The Rise of 'Shoplifting Deniers'
Opinion: Shoplifting is a real problem. Denying it doesn't help.

The costs of shoplifting at supermarkets and pharmacies add up.

It's hard to pick just one favorite form of internet insanity, but, if I had to, it would definitely be shoplifting denialism.

Over the last few years, shoplifting has clearly become a bigger problem. We've seen videos of brazen shoplifters casually walking off with goods while helpless security guards watch. Retailers tell us it's a problem, one that's forcing them to close some of the hardest-hit stores. If you live in one of those areas, it's also visible in your daily shopping: the locked cases at your drugstore, the signs banning knapsacks or oversize totes, the armed guard who recently appeared at the exit of my local supermarket, checking receipts.

Yet if you observe as much on social media, you are almost sure to meet an angry response from the "shoplifting truthers." They will dismiss it as a moral panic and declare that companies are blaming shoplifting for their own poor management, though they will not explain why those managers suddenly went crazy and started locking up their merchandise and hiring armed guards. If you point to viral videos or store closures, they will demand to see police reports, though shoplifting frequently goes unreported. You might also hear that a Walgreens executive admitted the company had exaggerated the threat. (In fact, in a 2023 earnings call he said that the "shrink" rate had spiked the year before, then came down as the company beefed up security.)

The reason they fight so hard against the evidence is that the shoplifting boom is frequently blamed on progressive de-policing policy. In fairness, though they're wrong to deny shoplifting is happening, they're right that it's too simplistic an explanation.

Many chains that close stores are troubled for other reasons. As my colleague Marc Fisher lays out in a new Atlantic essay, the surge in shoplifting is a complicated problem that has something to do with policing, yes, but can also be traced to many other factors: social media accounts that spread how-to tips on shoplifting, online marketplaces where goods can be unloaded, lighter store staffing and corporate policies that discourage employees from aggressively pursuing shoplifters. Not to mention organized retail crime rings and the opioid epidemic. washingtonpost.com


7-Eleven Putting Big Money Behind Crime-Fighting Prop 36
In Case You Missed It: 7-Eleven owners back Prop 36 with $1 million check following wave of robberies

Prop 36 aims to increase punishments for some theft and drug possession offenses.

7-Eleven owners, city officials and law enforcement rallied together Thursday to support Prop 36, after a string of brazen smash-and-grab robberies. From Anaheim to Pico-Robertson, 7-Elevens across Southern California have been targeted by thieves. The rally for Prop 36 comes just days after a 7-Eleven was ransacked and two employees were assaulted in Hollywood.

Prop 36 aims to increase punishments for some theft and drug possession offenses. The 7-Eleven franchise owner whose store hosted the press conference said passing Prop 36 will benefit not only business owners but also citizens.

"I've operated in this area for nearly 25 years and have seen the growth in crime rates firsthand," said Franchisee Jawad Ursani. "We need Prop 36 to ensure that businesses can operate without fear of crime and that Californians feel safe in their communities."

Over $2 million was raised by Franchisees and 7-Eleven, Inc. in support of the proposition. Franchisees made the most recent donation of $500,000 which was matched by 7-Eleven, Inc to show support to business owners and the communities they serve.

"Today's event is a testament to the dedication of our Franchisees and the entire 7-Eleven family," said Randy Quinn, Senior Vice President of Franchise Operations for 7-Eleven, Inc. "We cannot accept a status quo that allows crime to flourish. Together, we are taking a stand."

Franchisees who have fallen victim to retail crime also spoke at the event about their experiences.

In a statement, 7-Eleven wrote they will continue to advocate for a safer environment for the community and business owners throughout California as the November election approaches.  nbclosangeles.com


The Great Debate Over Migrant Crime
Opinion: No, You're Not Imagining a Migrant Crime Spree

Four years of open borders and sanctuary policies have brought criminal drug networks, human trafficking, and an epidemic of sexual assault.

The idea of a migrant crime wave was a myth, media outlets proclaimed, noting studies of Texas incarceration data from years ago, which seemed to suggest that illegals commit crimes at low rates. This ignored other surveys, based on federal multistate data, which show a far more troubling reality. And after years of a migrant border "surge"-with countless asylum-seekers inadequately vetted and then allowed to enter the U.S.-state law-enforcement agencies now warn that immigrant gangs have seized control of many drug- and human-trafficking networks and have unleashed robbery sprees across the nation. With polls showing Americans alarmed about illegal immigration-a majority even backing mass deportations-Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin reflected public anger when he charged that "every state" is now "a border state."

Underlying the escalating controversy is the sheer number of migrants entering America during the Biden administration. In a 2020 debate with Trump, Biden seemed to encourage an immigration surge, and it followed soon after his election, with about 8 million people, on some estimates, flocking to the U.S. border without applying first for legal entry. The administration has released up to 3.3 million of them into the U.S. to await immigration hearings, many of which won't occur for years. At the same time, the number of immigrants who enter by avoiding border security and remain fraudulently in America has also skyrocketed, to an estimated 1.6 million to 1.7 million since Biden's election, compared with about 1.4 million over the entire previous decade.

Yet, even as more illegals arrived, removals of those convicted or accused of a crime have dropped. In 2021, illegal immigrants deported because of accusations or convictions of lawbreaking fell to 45,432, from a high of 123,128 in 2019, according to Immigration and Custom Enforcement's annual report on enforcement-removal operations; in 2022, ICE removed just 46,400 aliens. Similarly, ICE prosecutions of illegals for criminal actions have plunged by two-thirds, from 6,739 in 2019 to just 2,208 in 2022. city-journal.org


Cargo Theft Continues to Surge Ahead of Holidays
Insider says organized crime groups the 'primary drivers' of increased cargo theft
With the busy holiday season approaching, new data shows that cargo theft numbers continue to surpass those from the previous year.

According to CargoNet - a Jersey City, N.J.-based data- and information-sharing company - a total of 776 thefts occurred in the third quarter of the year, marking an increase of 14% when compared to the third quarter of 2023.

The company reported that over that span, the total value of stolen freight exceeded $39 million. While the data does show a slight decline from the second quarter of 2024 - around 1.6% - CargoNet said it expected that gap to close with "delayed reporting."

In its report, the company noted a shift in the types of loads being targeted by cargo thieves in the third quarter, with footwear, computers, high-end audio systems and hard liquor being the most sought-after freight. Conversely, CargoNet said that solar panels, motor oils and energy drinks saw a decline in targeted theft over the three-month window.

In terms of where cargo theft was at its highest, California, Illinois and Texas accounted for 52% of all thefts in the third quarter of 2024. The same three states were atop that list in the second quarter, as well, with 57% of all reported thefts occurring within their borders. landline.media


How Prop 36 Could Impact Immigrants
California crime measure Prop. 36 could increase deportations
A tough-on-crime ballot measure that appears destined to pass could lead to more Californians being deported, immigrant advocates warn.

Proposition 36 would reclassify certain misdemeanor drug and theft offenses as felonies, which means immigrants convicted of those crimes are more likely to face deportation if they have a case before an immigration court, the advocates said.

"It is not an understatement to say that if Prop. 36 passes, more Californians, including green-card holders, including refugees, will be deported," said Grisel Ruiz, a supervising attorney with the Immigrant Legal Resource Center. "The impacts will be pretty disastrous."

In California, where almost half of all children have at least one parent who is an immigrant, advocates are worried the measure could have ripple effects for families and communities. The initiative on the Nov. 5 ballot would allow prosecutors to impose stricter and longer sentences by using prior convictions as sentence enhancements. calmatters.org


Proposition 47 study provides insight on upcoming Proposition 36

Newark makes camping on public property a crime, limiting homeless options
 

Palm Beach Gardens, FL: Miami woman allegedly part of theft ring targeting Ulta Stores, especially in PBG
A Miami woman has been accused of stealing over $75,000 worth of products from Ulta Beauty and other stores on 56 separate occasions throughout 16 Florida counties, with a significant focus on Palm Beach Gardens. Angela Rodriguez, 25, is at the center of this investigation, spearheaded by the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department (PBGPD), which stated it had support from Ulta Beauty's Organized Retail Crime department. Rodriguez, along with accomplices including a man named Howard Morraz, allegedly orchestrated a series of heists not only at Ulta Beauty but also targeting CVS, Publix, and Walgreens stores. The probable cause affidavit noted that the theft spree began on December 26, 2023, and culminated on August 17, 2024, with 56 separate thefts and 43 pinned down in Palm Beach County alone. PBGPD stated that in utilizing the Auror website-an Ulta Beauty crime intelligence and loss prevention platform-they managed to compile evidence against Rodriguez and her crew. Surveillance footage and photos shared with investigators depicted the group in action, unmasked and seemingly confident in their criminal endeavors. The footage revealed the three suspects would pose as ordinary shoppers, sweeping valuable cosmetics, skincare, and fragrances. The report states that in all of these instances, Rodriguez would put multiple items in her handbag-in one case, she put 73 items-and walk out of the store.   cbs12.com


Naples, FL: Update: Elderly Naples couple pleads guilty to stealing from stores to sell on eBay
An elderly Naples couple has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud for selling stolen property on their eBay store. According to the plea agreement released Tuesday, beginning at least as early as September 2020, 81-year-old Richard Murtaugh and 77-year-old Gail Murtaugh reportedly engaged in a scheme to steal merchandise from big-box retailers and grocers in Collier and Lee counties, which they turned around and sold on eBay. In 2021 and 2022 specifically, the Murtaughs were caught on store video surveillance stealing thousands of dollars worth of personal hygiene products, grooming supplies, nicotine products, teeth whitening and dental care supplies, over-the-counter medications, drill bits and other merchandise. Records showed that between December 2020 and May 2022, the Murtaughs were paid $175,621.31 in profits by eBay for the sale of stolen goods. In April 2022, the United States Postal Inspection Service executed a search warrant at the Murtaughs' home on the Isle of Capri in Naples. Inside the home, postal inspectors found thousands of dollars in stolen merchandise, which appeared to be the same or similar to the items the Murtaughs had been observed stealing from various retailers. Their iPads were also searched, which contained photos that matched the listing photos of stolen merchandise on the Murtaughs' eBay store. As part of their guilty pleas, the couple agreed to forfeit $175,621.31, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct.  winknews.com


San Francisco, CA: SFPD Arrests 10 Suspects in Organized Retail Crime Operations in the Taraval District 24-123
Between the dates of October 8 and October 13, 2024, the operations resulted in the arrest of 10 suspects for Organized Retail Crime and petty theft. 7 adult suspects were cited and released at the scene. 3 adult suspects were booked at San Francisco County Jail for outstanding warrants in addition to the on-view theft charges. The stolen property taken by the suspects was seized by officers during the operations and returned to the stores. Officers are conducting similar ORC operations throughout the city and making a number of arrests in other retail business locations.  sanfranciscopolice.org


Chicago, IL: Update: Frankfort man sentenced to prison for selling stolen electronics through Crestwood business
A Frankfort man was sentenced to federal prison last week for selling stolen items through his business. Ziad I. Zayed pleaded guilty last year to a federal conspiracy charge, prosecutors said. Zayed used his store, Crestwood Electronics Inc., and other businesses to purchase stolen electronic devices and other merchandise, repackage the items and then sell them to out-of-state or out-of-country buyers. By providing a marketplace to sell stolen goods, the defendant has incentivized thieves to steal and rob, whether that's off tractor trailers sitting on railcars or phones from innocent victims," said Assistant U.S. Attorneys Barry Jonas and Ann Marie E. Ursini during the government's sentencing memorandum. Last Wednesday, a judge sentenced Zayed to two years and four months in federal prison and ordered him to pay more than $1.3 million in restitution.  aol.com


Edmonton, Canada: $115K worth of gold chains stolen from West Edmonton Mall jewelry store
Police are looking for a man and a woman who robbed an Edmonton jewelry store earlier this month.
The pair walked into the West Edmonton Mall shop around 6 p.m. on Oct. 10. EPS says the woman distracted an employee while the man slipped behind the counter and stole several gold chains before they left the store.  edmonton.ctvnews.ca


Cheney, WA: $30,000 in golf merchandise stolen from The Plains Golf Course in Cheney

Grandville, MI: $20,000 of Trading cards, merchandise stolen from Grandville shop