Combatting Retail Crime for Safer Communities
Launch of RILA-National District Attorney's Association Online Retail Crime Resource Hub
The partnership between RILA and NDAA over the past year has been a platform to connect retailers and prosecutors across the country, inspire transparent dialogue, facilitate best practice sharing and enhance collaboration. All with one goal in mind: Drive down retail crime and violence.

We are excited to announce the launch of our retail crime resource hub, a one-stop shop for retailers and prosecutors to learn more about and engage in the groundbreaking work we're doing together. Retail executives and prosecutors will have access to our full library of webinar recordings, local DA contacts, news about our store walk initiative and other projects, and information on upcoming events. And, you'll learn everything you need to know about the Vibrant Communities Initiative, the most comprehensive approach to addressing retail crime in the industry today.

The National District Attorneys Association (NDAA) and Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) have formed a first-of-its-kind national partnership to combat retail crime. The launch of the national partnership follows a successful summit held on June 30, 2022, bringing together leading retailers and district attorneys' offices from around the country to establish open lines of communication between prosecutors and retailers, identify common challenges, share information on repeat offenders, and work together to identify criminal networks targeting local retailers. rila.org

 
Crime & Disorder Could Fuel the Return of Retail Deserts in Big Cities
Are big cities on the verge of a new era of retail deserts?

The Return of Urban Retail Deserts

Stores fleeing from rising theft will leave residents in cities like New York with fewer places to shop, less merchandise to buy, and higher prices to pay.

These days, the news is filled with reports of announcements from big retailers like Target, Whole Foods, and national drugstore chains closing stores that have become unprofitable in the increasingly chaotic neighborhoods of cities like Chicago, Portland, and Seattle. New York City has lost approximately 675 outlets operated by national chains since the pandemic began, according to a retail census. Much of that decline can be attributed to the triple whammy of Covid shutdowns, residents leaving the city, and rising social disorder in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests in June 2020. More worrying is that a post-pandemic city that should be seeing a return to normal is now plagued by retail theft, spurred by bail reform and reduced charges for shoplifting. As a result, post-pandemic New York City still has 60,000 fewer retailer jobs than it did during the height of the pre-pandemic boom. By contrast, many cities-including Dallas, Houston, Nashville, Orlando, Tampa, Charlotte, and Raleigh-have regained and surpassed their pre-pandemic retail job numbers.

Most troubling, perhaps, has been the decline of city drug stores. Duane Reade (a chain owned by Walgreens) and Rite Aid have collectively closed more than 100 city stores since 2019. Already beset by everything from online competition to supply-chain woes, the stores now face the task of coping with out-of-control theft.

Other essential stores are also disappearing. Key Food, a chain of small supermarkets, has closed ten outlets, leaving residents in communities like Glen Oaks, Queens, without a supermarket. Dollar Tree, a chain of low-cost general-merchandise stores that saw its recent financial performance eroded by rising thievery, has shuttered 12 New York City stores. In stores that remain open, the chain has stopped selling some name-brand items most heavily targeted by shoplifters.

Nearly 30 years ago, policymakers began describing communities that lack essential retailers, especially supermarkets, as "deserts." Local government tried a host of policies to lure stores, from incentives to public browbeating; what ultimately worked was neighborhood revivals spurred by declining crime.

We seem on the verge of a new era of retail deserts. It will be harder, however, for policymakers to blame this sad reversal on racial discrimination or reluctance by firms to do business in certain neighborhoods. America's major stores have shown themselves more than willing to invest in urban communities. A problem caused by bad public policy is driving them away. Shoppers and residents are the losers. city-journal.org


Will California's New ORC Funding Boost Help SF?
S.F. to get $17 million in state money to combat retail theft
San Francisco is poised to receive $17.3 million in state funds to combat organized retail theft, a crime that has led stores to close and become a raw topic for business owners, some of whom criticized city leaders for abandoning them.

The majority of the award from California's organized retail theft grant program, $15.3 million, would go to the city's Police Department for more patrols, crime analysts and prevention efforts, while the district attorney would secure $2 million to prosecute alleged perpetrators. Both departments vowed to tackle the crime wave at its origin points - the crews that drive in and strike at shopping areas, as well as the resellers who fuel a market for stolen merchandise.

Commissioners at the Board of State and Community Corrections approved the grants during their meeting Thursday morning.

"This is critical support to help us expand on our efforts to tackle retail theft," Mayor London Breed said in a statement, noting how the ransacking of merchandise has beset businesses of all sizes. She thanked Gov. Gavin Newsom for assisting cities throughout the state, given the wide reach of theft rings.

Law enforcement investigations have revealed that goods stolen in one city may be fenced in another, with transactions enabled by social media - a new paradigm that required coordination among agencies. Thieves have been known to rove the state in caravans, targeting big-box stores and swarming malls or shopping districts, such as Union Square and Stanford Shopping Center.

With the new funding, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins will hire a full-time prosecutor to focus on retail theft. The office will evaluate each case to determine an appropriate resolution, ranging from drug treatment and diversion programs to incarceration.

Police Chief Bill Scott plans to use his department's share for overtime, hiring officers, automated license plate readers, analysts, squad vehicles and more robust communication with the public.  sfchronicle.com


Oakland Leaders Fumble the Football & Miss Out on Funding to Fight Theft
Oakland loses out on millions in crime-prevention funding after missing grant deadline
Oakland has missed out on an opportunity to collect millions in state funding to help police combat organized retail theft, a crime that has felled stores and restaurants and put business leaders on edge.

When the Board of State Community Corrections approved awards for dozens of cities and counties Tuesday - divvying up $267 million that Gov. Gavin Newsom touted as "the largest-ever single investment" to combat retail theft - Oakland's Police Department was conspicuously absent from the list of grantees.

Merchants who had implored City Hall for help were left perplexed and frustrated as neighboring cities reaped millions for prevention measures, including extra patrols, squad cars and automated license plate readers to track down suspected perpetrators.

San Francisco received $17.3 million from the state and the Alameda County District Attorney's Office received $2 million. San Jose Police Department secured nearly $8.5 million. A spokesperson for the state board said Oakland officials failed to submit an application on time.

She acknowledged that Oakland's proposal for the retail theft prevention grant was missing some documents when the deadline passed. The city administrator has launched an investigation -- a standard protocol for such oversights and a decision that Mayor Sheng Thao supported, according to city spokespeople. sfchronicle.com


ORCAs Say 'Enough is Enough'
New Mexico Organized Retail Crime Association hosts first annual conference
With retail crime on the rise, one association is saying enough is enough. The Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce is addressing the issues head-on. The Santa Fe chamber's president and CEO, Bridget Dixson, and the state chamber's president and CEO, Rob Black, came onto New Mexico Living to share the mission behind their work.

The New Mexico Organized Retail Crime Association works with retail member companies and law enforcement agencies to share information leading to the prevention and prosecution of organized retail crime in the state. This year, the association is hosting its first annual conference.

The conference will occur from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, September 28, at the Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown. The event will host speakers like Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, NM Attorney General Raúl Torrez, Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen, and others.

To learn more about the event, click here; to register, click here.


RetailWire Discussion & Poll on Walmart's In-Store Police Substation
100% of survey respondents said it would bring at least some benefits

Atlanta-Based Walmart To Reopen With a Police Substation -- Will Other Stores in High-Crime Neighborhoods Follow Suit?
A Walmart on Atlanta's Martin Luther King Jr. Drive will reopen next May with a police department substation in the latest measure to address a shoplifting epidemic across retail.

The big-box grocer and pharmacy in Vine City, a low-income neighborhood on Atlanta's west side, will feature a workplace where police officers will be able to fill out paperwork and hold meetings in addition to charging their phones and body cameras. Their presence is expected to discourage shoplifting.

"You're thinking about going into this Walmart to do some shoplifting or a robbery or whatever - you see the APD logo and you say, 'Ah, not today,'" said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.

He added, "After talking with the Merchants Association on MLK and Clark University and other people in the neighborhood, folks were saying they want to see more police presence."

Walmart in a statement to Fortune said this isn't the first time the retailer has set up a law enforcement facility within a store, although it didn't provide details.

RetailWire also polled its readers, asking: What do you think of the merits of Walmart's move to open a law enforcement facility within a store? What role will law enforcement likely have to play in helping reduce shoplifting incidents, particularly in high-shrink neighborhoods?

As of this writing, 25% of respondents said that it would bring "many more benefits" and 75% said it would bring "somewhat more benefits."

Will more stores in high-crime areas follow suit? retailwire.com


Using AI to Curb Mass Shootings?
Mass shootings have tripled from 2016 to 2022

NJ's Ocean City taps AI gun detection in hopes of thwarting mass shootings
With decades of failed attempts at gun reform amid the frequency in mass shootings, some have sought alternative solutions through artificial intelligence.

The Ocean City School District in New Jersey, as well as the city's boardwalk, have implemented new technology developed by ZeroEyes, a company that says it uses AI, paired with human experts, to scan camera feeds for guns.

"I don't think anybody should question or be fearful of an artificial intelligence program that's going to identify an immediate imminent threat of someone being shot or killed. You can't put a price tag on saving a life," Jay Prettyman, the police chief in Ocean City, told ABC News.

Prettyman said that AI gun detection could also serve as a deterrent from possible crime.

Mass shootings have nearly tripled from 2022 to 2016, and there have already been over 480 mass shootings this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

It's not just Ocean City that has partnered with ZeroEyes - the company says it has hundreds of clients in over 35 states, including Philadelphia's transportation system SEPTA and the United States Air Force.

ZeroEyes let ABC News into their headquarters outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to watch a demonstration of how their artificial intelligence system works. The company says their alert system- from AI detection to the dispatch of law enforcement - takes less than 30 seconds. abcnews.go.com


NYC 'Safest Big City in America'?
Mayor Adams calls NYC 'safest big city in America' as statistics show crime is down
Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday called New York City "the safest big city in America" after new statistics released by the NYPD showed crime is down in most categories compared to 2022.

There has been a decrease in five of seven crime categories in 2023 compared to the same period last year. Shootings are down 26%, homicides are down 10% and grand larceny is down 2.3%, according to the NYPD.

The mayor's remarks came just before two shootings in Brooklyn Wednesday. pix11.com


(Update) H.R.895 - Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023 
Four new co-sponsors signed up yesterday. It's picking up activity. 3 Democrats - 1 Republican

A closer look at California's $267 million war on "organized retail crime"

Shoppers rage about 'new retail reality' as major chains copy Best Buy & lock down products to battle skyrocketing theft

Will Facial Rec Become as Effective as DNA Testing for Fighting Crime?
Facial recognition could transform policing in same way as DNA, says Met chief

Sir Mark Rowley says technology could help catch wanted criminals

Britain's most senior police officer has predicted that facial recognition technology will transform criminal investigations as much as DNA testing has done.

Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan police commissioner, said: "We've also shown recently that live facial recognition is massively effective at picking out wanted offenders from crowds of people."

Speaking at an event to mark his first year in the post, Rowley added: "The next step is more exciting: retroactively using facial recognition to identify unknown suspects from CCTV images is showing immense potential.

"The results that we're getting are beyond what I expected and I think are going to transform investigative work, potentially, in the way that DNA transformed investigative work 30 years ago."

Rowely suggested the use of new technology, such as facial recognition, was necessary to make up for cuts in police funding and would help tackle the greater complexity of crimes.

"We spend less per capita on policing than many other western countries," he said. "I have 28% less to spend on policing London in real terms per capita than we had a decade ago.

He added: "Success in such a landscape with constrained resources requires real precision. That's the reason we're using data - for that precision to have the maximum effect with a minimum resource." theguardian.com


Post-COVID Return to Work Rates Vary Worldwide
Where in the World Are People Back in the Office?

A city's density, the size of people's homes and cultural norms are among the factors that affect hybrid work patterns.

Levels of remote work have varied across regions based on factors like housing density, length of Covid lockdowns and cultural norms surrounding how much workers can fight for workplace autonomy, according to interviews with nearly two dozen workers and executives, as well as a study that included researchers at Stanford, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México and the Ifo Institute, who surveyed more than 42,000 workers in 34 countries.

Whether a person is more likely to do work at a cubicle in a big office tower or on the living room couch now depends on where in the world those cubicles and couches are. Many Asian countries have lower levels of remote work than countries in Europe and North America. Those with the highest levels are Britain, Canada and the United States.

In the United States and Britain, workers across industries spent five to six paid days a month this spring working from home, according to the study. Other European countries had slightly lower levels of remote work, with Germans at four days per month across industries. Asia's work-from-home levels were the lowest, with South Koreans working less than two days per month remotely, Japan two and Taiwan under three. nytimes.com


Fixing the Worker Shortage with AI
AI is solving the labor shortage problem for fast-food chains

Domino's, McDonald's, and White Castle are using voice bots to take phone and drive-thru orders.

Restaurants typically play catchup when it comes to adopting technologies. But the pandemic forced chains to quickly embrace innovations that save labor costs and improve customer ordering experiences.

Today, restaurants are dramatically changing how they serve customers by deploying artificial-intelligence-powered systems. AI voice bots take orders in White Castle, McDonald's, and Checkers & Rally's drive-thru lanes. Burrito and pizza orders can be made by talking to conversational bots deployed by Chipotle and Domino's. DoorDash recently began offering voice-bot technology to restaurants.

The timing is right for such technologies. Automation tools are growing in popularity as the restaurant industry continues to be challenged by labor shortages and turnover. In the 2023 "State of the Restaurant Industry" report by the National Restaurant Association, about 58% of restaurant operators surveyed said using tech and automation to alleviate labor shortages would become more common this year. businessinsider.com


ISC East Registration is Open!
ISC East, the Northeast's leading security and public safety event, hosted in collaboration with premier sponsor SIA and in partnership with ASIS NYC, will take place November 14-16 (SIA Education@ISC: November 14-16 | Exhibit Hall: November 15-16) at the Javits Center in NYC.

Learn and evaluate the latest technologies and solutions from 240+ exhibiting companies, network with peers at our special industry events, and enhance your knowledge with our expanded SIA Education@ISC Program.

Register today for FREE and save on a 3-Day SIA Education@ISC package before the early bird rate expires on September 28! na.eventscloud.com


Joann undergoes restructuring, layoffs
Craft retailer Joann on Wednesday announced changes to its corporate structure that resulted in the elimination of some positions "from various departments." In a statement to Retail Dive, the company said that over the "past few months" it has restructured both its field and corporate operations "to more closely align our expense and corporate structure to the needs of the business." retaildive.com


McDonald's offering 50-cent double cheeseburgers on National Cheeseburger Day

Starbucks' Howard Schultz steps down from board

Spike in gas prices boosted retail sales last month

Newport Beach, CA: Update : $260K in high-end watches stolen during smash-and-grab robbery
Surveillance cameras captured three smash-and-grab suspects storming into a Newport Beach jewelry store and getting away with an estimated $260,000 worth of high-end watches last week. The robbery at Jewelers on Time, located in the 100 block of Riverside Avenue, happened on Sept. 8 at around 4 p.m., according to a store employee. Surveillance footage shows three masked suspects in black clothing rush into the jewelry store as man inside the store, who was wearing a yellow shirt, appeared to be holding the security gate open. One of the thieves uses a hammer to shatter the glass display cases while the other two suspects begin snatching trays of watches and putting them in bags. Two of the masked suspects then turn toward the door, which was still being held open by the man in a yellow shirt. As they exit the store, one of the suspects pulls the man holding the door out with them with third masked suspect following. As the four men get outside, they all flee in the same direction. It is unclear if the man wearing the yellow shirt is a suspect in the robbery.   ktla.com


Nashville, TN: Two security officers assaulted in Green Hills mall robbery
One person was arrested after five people attempted to rob the Louis Vuitton store at the Mall at Green Hills, according to an arrest report. At about 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Michael Parish and four other people went into the store and started to grab items and leave without paying, police said. An officer with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department watched a video of Parish grabbing a bag and running out of the store. As he ran out, Parish was stopped by mall security. Parish pushed the mall security officer in an attempt to run away, according to the report. Then, another security officer was able to tackle Parish and hold him to the ground until police arrived. As the security officer held Parish down, another suspect in red came up from behind and punched the mall security officer in the head causing minor injuries to the face and head, according to the arrest report. Police arrested Parish and the four other alleged accomplices got away with seven sunglasses, fourteen belts, and six purses totaling $40,000. One of the managers at Louis Vuitton witnessed the assaults and the theft.  wsmv.com


Milton, GA: Home Depot claims employee stole $30,000 of merchandise
A Loss Prevention officer at Home Depot on Windward Parkway reported to police Sept. 1 that an employee had stolen nearly $30,000 in store merchandise. The store officer handed police descriptions of each incident, describing dozens of items the suspect, a 31-year-old Alpharetta man, had allegedly stolen from the store from Aug. 2 to Aug. 29. According to the police report, the store officer was able to cross-reference the stolen items with the store's inventory using an exception-based reporting system. At the time of the report, the store officer was unable to provide serial numbers to the stolen items but told police he would forward surveillance footage of the thefts.  appenmedia.com


Manatee County, FL: Man used fake name to steal 69 Apple devices from cell phone store
A 33-year-old Miami Gardens man fraudulently employed at a Verizon store in Lakewood Ranch stole thousands of dollars worth of equipment, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office says. Detectives say Nigel Thompkins-Wilson used false documents and information, including a Social Security card in the name Steven Edwards, as well as a Social Security number and date of birth not belonging to him, to apply as a manager at the Verizon store on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard in Manatee County. On his second day of work, the sheriff's office says he stole 69 pieces of equipment, including various models of Apple Watches, iPhones and iPads worth nearly $64,000. Thompkins-Wilson was arrested by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office on Sept. 10 and charged with a third-degree felony for using false identification to gain employment and a second-degree felony for grand theft of the second degree, according to Manatee Clerk of Court documents.  bradenton.com


Brea, CA: 3 robbers threaten Rite Aid worker before leaving with trash bags full of vitamins, drugs
Three thieves threatened a Rite Aid worker in Brea with pepper spray Wednesday evening during a robbery in which they filled several trash bags with vitamins and over-the-counter medications, police said. The robbery occurred around 7:54 p.m. at 405 West Imperial Highway, near Brea Boulevard. Two men and one woman entered the store, filling multiple trash bags with vitamins and medicine, including GNC supplements, said Brea Police Sgt. Richard Wildman. Police said the thieves reportedly cleared an aisle full of merchandise. No injuries were reported.  ocregister.com


Salt Lake City, UT: Utah AG's office asks for help finding suspects in elaborate retail theft ring
The Utah Attorney General's Office is asking for the public's help to bust an organized crime ring across the Wasatch Front. The group is stealing thousands of dollars of merchandise from stores, in a crime that ultimately trickles down to shoppers. Sitting in his office, special agent Steve Jensen pours over hours of surveillance. The videos come from different retail stores across Utah. Jensen is on the Utah Attorney General's Office Crimes Against Statewide Economy Strike Force, which appropriately goes by CASE. And in each case, he said they'll arrest several people involved in these organized crime rings. He shared pictures of busts they made, recovering thousands of dollars worth of stolen merchandise. "A lot of times it happens to be retailers as far as clothing, apparel, shoes, something that they can try to make a quick dollar on," he said. "And it's an easy crime to commit in their eyes." There's one case Jensen is hoping the public can help crack, and the CASE Strike Force is sharing surveillance photos in hopes that Utahns will recognize the people involved.  ksltv.com


Winnipeg, MB, Canada: $116K worth of designer sunglasses, eyewear stolen over summer
Two people are facing charges in connection with a spree of thefts over the summer that saw more than $100,000 worth of designer sunglasses and eyewear stolen from various stores. Police said nearly 300 pairs of glasses valued at over $116,000 were stolen between June 5 and Aug. 28. There were six incidents in which police say dozens of glasses and sunglasses were stolen at a time. The first happened on June 5 at a business in the 1500 block of Regent Avenue West. Police said a suspect took 23 designer sunglasses valued at more than $5,600 and then left. On June 12 and Aug. 28, police said a suspect went to a business in the 1200 block of St. Mary's Road and took 102 designer eyeglass frames and sunglasses worth more than $36,000 and then left. On June 23, July 6 and Aug. 4, a suspect is alleged to have hit a business in the 500 block of Sterling Lyon Parkway and stole 173 designer sunglasses over the three days, totalling around $73,000. On Sept. 8, police executed a search warrant in the 2300 block of Pembina Highway. More than 40 pairs of designer glasses were found in the home, valued at more than $12,000. As for the remaining pairs of stolen sunglasses, police tell CTV News they can only speculate as to their whereabouts.  winnipeg.ctvnews.ca


Forsyth County, GA: Cumming man charged with $500 felony shoplifting at Walmart