RILA, NDAA Launch National Store Walk Month to Boost Safety & Fight ORC
National Store Walk Month: A Groundbreaking Initiative by RILA and NDAA to Strengthen Community Safety and Combat Organized Retail Crime

Initiative to Strengthen Community Safety, Combat Crime

In a groundbreaking initiative aimed at addressing retail crime and violence, the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA) are proud to announce the launch of National Store Walk Month, set to debut this September. This initiative seeks to address the pressing issues of organized retail crime and habitual theft and its impact on our communities and represents a pioneering effort to facilitate a vital exchange between local prosecutors and community retailers.

Throughout the month of September, District Attorneys nationwide will walk retail stores with management teams, exchanging insights, fostering understanding, and working synergistically to reduce retail crime and address other unlawful activity occurring in and around retail stores. This partnership will provide both parties with a comprehensive understanding of their challenges, enabling a unified, effective response.

"National Store Walk Month represents our next leap forward in establishing comprehensive retail crime mitigation strategies and fostering community well-being," said Lisa LaBruno, RILA's Senior Executive Vice President. "This initiative will bridge the gap between retailers and prosecutors, helping us collectively address the complex challenges our communities face."

Large-scale retail theft has profound societal implications, extending well beyond economic harm to retailers-it poses a safety risk to frontline retail workers, threatens jobs, and diminishes the vibrancy of local communities. NDAA Executive Director, Nelson Bunn, highlighted the broader objectives of the initiative: "Our goal extends beyond reducing crime; we're working to foster safer, healthier, and more vibrant communities. National Store Walk Month is a crucial element of that mission."

Frederick County State's Attorney J. Charles Smith III, President of the National District Attorneys Association, emphasized the importance of this comprehensive approach: "We need to tackle retail crime with broad, community-centered strategies. Through National Store Walk Month, we're taking a holistic stance to ensure our communities' safety and vibrancy."

National Store Walk Month invites all retailers and prosecutors to participate, fostering a united front against retail crime for a safer, more secure future. rila.org


Retail Associates Face Difficult Choice: Ignore Shoplifters Or Get Fired
Retailers tell employees to ignore retail theft or lose their jobs
Retailers have ordered employees to ignore gangs of shoplifters and started firing workers who buck the policy as an organized crime wave sweeps stores nationwide.

Losses from retail thefts nationwide will surge from $86.6 billion last year to at least $115 billion in 2025, bank holding company Capital One estimates, as stores lock up goods, bolster security and cut their losses rather than risk the financial liability of confronting thieves.

Shoplifting incidents cost retailers an average of $461.86 in 2020, and stores caught only about 2% of the incidents, according to Capital One. Business analysts say the cost is lower than the consequences of an employee getting injured, or worse, while trying to stop a theft.

Several reports show companies firing workers who intervene in heists. In a June 9 statement on store safety, the National Retail Federation praised businesses for training employees to contact the police and avoid "situations that may result in confrontation."

"The number one priority for retailers is ensuring the safety and security of both customers and workers," the retail trade group said.

As retailers take a zero-tolerance approach to confronting thieves, lawmakers are debating whether soft-on-crime policies in America's largest cities have contributed to a surge in organized retail crime, including daytime smash-and-grab robberies and follow-home "jugging" thefts.

On Capitol Hill, former prosecutors told House lawmakers at a June 13 hearing that criminal policies downgrading shoplifting and theft to less-serious offenses in recent years have roused crooks to act without impunity.

Some big-box retailers have abandoned crime-ridden cities as shoppers avoid the most targeted stores.

With zero-tolerance policies to protect employees and their ledgers, companies are reporting snowballing thefts, Mr. Friedman said. washingtontimes.com


Target Store Enacts New Chaperone Policy as Teen Thefts & Fights Surge
Calif. Target implements controversial 'chaperone policy' for teens after 4 p.m.

A new store policy at a Target in California is not sitting well with parents.

This teen is just one of many who said they were denied access to the Target at the Valley Plaza Mall. He was stopped at the front by security. They asked him how old he was and he asked them why and the security told him because anyone 18 and under can't enter Target without an adult after 4 p.m.," said Caywood.

Eyewitness News confirmed, their new rule is true. In fact, they said they cannot ask to check IDs but go based on if the person looks underage. Caywood said after her son told security he was over 18 years old he was let in.

"I told him that doesn't sound right, did you see anything in writing at the door? Did anybody else tell you? And did you see them stopping anybody else? And he said no," said Caywood. Then it happened again two weeks later with her 16-year-old daughter.

A Target employee told Eyewitness News the reasoning behind their new rule is that there have been too many fights, thefts and teens roaming the store.

The teen's father asked for them to put up a sign stating their new policy, but a sign has yet to be posted.

Zambrano also said profiling based on age to prevent the risk of theft is not against the law but stopping people based on race, gender, sexual orientation and disability is against the law.

Target employees said this rule could be extended for the rest of the year. fox11online.com


Legislation & Resources to Battle ORC
3 Resources to Counter Organized Retail Crime

To learn more about ORC & advocate for your business, check out these ORC resources and groups to help you develop your own loss prevention strategies.

INFORM Consumers Act This bill requires online marketplaces to collect, verify and disclose certain information from high-volume, third-party sellers. Online marketplaces must make certain information, such as sellers' names and contact information, available to consumers through the sellers' product listings and provide consumers with methods to report electronically and by telephone any suspicious activity on the marketplace.

Combating Organized Retail Crime Act This legislation has been introduced in both the House and Senate. It includes many of the proposals submitted to Congress and the Biden administration by the National Retail Federation to combat organized crime involving the illegal acquisition of retail goods for the purpose of selling those illegally obtained goods through physical and online retail marketplaces.

NRF's ORC/Investigators Network This network comprises retail loss prevention professionals and federal, state and local law enforcement officers. It shares information and strategizes solutions on the latest ORC trends.

Discover additional loss prevention strategies here and here.


Using Vacant Malls for Active Shooter Trainings
Vacant Eastfield Mall used for active shooter training by Hampden County Special Response Team
While the community awaits word of the demolition of the Eastfield Mall, the vacant building has been used to help train local law enforcement on active shooter situations.

The Hampden County Special Response Team and Medical Emergency Response Team recently used the vacant mall to train their officers and medical staff in the event of an active shooter. The response teams include members of local police departments, fire departments and the Hampden County Sheriff's Office.

"Unfortunately in today's world, we need to be prepared for the unexpected and prepare for the worst-case scenarios," Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi said. "When the regional response teams get together for training opportunities like this, it makes a huge difference in being ready to respond in case, God forbid, the call ever comes. We are proud to be a part of these regional teams to support the community in a time of need."

The Eastfield Mall closed on July 15 after more than 50 years of business. The new owners of the property, Onyx Partners, are planning to demolish the current building and build something new. Onyx Partners says the total cost of the redevelopment will fall between $65 million and $85 million and will take approximately two years to complete. wwlp.com


Holding Mall Owners Accountable for Violence
City might go after shopping center owner, site of mass shooting
The City of Lansing is looking to take action against the owner of the Logan Square shopping center following Sunday's mass shooting that injured five people.

Officials on Wednesday said they're looking to put some things together to try and stop the violence including the recommendation to rescind a permit from the Energy Event Center venue which held the large crowd.

City leaders want the shopping center owners to be held accountable as well.

"The City Attorney is looking at a nuisance suit of the facility, Logan Square. We've seen issues with illegal gambling, we've seen issues with parties like this, so the City Attorney is taking a look at that. At the request of council members at the request of me and see if there's a nuisance case to be made," Schor added.

He continued and said this would not prevent existing businesses from operating and hoped to move on things quickly. wlns.com


2023 On Track To Be Record-Breaking Year For Mass Shootings
U.S. averaging 2 mass shootings per day so far this year
The U.S. is currently on pace to meet or surpass the previous record for the most mass shootings in a year, which was set in 2021 with a total of 690, according to Gun Violence Archive (GVA) data.

Why it matters: So far this year, the U.S. has seen an average of two mass shootings every day, for a running total of 419. At this point in 2021, 401 mass shootings had occurred, and that year over all had a daily average of 1.9 mass shootings.

Details: Already, over 25,000 people have died from gun violence this year, and there are still 153 days left in 2023. That's an average of 118 deaths per day, and among those daily deaths were nearly one child between the ages of zero and 11 and over four teens between 12 to 17 years old.

What they're saying: "Gun violence takes an enormous toll on this country, and it is a toll that we all share," Kelly Drane, the research director for the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, told Axios. axios.com


In Case You Missed It: Legislation aims to deter organized retail crime

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Brick-and-Mortar Stores Remain Crucial
Forrester predicts offline retail sales will surpass $4 trillion by 2028

Though e-commerce has grown during the COVID-19 pandemic, brick-and-mortar stores remain a crucial, yet challenging part of retailers' strategies.

Following high inflation, offline retail sales, excluding auto and gas, reached $3.6 trillion in 2022 and are predicted to reach $4.2 trillion by 2028, according to a new Forrester report. By 2028, U.S. offline sales will make up 72% of the retail market.

Citing its 2022 Retail Benchmark Recontact Survey, Forrester noted that nearly a third of U.S. survey respondents said they enjoy in-store shopping and spending time outside their homes.

Click-and-collect sales, which include buy online, pick up in store and curbside pickup transactions, are projected to surpass $100 billion this year. Forrester projects that click-and-collect sales will exceed $200 billion by 2028 and comprise 12% of U.S. online retail sales. retaildive.com


Amazon Tries to Revive Brick-and-Mortar Grocery Chain
Amazon's grocery revamp has begun

Refreshing the Amazon Fresh store format and expanding online access underscore the company's commitment to succeeding in the industry, despite its recent stumbles.

On Wednesday, the company announced some significant changes to Amazon Fresh, including a refreshed store format and expanded online access that are meant to breathe life into the struggling grocery brand that started as an e-commerce service more than 15 years ago and began opening stores in 2020.

Several months after pausing the rollout of its Amazon Fresh stores due to underperformance, Amazon has completed updates to a pair of Chicago-area locations that emphasize tried-and-true merchandising tactics over technological wizardry.

The stores, located in Schaumburg and Oak Lawn, Illinois, feature more than 1,500 new products, new department signage, a Krispy Kreme donut shop and merchandising features that are meant to add excitement to locations that consumers and grocery experts both agree have felt dull and undifferentiated. The stores also now feature a few self-checkout stations, in a nod to the fact that shoppers aren't just captivated by Amazon's proprietary checkout technology. retaildive.com


COVID Making Slight Comeback
Covid hospitalizations are rising again. Here's what to know.

Wastewater data also points to a rise in Covid cases. Still, experts say the odds of getting seriously ill remain low.

Signs indicate that Covid is making a comeback after months of falling cases. But does the United States need to brace itself for a surge?

Experts told NBC News that while cases are going up, they are not currently expecting a huge spike in Covid and wouldn't advise people to change their behavior for now. nbcnews.com
 

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New York: Attorney General James Announces the Convictions of Crew Linked to Over 200 Commercial Burglaries
New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the convictions of six members of a crew responsible for over 200 burglaries of car dealerships, cellular phone stores, and ATM businesses located in the Lower Hudson Valley, New York City, and on Long Island. The crew of Willie Baines, Josepher Cartagena, Brandon Collazo-Rivera, Justin Herrera, Douglas Noble, and Alexander Santiago, all of Bronx County, allegedly stole cars, cellular phones, merchandise, and cash valued at more than $3 million, including at least 54 vehicles. The convictions were the result of a 13-month joint investigation by the Office of the Attorney General's (OAG) Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF), the New York City Police Department's (NYPD) Auto Crime Unit, and 29 local and county police departments. During the 13-month investigation, the theft crew was connected to over 200 commercial burglaries in 11 downstate counties, including Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens County, Kings County, Richmond County, Bronx County, Rockland County, Westchester County, Orange County, Putnam County, and Dutchess County, in addition to burglaries in Connecticut and New Jersey. The investigation revealed that members of the theft crew would travel to neighborhoods that contained several car dealerships and cell phone stores, often burglarizing several stores in one night. In the automobile dealership burglaries, members of the crew would smash the large windows at the front of the building, locate boxes in the dealership that contained key fobs, and then drive vehicles they were able to start right through the broken windows. In the cell phone and ATM store burglaries, members of the crew would smash the glass front doors, enter the stores' showrooms and offices, and steal as much merchandise and cash as they could carry out.  ag.ny.gov


Riverside, CA: Several people rob California jewelry, making off with $100,000 in valuables
At around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Daniel's Jewelers, a jewelry store in Riverside Plaza, was robbed, officials said. A video of the crime shows people running from the store, one with a large black trash bag. The suspects were all wearing hoodies and masks to cover their identity. According to the Riverside Police Department, the thieves got away with more than $100,000 worth of jewelry. Officer Ryan Railsback, a spokesman for Riverside police, said they had no suspects at this point but that authorities were following up on leads. Railsback said that the robbery was similar to other jewelry store heists in Orange County, Los Angeles County, and the Inland area.  eastbaytimes.com


Bay City, MI: Update: Men plead to stealing $147K from Michigan marijuana store
Much of it flew away as they fled police. n March, five men from downstate allegedly stole a work truck, drove it north to Bay County, and burglarized a marijuana store of more than $100,000 in merchandise. They then led police on a high-speed chase as loads of stolen weed flew through the air, eventually crashing into a civilian motorist. Now, three of the defendants have accepted plea deals that will likely see them serving prison time, all for stealing a plant product that has been legal in Michigan for years.  mlive.com


Ventura County, CA: Theft suspects targeting Rite Aid stores arrested after Ventura County pursuit
Three organized theft suspects were arrested following a pursuit through Ventura County. The suspects were identified as Miracle Beaudion, 20, from Covina, Trejour Heard, 21, from Los Angeles and Kayla Stark, 22, from San Pedro, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. The suspects are wanted for a series of thefts targeting Rite Aid stores throughout the Thousand Oaks, Camarillo and Los Angeles areas, authorities said. On July 31, patrol units responded to reports of a theft at a Rite Aid in an unincorporated Mira Monte community in Ojai. Victims said one suspect entered the store, filled several bags with merchandise and fled the area in a getaway car occupied by two other suspects. After noticing the suspect triggering the store's security system, a citizen spotted the getaway car and began trailing the vehicle while relaying information to deputies. During the arrest, detectives recovered over $6,000 worth of stolen merchandise from the suspects' vehicle. "The Ventura County Sheriff's Office would like to thank the members of the public for their ongoing support and due diligence in providing information to assist our agency in solving crimes," officials said.  ktla.com


Wayne, NJ: Officer Nabs Gang Of Four Fleeing Willowbrook Shoplifting Spree; totaling $5000

Philadelphia, PA: 2 sought for stealing thousands in cash and merchandise from Grocery store

New Britain, PA: Philadelphia Man Wanted By Police For Retail Thefts at Giant Foods and Rite Aid; totaling over $500