Walmart Parking Lot Shootout: Shooter Sentenced to 20 Years
"This case is emblematic of the relationship between the illegal drug trade and violent crime"

Shooter in Lynchburg Walmart Shootout Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison
LYNCHBURG, Va. - A Salem, Virginia man who was involved in a shootout in Lynchburg during a methamphetamine deal in November 2021, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 20 years in federal prison.

Jeriwon Lee Taylor, 42, pled guilty in May 2023 to one count of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of discharging and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

"The United States Attorney's Office is proud to partner with ATF and the Lynchburg Police Department to hold accountable those individuals who commit violent crimes in our communities," United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. "This case is emblematic of the relationship between the illegal drug trade and violent crime - a pattern we are seeing throughout the Western District of Virginia - and one we are working to stop."

"We are grateful for the assistance of our federal and state law enforcement partners in investigating and prosecuting this case to ensure those who endanger our community are held fully accountable for their actions. This incident could have easily taken an innocent person's life. Our partnerships with our community and other law enforcement agencies are critical to a safer Lynchburg," said Lynchburg Police Chief Ryan Zuidema.

According to court documents, on November 21, 2021, Taylor arranged to meet an individual in a Walmart parking lot in Lynchburg, Virginia to sell methamphetamine. When the buyer, Kendall Simonton arrived, he got into Taylor's vehicle, pointed a gun at Taylor's face and took the drugs from him.

After the robbery, Simonton left Taylor's vehicle and began walking away. However, Taylor also got out of his vehicle with a firearm, and the two men began shooting at each other. Both Taylor and Simonton fired multiple shots at each other, ducking behind various cars in the parking lot. Eventually, Simonton ran out of the parking lot and Taylor drove away. justice.gov


JCPenney Brings Awareness to How ORC Is Impacting Stores
The retailer is connecting AP & government relations to tackle the problem head on

How retailers are tackling organized retail crime through strategic partnerships

JCPenney connects asset protection and government relations to facilitate awareness and legislation

Organized retail crime is a complex issue that's often misunderstood. Bringing awareness to the impact retail theft has on businesses and communities is best done by sharing stories, something JCPenney is aware of.

JCPenney strives to be a place where customers have exceptional shopping experiences as well as provide an excellent workplace environment for employees, Angela Marshall Hofmann, head of government relations for the retailer, said last month at NRF PROTECT. That's a growing challenge due to the increase in ORC affecting stores. "This is highly organized crime happening in our stores that then impacts our communities as well," she said.

It's important to build partnerships to ensure all parties are equipped with the necessary resources, tools and data to combat crime. Hofmann and JCPenney's Director of Asset Protection Operations, Global Security and Investigation Liz Burkholder utilize the unique connection between asset protection and government relations at JCPenney to connect the dots.

JCPenney's loss prevention team provides tangible information and the government relations team helps facilitate meaningful conversations with policymakers. The partnership began after a string of several burglaries and break-ins involving six locations across six jurisdictions. Burkholder and the investigative team identified the suspects but found uniting the jurisdictions to be a challenge, so Hofmann picked it up and learned about a new law in Ohio that would allow them to aggregate and take it to a felony level by using a racketeering provision.

"We've been replicating that model in other states since then," Hofmann said.

Jon Gold, NRF vice president of supply chain and customs policy, stressed the importance of conveying the ongoing challenges organized retail crime causes. "We need to be telling the story from a perspective where it's not just the loss of product where we're really seeing the challenge, but it's the human impact both on employees and consumers and on the community.

Join NRF in calling on Congress to address rising retail crime today by participating in our grassroots campaign. nrf.com


'It's NOT the Economy, Stupid!'
Shoplifting is big business for organized theft - not to feed families
In truth, America's exploding shoplifting problem predates our current economic difficulties. Much of the stealing, store owners and security experts say, has less to do with putting food on the table than with a rise in organized theft, and it's having a particularly adverse effect in cities where criminal-justice reforms have made it easy to get away with.

$94B rip-off

Retail theft in America has grown to a $94 billion epidemic, according to the National Retail Federation - a staggering 90% increase since 2018. Retailers say that the problem gained momentum about a decade ago, when states began decriminalizing low-level shoplifting, raising the value of goods that a person must steal to enable prosecutors to bring felony charges.

Bail reforms that free without bond those arrested for shoplifting have also contributed to the problem. An official of the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists says that retail theft is now "a low-risk and high-reward line of business."

Culture of impunity

Social media has contributed to cultural shifts that portray shoplifting as a "harmless" property crime that damages only "rich" companies. Social-media sites offer tips and how-to videos on shoplifting. They also increasingly feature anti-capitalist rhetoric among young people, who claim that shoplifting is a way of "tackling the system."

The consequences are growing. Beyond massive retailer losses, states and cities are forfeiting some $15 billion annually in sales taxes. And more than half of retailers surveyed last year said that shoplifting incidents are becoming more violent.

Under pressure, the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have begun focusing on organized retail crime, especially "smash and grab" rings. Retailers are also lobbying for passage of the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, which establishes a unit within Homeland to address the issue. Some states are also cracking down. nypost.com


Retailers Nationwide Fight Back Against Theft
They are using tech like facial recognition & focusing on repeat offenders

Shoplifting is on the rise. So are solutions.

What are stores doing about rising theft?

Inside pharmacies and big-box stores, it's increasingly common for shopping aisles to be encased in plexiglass. Other stores are employing high-tech solutions such as face recognition cameras. Clothing stores are using ink-filled tags that explode when thieves try to remove them. Power tools sold at Lowe's will only work once the bar code gets scanned at the cash register.

In June, a Walgreens in Chicago unveiled what media reports described as an "anti-theft store." Meanwhile, a Safeway grocery store in Vallejo, California, recently pioneered its own tactic: metal gates at the store exit facing any shoplifter trying to escape.

Are there policy solutions?

A new federal law, the Inform Consumers Act, took effect in late June. The law requires online marketplaces such as eBay and Amazon to verify and share the identity of high-volume third-party sellers on their platforms. It's a bid to trace organized crime groups that fence stolen goods online.

The National Retail Federation wants Congress to establish a dedicated retail crime unit at Homeland Security Investigations. Thomas Hogan, an adjunct fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a former district attorney in Chester County, Pennsylvania, says that a more efficient solution is to get tough on crime at a local level. He criticizes a new wave of progressive prosecutors who won't prosecute shoplifters.

Is one answer to focus on repeat offenders?

Criminologists sometimes invoke the 80/20 rule: Twenty percent of criminals are causing 80% of the problem. That's not a precise figure. But New York City police say 327 people accounted for a third of shoplifting arrests last year. As part of an initiative launched in March 2022, Seattle identified 168 repeat offenders, described as "high utilizers" of the criminal justice system.

In May, New York Mayor Eric Adams unveiled a multipronged anti-shoplifting program. Like Seattle, the city is focusing on serial shoplifters. It's also dedicating resources to post-arrest treatment options for thieves dealing with substance abuse, mental health issues, and poverty. Some see it as a model path. csmonitor.com


Should U.S. Bomb Mexican Cartels Fueling Shoplifting Crisis?
Fox News' Hosts suggest bombing Mexico to combat shoplifting
During the Wednesday, July 25, segment of Fox News' The Five, the conservative co-hosts Jesse Watters, Jeanine Pirro, Dana Perino and Greg Gutfeld suggested Mexican drug cartels are behind a shoplifting surge in America, and to combat the alleged issue - the U.S. military should bomb them.

Host Jesse Watters began the conversation saying, "While the liberal media gets a crash course on crime, we're learning that Mexican drug cartels are fueling America's shoplifting surge. They're selling the stolen stuff online and then laundering the profits through, guess where? Chinese brokers. So, Dana, CNN finally discovered crime is a crisis in San Francisco."

Dana Perino replied, "I think that finding out that there are Mexican cartels behind this, makes me feel maybe there's hope that we could figure out a way to do something about it. So the state attorneys general are banding together and they're like let's go after it. But also they need help from the retailers. The retailers don't want to be looted like this either. But the problem, to me, is that all this stuff gets taken and then it's resold online. Like on Amazon, for example. So can Amazon help us out? Somehow, can they figure out a way to track them? We've got AI, we've got all these other tools. There must be a way to try to prevent all of this from happening."

Watters then said, "You can put up the task force, maybe with the FBI, bring in the DEA, make it transnational Greg, since the cartels are involved."

Greg Gutfeld replied, "It's weird to see these cartels diversify. They're almost like Amazon now. They're doing drugs, smuggling and theft, pretty soon they're gonna have their own podcast. There's another thing that we said a long time ago and I bet we don't -- bombing the car-- remember we said we were talking about bombing the cartels? And people were going, 'No, no, no, that's an act of war, that's in another country.' Yeah, but we do that to terrorists as well, and this is kind of a terrorist activity. And the thing is, now, we see this at least on the Republican side, a lot of candidates are talking about doing it and I think it's a good idea. I think we need to elect a president who values a border. That's the important thing. Bomb these. And there's, like, one cartel we can cooperate with, let them kill the rest. Encourage them to kill the rest."  alternet.org


Tech & Collaboration the Solution to Addressing ORC?
Seattle council discusses ideas to reduce organized retail theft
Within the past year, more than half of Washington state retailers have reported an increase in theft, resulting in $2.7 billion in estimated losses in the state, according to a new report from the Seattle Office of City Auditor.

Driving the news: Members of the City Council's Public Safety and Human Services committee this week discussed the report, requested by Councilmembers Andrew Lewis and Lisa Herbold and released last week. The report cited a survey ranking Seattle eighth in the nation in 2021 among cities impacted by organized retail theft.

By the numbers: Last year, the city tallied 13,103 calls to the Seattle Police Department from the top 100 retail locations in the city, the majority of which related to retail theft, the report found. Responding to those calls cost police officers 18,615 hours of time - the equivalent of a year's worth of work by nine full-time officers.

The numbers for the first quarter of 2023 do not include thefts from some large downtown retailers who use private security guards and off-duty officers instead of calling police.

What's next: The report offers several suggestions for addressing organized retail crime, including better collaboration between state and federal agencies and exploring new uses of technology, such as video interviews with retail victims. axios.com


In Case You Missed It: CNN witnesses 3 thefts in 30 minutes during segment

Why we get psychologically numb to the frequency of mass shootings in the U.S.

53 Ex-Aritzia Employees Call Out Toxic Work Culture
Former Aritzia employees accuse retailer of 'culture of fear' workplace

Cool-girl brand Aritzia made employees rate each other's appearances, discriminated against Black salespeople, and fostered a culture of fear, some ex-staffers say

Former employees of Aritzia, the Canadian women's fashion company, have spoken candidly about their negative experiences working for the retailer, which they allege was "exploitive" and overly "high-pressure".

In a 24 July article published by Insider, the outlet detailed the remarks of 53 individuals who either currently or previously worked for Aritzia, in which "several of whom said that while the world of fashion is notoriously cutthroat, working at Aritzia was particularly gruelling".

Allegedly, the negative culture was linked to the founder of the clothing brand, Brian Hill. One employee who worked in the company's support office, and was close to Hill, said: "I think a lot of people in that organisation feel worthless. They have been berated and degraded for so long."

Additionally, other employees reported having to sign confidentiality agreements and exit contracts, and requested they be anonymous in Insider's story, because they were afraid the company would "retaliate". A few allegedly stated that working for the company was similar to "being psychologically abused".

According to Insider, four ex-employees associated Hill's leadership tactics with "fear and intimidation". The individuals thought back to corporate meetings, recalling other coworkers losing sleep or feeling sick the night before.

Da'ani Jetton quit her position as a style advisor in New York because she didn't feel the company substantially supported Black employees, according to Insider. Following the murder of George Floyd in June 2020, Aritzia received complaints from two previous Black employees about experiences with racism in the workplace. independent.co.uk businessinsider.com

 
Alcohol Sellers to Start Scanning Faces & Palms
'It's a lot more reliable than a store clerk'

Buying booze? Your face - or palm - could verify your age
Move over, fake IDs: Biometric systems that can "read" a person's face or palm image and determine if they're too young for a beer are gaining traction at sports stadiums and liquor shops.

Why it matters: While these tools are handy for alcohol sellers - and can offer more privacy for consumers than handing over a driver's license to a store clerk - they tap into fears about potential abuses of facial recognition systems.

Driving the news: Legislative proposals in New York and Washington state would let bars, restaurants and other purveyors of adult products verify a customer's age through biometric data - like a finger or palm image, or a retinal or face scan.

How it works: Some systems require pre-enrollment - which can be done quickly through an app - but others use neural networks to estimate the age of the person looking at the screen at a checkout.

A system called MyCheckr "takes an image of your face, analyzes that image, and returns whether or not you're over the 'challenge age'" to buy booze or smokes, explains Andrew O'Brien, product manager at Innovative Technology Ltd., the U.K. company behind it.

It's a lot more reliable than a store clerk, O'Brien tells Axios - and completely anonymous. MyCheckr doesn't store or transmit any data about the people whose faces it scans.

The big picture: Despite public qualms, biometric recognition is expanding in myriad ways - including age verification and beyond. Biometrics are convenient - allowing us to ditch our wallets and open our phones, among other things - and the number of uses is only likely to expand. axios.com


Amazon's Grocery Chain Continues to Struggle
Grocery chain Amazon Fresh is eliminating hundreds of in-store jobs

As Amazon tries to find a path to profitability for its struggling grocery chain, the tech giant is eliminating hundreds of in-store roles

Amazon operates 44 Amazon Fresh stores in the U.S. cities including Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Naperville, Ill. The positions being cut are "zone leads" who manage sections of individual stores, according to three former Amazon Fresh employees who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect their careers. Staff were told the cuts were part of a cost reduction plan, the people said.

Laid-off employees won't report to work after Tuesday but are being paid for 60 days, a former Amazon employee said.

The layoffs come as economic uncertainty drives Amazon to cut costs across its operations and to home in on a profitable model for its grocery businesses in particular - an industry the company continues to pursue despite its retreat from other brick-and-mortar retail businesses.  washingtonpost.com


Fully Automated Checkouts Can 'Reduce Shrink'
Mapco opens second checkout-free store

The Nashville, Tennessee, location is the final of the chain's two planned test stores using Grabango technology so shoppers don't wait in line.

Mapco has opened its second Grabango-powered checkout-free c-store, this one in Nashville, Tennessee, the company announced on Tuesday.

This store completes Mapco's expected two-location pilot of the automated technology, which lets consumers pick up what they want from the shop and just leave instead of waiting in line to pay.

While c-store adoption of fully automated checkout continues to be small scale, some retailers are finding strong use cases for the technology, which can boost loyalty, reduce shrink and improve operations, according to the announcement. cstoredive.com


Kroger store converts to all-self-checkout experience
Kroger has converted one of its stores in Franklin, Tenn. to an all-self-checkout experience, according to local news outlet WKRN. The store was rid of cashiers and baggers on July 21 and was selected as an ideal conversion because of the rate of customers who were already using self-checkout, a Kroger spokesperson confirmed to WKRN. supermarketnews.com


US economy blows past expectations: Three quick takeaways
Gross domestic production (GDP) came in hot in the second quarter, growing at a 2.4 percent rate that marked the fourth straight quarter of positive growth and underlining the resilience of the U.S. economy.

Consumer confidence reaches two-year high
Consumers are feeling more upbeat amid cooling inflation and a still-tight labor market.

In Case You Missed It: Retailers hail tentative agreement between UPS & Teamsters

Study: Sales of secondhand goods will hit $325 billion

Gap Ends Search for CEO, Names Mattel's Dickson to Lead Retailer
 

Senior LP & AP Jobs Market

Director Environmental Health & Safety job posted for Staples in Framingham, MA
What you'll be doing: Workplace Safety, Hazardous Substance management (Transportation & Disposal), Emergency Planning, Hazardous Chemical - Right to Know laws, Food Safety & Defense, State, County, local specific codes, and norms. Manage the Supply Chain EHS Team, coordinates and provides leadership and guidance to the field Asset Protection team to support the implementation and execution of regulatory compliance programs designed to protect the environment, assets and ensure a safe workplace. careers.staples.com


Corporate Investigation Manager job posted for Food Lion in Salisbury, NC
The Division Manager of Asset Protection is responsible to ensure division and region needs are met through staffing and development of their respective Asset Protection team. The incumbent works closely with the Division Vice President to ensure programs that positively impact profit, shrink, cash loss, physical security and safety are executed effectively and provide required results. foodlion.careerswithus.com
 

Lawsuit Targets Rite Aid for Sharing Customer Information
Rite Aid accused of sharing user info to Meta, others

Retailer used programming code for targeted ad campaigns

In order to sharpen targeted ad campaigns, Rite Aid allegedly engaged in a practice of sharing information of customers to third parties.

This is according to a class action lawsuit filed in California that accuses the retailer of giving away information about website users, reports legal media group ClassAction.org.

The lawsuit claims Rite Aid used the medical history, mental and physical condition, and treatment of patients when they went to RiteAid.com and filled prescriptions. The information was then passed on to third-party users like Meta, Google, and TikTok to improve targeted advertising efforts.

Rite Aid's privacy policies specifically state the company needs to get written authorization from shoppers before their information is used for marketing purposes, according to ClassAction.org. The company also violated the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and other federal and state statutes.

The lawsuit states Rite Aid's website uses programming code called Meta pixel that sends information to Meta every time a user interacts with the web page used to fill prescriptions. The lawsuit says Google Tag Manager is also used.

Rite Aid also has the capabilities to share the names of consumers along with their phone numbers, email addresses, IP addresses, device IDs and Facebook IDs.

"This massive breach of confidentiality and privacy has, on information and belief, affected millions of Rite Aid's customers in the state of California as well as millions more nationwide," the complaint states, claiming that the mishandling of such sensitive information has the potential to give rise to serious consequences, including "embarrassment, discrimination in the workplace, and denial of insurance coverage." supermarketnews.com


AI Capabilities Will Soon Outpace Cybersecurity Defenses
Beyond ChatGPT: Organizations Must Protect Themselves Against the Power of AI

Artificial intelligence-powered threats are already affecting businesses, schools, hospitals, and individuals, and it will only get worse as AI advances.

Society is on the frontier of new possibilities with artificial intelligence (AI). However, we are also on the brink of AI capabilities that will far outpace and impact cybersecurity defenses for organizations and governments around the globe.

According to Thales' "2023 Data Threat Report," more than half of enterprises lack a formal plan for handling ransomware attacks. This highlights an alarming fact: Most organizations, including public and private businesses, universities, corporations, and government agencies and their data, are vulnerable during this revolutionary time for end users and, unfortunately, threat actors.

The Clock Is Ticking

Savvy defense equal to what's coming cannot arrive soon enough. Scores of confidential data and information stored electronically by organizations and governments lie vulnerable to new threats that will be powered by AI engines. These AI-powered engines can scrape the Dark Web quicker and faster than a human threat actor can, thereby increasing the speed that data found on the Dark Web can be exploited.

AI-powered ransomware is coming and it will involve automation, which could result in a terrifying aftermath. Along with wondering how far AI's capabilities will ultimately go, we are left to ponder how much AI-powered threats will impact cybersecurity's defense efforts.

AI Spells the End of Human Constraints on Cyber Threats

Shifts to the cyber-threat landscape are certain now that AI is here to stay. An AI-powered cyber threat will be capable of finding 20,000 ways to bypass a single vulnerability in an organization's system and learn from itself by constantly modifying its attack vector until it succeeds. This kind of capability will effectively speed cybercriminals' ability to create or weaponize vulnerabilities. Additionally, AI-driven threats will not be halted by things that pause human threat actors - they will not need to stop or sleep.

Moreover, believable, realistic, and more personable phishing attempts will be enabled by AI algorithms that can convincingly imitate a human's voice, appearance, and behavior. Facial recognition is one broadly discussed example of deep learning AI due to the realism of deepfakes, which can be created from digital footprints such as virtual meetings, online videos, and podcasts. darkreading.com


New Cyber Incident Reporting Rules
SEC Approves Cyber Incident-Reporting Rules for Public Companies

Agency removes proposed board cyber expertise disclosures, keeps four-day reporting deadline

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission voted Wednesday to adopt rules requiring publicly traded companies to report cyberattacks, but softened elements of its initial proposals after pushback from the private sector.

"Whether a company loses a factory in a fire, or millions of files in a cybersecurity incident, it may be material to investors," said Gary Gensler, the SEC's chair, in a virtual meeting of the agency's commissioners.

Under the new rules, companies will be required to report significant hacks by filing an 8-K form with the SEC. This must occur within four business days after a company determines a cyberattack will have a material impact. The SEC said it had "streamlined" its requirements to focus more on the potential effects of a cyberattack, rather than the details of the incident itself, addressing concerns raised by commenters.

In comments on the original proposal, businesses and trade associations had warned that the disclosures outlined could have worsened attacks by giving hackers details about systems and recovery methods.

Companies will, however, have to describe the processes by which they identify material cybersecurity risks in their annual reports. Federal compliance deadlines mean that companies must do this starting Dec. 15, and must start reporting incidents from Dec. 18. wsj.com


AI Safety Standards Coming?
Google, Microsoft form new A.I. group to develop safety standards ahead of policymakers

The effort comes as policymakers weigh what appropriate guardrails could look like, without hindering innovation and ceding the country's position in the AI race.

Four leading artificial intelligence companies launched a new industry group on Wednesday to identify best safety practices and promote the technology's use toward great societal challenges.

The group underscores how, until policymakers come up with new rules, the industry will likely need to continue to police themselves.

Anthropic, Google, Microsoft and OpenAI said the new Frontier Model Forum had four key goals, which Google outlined in a blog post:

1. Advancing AI safety research to promote responsible development of frontier models, minimize risks, and enable independent, standardized evaluations of capabilities and safety.

2. Identifying best practices for the responsible development and deployment of frontier models, helping the public understand the nature, capabilities, limitations, and impact of the technology.

3. Collaborating with policymakers, academics, civil society and companies to share knowledge about trust and safety risks.

4. Supporting efforts to develop applications that can help meet society's greatest challenges, such as climate change mitigation and adaptation, early cancer detection and prevention, and combating cyber threats. cnbc.com


Senators call for AI regulation as concerns for national security grow

RaaS proliferation: 14 new ransomware groups target organizations worldwide

Riverside County, CA: Multiple suspects in custody after robbing a jewelry store at Palm Desert mall
Four suspects are in custody after they robbed a jewelry store inside the Shops at Palm Desert Tuesday evening. Riverside County Sheriff's Department apprehended a 21-year-old man from Hemet and a 25-year-old woman from Los Angeles, along with two minors. According to the Sheriff's Department, the suspects shattered display cases with sledgehammers and glass-breaking tools. Witnesses saw the suspects drive away, and deputies quickly found the car speeding northbound on Monterey Avenue. The Sheriff's Department said the suspect's car crashed with another car, and the suspects ran away in the area of Monterey Avenue and Dinah Shore Drive but were quickly found and detained.  bigcountrynewsconnection.com


Irvine, CA: 2 Juveniles Arrested In South OC Jewelry Store $55,000 Smash-And-Grab
A 21-year-old Moreno Valley man and two juveniles were arrested Saturday on suspicion of stealing over $55,000 worth of merchandise from a jewelry store in Irvine, the Irvine Police Department reported. The robbery happened at around 5:04 p.m. on Saturday, when three suspects who were dressed in black entered the Kay Jewelers store at the Irvine Spectrum Center, according to the IPD. patch.com


Casper, WY: Man charged with theft of 38 cellphones from Dollar General
A Casper man is charged with the theft of 38 cellphones from a locked cabinet at the Dollar General on McKinley Street last month. The value of the phones was $2,038, according to the Casper Police Department affidavit. Anthony Lamb, 32, was charged with felony theft in Natrona County Circuit Court last Friday. Lamb is presumed innocent until proven or pleading guilty. A store manager reported the theft and showed the officer security footage. Lamb is reportedly seen entering the store with his mother around 7:05 p.m. on Monday, June 19. Lamb is then seen speaking to a store employee before walking to a locked cabinet and forcing it open with a multitool, the officer stated. Lamb then reportedly fills a container with the cellphones and leaves the store without paying.  oilcity.news


Memphis, TN: $7,500 in alcohol stolen in liquor store smash-and-grab
In Orange Mound liquor store was the latest target in the ongoing string of retail smash and grabs. Memphis Police said the store was burglarized early Wednesday morning, and the vandals got away with $400 in cash and more than $7,500 in alcohol. Memphis Police said when they got to the scene, they saw a woman standing outside holding a bag of food and a man inside the store. Both of them were detained, but employees said they did not believe those two individuals were involved in the actual break-in.  wreg.com


Wilkes- Barre, PA: Police seek assistance to identify cellular phone theft syndicate
Police in Wilkes-Barre Township are seeking assistance to help identify a group of people who have stolen cellular phones and electronics from Target in recent months. Police suspect the thieves have committed thefts throughout Pennsylvania and are believed to be part of an organized theft ring focusing on cellular phones and electronics. The thieves have stolen cellular phones and electronics from Target in Wilkes-Barre Commons from January through July by placing the items in reusable plastic shopping bags and leaving the store without paying, police reported.  timesleader.com


Seattle, WA: 2 cars ram Nordstrom store front in failed Burglary attempt
Police are investigating after two people reportedly tried to break into the flagship Nordstrom store in downtown Seattle early Wednesday morning. According to the Seattle Police Department (SPD), officers responded to the store on the 500 block of Pine Street around 3:30 a.m. A department spokesperson said it was reported the suspects tried to get into the business by ramming a "sedan type vehicle" into a display window. When the suspects couldn't get into the building, the SPD said one suspect shot at the window. Photos and video show damage to the building outside of the Chanel boutique, which is located inside Nordstrom at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Pine Street. At least seven bullet holes could be seen in the store's display window.  bigcountrynewsconnection.com