Fighting Brazen Theft with AI Technology
AI and the Law Team Up Against Organized Crime
Shoplifting, shrink, or shrinkage in retail is not new, however, the insurgence of organized crime is. Fueled by the large-scale, untraceable "fencing" of stolen goods over the internet, combined with a new level of unprecedented criminal brazenness, the safety of both shoppers and retail employees is being undermined. It is also causing a catastrophic hit to the bottom line of retailers, both large and small.

Local Enforcements and Community Crackdowns

While this newly enacted INFORM Act should help the fencing and selling side of the shoplifting equation, individual state and local law enforcement are also organizing and cooperating to fight organized retail theft, closer to home. The focus of their actions is to ramp up the detention and prosecution of large-scale theft by groups and individuals.

AI for Loss Prevention

Focal Systems claims to provide "the right" data; actionable, real-time shelf data that can literally "drive your store." Hundreds of their shelf-mounted cameras work in tandem with AI to digitize retail inventory to detect out of stocks, inventory lows, and spoiled items. It also integrates with e-commerce to give the retailer a more holistic look at inventory.

Shelf Scraping

As the conversation turned to shrinkage and organized retail crime, Chaubard shared a unique feature of how their hourly shelf audits have facilitated quick action against "shelf-scrapes," an industry term for massive sudden outages associated with shoplifting.

Besides having Focal Systems installed throughout Walmart's Canadian division, Chaubard gave me a prime example of how the 53-store Fairway Markets chain has taken aim at organized retail crime with this major East Coast retailer.

Fairway employs Focal Systems AI and OS across their chain, (400 cameras cover a 30,000-square-foot store). While the system reports inventory updates hourly, it is also programmed to broadcasts "shelf scrape alerts." This has enabled quick response leading to immediate law enforcement outreach. Additionally, prompt alerts to other, nearby Fairway Markets have led to the detaining of perpetrators, even before they set foot in a neighboring store.

Read the full article here: therobinreport.com


Investing in AI Could Be the Key to Stopping ORC
Bringing Organized Retail Crime Into Focus With Computer Vision AI

Every forward-thinking retailer should be looking at computer vision AI as a strategic investment in their future to stop and recover loss

The beauty of AI is that it learns how to improve with every transaction - and we literally have hundreds of years of video from retail stores and checkouts. Seeing trends before and during a crime or loss taking place enables us to suggest corrective action to enable protection, accordingly. The more data collected, the more accurate the trends and recommendations are.

I attended a loss prevention seminar with ORC criminal law enforcement professionals earlier this year and they described the moment a crime is happening as a "bang" and ORC (by the nature of it being 'organized') is happening pre-bang. Computer vision AI can see what is happening during pre-bang, bang and post bang; and by doing this, the next best preventative measures can be put in place.

Who is being targeted?

Large national chain stores are key targets for crime groups, who rely on advanced planning to study store layouts, camera and exit locations, types of anti-theft precautions, and policies for stopping and reporting theft. Drug stores are also a popular target for ORC groups as they sell high-ticket, often smaller packaged items.

Insights from Artificial Intelligence

We can identify suspicious activity as it is happening by configuring the technology to respond. For example, 10 bottles of Tide are removed from the shelf by the same customer... that's suspicious. When that threshold is crossed, an alert is sent to store associates, security guards or integrated loss prevention and security solutions.

For many stores, the current approach is to put high-ticket items behind locked doors, which adds more friction to the shopping experience for well-intended customers and is driving people away from stores. A better solution is to identify malicious behavior and drive criminals away but not the honest shoppers.

The automation capabilities of AI combined with the huge amounts of data available means that retailers can put in place protective measures to stay ahead of organized crime... pre-bang. ORC is one area where retailers can and do work together, and having visibility into the different types of malicious behaviors is key to being able to address the problem. chainstoreage.com


CCTV - RFID - Self-Checkouts Key to Cutting Down on Theft
Protecting Your Business: Effective Strategies to Prevent Shoplifting

How Can Retailers Protect Their Businesses From Shoplifting?

1. If you're not using CCTV, now is the time to invest.

Considering the urgency of the issue, it's crucial for businesses to consider both short- and long-term measures to protect themselves against shoplifting. Security-based solutions like closed-circuit television (CCTV) should be a given in the retail environment, big or small. If you haven't invested in CCTV already, now is certainly the time to do so.

2. Introduce a stock management solution.

One incredibly effective strategy for reducing and preventing theft is to implement a stock management system that utilizes radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. Stock management solutions and RFID are extremely relevant in the prevention of theft. When it comes to technology investment, we always look at the immediate and long-term value it will give; technology investment should rarely be seen as a short-term fix. It wouldn't be doing its job if it were. This system enables the identification of stolen items or prevents shoplifters from attempting to return goods without a receipt. Such solutions can be readily adopted on both small and large scales with the appropriate technology, devices and printing solutions.

3. Check your scanners and settings.

When it comes to self-checkout theft, one of the key factors contributing to this issue is barcodes not scanning correctly. Taking a proactive approach and engaging in discussions with suppliers about enhancing barcode readability through measures like improved color contrast, sharpness, and optimal placement can effectively minimize losses experienced on the store floor.

By addressing these aspects and working towards optimizing barcode scanning, retailers can significantly mitigate self-checkout theft and enhance the overall efficiency of their operations. mytotalretail.com


Causes & Solutions of Crime Wave Remain Unclear
But most Americans believe boosting police forces will help

NY Magazine: When the Crime Wave Recedes

The only certainty of America's urban politics is that there will be more cops.

Between 2019 and 2021, the United States experienced a crime spike that defied tidy explanations. In 2019, the homicide rate was up 11 percent from 2014, and slightly higher than in 2018, then jumped another 29 percent in 2020, the biggest single-year increase in a century. The rate rose by 4 percent in 2021 - then, just as suddenly, it began to decline, a downward slope that prevailed through 2022. We're still just over halfway through 2023, but early signs suggest that murders have fallen by double digits.

There are important caveats to these trends. Other kinds of violent crime, like robberies and burglaries, fluctuated more than homicides during that period. Murders are up in Memphis compared to the same time last year but down by 30 percent or more in cities like Atlanta and Minneapolis. Homicides in the U.S. hit their lowest rate in six decades in 2014, just six years before the latest spike, but that was still way higher than in any other developed economy. And even with the current drop, we're seeing more murders today than we did in 2019.

The homicide spike afflicted cities in disparate regions with little regard for whether they were large or small, run by Democrats or Republicans, or patrolled by a "tough on crime" prosecutor or a dovish "progressive." Murder rates went up in 2020 in some of the most heavily policed cities, like Chicago, and are declining in others with fewer cops than they had in 2020, like New Orleans.

What has not changed, though, is the widespread belief that hiring more cops is the best way to reduce crime. And now that the high tide of pandemic-era crime has receded, many places in America are left with far greater resources for policing than we had just a few years ago.

What is also clear, however, is that hiring more cops is politically popular. A Vox poll from 2019 found that more than 60 percent of Black, white, and Hispanic Americans supported increasing the number of police officers to deal with high crime. nymag.com


Root Causes of Mass Shootings in America
Key factors: Gun access - mental health - drug use - weather

Mass Shootings are Uniquely American
According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been more than 340 mass shootings in the U.S. so far in 2023, the highest rate in recent history.

Philadelphia has seen a rise in homicides as have other major cities such as Washington, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, and Baltimore. It is important to stress that mass shootings are not just an urban problem.

While school shootings such as the one at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado on April 20, 1990, capture significant media attention, gang-related deaths and "heat-of-the-moment" incidents make up the majority of mass shootings; in 2022 they accounted for 60% of such deaths. Domestic incidents made up 10% of the total, with indiscriminate rampages, so-called "lone-wolf" shootings in workplaces or public areas such as shopping malls, movie theatres, concerts, festivals, or other crowded venues making up 3% of the total.

A look at root causes shows no single answer

While the vast majority of individuals with mental health problems are not violent, some mass shooters have a history of mental health challenges. These can include depression, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, or a history of trauma. Alcohol or drug use impairs judgment, lowers inhibitions, and intensifies pre-existing anger or aggression, which can trigger individuals or groups of individuals to engage in violence.

Mass shooters often have personal grievances or hold extremist ideologies. These grievances can range from personal failures or perceived injustices to hatred based on race, religion, or other factors.

A 2016 study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that mass shootings tend to increase during the summer months, suggesting a seasonal influence. It has long been believed that heat can increase aggression. A 2021 report from the National Bureau of Economic Research observed that high heat led to an 18% increase in violence among inmates in prisons and jails. Research for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that there are 20 additional gun homicides among teens and children each month during the summertime, though this also correlates to the season when young adults are out of school. intpolicydigest.org


Nearly 20% of New Yorkers Bought Guns Over Past Year Amid Crime Surge
Crime fears are running 'disturbingly high' in NYC despite some promising new data

Majority of New Yorkers are worried about becoming crime victims; many have bought a gun for protection: poll
More than 60% of New Yorkers are worried they're destined to become a victim of a crime and have taken steps to better protect themselves - including purchasing a gun, according to a new poll released Wednesday.

Seventeen percent of city residents questioned in the Siena College Research Institute poll admitted that they've bought a firearm in the last year to protect themselves, the study shows. The poll found that 61% of New Yorkers are either very concerned or somewhat concerned that they will be a victim of a crime one day.

Out of that number, 51% said they were concerned for their family's safety and one in 10 New Yorkers said they have been physically assaulted in the past year. The results were culled from randomly questioning 802 city and state residents in June.

Out of the city residents polled, 46% said they have witnessed either violence or threatening behavior in a public area, and 57% said they were concerned about their safety on city streets and subways.

The number of those worried about being crime victims is "disturbingly high," Levy said.

As of Sunday, homicides in the city had dropped by 8%, from 231 this time last year to 212. Shootings were also down by 25%, NYPD statistics show. Assaults, however, had risen by 6%, from 13,378 this time last year to 14,175, cops said. nydailynews.com


California, Texas & New York - Top 3 States for Killed & Injured Security Guards
9 States Lead Most Injured and Killed Security Officers
A little more than six months into 2023, and it is now clear that a number of states, including five that regularly top similar statistical annual data reports, have reported the most injured security officers, the most security officer deaths, the most use of force incidents, and the most fatal shootings by security. These states are also reporting the most confrontations.

There are several direct reasons for these increases and for these specific states who are leading the pack.
Many larger states have increased both the number of security officers who are armed and the volume of work being done by contract security companies since the pandemic and the decrease of available law enforcement.

And more noticeably, many confrontations are directly related to the enforcement of both property rules and local laws that frequently lead to defiant, aggressive, and assaultive actions by the persons in violation.

As of June 30th, 2023, there have been 7,231 reported incidents of combative, assaultive, or violent interactions with private security nationwide. Of these, more than half reported that a security officer or private law enforcement officer had been injured. It is not known how many of the injured required medical treatment.

At this time, fifty-one security officers have died while on duty during 2023 and forty-three of those officers were victims of murder.

The nine states reporting the most critical incidents include: California, Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Maryland, Oklahoma and Ohio.

And Puerto Rico, which is part of the US statistical area, is also in the top five for security officer injuries and homicides.  privateofficer.org


68% Decrease in Law Enforcement Deaths - 52 Year-to-Date
7 Deaths in June: 5 Gunfire - 1 Vehicular Assault - 1 Automobile Crash
In June, 7 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty. The cause breakdown (June 2023 only) is: 5 gunfire, 1 vehicular assault, and 1 automobile crash. This means that the year-to-date total for line of duty deaths is at 52, a 68% decrease from the same time last year.

The Officer Down Memorial Page extends our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and agencies who lost a loved one to a line of duty death this past month. We encourage our supporters to read the memorials of each of the officers who died in the line of duty. odmp.org

Another State Enacts Tougher ORC Penalties
Virginia General Assembly passes changes to the criminal code
In the 2023 session, the Virginia General Assembly passed a number of bills which would affect changes to the criminal code. In this article I will highlight a few of the bills that are likely to have a noticeable impact. All changes to the code went into effect on July 1, 2023.

Organized Retail Theft

As the Times recently reported, organized retail theft remains an ongoing problem around the Commonwealth. The legislature created a new criminal felony offense in response to the issue, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The new organized retail theft section requires proof that the person charged acted in concert with another person to commit larceny from a retail store and stole more than $5000 aggregated over a 90-day period with the intent to sell the stolen property for monetary or other gain. alextimes.com


The Kansas City area is losing two grocery stores. The owners blame theft
 
Philadelphia city council working to end gun violence following another mass shooting

Waffle House Workers Push to Unionize Amid Security & Violence Concerns
Waffle House violence is so common it has become a meme. Now, fed-up workers are unionizing and demanding the company improve security.

Waffle House restaurants have developed a reputation for violent incidents over the years.

Waffle House has developed a reputation as the scene of outlandish violence, documented in police reports, TikTok videos, and, of course, media coverage. But for the workers who frequently have to deal with angry or intoxicated customers - some of whom are armed - the threat of violence is a serious concern.

"I've had guns in my face," Jessica Gantt, who has worked for the company for more than 20 years, told Rolling Stone. "I've seen fights, everything, right before my eyes while on shift. I've had to clean up blood from the lobby area because people were cutting on each other."

Naomi Harris told the publication that in just two months on the job, she has already been threatened by a customer with a gun who was "mad about some hashbrowns." "I shouldn't have to go into work and think I'm about to die," Harris said.

Earlier this month, Harris and Gantt joined three other co-workers from their Columbia, South Carolina, restaurant who walked off the job during a Saturday morning breakfast rush, calling on the company to increase security staffing, as well as other wage, scheduling, and workplace demands.

About two dozen other labor organizers joined the Waffle House workers for a three-day strike, backed by the newly formed Union of Southern Service Workers. The USSW is a cross-sector union of hourly wage workers that emerged last November out of the Fight for $15 movement. The Fight for $15 was an initiative of the Service Employees International Union.

A week before the strike, the workers submitted a list of demands to management, but said they received no response. Instead, the USSW says management illegally retaliated against the workers involved with the letter. businessinsider.com

Retail's Digital Transformation
Buzzing Past the Hype of Digital Transformation

By Tony D'Onofrio, Global Retail Influencer

The two hottest buzz words in all industries these days seems to be 'digital transformation'. Linking these words was actually an evolutionary process that started in the 1970s when computer-aided designs and manufacturing were first used in business. In the 1980s enterprise resource planning was added, followed by customer relationship management in the 1990s.

The objective of these solutions was to improve efficiency and productivity by digitizing manual processes. "In the late 1990s, we saw the rise of eCommerce and online banking. These activities were initially carried out offline but were later moved online as internet speeds increased. This was followed by the introduction of social media in the mid-2000s, which revolutionized how we communicate and share information."

The pace of change is accelerating. Survival as a company requires intensive focus on increased digital connectivity with consumers and markets.

Here are some interesting statistics of the increased digitized world:

• 70% of organizations either have a digital transformation strategy or are currently working on one.
• Global spending on digital transformation is expected to reach $6.8 trillion by 2023.
• 87% of business leaders think that digital transformation will disrupt their industries.
• Digitally mature companies are 23% more profitable than their less mature peers.
• The success rate of digital transformation is below 30%.

This article summarizes some key charts from my 'Disruptive Future of Retail' global keynote on the accelerated pace of innovation. It highlights major disruptions in the retail industry, general technology trends, two recent examples of online disruption, and ends with an optimistic view on how to increase the success odds of digital transformation above that 30%.

Read the full article here


New Pay-by-Palm System Coming to Stores Near You?
Amazon to launch pay-by-palm technology at all Whole Foods stores by year-end

Amazon is bringing its pay-by-palm system to all of its Whole Foods stores by the end of the year.

Amazon will let shoppers pay with their palms at all Whole Foods stores by the end of the year, the company announced Thursday.

Amazon One is a biometric technology that lets users enter and pay for items at stores by placing a palm over a scanning device. Shoppers first have to connect their palm to a stored credit card. After that, they can pay by simply waving their hand over the kiosk.

The company first introduced the technology in its Go cashierless stores, but later began adding it to Whole Foods supermarkets. Amazon One is now in more than 200 Whole Foods locations, and the company said it will be available in all of the upscale grocer's roughly 500 stores in the coming months.

Amazon said Thursday it's seeing "growing demand" for the technology, with it recording 3 million uses of Amazon One. cnbc.com


Updated List: Nearly 2,400 stores are closing across the US in 2023

Lowe's expands shop-in-shop partnership with Petco to 300 stores
 

Senior LP & AP Jobs Market

Cool Job
Director, Security Operations job posted for Topgolf in Dallas, TX
Topgolf's Director of Security, reporting to the Vice President of Operations, is responsible for maintaining a safe and secure environment to protect all Topgolf Players, Playmakers and company assets by developing and implementing security programs and processes in Topgolf venues and offices and for Topgolf Playmakers while traveling internationally. The Security Director will evaluate current security processes and leverage new technology, industry trends and best practices to continuously improve, advance and elevate Topgolf's loss prevention and security operations across the globe. This leader will conduct evaluation of the daily threat picture and will continuously assess security risk for Topgolf and ensure leaders and department stakeholders are briefed as necessary. indeed.com


Associate Manager, Workplace Safety, Security & Facility job posted for Yum! Brands in Irvine, CA
The Manager of Workplace Safety, Security & Facility Services will be based out of our Restaurant Support Center (RSC) located in Irvine, CA and is responsible for overseeing many safety and security activities that promote a clean, safe, and secure working environment for the building's employees and guests. This role oversees a small team. jobs.yum.com
 

Montgomery County, MD: Woman involved in $49,000 ORC theft turns herself in
A woman who was wanted for her involvement in connection of pack retail thefts throughout Montgomery County turned herself in on Tuesday, July 17. An arrest warrant was issued for 21-year-old, Regina Christmas, of Washington, D.C., for a numerous amount of thefts that were allegedly committed between April 28 to June 15. She was initially arrested for them on June 21 but was subsequently released. Christmas was a part of a group of six people responsible for stealing $49,000 worth of items from 11 stores around the county.  dcnewsnow.com


Ocala, FL: UPS employee steals nearly $12,000 in merchandise to resell on Facebook
A 33-year-old UPS employee was arrested by Ocala police for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars' worth of merchandise from undelivered packages and selling the items on his wife's Facebook page. On Wednesday, Ocala Police Department officers responded to the UPS facility located at 300 SW 28th Avenue in Ocala in reference to multiple theft incidents. According to OPD, numerous items were missing from undelivered packages, which prompted an investigation by the facility's loss prevention officer. During that investigation, the loss prevention officer discovered that an employee, identified as Jose Alejandro Flores Franco, had been allegedly stealing the items and selling them on Facebook. OPD stated that the loss prevention officer located several Apple iPhones, Apple Watches, AirPods, and Pandora Jewelry that were posted for sale on the Facebook Marketplace. Some of the serial numbers from those iPhones matched the missing iPhones from packages that were at the UPS location. The estimated value of the stolen items was $11,900. This included 48 packages of Pandora Jewelry ($4,800 value), seven iPhones ($6,000 value), and three Apple Watches ($1,100), according to OPD.  ocala-news.com


Santa Ana, CA: Clerk stops thieves from stealing $2700 in merchandise from mall store
Two would-be thieves were forced to flee empty-handed from a Santa Ana store when an employee fought back against their attempt to steal thousands of dollars in merchandise. Santa Ana police released video of the altercation and images of the suspects to ask the public for help identifying and locating the two suspects. The incident happened at the MainPlace Mall on June 26. Santa Ana police say the two suspects entered a store at the mall and picked out items worth more than $2,700, then ran out without paying for them.  abc7.com


Rincon, GA: Lowes employee fired after trying to stop $2,000 theft
The Rincon Police Department is asking for the public's help in locating two people who they say stole over $2,000 worth of merchandise. They said one of the two assaulted a worker who made contact with them as they exited the store. RPD said it all happened on June 25 at the Lowes store. They said three people went inside, loaded multiple items into shopping carts, then exited the store without paying for the merchandise. RPD said Lowes employee, Donna Hansbrough, attempted to stop one of the people by grabbing their shopping cart. They said Hansbrough did not at any time make contact with any person. Police said the cart that Hansbrough grabbed was in the possession of Takyah Berry. After Hansbrough grabbed the cart, RPD said Berry hit her in the face three times, causing Hansbrough's right eye to swell and blacken. The total value of the merchandise that was stolen is $2,101.00, according to RPD. Police said the two men who were with Berry have been identified as Jarmar Lawton and Joseph Berry.  wjcl.com


Murfreesboro, TN: Man Accused of Using Stolen Credit Card to Purchase $3800 of Items at Best Buy

University Heights, OH: Group of thieves leave Target store in SUV with $1,200 worth of stolen goods

West Vancouver, BC, Canada: 7 arrested in shoplifting blitz at Park Royal mall on North Shore

Oxford, CT: Police Search For 3 Suspects In $800 Ace Hardware Store Theft