Theft & Fraud Top Issues Impacting Grocery Retailers
FMI Study: The biggest problems affecting grocery retailers are theft and fraud
Although supply chain, transportation, labor and out-of stock problems have eased for food retailers, another major issue impacting profitability is on the rise.

The number one challenge currently facing the industry has become asset protection, with 85% of food retailers citing increasing theft and fraud as the biggest problems negatively affecting business, according to the Food Industry Association's (FMI) annual research analysis, "The Food Retailing Industry Speaks 2024."

Additionally, two-thirds (64%) of retail respondents cited societal challenges, including a lack of civility, drug use, and violence, as issues that negatively impact operations. (FMI's Asset Protection Survey found that more than 80% of retailers have plans in place to address many of these challenges.)

In other findings, the uncertain economic outlook is not preventing grocery retailers from investing in innovative strategies to improve customer experience and increase growth, with the top initiative being experimenting with in-store technologies to enhance the shopping experience (81%).

Technology is also playing a bigger role in the grocery shopping experience, with 41% of food retailers reporting using artificial intelligence (AI) for parts of their businesses - nearly doubling year-over-year.

The 75th annual report surveyed food retailers' and suppliers' 2023 developments and expectations for the year ahead, finding that while the industry made key strides in addressing longstanding labor and transportation capacity issues, inflation and other financial hurdles caused industry profit margins to fall to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels.

By addressing these persistent supply chain issues, retailers also reported a dramatic drop in out-of-stock rates, falling from 10.7% in 2022 to 6.5% in 2023, which is even lower than the typical historic rate of 8%. chainstoreage.com


Georgia's 'Combating Organized Retail Crime Act' Blocked By Judge
Judge blocks Georgia's online sales law, a win for Meta, Craigslist, others

'Combating Organized Retail Crime Act,' was meant to thwart resale of stolen goods

Georgia's new law extending data collection requirements for online marketplaces such as Nextdoor and Craigslist can't stand as it conflicts with federal law, an Atlanta judge has decided.

The "Combating Organized Retail Crime Act" was due to take effect Monday. It requires online marketplaces to obtain and verify information about high-volume sellers whether sales go through the marketplace or not, in an effort to curb online sales of stolen items.

U.S. District Judge Steven D. Grimberg temporarily blocked enforcement of the law in an order Sunday, ruling that it conflicts with the federal "Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers Act," known as the INFORM Consumers Act, implemented in 2022.

The federal law only requires online marketplaces to collect bank account, contact and tax identification data about high-volume sellers whose sales are processed through the marketplace. Georgia already had a corresponding law in place, which legislators amended this year to include sales that marketplaces don't handle.

Grimberg's ruling means the state's new law can't be enforced while it is litigated. NetChoice, the trade association for online marketplaces including Google, Amazon and eBay, sued Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr to void the law.  ajc.com


Competing Anti-Crime Measures on California's Ballot - Which Will Win?
California voters will decide an anti-crime measure in November. Democrats say this one is better

Gov. Newsom and legislative leaders put forward a ballot measure to compete with one that would roll back Proposition 47 and increase penalties for theft and drug trafficking. The Democrats' proposal calls for a new felony for drug dealers who cut fentanyl into other drugs and for increased penalties for repeat thieves.

Democratic legislative leaders tonight unveiled a ballot measure they say will reduce retail theft and punish drug suppliers who sell fentanyl-tainted products to unwitting consumers.

It's designed as an alternative to a measure already on the November ballot that would increase punishments and roll back Proposition 47, which voters approved in 2014 and which reduced certain property crimes from felonies to misdemeanors, provided that the stolen goods aren't worth more than $950.

But Democrats' efforts have already drawn scorn from Republican legislators, who called the second ballot measure a "shady" attempt to confuse voters. Assembly GOP leader James Gallagher of Chico called it a "Deep Fake reform initiative" in a social media post tonight, while Senate leader Brian Jones of San Diego called the bill "a blatant attempt to undermine the will of the people."

Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic legislative leaders had said that Prop. 47 didn't need to be changed. They tried to persuade the Prop. 47 repeal proponents to withdraw their measure by proposing a package of retail theft bills - and later adding amendments to kill these bills if they are signed into law and if voters approved the repeal measure.

That strategy appeared to fail, leading to this alternative measure instead. Even some Democrats rebelled. And late Saturday, Democrats removed those "poison pill" amendments from the bills. calmatters.org


Independence Day Week Brings Surge in Cargo Theft Risk
CargoNet warns of heightened cargo theft risk during July 4th holiday week
CargoNet, a Verisk business and leader in cargo theft prevention and recovery, today issued an urgent advisory to the logistics industry, warning of an increased risk of cargo theft during the upcoming July 4th holiday week as extended business closures can create an advantageous operating environment for cargo thieves.

Based on an analysis of 174 thefts that occurred between July 1 and July 7 over the past five years, CargoNet has identified several key trends:

• Peak Risk Days: July 1 and 2 consistently show the highest rates of theft, likely due to loaded conveyances left unattended before the holiday.

• Increasing Trend: While 2023 saw record-high theft rates, 2024 is on track to surpass those numbers.

• High-Risk Areas: California, Texas, and Florida remain the states most targeted by cargo thieves. The counties of San Bernardino, CA; Maricopa, AZ; Dallas, TX; Los Angeles, CA; and Shelby, TN are particular hotspots.

• Targeted Items: Thieves show a preference for non-alcoholic beverages (especially energy drinks), major appliances, and computer electronics.

• Theft Methods: Direct cargo and conveyance theft continues to be more common than complex fraud schemes.

"Cargo thieves are well aware that extended holiday closures work to their advantage," said Keith Lewis, vice president of operations at CargoNet "With theft activity already surpassing 2023's record highs, we urge the industry to remain vigilant throughout the holiday weekend." ajot.com

West Hollywood, CA: Video shows thieves giving each other high-fives after West Hollywood $700k Jewelry heist
A group of thieves pulled off a shocking jewelry heist in West Hollywood, California. Surveillance video captured the group celebrating, and even giving each other high-fives during the break-in. It happened last week between June 17 and June 18 at Huener Jewelry on Santa Monica Boulevard. The owner's son told our sister station KABC the group took the store's entire inventory, including several safes. "At first I thought they like cut a hole through the wall, and they got in, and they did a quick robbery and they left, but it turned out ... it took more than 24 hours," said Robert Goukasian, who said the store's alarms never went off. He said the four suspects completed the heist in two trips - one in the early morning hours and another late at night. They broke in through the business next-door by cutting a hole through the wall and ultimately emptied two large safes that contained hundreds of pieces of one-of-a-kind jewelry. In surveillance footage, you can see the four suspects working together to get into a safe. At one point, they're seen smiling, giving each other high-fives and even sharing hugs.  abc30.com


Gwinnett County, GA: 2 women went on a $8,000 shopping spree at Mall of Georgia
Police say they didn't purchase anything. Gwinnett police are searching for two women accused of stealing items from several stores in the Mall of Georgia. On June 22, Gwinnett County officers were called to the Dick's Sporting Goods inside the Mall of Georgia. An employee called 911 after noticing two women shoplifting huge amounts of merchandise. The pair identified as Nakenda Janea Thompson Fevrier, 27, of Pooler and Shacarrie Deasia Heyward, 29, of Savannah left the store and walked toward a white car parked outside the business. When the employee confronted the duo, police say they dropped the items and ran away, leaving the car behind. Officers searched the car and found six large trash bags filled with merchandise from nine different stores inside the Mall of Georgia. Gwinnett officials said in total, the stolen items were worth $8,000. Police have secured 54 warrants, with both suspects being charged with five counts of felony theft by shoplifting, nine counts of possession of tools for the commission of a crime, nine counts of loitering and prowling, and four counts of misdemeanor shoplifting. Fevrier and Heyward's whereabouts are currently unknown.  wsbtv.com


Houston, TX: Suspect sought in $5,000 Versace robbery
Constable Mark Herman's Office is on the lookout for a suspect involved in a theft at the Versace store located in the Houston Premium Outlet Mall on Saturday. Deputies say the incident unfolded when an unidentified black man entered the store and selected various merchandise valued at nearly $5,000. Store management confronted the suspect, prompting him to flee the scene with the unpaid items. A witness managed to capture footage of the suspect, described as a black man in his thirties, committing the offense.  fox26houston.com


Nassau County, FL: 'Expensive taste:' Nassau Deputies arrest 4 after high-dollar gourmet feast heist
The Nassau County Sheriff's Office has announced the arrest of four women after a crime spree involving stolen Stanley cups and a lavish spread of high-end food, including crab meat, lobster tail, bacon, steak, and champagne. On Saturday, June 29th, the NCSO responded to a theft at Hagan Ace Hardware Store on Miner Road. Witnesses reported that the suspects raided the store, stuffing 24 Stanley cups into their shirts and bags before fleeing in a silver Chevy Malibu. An off-duty lieutenant, hearing a BOLO (Be On the Lookout) alert over the radio, spotted the suspects' vehicle at the intersection of Arrigo Boulevard and State Road 200. The vehicle was later stopped in the Winn-Dixie parking lot, where all four suspects were detained. Investigators uncovered that the culprits had targeted several Nassau County locations, including two Winn-Dixie stores in Yulee and Callahan, along with two Ace Hardware stores. The stolen goods, estimated to be worth around $5,000, included not only the prized Stanley cups but also a luxurious assortment of high-end food items. During the search of the suspect's vehicle, deputies discovered several Stanley cups and a luxurious haul of high-end food from Winn-Dixie-crab meat, lobster tail, bacon, steak, and an assortment of champagne.  actionnewsjax.com


Ventura County, CA: Camarillo Gun store robbed after thieves ram stolen Kia to get inside
An investigation is underway in Camarillo after a local gun store was robbed by thieves who used a stolen Kia to gain entry, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. The incident happened around 4:20 a.m. Monday at the shop located at 1789 East Ventura Boulevard. Sheriff's deputies responding to the scene found a blue Kia sedan rammed right into the front door of the business, leaving a trail of shattered glass everywhere. The store owner told authorities an unknown number of suspects smashed several display cases and stole multiple firearms. Inventory is still being taken and the exact number of stolen firearms is not yet known.   foxla.com


Lancaster, CA: Update: Robber who stole half a million dollars in jewelry gets 28 years in prison

Tampa, FL: Man arrested for stealing $2k worth of cigarettes from Walgreens

DuPage County, IL: Two Zion Women Charged with $1400 Burglary at Oak Brook Macy's

Suffolk County, NY: Woman Sought for Shark Vacuum Theft in Medford Target Heist

Cleveland, OH: Police searching for pair of suspects wanted for thefts at Cleveland Target stores