Retailer secures ORC suspect arrest, return of missing minor

AP pros use proactive face matching to stop notorious booster

Here's a FaceFirst client ORC win that dovetails with recent news coverage about missing and exploited children and teens.

When a known ORC booster walked into a retailer's store, FaceFirst instantly notified the designated ORC investigator. The investigator and the ORC AP team acted immediately. Within 90 minutes, their actions led to the suspect's arrest, the recovery of goods worth thousands of dollars, and the eventual safe return of a missing minor.

The case started when investigators identified a man as a prolific ORC booster in May 2022. The man was involved in numerous larcenies at various client locations and other retailers, but he had not been apprehended during any of those incidents. Investigators enrolled him as a known offender in the retailer's custom database.

When the man returned to one of the retailer's stores, the FaceFirst system matched his enrolled face and sent a notification email to the designated investigator. The investigator immediately notified the ORC AP team of the known offender's presence. The man left that store, but within half an hour he entered another of the retailer's locations. There, the AP team observed the man and an unknown young woman concealing large amounts of health and beauty products.

The AP team confirmed the FaceFirst match-combining powerful artificial intelligence with human oversight-and called the police. When the two individuals left the store with concealed products valued at $1,428.91, officers detained them. They found thousands of dollars worth of stolen goods from other retailers.

Subsequent investigation revealed the man also had an outstanding warrant for first-degree burglary. Details about various judicial proceedings against the man are pending. Investigators identified the young woman as a minor who was 12 years old when reported missing in April 2021. There had been no leads on her whereabouts until this incident. Local authorities removed the minor, made appropriate notifications, and arranged for her return to her guardians.

FaceFirst's face matching technology alerts retailers instantly when known threats enter their stores, providing both life safety and loss prevention advantages. Calculate the risks of being caught unaware when a known offender enters your store. If you knew there was a proven solution to keep your valued customers and associates safer from violent offenders and prevent loss, would you implement it? The real risk is answering no. FaceFirst's solution is fast, accurate, and scalable-take action today at facefirst.com.
 

Using 'Smart Surveillance' to Curb Crime & Shrink
Actively Engaging in Loss Prevention With Forensic Data Analysis

Crest Foods discovers that 'smart surveillance' technology can help

Loss prevention has long been a looming giant in the retail world, but now it's no longer being shrugged off as the cost of doing business. Retailers everywhere are actively seeking out solutions, because for some, allowing shrinkage, theft and other losses to actively cut into profits year after year is unacceptable - it doesn't just take money out of the pockets of the retailer; enough loss could also affect the customer.

In the United States alone in 2021, there was an estimated $94.5 billion in losses, increasing more than $4 billion from the year before. Due to this overwhelming number, it's no wonder that 45% of organizations opted to increase their loss prevention budgets in 2022. This isn't just about loss prevention, either. While maintaining the bottom line is an important part of operating a business, so is the safety and security of customers and employees. If criminals are allowed to run amok in a store, safety concerns could result in retailers losing patrons.

Using Resources More Efficiently

Improving security starts with knowing how to allocate available resources effectively. Businesses should also consider technology options for further analysis that can augment these loss prevention elements.

Until recently, loss prevention analysis was described as "a data desert" because of the limited ways to truly track where shrinkage and loss were occurring. Fortunately, with the impressive advancements in smart surveillance technology, the answer to the "data desert" may finally be at hand.

Real-World Applications

One retailer currently leveraging surveillance technology is Crest Foods, a family-owned business that oversees 10 grocery store locations across Oklahoma. Outdated systems, growing security concerns and a desire to keep costs low for its customers led Crest Foods to finally make the decision to upgrade from analog cameras to a modern smart surveillance camera system.

Today, the retailer has deployed nearly 1,300 cameras throughout its grocery stores. Though that number may seem high for 10 stores, cameras range from multisensor panoramic cameras to mini-dome cameras to 4K bullet cameras. Each camera serves a different type of situation, and without that variety, Crest Foods wouldn't have access to the types of data needed to accurately conduct forensic analysis. Crest Foods sought to protect not just the merchandise in its stores, but also the perimeter outside each store - protecting customers who are entering and exiting.

Additionally, using cameras, the store's warehouse management has been able to pinpoint unsafe working habits and environments, and immediately get to the bottom of the issue.  progressivegrocer.com


Police & Businesses Using Real-Time Camera Monitoring to Fight Crime
Law enforcement will have real-time access to video feeds from partner businesses

MPD kicks off real-time video camera monitoring with businesses
The Memphis Police Department is celebrating the kick-off of its Connect Memphis camera integration program with business partners in the city.
 
Through the Connect Memphis program, which officially launched July 1, law enforcement will have real-time access to video feeds from businesses that have integrated their cameras. Businesses and homeowners also have the option of registering their cameras so law enforcement knows where they're located and request access if needed.

MPD Chief Cerelyn "C.J." Davis said other cities have used the model, and that it speeds up investigations and response processes.

At that time, businesses, including Wiseacre Brewing Co. Downtown, a downtown law firm and a mini market at South 2nd Street and Madison Avenue, had already registered their cameras.

'They understand what is happening before they get on scene'

Those monitoring the Real Time Crime Center can view the footage, or an officer can pull it up on their laptop. They also can share the video feed with team members.

"They understand what is happening before they get on scene, as well as the ability in an investigation to be able to roll back to tape maybe five minutes what was going on on scene prior to that 911 call," Taylor said.

Buster's Liquors & Wine, which has had two break-ins this year, has integrated its cameras, said Patty Smith, the store's office manager. She hopes Buster's participation in Connect Memphis will help police respond more quickly in the event of another break-in.

Joe Oakley, MPD's deputy chief of IT, said he is looking forward to recruiting more businesses and homeowners to this program.

"We're very excited about it," Oakley said. "And we want to partner with our homeowners as well as our businesses so we can put a dent in our crime in this city and keep our officers and also our citizens safe." dailymemphian.com


Retail Crime Across the Pond is 'Out of Control'
Almost 1,000 incidents each day in the first six months of 2023 -- a 35% surge

Criminal gangs with a 'freedom to loot' drive spiralling store crime

Out of control levels of crime could deprive communities of their local stores, Co-op warns

Retail crime surges to record levels with repeat offenders and criminal gangs operating exempt from consequences, new data released by Co-op reveals Thursday.

Co-op records highest ever levels of retail crime, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour with almost 1,000 incidents each day in the six months to June (2023), a 35% YOY increase. Many Police forces do not prioritise retail crime with FOI revealing average 71% of serious retail crime not responded to by Police.

Criminals have 'freedom to loot' with rampant levels of out-of-control crime predominantly committed by repeat and prolific offenders, with drug or alcohol addictions and, local organised criminal gangs, among the main drivers of offending.

Calls for urgent change in Police response and for all Forces to target repeat and prolific offenders to reverse the existing environment in many cities where criminal gangs operate, exempt from consequences.

With one inner city London store 'looted' three times in a single day, Co-op warns that this level of out-of-control crime is unsustainable and could even see some communities become a no-go area for local stores. The convenience retailer calls on all police forces and crime commissioners to target prolific offenders and local organised criminal gangs to reverse the existing environment in many cities where they operate without fear of being caught or charged.

Reports show that almost two-thirds (63%) of crime is driven by repeat and prolific offenders, with drug or alcohol addictions and, local organised criminal gangs, among the main drivers of offending. Yet a Freedom of Information request by Co-op has highlighted that Police failed to respond in 71% of serious retail crimes reported. With some, according to their own data, not responding to nine in ten serious incidents reported. co-operative.coop

   RELATED: Dramatic rise in 'looting' and staff abuse at Co-op shops in past year


Security Guard Fined Over Deadly Walgreens Shooting
State agency fines Walgreens security guard who killed Banko Brown
A state agency has fined Michael Earl-Wayne Anthony, the security guard who shot and killed Banko Brown in April, $1,500 for violating several security guard rules set by the state.

The California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services said that on the day of the shooting, April 27, Anthony wore a sweatshirt that did not include the required patches identifying him as a private security officer and did not identify the company he was employed by. He also carried an exposed firearm without wearing the appropriate uniform identifying him as a private security guard.

In addition, the state found that on the day of the shooting, Anthony was carrying a concealed firearm in a pouch on the vest he was wearing over his sweatshirt, without a concealed firearm permit.

If Anthony does not pay the citation within 30 days, he could face further disciplinary action, according to the bureau.

The fatal encounter between Anthony and Brown occurred downtown at the Walgreens located at 825 Market St. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins declined to press charges against Anthony, saying prosecutors did not believe they could disprove claims that Anthony believed he was acting in self-defense when he shot Brown.

Kingdom Group Protective Services, the security company that employed Anthony and was contracted by Walgreens, was fined $5,000 July 13 by the bureau for failing to submit an incident report within seven days after the shooting notifying that Anthony had used a gun. Following the public outcry surrounding the shooting, Walgreens cut ties with the security company, which is based in Manteca. sfchronicle.com


States Ranked by Mass Shooting Rates
How rates of mass shootings vary by state, mapped

Washington, D.C., and Louisiana had the highest rates of mass shootings per capita from 2014 to 2022, while Hawaii and North Dakota were the only two with zero.

More than half of all mass shootings in the U.S. since 1966 have taken place in the last 20 years. From 2014 to 2022, the U.S. saw around 4,000 mass shootings, resulting in around 21,000 deaths or injuries, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal JAMA Network Open.

Louisiana had the highest rate of mass shootings per capita of any state, the study found: around 4.3 shootings for every 100,000 people. The rate in Washington, D.C., was even higher - 10.4 shootings for every 100,000 people - though it is a city, not a state.

Hawaii and North Dakota were the only two states that did not see any mass shootings over the nine years studied.

Overall, mass shooting rates were highest in Southeastern states such as Alabama, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Barnard's research found that social-related mass shootings - those that occurred at a bar, club or house party - were the most common category, making up around 27% of mass shootings from 2014 to 2022. Another 16% were crime-related, meaning they involved gangs, drugs, armed robbery, carjacking, murder, suicide or home invasion.   nbcnews.com

Is San Francisco a "Derelict Zombie Apocalypse" -- Or is it Just Hype?
San Francisco's crime problem is 'exaggerated,' Chris Cuomo says
KRON4 News Anchors Darya Folsom and James Fletcher spoke with Cuomo Thursday morning about what he dug up on San Francisco's crime and public image problems.

"Obviously, San Francisco has been in the crosshairs of national scrutiny. The problem, I believe, is being exaggerated, but more importantly, misunderstood. People twist reality to their own agenda. We got to be afraid of twisting data, and we have to be afraid of simple solutions to complex problems. And crime is at the top of the list (for) complex problems," Cuomo said.

Cuomo said that "hype" is fueling conversations around crime. Cuomo blasted public officials, such as mayors, who chose to "duck" tough conversations.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed has focused her energy in 2023 on improving San Francisco's embattled public image as a city. The city weathered a public relations firestorm over its downtown turning into a "ghost town." And Elon Musk went as far as calling San Francisco a "derelict zombie apocalypse." kron4.com


San Francisco Goes on Police Hiring Spree as Mayor Gets Tough on Crime
New San Francisco police hires reach three-year high, Mayor Breed says
After long sounding the alarm that San Francisco public safety was suffering due to a dire shortage of police officers, Mayor London Breed's administration is starting to see signs that ranks of city law enforcement might finally be turning a corner.

The Police Department's latest class of recruits is the largest the city has seen in three years and job applications have hit a five-year high, according to Breed's office. Twenty-eight people are enrolled in the most recent Police Academy class that started six weeks ago, compared to just six who are in the previous class that will soon graduate, officials said.

Interest in joining SFPD has grown at a time when Breed has embraced a tough-on-crime strategy to tackle the city's open-air drug markets. Breed has pushed the city to hire more police officers and raise the pay for recruits. She has also directed police to arrest some drug users in an attempt to force them into treatment and opened a command center for law enforcement agencies to coordinate their responses to public drug dealing. sfchronicle.com


Homicides, Robberies & Burglaries Down - Larceny Flat - Property Theft Up
Albuquerque PD show which crimes have increased & which have fallen in 2023
Homicides are down 22% over the first five months of 2023 compared to the same time last year. Robbery is also down in 2023, according to the APD data. Last year, January and February alone saw nearly 400 robberies, the data shows. In 2023, those two months saw fewer than 150 robberies.

Burglary, breaking and entering, and motor vehicle theft have also seen decreases this year, the data shows. Vehicle theft is down 14%, APD says. Burglary - breaking and entering - are down 16%.

Not everything is trending down, however. Vandalism, damage, and larceny offenses are essentially similar to last year. Stolen property offenses are up 11%, according to APD. Weapons violations are up 30%, the data shows. krqe.com


Video: San Francisco mayor talks crime in her city

Oakland residents fed up with rising crime

Facial Recognition's Rapid Expansion Continues
More respondents are using biometrics for security functions

Most US, UK execs on-board for biometrics, only 15% have no adoption plans

Biometric tech use is growing fast-64% of U.S. and 59% of U.K. executives say their organizations now use facial recognition, fingerprints, and other biometric data.

A survey by law firm Womble Bond Dickinson indicates that six out of 10 companies in the United Kingdom and the United States have incorporated biometrics into their businesses.

The report surveyed 205 executives and found that 64 percent of those in the U.S. and 59 percent in the UK use biometrics. Only 14 percent of U.S. executives and 20 percent of UK executives surveyed said they are not using biometric data and do not plan to. Nearly half of respondents occupied the C-suite.

Of those gathering biometric data, a majority (53 percent) collected fingerprints. They also are collecting facial (34 percent), voice (32 percent), iris (28 percent) and ear (8 percent) data.

More respondents are using biometrics for security functions. Other uses include initial identification or authentication, payment and other security functions.

When it comes to regulations, a prime business concern in many industries, the UK is further along in acclimating to biometrics rules than the U.S. The UK adopted the General Data Protection Regulation in 2018.

While there isn't a GDPR equivalent in the U.S., some states have passed related laws.

Womble Bond Dickinson's 2023 "Global Data Privacy Law Survey Report" draws on responses from more than 200 executives in the U.K. and the U.S., nearly half of whom are C-suite executives. The survey was completed by 205 business leaders who represent 22 industries and play either a leading or supporting role in data privacy issues. biometricupdate.com  securitymagazine.com


Dollar General Employees Threatened & Coerced Over Union Activity
Dollar General threatened to close store if employees voted for a union

To prevent employees at a Connecticut store from unionizing, Dollar General engaged in "hallmark unfair labor practices," an NLRB administrative law judge held.

Dollar General violated federal labor law when corporate officials threatened to close a Connecticut store if employees voted for a union, illegally surveilled their actions and fired a pro-union employee, an administrative judge for the National Labor Relations Board opined in Dolgen Corp. and United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 371.

Per the July 17 ruling, within days of the union filing a petition with the NLRB to represent store employees, four corporate officials - including the chief people officer and the senior director of labor relations - arrived at the store and stayed until the union election. One official allegedly told a worker she could become a store manager but warned that another store closed after employees voted for a union, according to the record. The officials also kept a running list of who favored union representation and fired an employee they allegedly believed was influencing others to support the union, administrative documents indicated. The NLRB's general counsel charged the company with interfering with, restraining and coercing employees in the exercise of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act.

Following a hearing, the judge upheld the charges. "Respondent clearly violated Section 8(a)(1) in sending these individuals to Barkhamsted to observe union activity if it occurred or to inhibit employees from engaging in union activity," he said. Their actions were part of a corporate-wide policy to deter employees from exercising their NLRA rights and constituted "blatant hallmark unfair labor practices," the judge concluded. He ordered Dollar General to reinstate the fired employee and compensate him for any loss of earnings and other benefits. The company must also distribute an electronic notice of NLRA rights to all employees in the U.S., post a hard copy of NLRA rights at stores canvased by the union and abide by a broad cease-and-desist order.

Employees have the right under Section 7 of the NLRA to unionize, join together to advance their interests as employees and to refrain from such activity, according to an NLRB guidance. hrdive.com


New OSHA Data Rule for 'High-Hazard' Employers
OSHA Plans to Expose Your Injury Data

New rule will reveal sensitive company information to tort lawyers and union organizers.

If allowed to stand by the courts, a rulemaking issued recently by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will require employers to expose their reported accident illness and report data on the Internet, making it available to union organizers, personal injury lawyers, and their competitors.

Scheduled to largely take effect on Jan. 1, 2024, It applies to employers with 100 or more workers in industries the agency defines as "high hazard," although the list of these industries that OSHA provides appears to cover very nearly every employer in America today. Employer attorneys advise covered organizations to begin preparing now for next year's reporting requirements.

Under the rule, these employers must electronically submit information from their Form 300-Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, and Form 301-Injury and Illness Incident Report to OSHA once a year. Businesses in named high-hazard industries that have 20 or more employees are still required each year to submit electronically their OSHA Form 300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses.

OSHA's top administrator Doug Parker explained, "Congress intended for the Occupational Safety and Health Act to include reporting procedures that would provide the agency and the public with an understanding of the safety and health problems workers face, and this rule is a big step in finally realizing that objective."
ehstoday.com


In Case You Missed It: The Biggest LP Rollout of 2023

200 New AP Job Listings Company-Wide
Jewel-Osco looking to add loss prevention positions chainwide

The regional grocer posted nearly 200 job listings last week for asset protection specialists, indicating a company-wide initiative to bolster theft deterrence in its stores.

Jewel-Osco is looking to onboard 187 asset protection specialists, according to a slew of LinkedIn job postings that went up last week.

The high number of listings and the variety of locations hiring for the position signifies a chainwide initiative for the Albertsons-owned retailer to bolster its loss prevention efforts.

As theft continues to escalate, many grocers are working to establish loss prevention teams, hiring experts to work with law enforcement and to identify repeat offenders and detect theft patterns.

An asset protection specialist for the grocer would focus on "preventing loss and controlling shrink by monitoring various areas of the fraud, compliance discrepancies, and other related activities," according to Jewel-Osco's LinkedIn job postings. grocerydive.com


Bypassing AI in Job Applications
Job applicants are battling AI résumé filters with a hack

'White fonting' is used to bypass AI and other tech filters. But is it cheating?

"White fonting" in recent years has garnered renewed interest across social media like TikTok with influencers suggesting that it will make a big difference for job hunters. It's also ruffled the feathers of many recruiters who have publicly denounced it.

The concept is simple: Copy a list of relevant keywords or the job description itself, paste it in a résumé and change the font color to white. The hope is that AI bots or digital filters in applicant tracking systems read the white text and surface the résumé for human review. Because keywords are in white, the résumé will look normal to human reviewers.

The practice's revival comes at a time when many job seekers are finding it difficult to get hired. The U.S. labor market has tightened, the volume of job applications has exploded with new easy-to-apply processes and employers are increasingly turning to technology, including artificial intelligence, for help. But employment experts say the shortcut is risky. washingtonpost.com


UK loses 6,000 storefronts in five years

New owner to relaunch Bed Bath & Beyond in August

Tractor Supply to expand its footprint, aiming for 3K nationwide

Boston Market sued for $11.3 million over unpaid bills
 

Senior LP & AP Jobs Market

Director of Security, Safety and Loss Prevention job posted for Perry Ellis International in Miami, FL
Under general direction, manages activities relating to safeguarding the security and safety of company assets, employees, invitees and others; prioritizes tasks; administers and monitors security policies, procedures and safety programs; complies with federal, state and local legal regulations; and exercises independent judgment in the course of carrying out overall responsibilities and other activities as assigned. vizi.vizirecruiter.com
 

Helping CISOs Measure Cybersecurity Strengths & Weaknesses
SeeMetrics launches Security Performance Boards to help CISOs measure cybersecurity effectiveness

Cybersecurity performance measurement boards cover vulnerability management, endpoint protection, identity management, awareness, and incident response.

Cybersecurity performance management platform SeeMetrics has announced the launch of Security Performance Boards to help CISOs measure the cybersecurity effectiveness of technologies, processes, and people. The boards draw cybersecurity performance assessment from an organization's operational stack, providing a centralized, business-aligned view of measurements, metrics, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to support a proactive and preventative approach to detecting emerging risks and gaps, the firm said in a press release. Among SeeMetrics' Security Performance Boards are vulnerability management, endpoint protection, identity management, email security, security awareness, and incident response, it added.

Metrics can be of significant value to CISOs and their organizations in gauging and improving their security posture, pinpointing areas of strength and weakness. They can also be useful when presenting to corporate boards, providing security leaders data-driven, quantifiable evidence to explain the value of security programs as well as support requests for things like increased security budget and resources. "Security performance metrics are invaluable tools to assess, communicate, and improve the security posture of organizations," Frank Kim, fellow at the SANS Institute and lead of the Cybersecurity Leadership Curriculum, tells CSO. "Leveraging these metrics empowers the CISO to make data-driven decisions, strengthen security measures, and align security efforts with overall business goals." csoonline.com


How CISOs Can Avoid Legal Trouble
Enterprises should layer-up security to avoid legal repercussions
The role of CISO these days requires a strong moral compass: You have to be the one speaking up for the protection of customer data and be ready to handle uncomfortable situations such as pressure to downplay an actual breach. Do we admit that a data breach has occurred or just call it a system glitch that caused some minor accidental data visibility? CISOs are tasked with crucial, timely decisions to avoid legal repercussions.

Adding to that pressure, recent legal discourse around cybersecurity breaches has focused on whether the company or individual in charge had done enough to protect the company and customer data from cyberattacks in the first place, as well as how they handled any notification to affected customers. There have even been high-profile court cases involving CISOs who oversaw the response to a breach in which the CISOs themselves faced legal consequences.

There is clearly a focus on ensuring companies and CISOs exhibit due care in protecting their clients' data. This requires enterprises and smaller and less mature organizations alike to take a new look at their multiple layers of defense and ensure that each layer is implemented appropriately. helpnetsecurity.com


Cryptojacking soars as cyberattacks increase, diversify
Digital threat actors are adopting evolving tactical behaviors, opting for different types of malicious attacks compared to previous years, according to SonicWall.

A step-by-step guide for patching software vulnerabilities

Top cybersecurity tools aimed at protecting executives

ORC Task Force Makes Arrest
Chicago, IL: Man charged with ORC theft scheme involving home improvement stores
A man was charged with falsifying sales tax returns in exchange for gift cards as part of a retail theft scheme. Tyler Clark, 25, of Chicago was arrested on Wednesday by the Organized Retail Crime Task Force, in the 7400 block of South Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Police said Clark was identified as one of the suspects who participated in the scheme. The crimes occurred at multiple home improvement stores - including one located in the 4500 block of South Western Avenue. He was placed into custody and charged with two felony counts including theft/unauthorized control greater than $500,000 to $1 million and continuing financial crimes enterprise.  cbsnews.com


Philadelphia, PA: Update: Leader of Multi-State Jewelry Theft Crew Sentenced to Over 6 Years' of Federal Imprisonment
United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Duanne Pierce, 60, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was sentenced to 77 months' imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and $606,394.60 in restitution and other penalties by United States District Court Senior Judge Cynthia M. Rufe for conspiring to transport stolen property across state lines and interstate transportation of stolen property. From May 2018 through February 2020, defendant Duanne Pierce led seven others in a conspiracy to commit 12 retail jewelry store thefts throughout the United States, transporting the stolen jewelry back to Philadelphia after the thefts, where the jewelry was generally resold to stores in the "Jewelers Row" section of the city. Pierce and his crew carried out these thefts all over the country, often committing multiple thefts from different jewelry stores in a single day.   justice.gov


San Jose, CA: Suspect identified in 8 Smash and Grab burglaries
The San Jose Police Department (SJPD) has made a significant breakthrough in apprehending suspects allegedly responsible for multiple commercial burglaries targeting smoke shops. According to the SJPD, the suspects primarily used stolen Kia or Hyundai vehicles to collide with the businesses, breach their entrance, and steal merchandise, causing significant property damage. Jose Cabellos, aged 25, has been identified as one of the main suspects involved in at least eight commercial burglaries in March and April 2023. However, the SJPD believes additional accomplices were involved, and detectives are now pursuing leads. On June 16, 2023, officers arrested Cabellos in San Jose. Though his arrest seemingly halted the crime spree, a disturbing new wave of burglaries following the same pattern struck in July 2023.  hoodline.com


Albuquerque, NM: Update: Woman accused of stealing more than $19K from stores takes plea deal
A woman suspected of being at the center of a shoplifting crime ring has taken a plea deal. Police arrested Athena Padilla last year after they said she and three others stole more than $19,000 worth of items from Kohl's and Target. Investigators said they would mob the store and leave all at once. Court records show Padilla faced nearly three dozen charges but pled guilty to nine including five shoplifting. She will be sentenced at a later date.  krqe.com


Upper Merion, PA: Man Steals More Than $1200 In Items From Home Depot