by using cooperating witnesses and undercover agents, the site reported. Counterfeit shoes are also a big problem for resellers.

Insider previously reported that some sneaker resellers are using AI technology to authenticate sneakers. The authentication process is as easy as placing the shoe into a machine, and within minutes software is able to identify if a shoe is real or not with a series of photographs.

It is unclear how CBP will identify fake shoes. Nike did not respond to a request for comment.

"As criminal organizations use proceeds from counterfeit sales to fund other illegal activity, our partnerships help strengthen our border security posture through innovation and resource optimization," Diane Sabatino, CBP's executive assistant commissioner of field operations, said in a press release. "Our partnerships with stakeholders are vital to CBP's enforcement mission and continued success in protecting U.S. businesses and consumers from counterfeit goods." businessinsider.com

Virtual Skimming Scams
How do hackers steal your credit, debt card information while you shop online?
You've heard of skimming at a gas station pump, but did you know it can happen when you check out of your online shopping cart too? The ABC 7 I-Team shows how this can happen without you knowing, and shows you how easy it is for this to happen and what's being done to stop it.

You may think of credit and debit card skimming at a gas pump, but it's also happening as you're checking out of your online shopping cart. Everything seems fine, then, days later you may see unexplained, mysterious charges on your credit or debit card.

The FBI said $1.8 billion was lost to online skimming and similar online thefts last year. "In 2020, it has been reported as the highest monetary loss among all the different crimes that are reported to the FBI," Special Agent Jay Patel told the I-Team.

Virtual skimming is increasing as more people are shopping online during the pandemic. Patel said the thieves are being brought to justice with 200 arrests worldwide in the last few years.

"So, one of the recent cases that we've had, 'Fin Seven,' these are three criminals that were in Eastern Europe. Right from there, they targeted thousands of different businesses in the U.S. and stole millions of credit card information, and they didn't have to travel to the U.S. to do that," Patel added. abc7chicago.com

The Antitrust Fights Begin at the Local Level
BREAKING: DC AG Sues Amazon For Antitrust Violations
The district attorney for Washington, D.C. sued Amazon Inc. on Tuesday accusing the e-commerce giant of stifling competition through agreements with sellers on its platform, resulting in higher prices for consumers and reducing innovation for online retail marketplaces. law360.com

Amazon is shutting down its Prime Now fast delivery app


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Las Vegas, NV: Theft ring involving officer targeted home improvement stores
An organized theft ring targeted home improvement stores for two months before the suspects were caught, according to an arrest report from Las Vegas Metropolitan Police. Alejandro Delacruz, Enrico Ronquillo, Kristine Quijano, Ranjit Quijano and Samuelito Quijano were all arrested in connection with the ring. They collectively face charges of burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary and organized retail theft. Samelito Quijano has been an officer with LVMPD since 2017, according to the department. He wasn't named in an arrest report regarding the thefts, but court and police records show he was arrested in connection with the theft ring.

On May 2, LVMPD received a report from a Las Vegas area Home Depot store about an organized theft ring targeting their stores, according to an arrest report. The Arroyo Crossing store said they arrested one of the men involved, identified as Edward Silvestre.

Silvestre confessed "to all the known burglaries and more," the arrest report said. Silvestre was reportedly paid about $10-$15 per theft to help push the carts around the store. Silvestre said he "knew stealing was wrong but he claimed he needed money from the thefts to eat," the report said. According to the arrest report, the suspects would enter the store and put various items in the cart. Silvestre said they would either purchase the items with stolen credit cards and later return the items for cash; pay for an item before stealing the same item to be returned for cash; or "numerous other scams. Police interviewed the four suspects outside of Samuelito. Ranjit, Kristine and Enrico Ronquillo all confessed to the crimes, the arrest report said. Alejandro Delacruz denied all involvement and requested a lawyer.

Of the 30 listed thefts, 28 happened at Las Vegas area Home Depot stores, according to the arrest report. One was at a Lowe's store, and one was at a Seafood City store. The thefts began in March before the suspects were arrested in late May. fox5vegas.com

Duson, LA: Police allow theft suspect to pay for, then donate stolen baby formula to local women's shelter
A man accused of stealing baby formula from a Duson grocery store got a little bit of a lucky break when captured by police. It happened over the weekend at Champagne's grocery store. Police say they were notified by staff around 8:30 a.m. Saturday that a male suspect had stolen 10 cans of baby formula by slipping them in his pants, then walking out without paying. Video camera's identified Joseph Chambers as the suspect, Police Chief Kip Judice said. He said later in the day, police observed Chambers driving along Interstate 10 and attempted to pull over his vehicle. A chase began and with help from other local police agencies, Chambers was stopped in Breaux Bridge, Judice said.

During a search of the vehicle, Judice said, police recovered a total of 126 cans of assorted baby formula. He said the suspect had admitted to stealing the formula from stores throughout Louisiana. Because the crime is considered a misdemeanor, Judice said, Chambers was allowed to pay for the 10 cans he allegedly stole in Duson, and then donate them to the Faith House Women's Shelter in Lafayette, which he agreed too. He said the total cost for 10 cans was $186. The remaining 116 cans, Judice said, will remain in the Duson Police Department Evidence Room awaiting proof of ownership from stores who can confirm that it is their product. "If no one comes forward in the next few days, Judice said, they will donate the cans to locate charities." Chambers was issued a summons to appear in a Duson Magistrate Court in June. klfy.com

Glen Burnie, MD: Man accused of stealing more than $5K in merchandise from home improvement stores in Carroll County

Naples, FL: 7-Eleven employee accused of stealing $5,000 in transaction scheme

Fort Myers, FL: Crime Stoppers search for Walgreens grand theft person of interest


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Shootings & Deaths

More Murder Charges in King Soopers Mass Shooting
Boulder, CO: District Attorney Names 8 Additional Attempted Murder Victims In Boulder Shooting Case
Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty filed additional attempted murder charges against the man accused of killing 10 people at a Boulder grocery store on the eve of the accused shooter's second court appearance on Tuesday. The additional charges names eight new victims of attempted murder - people who were inside and around the King Soopers when the shooter opened fire on March 22. People were killed both in the parking lot and inside the grocery store, police say.

The charges are in addition to previously filed attempted murder victims - people who were trying to flee the store, people who were hiding inside, or in the parking lot. The newly named victims in Monday's court filings include Casey Taylor, Hadyn Steele, Khagendra Malla, Jacqueline Keeton, Paul Johnson, Kymberly Brekhus, Mykah Huang and Tasia Beresford.

The alleged shooter is also charged with the attempted murder of 11 police officers who entered the store and engaged in a firefight. Eventually, the alleged shooter was hit with a bullet in the thigh and surrendered inside the store. He recovered at a hospital and is now in custody at an undisclosed location. The officer, Richard Steidell, who fired his weapon and hit the accused shooter has been cleared of criminal wrongdoing and is named as an attempted murder victim in court documents. Nine people who were shopping or working in and around the store were killed, and the first responding Boulder Police officer, Eric Talley, also died inside the store. cpr.org

Philadelphia, PA: Man Shot Dead Inside North Philly C-Store
A man is shot and killed inside of a store, in North Philadelphia. It happened around 1:00, at the corner of North 25th Street and Cambria Street. Police say the victim, in his late 20s, was shot once in the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been arrested. news.yahoo.com

Update: Elsmere, DE: Police find slain Metro/ T-Mobile Employee's missing SUV, manhunt continues for suspect
Police in Delaware have located the vehicle belonging to a Metro by T Mobile employee who was killed during a robbery, but the manhunt continues for the gunman. Twenty-eight-year-old Leslie Ruiz-Basilio was killed on May 15 after a suspect shot her during a robbery at the store where she worked off Kirkwood Highway. Investigators say the killer then took off in Basilio's Cadillac Escalade. According to Elsmere police, the SUV was found last week in Philadelphia. 6abc.com

Concord, CA: Mall Shooting: Police Investigate Monday Evening Shooting At Sunvalley Mall
A man was wounded and the gunman remained at large Monday night following a shooting at the Sunvalley Shopping Center in Concord. Concord police said officers were dispatched to the mall at 5:53 p.m. and found a man with at least one gunshot wound between the Red Robin and the Sears. Authorities said the shooter fled the scene and there was no danger to patrons or employees, though the mall was placed on lockdown initially. Video from the scene showed one apparent shooting victim, a young Black male, being loaded into an ambulance. Authorities have not offered any additional details regarding the crime. Video from the scene showed one apparent shooting victim, a young Black male, being loaded into an ambulance. Authorities have not offered any additional details regarding the crime. sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com

Lancaster, TX: Shooting On Monday at Dollar General, No Injuries Reported
On May 24, 2021 at 5:54pm Lancaster officers responded to a shooting in progress. Initial reports state the shooter was a victim of an Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle two days prior in Dallas, TX in which his black Dodge was stolen from his home. A little before 6pm the victim of the UUMV located his stolen vehicle in the parking lot of Dollar General on Wintergreen. After locating his stolen vehicle the male blocked the vehicle into a parking spot and opened fire into the passenger side window. The vehicle was occupied by one Hispanic male who was not injured by the gunfire. The victim of the shooting declined to press charges for aggravated assault at this time. focusdailynews.com

 



Robberies, Incidents & Thefts

Spokane Valley, WA: Rite Aid Armed robbery suspect taken down with non-lethal bean bag rounds, taken into custody
Spokane Valley Police took down a robbery suspect at the Rite Aid near Sprague and Pines Sunday afternoon. Deputies responded to a report of a man, later identified as 46-year-old Christopher Sanchez, armed with a knife threatening a store employee at the Rite Aid. Officers arrived at the scene and saw Sanchez crossing Sprague with two women, with witnesses pointing at him and identifying him as the suspect. Two other deputies found Sanchez at Value Village. They identified themselves and told Sanchez to stop. Sanchez ignored the commands and said, "No! I didn't do anything." Deputies then noticed a large knife on Sanchez's hip, which prompted an officer to load his shotgun with non-lethal bean bag rounds. Sanchez continued to ignore commands, so the officer shot him in the lower leg with one round, and a second round went into Sanchez' right leg. Two additional rounds knocked Sanchez to the ground, allowing deputies to close in and put handcuffs on him. kxly.com

Chicago, IL: Crew accused of at least 21 car jackings and robberies
Police are searching for a specific car in the race to stop a violent carjacking crew from striking again. A couple of suspected teen carjackers are already under arrest. Police said the teens were on a busy crime spree spanning six cities. According to police, the thieves are connected to 21 carjackings and robberies and less than a month. They took place in Berwyn, River Forest, Central Stickney, Elmwood Park and Oak Lawn. ktvz.com

North Olmsted, OH: Jury selection begins in trial for Cleveland police officer accused of shoplifting from Walmart
Jury selection began Monday morning in the trial of a Cleveland police officer accused of scanning some, but not all, of her items at the self-check-out register at the Walmart Supercenter in North Olmsted. Tashalee Norris is charged with robbery and aggravated theft. The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office confirmed on Monday that Norris pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor theft. Her plea agreement included being ordered to pay $80.25 in restitution to Walmart, relinquishing her status as a peace officer, and resigning from the Cleveland Division of Police. She was sentenced to six months probation. North Olmsted police said this happened on Feb. 27, 2019, and on March 17, 2019. According to North Olmsted police, Norris was wearing a Cleveland Police Department sweatshirt over her Cleveland police uniform with her police firearm during the March 17, 2019 incident. cleveland19.com

Youngstown, OH: Brothers sentenced for Campbell Burger King Armed Robbery
Israel Graham, 23, got 28 years in prison after taking the case to trial last month and being found guilty of aggravated robbery, three counts of kidnapping and a single count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Caleb, who pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated robbery last year, received a seven-year sentence. He did not testify against his brother. vindy.com

Chesterfield, VA: Man arrested in connection to multiple larcenies at grocery stores

Tampa, FL: Man Sentenced To 22 Years In Prison For Armed Robberies Of Pharmacies

Savannah, GA: Robbery spree earns convicted felon decades in federal prison

Raleigh, NC: Man Sentenced to 6 ½ Years After Causing More Than $600 Million in Losses From Tobacco Smuggling and Tax Scheme

Johnstown, PA: Man Sentenced to 5 Years' Probation for Knowingly Selling Stolen Merchandise

 

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C-Store - Lenoir City, TN - Robbery
C-Store - Wichita Falls, TX - Armed Robbery
C-Store - Fayetteville, NC - Burglary
C-Store - Lee County, FL - Armed Robbery
C-Store - Henrico County, VA - Robbery
C-Store - Cordele, GA - Armed Robbery
Flower Shop - Suffolk County, NY - Burglary
Gas Station - Sand Springs, OK - Armed Robbery
Grocery - Santa Barbara, CA - Robbery
Hardware - Glasgow, KY - Robbery
Liquor - Bainbridge, OH - Burglary
Pawn - Maricopa, AZ - Burglary
Pharmacy - Palatka, FL - Robbery
Rite Aid - Hartsdale, NY - Armed Robbery
Rite Aid - Spokane, WA - Armed Robbery
Sporting Goods - Nicholasville, KY - Burglary
Vape - Lincoln, NE - Burglary
7-Eleven - Forest Park, IL - Robbery

 

Daily Totals:
• 12 robberies
• 6 burglaries
• 0 shootings
• 0 killed



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Every executive has an agenda out of absolute necessity and in the normal course of doing business. Agendas, in essence, drive performance and results. However, it's the hidden agendas that one must be on the look out for because those are the ones that do the most damage to executives and companies. And while many tend not to acknowledge them, they do exist, and finding them is the key. Dealing with them and managing them is extremely difficult and oftentimes one finds his or herself managing the after effect and not even seeing them until it's too late. Just remember one thing - If you know the stripes on a Zebra you can ride the Zebra and, if you don't know the stripes, the Zebra will ride you.

Just a Thought,
Gus

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