The D&D Daily will continue to track this data throughout the summer to capture the weekend violence trend in our nation's big cities as warm weather typically brings about more crime and violence.

Click here to see the list of incidents per city and follow along each week this summer as this spreadsheet will be updated every Monday. docs.google.com

Read more coverage about America's crime and gun violence epidemic in the section below
 

'Systemic Organized Theft' Surging Nationwide
Op-Ed: If retail crime is evolving, our laws should as well

Systemic organized theft is far too severe to remain in legislative purgatory

By Michael Hanson, spokesperson for Buy Safe America Coalition

Organized retail crime is silently taking place in every town and city across the country. It wasn't until a spree of smash-and-grab robberies took place last year during the holidays that Americans understood how pervasive retail crime is in their communities. While a number of states have taken action, a majority of law enforcement officials across the country still lack the tools they need to prosecute this criminal activity, because theft rings are able to operate in the shadows of the internet. It is imperative for Congress to pass legislation that tackles this issue before it creates additional pain for retailers, their hard-working employees, and the customers they serve.

An eye-opening report that was just published by the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists and Homeland Security Investigations revealed the sheer size and sophistication of these theft networks. They are a stark contrast from the small-scale shoplifters robbing neighborhood convenience stores. According to the report, organized theft rings can be tied back to a slew of other criminal enterprises, such as human trafficking, violent gangs, narcotics and even terrorism.

The economic cost of these criminal endeavors is eye-opening. A study published last year estimates that retail theft is a $68.9 billion industry - 1.5% of all retail sales. Altogether, this comes out to over $125 billion in lost economic activity and over 600,000 fewer jobs.

Despite the growth of this criminal industry, law enforcement officials find themselves ill-equipped to clamp down on retail theft. With this in mind, the U.S. House included the INFORM Consumers Act in the sweeping America COMPETES Act, which would require online marketplaces to verify their high-volume, third-party sellers and curb the sale of stolen and counterfeit products. The policy proposal has attracted broad support, including from manufacturers, e-commerce platforms and law enforcement officials.

Systemic organized theft is far too severe of an issue for this measure to remain in legislative purgatory. Lawmakers need to pass this commonsense piece of legislation this year. The criminals pillaging retailers are far more brazen than the shoplifters that businesses encountered in the past. If retail crime is evolving, then our laws must follow suit.  washingtontimes.com

DOJ Meets with Retail Leaders Over Violent Crime Surge
Readout of Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco's Meeting with the Retail Industry Leaders Association
Yesterday, Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Lisa O. Monaco met with a group of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) at the Retail Industry Leaders Association's annual Washington, D.C., summit to discuss a host of issues impacting the industry nationwide - including cybersecurity as well as violent crime and gun violence.

On cybersecurity, the DAG cautioned the CEOs to be mindful of what the Justice Department continues to see as the "blended threat" of sophisticated cyber-criminal groups and nation-state actors forming alliances of convenience, of opportunity, and by design. She encouraged retailers to bolster their cyber defensives and proactively develop a relationship with their local FBI.

In discussing how the Justice Department is combating violent crime and gun violence, the DAG also addressed organized retail crime, in particular, the federal charges U.S. Attorneys across the country are bringing in instances of aggravated retail theft. The DAG also highlighted the federal resources and expertise that the Department's law enforcement components are providing to our state and local partners, including as members of retail theft task forces.

Lastly, the DAG took the opportunity to reiterate that corporate criminal enforcement is a priority for the Justice Department and stressed to the CEOs the importance of fostering a strong culture of corporate compliance. justice.gov

ORC Legislation Signed Into Law in NC
North Carolina's Cooper signs organized retail theft legislation into law
Legislation signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper on Thursday increases the penalties for organized retail theft in North Carolina and imposes new transparency measures for online third-party resellers.

Cooper signed Senate Bill 766 to address organized retail theft, defined as crimes involving more than one person, by imposing penalties based on the cumulative value of items stolen over a three month span.

Those penalties range from a Class H felony with a maximum of 25 months in prison for property with a value of at least $1,500 to a Class C felony with a maximum of 182 months in prison for property valued at over $100,000.

"Crime is on the rise in the United States," Sen. Danny Earl Britt Jr., R-Robeson, said in a statement when the bill passed the Senate. "We saw it during the summer riots in 2020, and we see it today with the violent smash-and-grab incidents from California to the Carolinas. Senate Bill 766 provides law enforcement stronger recourse to pursue these criminals and shows business owners that these crime rings will not be tolerated. We cannot let our state turn into a criminal's playground like Democrat-run states." kpvi.com

   NC merchants welcome new law to combat organized theft

   (Update) Times Square among 'sensitive locations' where guns to be banned in NY

   LA Metro System's $122M Plan to Fight Surging Bus & Train Crime


Chicago Area Mass Shooting Updates

Mass Shooting at Independence Day Parade
7th Person Dies Day After Highland Park Parade Mass Shooting

7th death comes after officials updated the wounded count to 47 Tuesday. That number now stands at 46, marking a grim update just one day after the shooting

A seventh person died Tuesday following the mass shooting at an Independence Day parade in Highland Park, officials said. Lake County Major Crimes Task Force spokesman Sgt. Christopher Covelli confirmed the death just before 2 p.m.

The death comes after officials updated the wounded count to 47 Tuesday morning. That number now stands at 46, marking a grim update just one day after the tragedy unfolded. NorthShore University HealthSystem had said in a recent update that one patient in care at its Evanston hospital was in critical condition. It remains unclear if that person is the same patient who died.

The person suspected of shooting into the crowd of spectators, was taken into custody in Lake Forest Monday evening after a nearly eight-hour manhunt and brief police pursuit. The shooting happened at 10:14 a.m. CT in the area of Central Avenue and 2nd Street in downtown Highland Park during the city's Fourth of July parade, authorities said. nbcchicago.com

Other Cities Try to Prevent Copycat Attacks
NYPD to monitor large gatherings after 4th of July slaughter outside Chicago
The NYPD on Monday said it is keeping a close eye on large gatherings in the Big Apple amid fears of a copycat attack after the mass shooting that killed at least seven people at a Fourth of July parade outside Chicago.

A law-enforcement source familiar with the department's holiday tactical plans - which include safeguarding the famed Macy's fireworks display over the East River on Monday night - said, "Our deployment is already robust.

NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell later said in a statement on Twitter, "This morning's mass shooting at an Independence Day parade in Highland Park, IL is a devastating reminder of the horrific damage gun violence inflicts in our communities.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams tweeted, "On this day dedicated to freedom, we're given a tragic reminder that our right to life and liberty will be at risk so long as we continue to allow illegal guns and violent gunmen to go unchecked. nypost.com

   Highland Park shooting suspect's past littered with 'red flags'

   Highland Park parade shooter charged, faces mandatory life sentence

   Parade shooting suspect contemplated carrying out second attack in another city


Big City Mayors Grapple with Violence Surge

For big-city mayors, admitting they have lost control of their cities and attempting to do something - anything - to re-establish law and order is not only a matter of common sense but of self-preservation. San Francisco Mayor London Breed - once the most woke mayor in the most woke city in America - saw the handwriting on the wall and acted, declaring a state of emergency to address the violence in the Tenderloin district while softly backing the recall of radical District Attorney Chesa Boudin.

After 2 Cops Shot During 4th of July Festivities Philly Mayor Says He "Can't Wait to be Out of Office"
Homicides Up 103% on Mayor's Watch & He's Throwing in the Towel

Hey, Philly Mayor, the feeling's mutual: The crime-riddled city wants you out

This would have been an excellent time for Mayor Kenney to step into the spotlight and tell the truth about Philadelphia. He could have pointed out that when he took office in 2016, the city recorded only 277 homicides, a total that has steadily grown to the all-time record of 562 murders in 2021, all on his watch.

He could have called out Philadelphia's de-prosecuting prosecutor, District Attorney Larry Krasner, who seems loath to lock up violent criminals, especially felons who are carrying guns. He could have confessed that the entire progressive political experiment running in Philadelphia for the past six years has been an unmitigated failure, and it is time to re-establish law, order and safety for the good people who still live in the City of Brotherly Love.

But Kenney was just getting warmed up. In the next round, he commented that he's tired of his job. "I'm waiting for something bad to happen all the time," Kenney said. "So I'll be happy when I'm not here, when I'm not mayor."

City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart and several City Council members, all fellow Democrats, ripped into Kenney. "This is the most irresponsible statement," Rhynhart said. "Our city needs leadership, not someone who doesn't want the job. We deserve better." Councilman Derek Green added: "Our City needs someone now with the passion and vision to lead us forward. Resign." nypost.com

Dallas Mayor & Police Chief On the Same Page in 2 Articles
Dallas Mayor wants to spend more on public safety

Shut down problem businesses and steer people away from crime.

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson is vowing to fight an uptick in crime by pressing for more money for a blight remediation program for abandoned buildings and vacant lots and for a program where police and community advocates help high-risk residents avoid gun violence.

Johnson has said public safety is his top priority since first being elected in 2019. He has clashed with other city elected officials over police funding, pushed for annual increases and opposed efforts to strip any money away from the police department.

● Said he'd like city officials to seek the revocation of state liquor licenses from businesses repeatedly tied to violent offenses such as shootings.

As of Monday, 126 people have been homicide victims in Dallas this year, according to police. That's 18 more people than through the same time last year up 18%.

The department's budget last fall was $566 million.

It's not immediately clear how much it would cost to pay for the new police program, called focused deterrence, or the upgraded blight remediation program.

The proposed focus deterrence program is part of police Chief Eddie Garcia's existing crime reduction plan. The mayor's office is drafting the updated blight remediation program, modeling it after Philadelphia's. (EN: How's that going to play out in Dallas? Hasn't gone so well in Philly.)

Another city initiative was to improve street lighting in areas designated by police as high-crime areas. The city budgeted $2.5 million to install brighter lights to deter crime and as of the end of May more than 3,200 new lights have been installed with another 815 planned. dallasnews.com

Dallas Police Chief's Violent Crime Reduction Plan Appears to be Working
Dallas police address violent crime, murder motives, recruitment (down 400 officers) at City Council meeting

Police said they've made some adjustments to Chief Eddie García's violence-reduction plan ahead of the summer.

Increasing resources in 50 small grids - 330-foot-by-330-foot "Hot Spots" - with high rates of violence across Dallas. They're now focused on the second phase of the plan: locating criminal networks and disrupting them.

Police said they've made some adjustments to Chief Eddie García's violence-reduction plan ahead of summer, including new bike teams patrolling small pockets of the city identified as "hot spots" for violence, and the addition of 12 mobile camera trailers near apartment communities.

The chief also repeated calls for accountability from "other parts of the system," saying the department has seen some data and is gathering more that shows that some arrested people broke the law again after they were released quickly on low bonds.

There have been 110 murders during that same period this year, according to police statistics - up about 18% from the 93 victims at the same point last year. The rate of aggravated assaults remains steady, while there have been 32 more robberies - an increase of about 2.7% - compared with last year.

"The crime plan appears to be working," Mayor Johnson said. "Like you said, Chief, this isn't a victory celebration. ... We can't lose control over things this summer." dallasnews.com

Police Shooting Triggers Violent Protests & State of Emergency

'State of Emergency' in Akron, Ohio Amid Unrest & Property Destruction
Akron in state of emergency after chaotic protests over Jayland Walker cop shooting video
Akron officials declared a state of emergency Monday after chaotic protests broke out in the city over the fatal police shooting of an unarmed black man - as protesters massed outside Mayor Dan Horrigan's home chanting "defund the police."

Mayor Dan Horrigan issued the emergency declaration first thing in the morning after protests over the shooting death of 25-year-old DoorDash deliveryman Jayland Walker descended into chaos in the Ohio city overnight. A citywide curfew was being put in place, and the city's Fourth of July fireworks were canceled.

The mayor said the curfew applied to the downtown Akron area and would be in effect from 9 p.m. Monday until 6 a.m. Tuesday. "Early yesterday, we had several peaceful protests in the downtown footprint related to the officer-involved shooting of Jayland Walker. These protests did not escalate to violence and destruction," Horrigan said in a statement.

"However, as night fell and others began to join, the protests became no longer peaceful. There was significant property damage done to downtown Akron. Small businesses up and down Main Street have had their windows broken. We cannot and will not tolerate violence or the destruction of property." nypost.com

Another Summer of Unrest & Violence? Be Ready
Protests erupt in Ohio after graphic video released of police shooting
Heated protests broke out in downtown Akron, Ohio, Sunday, raging late into the night, after police released graphic body camera video showing black DoorDash deliveryman Jayland Walker being shot dozens of times as he tried to flee a traffic stop.

Demonstrations have been held around Akron since the June 27 police shooting of Walker, but they intensified Sunday after police made the video public, with Akron Mayor Daniel Horrigan calling it "heartbreaking."

Video captured cops dressed in riot gear and carrying shields confronting demonstrators, who could be heard chanting, "F-k the police," "Justice for Jayland" and "We are done dying," reported News 5 Cleveland.

Other videos depicted police officers deploying what appeared to be a dozen cannisters of tear gas in an attempt to disperse the crowd after someone had knocked over barricades around the Akron Justice Center, according to WKYC. nypost.com

   Family of Jayland Walker call for police reform following fatal police shooting

   Video of Jayland Walker shooting leaves questions, outrage in Akron

US: 89.7M Cases - 1M Dead - 85.3M Recovered
Worldwide: 556.5M Cases - 6.3M Dead - 530.9M Recovered

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

Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 360   Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: 787
*Red indicates change in total deaths

L.A. coronavirus cases hit highest level in months as BA.4 and BA.5 bring reinfections
Two Omicron subvariants, BA.4 and BA.5, have become dominant nationwide, and they appear to be among the most contagious yet of this pandemic.

Coronavirus case rates have also been increasing statewide, with the San Francisco Bay Area reporting California's highest rate. Hospitalizations have also been creeping up, but hospitals haven't reported being overwhelmed. Still, experts are concerned the next weeks could see more rapid spread that would put new pressures on the healthcare system. "Right now, if we go up more, it is going to get into a little bit more of a danger zone with hospitalizations." latimes.com
 

The PCAOB Auditors Are On the Hunt for Fraud
Federal auditor watchdog reveals inspection goals for 2022

● The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) revealed its inspection goals for 2022, warning of rising audit risks from disruptions including supply chain bottlenecks, harm to businesses from COVID-19 and market volatility fueled by high inflation and rising interest rates.

● Staff shortages at audit firms and trends in initial public offerings and mergers and acquisitions - including by special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) - also increased audit risk and influenced PCAOB goal-setting, the agency said. "The current economic environment changes the risk landscape," potentially increasing the incidence of fraud and other wrongdoing.

Inspectors will look for earnings manipulation stemming from inflation-induced harm to profit margins and from other business headwinds, and for signs that supply chain constraints have prompted distortions in valuation of in-transit inventory.

PCAOB will also try to unearth evidence that auditors lack independence from their clients. "In our inspections, we continue to identify a high rate of deficiencies that suggest some audit firms may not have appropriate quality control systems in place to provide reasonable assurance to prevent violations of SEC and PCAOB independence rules," PCAOB said.

Some PCAOB inspections will review the auditor's technology management, including governance, hardware, software, communications, training and the experience level of personnel. The oversight will especially focus on digital assets, response to cybersecurity threats and use of data in the audit.

Also, auditors should track a potential increase in fraud risk from the move by companies to remote or hybrid work, PCAOB said.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) fined Ernst & Young $100 million for cheating by its auditors on ethics exams and for withholding evidence of wrongdoing from the agency's enforcement division.

In June 2019 the agency announced that it fined KPMG $50 million for widespread cheating on internal training exams, including the sharing of answers and manipulating results. The agency also said former KPMG partners had obtained a stolen, confidential list of audits that would be the target of reviews by PCAOB. cfodive.com

The C-suite's role in well-being

Struggling to Prioritize Workforce Well-Being & Quality of Life
Huge Disconnect Between the C-Suite & Employees

'C-suite May Soon Join the Great Resignation'
C-suite executives themselves are not immune.

Deloitte and Workplace Intelligence finds nearly 70% of executives are seriously considering quitting their roles for a job that better supports their well-being.

There's no question that well-being is at the top of the C-suite agenda right now. While the pandemic brought worker safety into the spotlight, there's also been an increased focus on the overall poor state of workforce well-being and the role that organizations play in determining quality of life for employees and their families.

It turns out that is' not just employees who are struggling at work, it's executive-level business leaders as well. This came to light in a Deloitte survey, released on June 22, which was done in collaboration with independent research firm Workplace Intelligence. The survey of 2,100 employees and C-level executives in four countries: U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia, explores the C-suite's role in organizational well-being and examines how an overall poor state of health is affecting retention for workers and executives alike.

The report discovered that 57% of employees and nearly 70% of the C-suite said they are seriously considering quitting for a job that better supports their well-being.

Despite this mutual struggle, the C-suite largely doesn't recognize that workers are struggling with their well-being, and this disconnect has the potential to further feed into The Great Resignation if leaders don't do more to understand the needs of their workers and demonstrate that they truly care about their holistic well-being.  | Continue Reading

Apple's Top Cop Caught - With His Hands in the Cookie Jar
Apple's former top corporate lawyer pleads guilty to insider trading
Gene Levoff admitted to six counts of securities fraud
The scheme by Gene Levoff, 48, of San Carlos spanned five years. Levoff, who co-chaired the Apple committee that reviewed draft quarterly and yearly earnings data and regulatory filings before they were publicly disclosed, misappropriated non-public information about Apple's financial results and then traded the company's stock, the Justice Department said.

"On several occasions, Levoff executed trades within a blackout period after notifying other individuals subject to the restriction that they were prohibited from buying or selling Apple stock until the blackout period terminated," the department said. "This scheme to defraud Apple and its shareholders allowed Levoff to realize profits of approximately $227,000 on certain trades and to avoid losses of approximately $377,000 on others."

The fraud took place from 2011 to 2016, according to the indictment against Levoff. His sales of Apple shares ranged from 2,000 to more than 43,000. Each securities fraud count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $5 million fine. Levoff's sentencing is scheduled for November 10. mercurynews.com

Nationwide Unionization Movement - Recession & AI Automation Will Stifle It!
The restaurant industry union movement is gaining momentum: Here's what to expect
As the number of unionized Starbucks stores grows daily (now past 170 unionized locations), and is now joined by the first Chipotle store that just filed for unionization this month, where is the labor movement headed for the restaurant industry? Right now, the momentum seems unstoppable thanks to a concoction of factors, including a shrinking labor pool, a recession looming on the horizon, and a Democratic president in the White House, experts say. All these factors have given retail and service industry employees the confidence to grab a seat at the table, though that might not last forever.

For the most part, wages have not kept pace and they've been driven down," Saltzman said. "Now, the big labor shortage is giving workers leverage to negotiate because of course, companies need the workers. And if you have the leverage, you can form a union and the union has to be listened to or else these companies will lose their workers."

"Workers are conversing across the nation, especially with digital communications being what they are," he added. "They're passing information to one another, so it can take off like wildfire."

"Everyone in the restaurant industry was on the front lines and was dealing with health and safety issues without getting a lot of pay raises and compensation for it," Camille Bryant said. "Low employee headcount is feeding into this culture of longer hours and job demands, so restaurant employees want more flexibility, better working conditions, more training and more diversity. [...] All of that is feeding into this movement."

But as labor movements rise and fall in cycles over the course of American history, employers should not expect this boom in unionization to last forever. If the world economy falls into a recession, then employee power will regress as they will need to hold onto their jobs even with low wages and fewer benefits than they'd like, Bryant said. Plus, there's looming concern that investment in AI and automation could replace some of the workforce in the future. nrn.com

It truly feels like Big Brother is watching us
JPMorgan Chase started tracking what we do during the work day

We're stressed, exhausted, and scared to talk about what's going on.

A program called "Workforce Activity Data Utility" can track how much time we spend on Zoom, writing emails, and talking on the phone.

I've heard that they're tracking our mouse movements as well, and I know some colleagues have downloaded mouse jigglers to keep their mouses moving throughout the day. This hasn't been confirmed, but we're not sure exactly what they're tracking and why, and that's what's upsetting.

Many companies track data, and I understand that I work in a highly regulated industry. The real problem for me is who can access the data - we fear our managers can look at it at any time.

It now feels completely different than what it was before the tracking announcement, and I'm noticing we're making a lot more mistakes and that our quality of work is going down. businessinsider.com

OSHA Penalties 2021 - Registration required
This white paper will help you understand the latest regulatory challenges by detailing key OSHA developments on the horizon and explaining the most cited occupational hazards. avetta.com

Top 5 Gas Station Brands: Kwik Trip - Hy-Vee - Parker's - Rutter's and Maverik

CVS Health drops out of National Association of Chain Drug Stores

4 easy ways to make your Zoom meetings look better

Yum Brands to Completely Exit Russia

Chick-fil-A is America's favorite restaurant - for the 8th year in a row


Quarterly Results

Walgreens Boots Alliance Q3 U.S. retail comp's up 2.4%, U.S. digital up 25%, Boots UK retail comp's up 24%, Walgreens Health pro forma sales up 65%, sales down 4.2%

Bed Bath & Beyond Q1 store comp's down 24%, digital down 21%, net sales down 25%
 

Senior LP & AP Jobs Market

Senior Manager AP Risk & Safety job posted for Wayfair in Boston, MA
This position is a key member of the Wayfair Physical Retail Operations team that will help implement and support the asset protection strategy in North America across all five Wayfair brands. This individual will be part of a dynamic Asset Protection team whose mission is to provide world class support to our operational partners, store and field associates, and customers. The Senior Manager of Asset Protection Risk and Safety will be responsible for driving our safety program initiatives across all physical retail locations. wayfair.com

Reposted July 4th
Senior Manager, Asset Protection - Ecommerce job posted for Disney Parks, Parks, Experiences and Products in Magna, UT
We have an exciting opening for a Senior Manager, Asset Protection. You will lead and manage NA processes and programs to protect company assets, people and brand. Our mission for this role is to provide an operational focus on workplace and physical security programs, profit protection and investigations. You will report to the Consumer Products, Games and Publishing Executive Director, Global Asset Protection and Safety.  jobs.disneycareers.com
 

Last week's #1 article --

Retail Workers Fear for their Safety as Theft & Assaults Surge
Amid Attacks and Thefts, Some Retail Workers Want to Fight Back

Assaults at stores have been increasing at a faster pace than the national average. Some workers are tired of fearing for their safety.

From 2018 to 2020, assaults overall rose 42 percent; they increased 63 percent in grocery stores and 75 percent in convenience stores. Of the more than two million assaults reported to the F.B.I. by law enforcement agencies across the country in 2020, more than 82,000 - about 4 percent - were at shopping malls, convenience stores and other similar locations.

Last year, the F.B.I. said, more than half the so-called active shooter attacks - in which an individual with a gun is killing or trying to kill people in a busy area - occurred in places of commerce, including stores.

"Violence in and around retail settings is definitely increasing, and it is a concern," said Jason Straczewski, a vice president of government relations and political affairs at the National Retail Federation.

Safety #1 Issue | Hands-On Approach? | Felony Threshold Impact: Read full article here

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TikTok tells Republican senators how it plans to keep American data away from China
TikTok gave U.S. lawmakers more details in a letter dated Thursday about how it plans to keep data about its American users separate from ByteDance, its Chinese parent company, aiming to combat concerns that the video app poses a national security risk.

TikTok would be run from the American company's machines and audited by a third party, Mr. Chew said. He also reiterated a plan to store American users' personal information with Oracle, rather than on TikTok's servers.

TikTok remains under the scrutiny of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, a group of government agencies that vets foreign purchases of American companies.

Last month, a member of the Federal Communications Commission also said Apple and Google should remove TikTok from their app stores.

He also reiterated the company's hope that it would soon be able to delete U.S. data from its servers and store the information entirely with Oracle.

Ms. Blackburn said in a statement on Friday that Mr. Chew's letter proved that fears about the Chinese Communist Party's influence on the company "were well founded."

"The Chinese-run company should have come clean from the start, but it attempted to shroud its work in secrecy," she said, adding that TikTok needed to testify before Congress again. nytimes.com

China bans over 30 live-streaming behaviours, demands qualifications to discuss law, finance, medicine
The guideline published on Wednesday requires influencers to have relevant qualifications to discuss law, finance and medicine.

● The rules also direct platforms to refrain from giving public figures who have shown 'no ethics' the opportunity to perform.

The 18-point guideline, published by the National Radio and Television Administration and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism on Wednesday, requires influencers to have relevant qualifications to discuss some topics, such as law, finance, medicine and education, although authorities did not specify the qualifications needed.

The 31 banned behaviours during live-streaming sessions include publishing content that weakens or distorts the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, the socialist system or the country's reforms and opening-up.

Top Chinese influencer Xu Guohao fined US$16 million for tax evasion amid crackdown on live-streaming industry   scmp.com

Post-pandemic shopping habits analysis reveals increase for retailers' brands, online grocery and delivery spike

Los Angeles, CA: Century City mall robbery: 14 suspects wanted for stealing purses from Nordstrom
More than a dozen suspected robbers are on the loose after targeting Westfield Century City. On Tuesday, a little after 8:30 at the Westfield Century City mall, 14 suspects walked inside a Nordstrom and started stealing high-end purses from the store. All the suspects ran off and jumped in at least three different cars. As of Friday night, no arrests have been announced. Officials did not give descriptions of any of the suspects. Anyone with information on Tuesday's robbery is asked to call the Los Angeles Police Department. foxla.com

Lincoln, NC: Thieves Walk Out Of Lowes With Thousands Of Dollars Worth Of Copper Wire
The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office is investigating a theft from a Lowes's Hardware store in Denver, NC of more than $7,000 worth of copper wire. Deputies responded to the Lowes Hardware store on Tuesday, June 28th after receiving a call stating that four people walked into the store, split into groups of two, and went directly to the electrical aisle. Deputies say the four suspects loaded the wire into two shopping carts and walked out of the store through the self-checkout area. Once in the parking lot the suspects loaded the stolen wire into a red Nissan Versa and a black SUV and left the store, according to a news release. A loss prevention officer for Lowes told a detective he recognized some of the group members as being involved in thefts at other Lowes in the area.  wccbcharlotte.com

Albuquerque, NM: Darryl Clark is accused of getting violent with security and shoplifting from stores in multiple robberies
The 30-year-old is accused in at least eight robberies between August and April of this year at several Walmarts and Target stores in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, and Los Lunas. Officials say he stole nearly $33,000 at Target alone. The investigator with the Attorney General's office says he's accused of grabbing a female loss prevention officer around her neck and throwing her to the ground while shoplifting from the Walmart at San Mateo in February. As time went on, he got more violent. In March, investigators say he shoplifted again from the Walmart at San Mateo. When the loss prevention officer tried to stop him, Clark tased him in the shoulder. He brandished the taser in a separate theft as well. He faces several charges including armed robbery. krqe.com

Midland, TX: Burglary suspects stole over $8K from Midland Sherwin Williams stores
Midland Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 cash reward for any information that leads to the arrest of two suspects who burglarized the two Midland Sherwin Williams stores. At about 1:05 a.m. on June 13, two male suspects traveling in a black suv broke into the Sherwin Williams stores located at 2215 N. Midland Drive and 3110 N. Loop 250 W. The suspects stole multiple paint sprayer rigs from each location totaling approximately $8,204. The suspects also matched the description of two suspects who burglarized two Sherwin Williams stores and an Outdoor Power and Equipment store on June 21 in Amarillo.  mrt.com

Ventura County, CA: Sentencing for felony perfume thefts
A Los Angeles man and woman were sentenced Friday in Ventura County Superior Court for thefts of thousands of dollars worth of perfume from an ULTA Beauty store in Thousand Oaks. The cases involved thefts last August and in February at the beauty chain's location in Janss Marketplace on North Moorpark Road, according to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office. In August, Cornell Eugene Williams, 23, and Emmoni Ann Walden, 18, stole fragrances valued between $3,000 to $5,000, the DA's office said. On two days in February, Walden and a juvenile stole more than $12,000 worth of perfume. Later in February, Williams and Walden stole another $5,335 in fragrances from the store, aided by a driver waiting in a car. A tracking device with the stolen merchandise led Ventura County Sheriff's deputies to the suspects, prosecutors said. Williams had already pleaded guilty to a felony count of commercial burglary. On Friday, he was sentenced to a year in custody and a year's mandatory supervision and ordered to pay $8,335 in restitution to ULTA Beauty, prosecutors said. vcstar.com

Omaha, NE: ATF offering reward in Omaha gun store burglary case
Authorities are looking for information after several firearms were stolen from a store in Omaha. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Omaha Police Department, are offering a reward of $5,000 for any information leading to the identification and arrest of those responsible for the burglary Thursday morning. Authorities said five people driving what appears to be a light colored, Ford F150 pickup truck, broke into Frontier Justice. nebraska.tv

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