How Facial Recognition is Fighting Retail Crime & Making Customers Safer
The Rise Of Facial Recognition In Retail: What Shoppers Should Know

Dara Riordan is the President and COO of FaceFirst Inc., a global leader in facial recognition and AI-driven security software.

Facial recognition technology is revolutionizing how consumers shop, travel and purchase. It is used to better secure airport, hospital, retail store and entertainment venue entry points. It is also used to protect consumers' identities for more secure transactions. Commercial organizations are leveraging facial recognition capabilities to improve workflows and enhance security.

Today, you are on camera in almost every aisle you shop. CCTV has evolved significantly in public perception; what was once viewed as an intrusive surveillance tool saw widespread adoption and an increased sense of safety when cameras are in use.

Facial recognition is revolutionizing traditional CCTV security with processing powers beyond human capabilities. The increased use of facial recognition in the retail sector has followed dramatic spikes in theft and violence. Recently, 300 U.S. and U.K. senior retail leaders told researchers that the current "theft crisis" is their No. 1 business concern. They cited facial recognition as the most effective crisis response tool.

Human eyewitnesses to a threat's arrival can be challenging, especially for retailers where thousands of customers can enter daily. The precision and accuracy of the technology provide greater visibility to known threats. It's been used to successfully warn employees of violent shoplifters who should not be approached, to help recover missing minors with AMBER alerts and to close major organized retail crime cases.

Facial recognition has emerged as a powerful tool that is not just about preventing theft but also making stores safer for associates and customers. Like the AI that powers cars with blind-spot detection, facial recognition delivers speed and precision beyond human capabilities and is changing the face of retail security.

Four Key Things Shoppers And Business Owners Should Know About Facial Recognition

1. Facial Recognition Is Already Part Of Daily Life
2. Retail Theft Impacts Consumers And Store Safety
3. Facial Recognition Is Highly Accurate, But It Doesn't Recognize Everyone
4. Human Oversight Is Critical

Read the full article here: forbes.com


In Case You Missed It

NRF's Fight Retail Crime Day Coming Oct. 24
Urgent action is needed as the fight against ORC intensifies

Join NRF at Fight Retail Crime Day on Oct. 24 to advocate for the passage of the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act

The implications of organized retail crime are far-reaching, and the urgency of addressing ORC has never been greater. In recent years, retailers across the United States have reported a sharp increase in the frequency and scale of retail crimes involving or associated with ORC groups.

What's even more concerning is the increase in violence tied to these crimes. More than two-thirds of respondents to NRF's 2023 National Retail Security Survey said they had seen even more violence and aggression from ORC perpetrators compared with a year ago.

"The ORC problem we have in the U.S. has certainly grown," says Scott McBride, chief global asset protection officer with American Eagle Outfitters, "and it's affecting every single community that we operate in as a collective group of retailers."

A unified approach

Addressing this issue requires a multifaceted approach that includes enhanced security measures, legislative action and collaborative efforts between retailers, law enforcement and policymakers - a need lawmakers answered by introducing the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (H.R. 895/ S. 140).

Facilitating information exchange

One of CORCA's central provisions is the establishment of a new Organized Retail Crime Coordination Center within the Department of Homeland Security. This center would serve as a hub for information sharing and coordination between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, retail businesses and other stakeholders.

Retailers' need for the advancement of the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act is urgent, and the continued denial of ORC's existence has done nothing to make the problem disappear. Retailers, states and localities have invested billions into curbing these crimes, but stalled federal solutions have allowed this stubborn challenge to metastasize.

NRF's Fight Retail Crime Day returns on Oct. 24 to mobilize the retail community to advocate for effective solutions in combating this problem. Get a head start by telling Congress to pass the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act today.  nrf.com


Secure Your Spot
Fight Retail Crime Day Webinar on Oct. 24

Retail crime affects everyone. Register now for a deep-dive webinar into the current state of retail crime on Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. ET with leading loss prevention experts:

• American Eagle Outfitters Chief Security Officer and NRF LP Council Chair Scott McBride
• Sensormatic President Tony D'Onofrio
• NRF Vice President of Asset Protection and Retail Operations David Johnston
• NRF Vice President of Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold
• NRF Vice President of Government Relations and Political Affairs Jason Straczewski
• NRF Senior Director of Grassroots Advocacy Meghan Cruz

Join us on Fight Retail Crime Day as we push for meaningful solutions to address retail crime together.

Click here to secure your spot


What California's New Anti-Theft Laws Mean for Criminals
New anti-theft law means harsher penalties if you steal from Walmart as officials close 'loophole' and launch crackdown

Individuals caught selling stolen items, even if they did not commit the crime, are at risk of facing stiff sentences

A new anti-theft law is set to go into effect that will result in harsher penalties for retail theft bandits.

The bill, consisting of 10 new laws, will form a collaborated district attorney effort that allows them to file specific theft charges against individuals suspected of retail crimes no matter what county the offense occurred.

The new policy will allow thefts against multiple victims or in several counties to be combined into one single and hasher charge. The enhanced policies will also punish a person possessing stolen property that exceeds $950 to face a misdemeanor offense that is punishable by up to one year or as a felony for 16 months.

A separate policy will allow the court to ban an individual convicted of shoplifting, organized retail theft, vandalism, or battery of an employee from all of the department store's locations or parking lot for up to two years.

Another law will create a new sentencing enhancement for individuals caught selling stolen goods worth $50,000 or more to crack down on smash-and-grab crimes at high-end designer locations.

Individuals convicted of selling stolen goods exceeding $50,000 can be sentenced to up to a year in prison. The sentencing increases based on the cost of the stolen goods. the-sun.com
 

Canada's All-Of-The-Above Approach to Fighting Retail Crime
Police, consumers and business operators all key to reducing retail crime
Police alone cannot win the fight against shoplifters. Consumers and business owners are needed to curb the increasing problem of retail theft.

That was a key message from the Ontario Retail Safety and Security Guide - unveiled Monday - by Toronto Police Service in conjunction with representatives from the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, the Retail Council of Canada, and Workplace Safety and Services.

Retail crime, including fraud, theft, and vandalism aimed at businesses, is on the increase, said Paul Pedersen, executive director of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police.

"As this trend continues, it becomes evident that police cannot do it all ourselves," he added. "Collaboration between law enforcement and businesses and consumers is the goal to make our communities safer and more prosperous."

Pedersen says retail crimes comes with significant costs that affects pricing, employee security, and the local economy." At the same time, consumers play an equally important role, as shoppers are the eyes and ears on the ground reporting suspicious activities, spreading awareness, and fostering a community-driven approach, which can go a long way in deterring criminal activity," Pedersen said.

Businesses need to work hand-in-hand with law enforcement by sharing information, reporting incidents promptly, and adopting crime prevention measures such as surveillance and security protocols, said Pedersen. torontosun.com


Tensions High Ahead of Election
New cases of political violence roil U.S. ahead of election
The recent attacks were among at least 300 cases of political violence identified by Reuters since Trump's supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, including at least 51 incidents this year. With just two weeks to go before the Nov. 5 presidential election, the cases are part of the biggest and most sustained increase in U.S. political violence since the 1970s.

Some of the violence has been reported widely, most notably two assassination attempts on Trump, a Republican. Other high-profile incidents include three shootings in recent weeks at a Democratic campaign office for Harris in Arizona.

But Reuters documented scores of other cases on contentious political issues - from election disputes to LGBTQ+ rights and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Incidents ranged from small fights over political signs to more violent brawls and property destruction at rallies. Most of this year's violence wasn't fatal with the exception of two deaths: a spectator killed during July's attempt on Trump's life and the shooter.

The pace of cases has remained remarkably consistent since beginning to rise in 2016, around the time of Trump's first presidential run. In 2021, which included the tumult that followed Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election, there were 93 cases of political violence, followed by 79 in 2022, and 76 in 2023. staradvertiser.com


Safety guide released in response to spike in retail crime in Toronto
 
Chicago group works to reduce crime and violence in the city
 

Gig Harbor, WA: Thief hit the same Pierce County store four times, stole $6,000 in perfume, police say
Ulta Beauty lost thousands of dollars in perfume in recent weeks over five potentially related shoplifting incidents, Gig Harbor police say. The same man allegedly stole over $6,000 in fragrance products from the store at 5500 Olympic Dr. in Gig Harbor over four separate days, according to police. A fifth shoplifting incident possibly involving a different suspect occurred Saturday, Gig Harbor Police Lt. Fred Douglas told The News Tribune via email Monday. Because that suspect's method of stealing the items was similar to the previous four incidents, the incident is likely related, he wrote. The first shoplifting call occurred on Sept. 30, when a man stole about $2,000 in fragrances, according to Douglas. It was followed by calls on Oct. 1, Oct. 2 and Oct. 5, and it is likely that the same suspect was involved in all four cases, Douglas told The News Tribune via email Oct. 18.  thenewstribune.com


Folsom, CA: Police foil organized retail theft
Organized retail theft is a huge problem in the city of Folsom that Police are working hard to get under control; last week, police got a win and caught five people accused of shoplifting thousands of dollars worth of merchandise at a Folsom Outlets store. On Thursday October 17th at around 5:18 pm, Folsom Police dispatchers got a call about a report of shoplifting at the 13000 block of Folsom Blvd. The Folsom Police Department Problem Oriented Policing (POP) team responded immediately and got to the scene in time to see the suspect's vehicle leaving the area. A brief car chase ensued, until the suspects stopped their vehicle in a nearby neighborhood; three of the five occupants fled on foot. Folsom Police established a perimeter and asked for help from the California Highway Patrol helicopter to find the suspects. Folsom Police credit the coordinated response to their rapid apprehension of the suspects, who were caught and arrested. Officers recovered more than $2300 worth of stolen merchandise during their investigation, which was returned to the store. Based on the picture provided by the Folsom Police, the merchandise looked to be at least in part, Nike apparel. goldcountrymedia.com
 

Smyrna, TN: High Dollar Haul at the Smyrna CVS: Hit with Brazen $2K Theft
In what could only be described as an odd and astronomically high value heist at a drug store in Rutherford County, the Smyrna Police Department hopes to be hot on the trail of a savvy shopper who reportedly decided to skip the checkout line-entirely. It went down on October 3rd, and the local shopper allegedly liberated the CVS store of over $2,000 in merchandise. The costly incident took place at the CVS store on the Old Nashville Highway at Hazelwood Drive in Smyrna three Thursday's ago and to date, no suspects have been named, which is why the subjects photo is now circulating social media. wgnsradio.com


Preliminary hearing coming in December in Lyon County retail theft, conspiracy case