Target Teaming Up with DHS to Fight Theft
Target announces major policy change with Homeland Security to combat theft as shoplifting scourge shutters stores

Target have announced it will team up with Homeland Security to tackle soaring theft after it was forced to shut several stores.

On Tuesday, the beloved chain issued a statement to customers listing the ways it will strive to combat criminality in its stores.

"At Target, we take the decision to close stores very seriously, and only do so after taking meaningful steps to invest in the guest experience and improve business performance," the statement began. "With that said, we have made the difficult decision to close nine Target stores across four states, effective Oct. 21.

"In this case, we cannot continue operating these stores because theft and organized retail crime are threatening the safety of our team and guests, and contributing to unsustainable business performance."

The company then lists its store policy changes, namely its decision to team up with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Homeland Security Investigations. It comes after Target made the shocking announcement that it will pull the plug on nine stores in major cities due to the spiralling crime.

Closures in New York City, Seattle, and Portland, are coming after Target CEO Brian Cornell warned that historically high crime rates could force other execs to make tough decisions.

"We cannot continue operating these stores because theft and organized retail crime are threatening the safety of our team and guests, and contributing to unsustainable business performance," Target said in a news release. the-sun

Big Cities Suffering as Crime Closures Continue to Pile Up
Target's closings because of crime protect its profit, but at expense of communities and customers

Retailers cutting their losses in big cities already facing post-pandemic challenges is yet another hurdle for major downtowns hoping to re-establish their vitality.

Closing stores is an extreme measure to combat crime and safety concerns, and while Target's move was one of the strongest recent examples of that, it isn't alone. In San Francisco, several stores have closed, including Nordstrom and a new Whole Foods.

Retailers cutting their losses in big cities already facing post-pandemic challenges is yet another hurdle for major downtowns hoping to re-establish their vitality.

"At the end of the day, I think those were struggling locations, and I think the theft and security was a real issue, but it was really a combination of factors," said Tom Gillpatrick, a business professor at Portland State University and founder of the school's Center for Retail Leadership. "It's a changing of the urban environment."

Before Target's closures, Nordstrom shuttered both its stores in downtown San Francisco this summer because of what it called the city's changing dynamics. Whole Foods also closed its downtown store this year because of worker safety, while San Francisco-based Old Navy shuttered its flagship store on Market Street as well.

Walmart closed its two Portland stores and four of its eight Chicago stores earlier this year, explaining the Chicago ones had not been profitable since the company opened the first one nearly 17 years ago. Outdoor retailer REI also said it will close its Portland store after numerous break-ins. startribune.com


California's Workplace Violence Prevention Bill Becomes Law
'Establishing new workplace violence prevention standards in California'

Governor Newsom Signs Into Law Comprehensive Workplace Violence Prevention Legislation

The law requires employers to develop workplace violence prevention plans as part of their injury and illness prevention programs.

On September 30, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill (SB) No. 553, which requires virtually every California employer to take certain steps to prevent or respond to workplace violence. The new law adds Section 6401.9 to the Labor Code and goes into effect on July 1, 2024.

• On September 30, 2023, Governor Newsom signed into law SB 553, establishing new workplace violence prevention standards in California.

• The law requires employers to develop workplace violence prevention plans as part of their injury and illness prevention programs.

The law requires employers to implement a comprehensive workplace violence prevention plan with very specific components and procedures. The law also requires employers to:

• record violent workplace incidents or threats in a violent incident log;
• provide effective training to all employees; and
• maintain records related to the workplace violence prevention plan. ogletree.com


Oakland's Doom Loop: Crime Rising, Stores Closing & Public Losing Trust
Oakland Fails to Combat Retail Theft: Consequences & Solutions

The Devastating Impact of Oakland's Failure to Apply for Government Grants to Combat ORC

Oakland has failed to apply for these crucial grants, devastatingly impacting the city's ability to tackle organized retail theft effectively.

The consequences of Oakland's failure to apply for government grants to combat ORC

Target's decision to close stores in Oakland, San Francisco, and Pittsburg due to high levels of organized retail theft highlights the consequences of Oakland's failure to apply for government grants to combat this issue. This decision was made due to the threat posed by organized retail theft, which has caused significant property loss and made for an unsustainable business performance. The closure of these stores not only affects Target's business operations but also has a significant impact on the local communities and economies.

Understanding the consequences of Oakland's negligence in applying for government grants

Without financial support, Oakland can't implement effective strategies, resulting in a rise in crime rates. This lack of funding erodes trust and confidence in Oakland's ability to safeguard businesses and communities. Neglecting the opportunity to secure funds for innovative technologies and programs worsens the situation. The consequences are extensive, impacting the economy and residents' sense of security.

Conclusion

These grants provide resources for increased law enforcement, improved security measures, and community outreach programs. It's imperative that Oakland rectifies this failure to prevent further economic decline and encourage potential investment in the city. original.newsbreak.com


Sheriff Blasts Zero-Bail Policy That Took Effect Oct. 1
LA County Sheriff Robert Luna talks zero-bail policy, retail thefts and more
When it comes to fighting organized retail thefts, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department received a boost thanks to more than $15 million in funds from the state.

Sheriff Luna plans to use the added money to enhance response capabilities and investigative responsibilities. Luna called the crimes "unacceptable" and said he's committed to working with the business community. His department would also like to prosecute not only those who steal from retail stores, but also people who drive the suspects to the scene of the crimes and people who knowingly buy stolen goods.

Meanwhile, a controversial new zero-cash bail will take effect Oct 1. During Eyewitness Newsmakers, Sheriff Luna discussed the options available to deputies when it comes to criminals and addressed potential actions for suspects who are repeatedly arrested.

"It's frustrating, but what we're trying to do is give this new process a chance. I'm very concerned about it," he said. Sheriff Luna did not discuss deputy gangs in depth, but called them "unacceptable." He's pushing for more training, and formed an office to work on policies moving forward.

The sheriff said he's not a big advocate for the death penalty, but believes suspects who ambush law enforcement should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, which includes the death penalty. abc7.com


Using California's New ORC Funding to Fight Theft
New tech & more: Modesto police plan to strike back on retail theft with $6M grant

The new funds will enhance the operations by allowing the department to fund overtime for officers to focus on theft cases and much more.

Modesto Police Department was awarded $6,003,419 by the California Board of State and Community Corrections.

Captain Adams says they are already working with businesses to tackle the issue. However, the new funds will enhance the operations by allowing the department to fund overtime for officers to focus on theft cases. They also plan to hire a third civilian investigator and buy new technologies and even more license plate readers to get ahead of the problem.

Modesto police hopes all these efforts will reduce crime, support and attract businesses and increase the quality of life. abc10.com


Body-Worn Cameras to Fight Store Theft
UK: Aldi offers staff body-worn cameras amid shoplifting surge
Aldi has become the latest supermarket to offer staff body-worn cameras in a bid to deter shoplifters. Chief executive Giles Hurley said the move was being trialled in a handful of the supermarket's stores as crime rates across its portfolio surged.

"With body cams, we currently have a trial which is underway in part of our business, exploring what benefits we can derive from that for our colleagues.

Hurley said the cameras were among "a range of security measures in place", which also include checking customers' shopping bags at the checkouts, to respond to the rise in crime.

Tesco revealed at the start of the month that shop workers had been offered body cameras following an increase in violent attacks.

Fellow grocer Morrisons has also launched a body-worn camera trial in 25 of its locations, with the possibility of rolling it out further, in response to the recent wave of crime. retailgazette.co.uk


London: UK: New national police intelligence unit to crackdown on shoplifters
Squad will finally treat crime on par with robbery, burglary and fraud as organised gangs plunder Britain's high streets, garden centres and even charity shops Shoplifting will be treated as a 'high-harm' cross-border crime on par with robbery, burglary and fraud by a new specialist national police team. The squad of intelligence analysts will be tasked with identifying the organised criminal gangs blamed for fuelling a 37 per cent increase in shoplifting in a year - with high street stores, garden centres and even charity shops targeted. High street giants including John Lewis, Co-op, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose and Next are each pumping £60,000 into the operation, dubbed Project Pegasus. The unit will see police and retailers across the UK pool their intelligence to target repeat offenders. It is part of a wider crackdown on shoplifting to be announced by ministers and police chiefs over the next fortnight. Katy Bourne, the police and crime commissioner for Sussex and the national lead for business and retail crime, said gangs had been evading justice due to the lack of a coordinated national approach.  dailymail.co.uk


More businesses reporting organized retail theft to police in Charlotte

The Los Angeles wave of retail theft spreads to The Grove

Opinion: The fall of Lululemon - how stores surrendered to looters

Walmart Hit with $20 Million Lawsuit from Store Shooting Survivor

The Hayes Report on Loss Prevention
Quarterly - Fall 2023 - Vol. 38 No. 43

Topics: Cargo Theft-Holiday Alert - Holiday Challenges - Apprehensions & Dollar Recoveries Soar in 2022 - Testing For Success - Believe It or Not - The Bulletin Board

Mark Doyle Talks --- 2023 Holiday Season is Fast Approaching

Are you ready for the upcoming holiday season and the influx of both customers and thieves? I say, bring on the customers and all the sales increases, but let's do our best to limit the thieves and shoplifters. I think the use of quality greeters and great customer service will be key this holiday season to limiting our losses, as well as properly utilized anti-theft equipment. In addition, with the increase of seasonal/temp associates, be sure to maintain your audit program to ensure all company P&P and Shrink Program requirements continue to be adhered to during this busy season. Until next year...

Click here to read the full newsletter


Security Gaps At Airports Give Criminals an Edge
Criminal Gangs Exploit Security Gaps to Infiltrate Airports
While there has always been some degree of threat posed by insiders, experts say the mass hiring after the dropping of pandemic-era travel restrictions has given criminal entities the chance to plant or recruit new accomplices as they work to re-establish their own operations.

Blackwell said the number of serious security incidents recorded by ISARR involving airport insiders worldwide so far this year is 48, up from 35 for all of 2022. Those include a cargo handler in Miami being arrested after allegedly stealing $1.2 million worth of Samsung cellphones from a DHL freight container, and two United Airlines bag handlers in San Francisco being charged with removing marijuana from checked luggage and sneaking it out disguised as trash in 20-gallon bin bags.

Security training was difficult to conduct during the pandemic and there has been a lot of pressure on resources to provide that training to new staff since then, which the U.N.'s ICAO said has added to the vulnerabilities. Workers who left their jobs while on furlough but who still have access codes to secure areas of airports and insider knowledge of operations also pose a risk, the agency said.

"If you ask an airport security manager what keeps them awake at night most would say the insider threat," said Philip Baum, managing director of aviation-security consulting firm Green Light. wsj.com


Retail Bankruptcies Coming Soon?
11 retailers at risk of bankruptcy in 2023

From Joann and Rite Aid to Petco and The Container Store, here's who's most at risk in the next 12 months.

The first nine months of 2023 have seen big-name retailers including David's Bridal, Bed Bath & Beyond and Party City file for bankruptcy. And more could be on the way.

Fitch's own list of vulnerable retailers includes players like 99 Cents, At Home, Belk, Rugs USA and Joann. CreditRiskMonitor, which labels companies with a FRISK score to measure the probability of them filing for bankruptcy within 12 months, listed 11 noteworthy retailers and brands with either a 4% to 10% chance of filing for bankruptcy or a 10% to 50% chance.

The story of who files and who doesn't often comes down to debt, according to David Silverman, senior director of Fitch Ratings' U.S. retail team.  retaildive.com

Religious Discrimination Suit Against Chipotle
Chipotle Sued After Manager Grabbed Muslim Employee's Hijab & 'Yanked' It Off

The federal agency is requesting a jury trial and for Chipotle to adopt policies that provide equal employment for employees of all religions

A federal agency has sued the restaurant chain Chipotle for religious harassment and retaliation after an assistant store manager allegedly removed an employee's hijab after she repeatedly refused his requests to remove her headscarf.

The manager's "offensive and incessant requests" for Saifan to remove her hijab, and his attempt to physically take it off, were "unwelcome, intentional, severe, based on religion, and created a hostile working environment based on religion," the lawsuit alleged, according to the Associated Press. themessenger.com


Return-to-Office Rates Hit Highest Level Since Pandemic
Tougher Return-to-Office Policies Are No Remedy for Half-Empty Buildings

Office owners are struggling with near record-high vacancy rates

First, the good news for office landlords: A post-Labor Day bump nudged return-to-office rates in mid-September to their highest level since the onset of the pandemic.

Now the bad: Office attendance in big cities is still barely half of what it was in 2019, and company get-tough measures are proving largely ineffective at boosting that rate much higher. wsj.com


Lululemon enacts layoffs amid Peloton partnership
Approximately 120 Lululemon Studio employees are impacted following the brand's announcement that it will stop selling its Mirror device.

Owners of 14 Subway restaurants made teenagers use dangerous equipment, suffer burns, and work unlawful hours, says DOL

Kicking off NIST's Cybersecurity Awareness Month Celebration & Our Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2023 Blog Series
To kick-off our 2023 blog series, we sat down to interview NIST's David Temoshok-and he walked us through his insights and ideas relative to enabling multi-factor authentication, along with sharing a bit about what he's up to these days at NIST.

Multi-factor authentication uses a combination of something you know, such as a password, in combination with something you have, such as an authentication application on your phone, or something you are, such as fingerprint or facial recognition, to prove you are who you say you are online. So even if your password is stolen and compromised, attackers will not be able to gain access to your accounts because they cannot provide the second authentication factor to login.

This week's Cybersecurity Awareness Month theme is 'enabling multi-factor authentication.' How does your work/specialty area at NIST tie into this behavior?

All accounts that are established to access government online services require multi-factor authentication as a critical security control and privacy protection. We work closely with federal agencies and industry to explain why multi-factor authentication is critical for protection against cyber-attacks and account takeover (and how it can be used most effectively to meet the very broad and diverse needs of the government and the public that we serve).

How does enabling multi-factor authentication help people and/or businesses when it comes to cybersecurity? Why is it so important?

The new Volume provides technical guidance for phishing-resistant multifactor authentication using cryptographic authentication processes, such as Fast Identity Online (FIDO) commercially available authenticators and the government's Personal Identity Verification (PIV) cryptographic authentication processes. nist.gov
 

FBI Ransomware Warning
FBI: Crippling 'Dual Ransomware Attacks' on the Rise

Once they compromise an victim with an initial ransomware attack, threat actors are ready to deploy a secondary attack with a different strain

The FBI has issued a warning about a rising ransomware trend in which separate attacks are conducted just hours or days apart - otherwise known as "dual ransomware attacks."

"Ransomware attacks against the same victim occurring within 10 days, or less, of each other were considered dual ransomware attacks," the bureau explained in a Private Industry Notification released last week. "The majority of dual ransomware attacks occurred within 48 hours of each other."

These ransomware attacks happen to the same victim within a short time span and, in the wild, have occurred with threat actors deploying different ransomware variants for each leg of the attacks, such as AvosLocker, Diamond, Hive Karakurt, LockBit, Quantum, and Royal. These variants are released in different dual combinations, ultimately resulting in a mix of data encryption, exfiltration, and extortion.

The phenomenon makes sense: After an initial ransomware attack, an organization or company is still reeling from the breach and is at its weakest point, making a second attack to its already compromised system all the more harmful.

In addition to dual ransomware attacks, the FBI noted a rising trend of threat actors increasingly using malware, data theft, and wiper tools to manipulate and pressure ransomware victims into negotiating. To combat both of these trends, the FBI encourages anyone to report suspicious activity with details of the time and place as well as affected equipment and the type of activity that occurred.

To help safeguard against these kinds of threats, the FBI has provided recommendations for mitigations, which include maintaining offline backups of data, ensuring all the backed-up data is encrypted, reviewing the security safeguard of third parties and vendors, and implementing policies "that only allow systems to execute known and permitted programs." In addition, the FBI recommends implementing a secure recovery plan and retaining multiple copies of sensitive information. darkreading.com


Unraveling the Johnson Controls Ransomware attack: Dark Angels wants $51M

Johnson Controls cyber attack by Dark Angels: $51M ransom, DHS data fears, and a stark cybersecurity reminder

Johnson Controls, a global industrial control systems leader, is battling the notorious Dark Angels hackers. The digital intruders have locked up the company's data and are demanding an astonishing $51 million for its release.

This high-stakes cyber showdown has left Johnson Controls reeling, disrupting its daily operations. Worse, sensitive Department of Homeland Security (DHS) information may be on the line, raising national security concerns. Johnson Controls has almost one hundred thousand employees amongst its several divisions and affiliates (such as ADT, Tyco, York, SimplexGrinnell, and Ruskin). dataconomy.com


Norway Urges Europe-Wide Ban on Meta's Targeted Ad Data Collection

10 things you should know about navigating the dark web

Davenport, IA: Break-in at luxury handbag store, $200k in stolen merchandise
After a break-in, a Davenport business is asking for help in solving the case. The Bag Broker, a luxury retail store, located on Utica Ridge Road had their store broken into early Monday morning and according to the owner of the store, approximately $200,000 worth of merchandise was stolen. TV6 spoke to the store owner who says the community support she's gotten has helped her see the positives in the situation. "It makes you feel good about the community support and bringing together the awareness about these types of situations," said Skylar Yutsler, owner of The Bag Broker/Avail. "Because, you know, these pieces, every day people wear them out in the streets and they don't think anything of it. But, I think to take something good out of it would definitely be to bring everyone together." The store is closed until further notice, Yutsler said. Police are also encouraging the public to contact Davenport Police Department if you have any information on that break-in or if you see any of those luxury handbags and accessories being sold online.  kwqc.com


Las Vegas Strip Luxury Store Theft Ring Leads to Two Arrests
Two suspects are facing court proceedings after allegedly stealing numerous items from upscale stores on the Las Vegas Strip. The duo swiped designer merchandise from Saks Fifth Avenue and Sephora stores in an elaborate scheme between June and September, police said. The missing items, including items from Drio, Versace and Ferragamo, were valued at thousands of dollars. On September 22, authorities apprehended Naisha Adams, 36, and Taurean Henderson, 38, both of Las Vegas, at Saks Fifth Avenue. The two allegedly attempted to steal almost $2,300 worth of merchandise from the store's men's department. Adams swiped a Versace hoodie, a Ferragamo belt, a Versace belt, and a Versace bodysuit, police said. Henderson allegedly shoved the items into Adams' Saks shopping bag. The two then were approached by Saks security guards, which led the suspects to attempt to flee to an awaiting car parked outside of the store. The duo were apprehended shortly after, but the driver and a passenger in the getaway car were able to flee. The suspects were booked at Clark County Detention Center.  casino.org


Manitowoc, WI: Three Neenah residents arrested by US Marshals Service in statewide retail theft spree
Three people accused of stealing from retail businesses across Wisconsin were arrested in Neenah. On Sept. 24, the Manitowoc Police Department was called to Walmart, at 4115 Calumet Ave., for the report of a large retail theft in progress. While responding, the suspects left the store with about $2,000 worth of stolen merchandise. The investigation led to the identity of three Neenah residents. It was also discovered the trio was being investigated by the Walmart's Asset Protection Team for retail thefts across the state. Working with the Neenah police department, Manitowoc police tried to take the suspects into custody but were unsuccessful. So, the Manitowoc Police Department requested assistance from the United States Marshals Service- Great Lakes Fugitive Task Force. On Sept. 28, the United States Marshals Service was able to locate the suspects in Neenah and take them into custody without incident. All three suspects are in the Manitowoc County Jail. Police are still working to identify other victims of this organized retail theft group, throughout the state.  fox11online.com


Ontario, Canada: North Bay storage locker found with $18K in stolen goods, 3 charged
More than $18,000 in merchandise stolen from hardware stores from several communities, including Barrie and Sudbury, was found in a storage locker in North Bay. As a result, three North Bay residents in their 30s are charged with possession of property obtained by crime, trafficking property obtained by crime and unauthorized possession of a firearm," police said in a news release Monday. On Sept. 25, the street crime unit arrested a 31-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman during a traffic stop and arrested a 36-year-old man at a home on Carruthers Street as part of the investigation. The next day, officers raided a storage locker on Lakeshore Drive. Searches of the vehicle, home and storage unit revealed one lever-action rifle, a firearm barrel and "stolen property worth an estimated $18,770 belonging to hardware stores and other victims from North Bay, Sudbury, Huntsville, Burks Falls and Barrie." The two men were held in custody pending a bail hearing while the female accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 7.  iheartradio.ca


Houston, TX: Masked suspect steals $3,000 worth of cigarettes at northwest Houston convenience store

Stockton, CA: Men arrested for allegedly stealing over $2,000 of merchandise from Target store in Central Valle
 

NRF has declared Oct. 26 as Fight Retail Crime Day

 A day of action to unite the retail community to advocate
for solutions in combating organized retail crime.