'Putting California's Rising Retail Theft in Context'
'Overall felony retail theft was up 16% in 2022'

What we know (and don't) about the rise in retail theft
In some cases, those team-effort crimes are part of an organized network of thieves who then sell the stolen items. That's referred to as organized retail crime.

It's not just retailers reacting: Gov. Gavin Newsom announced in August that the state would triple the California Highway Patrol's resources in the city of Los Angeles to address the issue. The CHP operates an Organized Retail Crime Task Force, which has investigated roughly 1,850 retail crimes statewide since its formation in 2019.

Also in August, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass announced a new regional task force had been created to "aggressively investigate these incidents and hold individuals that are responsible for these crimes fully accountable."

Retail theft has increased, but the data are murky

What the data do show is that overall felony retail theft was up 16% in 2022 compared with 2019. A closer look showed commercial burglary specifically was up 13%. Commercial robbery, which includes thefts in which force is used or threatened (like some smash-and-grab thefts), was up about 13% in that same time frame.

And when it comes to misdemeanor shoplifting, the data show a 29% spike in 2022 vs. 2019, though the PPIC report notes that the rate for that crime remains 8% below its pre-pandemic level.

The media's role in shaping perceptions

How the media frames and covers crime can have a strong impact on the perception of how safe we are. And with the prevalence of video monitoring in public spaces - both surveillance technology and our cameras that double as phones - it's never been easier to record and share video of people behaving badly.

Simply put, when the news media regularly fills broadcasts or social feeds with visuals of criminal chaos, they're sending a signal to the public: this is what you should be concerned about.

Retailers citing crime for closing stores 'tells a partial truth'

Looking at the data, it's clear retail theft is having an impact on businesses. But Kubrin said that framing only "tells a partial truth." "Crime is a piece of the puzzle," she told me. "It's not the entire puzzle."  latimes.com


Yolo County DA Jeff Reisig to Present at Cal-ORCA Virtual Summit
Learn About the Importance of Partnerships and Leadership in the Effort to Combat Organized Retail Crime and Retail Theft

Presented By District Attorney Jeff Reisig, Yolo County District Attorney's Office

NEW Cal-ORCA Virtual Summit Coming November 8!

Jeff Reisig is the District Attorney of Yolo County, which is one of California's fifty-eight counties, located in Northern California, between the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento. Reisig has served as a prosecutor for over 26 years and has been the county's chief elected law enforcement official since 2007, making him one of California's longest serving district attorneys.

During his tenure as DA, Reisig has focused intently on advocating for victims of crime and pursuing a balanced approach to public safety through methods designed to enhance accountability while also embracing programs to reduce recidivism and the criminal justice footprint. Read more.

Founded in 2012, The California Organized Retail Crimes Association (CAL-ORCA) is an organization dedicated to fostering partnerships between law enforcement and loss prevention professionals to provide training, combat Organized Retail Crime (ORC) and other crimes impacting the business community. Cal-ORCA will be releasing it's exclusive 2023 Virtual Summit offering on Wednesday, November 8. LEARN MORE HERE.


Oakland Mayor Thao doubles down on crime in first State of the City address
As pressure mounts on Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao to address the city's biggest problems, she doubled down on a promise to tackle crime and violence at her first State of the City address on Tuesday.

In her speech - delivered before a packed crowd in City Council chambers - the mayor said she is committed to building a more "robust" Police Department that has a notable presence on the city's streets while beefing up specialized units to investigate crimes. She promised to invest in violence interrupters and peer specialists in schools and throughout the city. She also vowed to spend more on technology to investigate crimes.

Other crimes have also increased: Robberies are up by 35%, carjackings by 22%, burglaries by 36% and motor vehicle thefts by 51%, according to city data.

Oakland Police Department is in the process of hiring more civilian investigators; it currently has 711 sworn officers and is budgeted for 712.

On Tuesday evening, the City Council is poised to pass funding to expand a community ambassador program in certain parts of the city. The council is also scheduled to discuss and vote on a proposal from Thao to install 300 automated license plate readers throughout the city.

"We know that the sharp increase in property crimes and auto burglaries are tied to organized groups with sophisticated tactics and networks," Thao said. "These organized criminal enterprises are coordinating operations regionally and a small group of people are causing most of the harm."

Thao also said she has expanded police foot patrols citywide from six to 12. She pointed to the city's recent deployment of California Highway Patrol officers to help with traffic enforcement and said those officers have already made 50 arrests, impounded 33 vehicles and recovered 70 stolen cars.

She also addressed criticism for missing a grant deadline that could have infused the city with millions to combat retail theft, saying, "the buck stops with me" and that the city would learn from the experience. She said Oakland is fast-tracking the hiring of a grants coordinator and modernizing the city's grant management software tools. sfchronicle.com
 

https://www.sanfranciscopolice.org/stay-safe/crime-data/crime-dashboard


UK Police Not Responding to Retail Crimes
Robbed, spat at and assaulted, British shopkeepers despair over retail crime
Repeat offenders and criminal gangs operating with apparent impunity is becoming a hot political topic ahead of a national election expected next year. Critics of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government say it shows a breakdown in society.

"We stopped reporting incidents to the police because we just felt, for whatever reason, budget cuts or whatnot, they weren't as responsive as we needed them to be," Selvaratnam told Reuters in his shop in Croydon, where his butcher doubles up as a security guard.

It's a similar story in Glasgow, Scotland, where Girish Jeeva was recently left bloodied after being punched in the face when he challenged a man stealing from his grocery store in the Barmulloch district. Both Selvaratnam and Jeeva are frustrated that shoplifters who steal goods worth less than 200 pounds are rarely prosecuted.

"That explains why some of these gangs, especially the teenagers, they don't even run when they rob the place," said Selvaratnam.

A Freedom of Information request by British retailer the Co-op showed the police did not respond to 71% of serious retail crimes reported. In the six months to June 2023, it recorded almost 1,000 incidents a day of shoplifting and anti-social behaviour, a 35% increase year-on-year. It has warned that some local stores risk becoming no-go areas. reuters.com


Crime & Vacancies Haven't Hampered All of Chicago's Magnificent Mile
Why some of Mag Mile is succeeding despite vacancies and robbery surge
Nearly a third of Michigan Avenue remains vacant after the pandemic gutted the renowned shopping destination. But the 900 North Michigan Shops building and adjacent Oak Street are bustling.

Why it matters: The story of Michigan Avenue retail venues and restaurants has been doom and gloom over the last three years, but this longstanding, multiuse development could serve as a model for the future of the Magnificent Mile.

The big picture: The retail corridor has historically drawn tourists from around the world. But tourism has struggled to recover to pre-pandemic levels, and a rise in robberies since last year is raising concerns for retailers and shoppers.

Between the lines: One reason 900 North hasn't suffered the same fate as some of its neighbors is that its customer base is 80% local, from neighborhoods like Streeterville, Gold Coast and Old Town, the building's business development manager Alicia Skruba tells Axios. axios.com


New Chicago Top Cop Vows to Balance Reform, Aggressive Policing

"I think we can police proactively and have our community members understand what we're doing," said new Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling.

Larry Snelling has a tightrope to walk. He took over as superintendent of the Chicago Police Department last month as it struggles to meet obligations under a federal consent decree. The department has worked to build stronger community relationships while still trying to reduce the gun violence that's been entrenched in the city for decades.

On one hand, Snelling is tasked with leading a department that must meet a series of reform goals that were born out of the 2014 fatal shooting of Laquan McDonald. On the other, many city residents have called for more aggressive policing as robberies in Chicago have surged this year.

Homicides and nonfatal shootings still outpace pre-pandemic levels as well, though they are trending downward. officer.com


Amid Concerns Over Organised Retail Theft, Retailers Must Turn to Tech to Safeguard Stores and Enhance Customer Experience

How can retailers effectively combat the rising tide of organized theft while ensuring a positive customer experience?

Dipayan Biswas, the Frank Harvey Endowed Professor of Marketing at the University of South Florida Tampa, suggests a multifaceted approach to address growing instances of organized retail theft. "I think there's enough scope to use technology to stop these kinds of behaviors or at least reduce it significantly," Biswas notes, emphasizing the potential of innovative solutions over more draconian measures. marketscale.com


[Webinar] ORC Roundtable: Minimizing Impact with Forward-Thinking Solutions

San Diego DA meets with businesses to crack down on organized retail crimes

'Kia Boys' Trend Fueling Nationwide Crime Wave Is Running Rampant on Instagram

OFFICER Media Group Annual Survey
720 vetted respondents - 63.2% Commander/Supervise/Manager

State of the Industry 2024 Projection Survey Summary
Budgets Growing - #1 Concern Active Shooter - Body Cameras Usage Up

Each year, Officer Media Group performs a survey of law enforcement in an attempt to see what's coming "down the road" as far as budget growth or loss, challenges faced, changes being planned, etc.

69.4% expect growth in their 2024 budget. | 84.58% anticipate no reduction.

67.87% will use new funds on salary increases (Top use - important to recruiting & retention efforts). Only 28.52% to use new funds on Community Outreach.

15.42% expect reduction in 2024 budget. Salary & Community Outreach - least anticipated line items to be cut.

59% expect change in authorized strength - Of that group 49.59% expect increase in strength.

28% expect strength to increase 5% or less. 15.56% to increase 6 - 10% | 4.58% to increase 11 - 25% | 1.53% to increase 25 - 50%

Demographics: Caucasian - 72% | African-American - 15% | Hispanic - 10% | Majority ages 25 to 45 | With 45+ group growing.

61% or more male | 17% or less females | Transgender or refused to answer - Less than 10%

Largest area of concern: Active Shooter / Active Killer events: 84.03% | Increased attacks on officers: 65.97% | Riots / Civil Disorder events: 38.33% | Medical health outbreak events: 22.64%, Terrorist Attack: 16.11% | Other type event: 7.5% (Drug related)

Percentage of patrol officers equipped with Body Cameras: Less than 25%: 26.39 | 25-50% 2.22% | 51-75% 6.94% | 76-100% 64.44%

Authorized/Issued Handgun Top Three: Glock: 78.32% | Sig Sauer / SigArms: 22.52% | Smith & Wesson: 19.03%. Top three calibers 9mm 76.33% | .40S&W 28.43% | .45ACP 14.29% baseplatform.io officer.com

View the Full 2024 State of the Industry Projection Survey Report


154 Closures After Chapter 11 Filing
Rite Aid to Close 154 Stores Nationwide in Chapter 11 Restructuring

The chain had about 2,100 stores around the US headed into its bankruptcy.

Rite Aid is set to close 154 stores as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. While the closures are scattered across the U.S., a significant concentration is in California, New York, and Pennsylvania. This move is part of a broader strategy as Rite Aid adapts to evolving business conditions and aims to enhance store performance.

The drugstore chain identified the underperforming locations in a court filing Monday. The closing stores are spread throughout the US but concentrated in California as well as Northeastern states including New York and Pennsylvania. businessinsider.com


Good News for Retailers Heading into Holiday Season
Americans are planning to spend way more on holiday shopping this year

Americans hope to spend more on holiday shopping this year as retail sales continue to increase.

In its Holiday Shopping Survey release Thursday, credit reporting giant TransUnion found that Americans on the whole are planning to make larger, more expensive purchases on holiday gifts.

In a survey of over 1,500 adults conducted in August, TransUnion found 21% of respondents were planning on spending over $1,000 on holiday shopping this year, compared to 14% last year. Meanwhile, while 17% spent under $100 last year on holiday gifts, only 4% plan to spend that little this year. businessinsider.com


Are Retail's Executive Ranks Too Old?
While railing against ageism, or a bias against hiring older employees, has become common, some leadership pundits argue that executive ranks need to get younger to drive innovation and solve problems that require a longer-term perspective.

Safeway closing Santa Clara Store after 67 years

Aldi cutting prices up to 50% for holidays

Web Browser Updates Turn Into Malware Attacks
Watch Out: Attackers Are Hiding Malware in 'Browser Updates'

Updating your browser when prompted is a good practice, just make sure the notification comes from the vendor themselves.

Threat actors are using cybersecurity best practices against you, hiding malware inside of fake browser updates. They do so by seeding legitimate but vulnerable websites with malicious JavaScript. Upon loading, the code presents users with convincing browser update notifications, masking dangerous payloads.

According to a Oct. 17 report from Proofpoint, the trend began with one threat actor, TA569, and it has since been adopted by at least four different threat clusters, in what appears to be a growing and intractable new trend.

Malicious Code, Hidden in Honest Websites

Though they may vary in the particulars, each of the four threat clusters tracked by Proofpoint follow largely the same script. First, the actors take advantage of a legitimate but vulnerable website, injecting their own malicious JavaScript code. When an end user loads the website, the attackers' script runs alongside the rest of the site's various assets. Its job is to refer traffic to an attacker-controlled domain.

The Fake Browser Update Lure

The update lures are designed to look like they're coming from the browser's developers, with a clean look and relevant iconography. The following screenshots, courtesy of the security researcher Jerome Segura, capture fake updates from TA569 and another cluster, "FakeSG," also known as "RogueRaticate" (see below).

How to Avoid Fake Browser Updates

To suss out a real update from a fake one, Blackford urges users to pay attention to how their trusted websites and browsers typically behave, and whether anything happens that doesn't align with the usual pattern.  darkreading.com


Small Businesses Face Growing Cyber Threats
SMBs seek help as cyber threats reach an all-time high
Understanding the evolving threat landscape is the biggest cybersecurity challenge facing SMBs, including non-for-profit organizations - and more than half are calling for help to manage the risks, according to Sage.

Globally, 48% of SMBs have experienced a cybersecurity incident in the past year, while 26% of US SMBs have experienced more than one type of cyber breach. 75% of US SMBs say cyber threats are a major concern and 59% expect to increase their investment in cybersecurity in the coming year.

Top cyber breaches impacting US SMBs include DDoS attacks (21%), data loss (20%), ransomware attacks (16%) and credential theft (15%).

SMBs face soaring cyber threats

SMBs in the US recognize this, and 60% are turning to cybersecurity companies and trusted tech partners (49%) to educate and support them. 51% also believe industry bodies should help improve cybersecurity preparedness by supporting with education and training.

Safeguarding business beyond the office

The foundational aspects of cybersecurity - like system patching, backing up data, access controls, two-factor authentication, asset oversight, and security monitoring - can still require specialist skills and tools to implement and operate.

It's notable that 46% of SMBs don't employ firewalls, even though 84% claim familiarity with them. On a global scale, 42% neglect to backup critical data. Intriguingly, UK SMBs (62%) are more diligent in this regard compared to their US counterparts (55%).

73% have implemented systems to facilitate secure work from home, and for 63%, these systems are distinct from their in-office security. However, in the absence of dedicated IT or cyber security experts, there are valid concerns regarding SMBs' ability to tackle specific remote working cyber security risks. helpnetsecurity.com


U.S. House of Representatives, Energy & Commerce Committee
October 18, 2023 | Press Release

Pallone Stresses Need for Comprehensive, Federal Privacy Legislation at Hearing on Artificial Intelligence

Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) delivered the following opening remarks today at an Innovation, Data, and Commerce Hearing titled, "Safeguarding Data and Innovation: Building the Foundation for the Use of Artificial Intelligence:"

Last year, now-Chair Rodgers and I were able to work across the aisle and pass the American Data Privacy and Protection Act out of Committee by a vote of 50 to 2. That legislation included many important provisions, including provisions focused on data minimization and algorithmic accountability. Clearly defined rules are critical to protect consumers from existing harmful data collection practices, and to safeguard them from the growing privacy threat that AI models pose.

I strongly believe that the bedrock of any AI regulation must be privacy legislation that includes data minimization and algorithmic accountability principles. Simply continuing to provide consumers with only "notice and consent" rights is wholly insufficient in today's modern digital age.

We cannot continue to allow companies to develop and deploy systems that misuse and leak personal data and exacerbate discrimination. That is why we must make sure developers are running every test they can to mitigate risks before their AI models are deployed.

I will also continue to push for a comprehensive, national federal privacy standard. It is the only way we can limit the aggressive and abusive data collection practices of Big Tech and data brokers, ensure our children's sensitive information is protected online, protect against algorithmic bias, and put consumers back in control of their data. house.gov


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