Annual fraud study finds that 'fatalists' are the best-protected merchants
The heart of the problem is card-not-present transactions. Though such sales represent a small fraction of all sales, the role they play in fraudulent transactions “is huge,” says Jim Van Dyke, president of Javelin Strategy & Research, which conducted the survey for LexisNexis Risk Solutions. Jim Rice, director of market planning for the retail and e-commerce market at LexisNexis, says that, “For every $100 of fraud, there is $270 of fraud loss.” And the problem is growing as retailers expand into foreign markets and mobile commerce. “When you look at global and mobile, you ... take on this complexity where you can expect there to be fraud,” Van Dyke says. (Source stores.org)

Wal-Mart nixed paying Bangladesh suppliers prices high enough to cover costs of safety improvements in April 2011    At a meeting convened in 2011 to boost safety at Bangladesh garment factories, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. made a call: paying suppliers more to help them upgrade their manufacturing facilities was too costly. The comments from a Wal-Mart sourcing director appear in minutes of the meeting, which was attended by more than a dozen retailers including Gap Inc., Target Corp. and JC Penney Co. Sridevi Kalavakolanu, a Wal-Mart director of ethical sourcing and her counterpart at Gap reiterated their position in a report folded into the meeting minutes, obtained by Bloomberg News. “Specifically to the issue of any corrections on electrical and fire safety, we are talking about 4,500 factories, and in most cases very extensive and costly modifications would need to be undertaken to some factories,” they said in the document. “It is not financially feasible for the brands to make such investments.” Bangladesh’s labor law requires safety measures such as fire extinguishers and easily accessible exits at factories. Ultimately, the Bangladesh government will have to start enforcing its owns laws. (Source thecitywire.com)

Holiday spending jumps 14% hitting $21.4B in 32 day period,  Nov. 3 to Dec. 4
128.7 million consumers have bought online so far this holiday season, with consumers spending at least $1 billion with e-retailers on each of four days during the last week of November, with Cyber Monday. (Source internetretailer.com)

US Demand for Private Security Services to Reach $63.8 Billion in 2016
Projected to rise 5.2% annually. The market will be supported by a high perceived risk of crime (from conventional violent and property crimes to white collar crimes and terrorism) and a concern that public safety officials are overburdened. The outsourcing of security activities to contracted firms, instead of relying on in-house security, will support demand. (Source yahoo.com)

The U.S. and EU - European Union in Mexican standoff when it comes to privacy protection    The European Union's top data protection watchdog expects that only a select band of U.S. IT companies will meet E.U. data protection standards for some time to come. Under the E.U. Data Protection Directive, personal data cannot be transferred out of the E.U. unless the destination country's data protection laws are deemed adequate. To date, only a tiny number of jurisdictions have been deemed adequate: Argentina, Canada, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Israel, Switzerland and Uruguay. Changes in U.S. legislation could also advance the country's cause. Hustinx noted that, with the re-election of President Obama, a U.S. Privacy Bill of Rights looked closer. (Source csoonline.com)

Supervalu's two largest banners - Albertson's and Save-A-Lot may be bought by Cerberus Capital Management    Cerberus, which owns the Albertsons LLC stores — now transitioning to Albertsons Market — was reported to have been in talks to acquire all of Supervalu, but was unable to secure financing. According to a Bloomberg News report Cerberus scaled back the scope of a potential deal to include only Albertsons stores and the Save-A-Lot limited-assortment banner. Supervalu could use the proceeds to pay down debt and focus on the disposition or ongoing operation of its other holdings. (Source supermarketnews.com)

Global Fire Alarm Equipment Industry research report by Reportlinker.com
This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Fire Alarm Equipment in US$ Million by the following Product Groups/Segments: Fire Alarm Panels (Conventional Fire Alarm Panels, Addressable Control Panels, & Voice Evacuation Systems), and Fire Alarm Devices (Annunciators, Notification Devices, & Manual Pull Stations). The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Latin America. (Source yahoo.com)

MWV (R)evolutionizes Consumer Electronics Packaging at the 2013 International CES with revolutionary security packaging system    At this year’s CES, MWV is launching a revolutionary security packaging system, in partnership with ProTeqt Technologies, which leverages digital technology to deter theft and boost sales. The system comprises a small lock placed on high-value consumer electronics products, which renders the product non-functional until it is digitally disabled by the retail associate at checkout. The system removes the thieves’ motivation to steal, while at the same time does not impact the consumers’ interaction with the product. (Source yahoo.com)

"Florida Felony Lane Gang” hitting Chicago burbs
Florida woman arrest last month and subsequent investigation by Winnetka Police links crime group “Florida Felony Lane Gang" to organized ID theft ring. The group recruits in Florida and operates in places like Chicago’s suburbs. They steal women's purses use the identification, checkbooks and other bank information to write and cash checks against each victim’s accounts. The suspects use a check and make it payable to another burglary victim of which they have a driver’s license. They even cut their hair short to wear wigs and use make up to look like the victims photograph. The group has ring leaders in Florida who recruit individuals, typically women who have fallen on hard times, and travel with them to the Chicago area. “(The group’s leaders) recruit these people because they are the ones they want to get caught,” Christensen said. “A lot of (the leaders) stay out on the perimeter as lookouts.” (Source suntimes.com)

Tennessee Auto Parts Company Employee embezzles $350,000
Police say that Ison is accused of stealing at least $340,000 from Grey's Used Auto Parts, over the past 17 months. (Source privateofficrbreakingnews.com)

Customs seizes $300,000 in counterfeit Tigers gear
U.S. Customs and Border Protection seizes $300,000 worth of counterfeit knit Detroit Tigers hats and headbands en route to Michigan from China. (Source detroitnews.com)

Robbery suspect falls through pharmacy roof
Police are looking for two suspects in connection with a robbery at a Philadelphia pharmacy that was caught on surveillance video, which shows one suspect repeatedly falling to the ground as he tries to flee after the break-in. Police say the suspect inside the pharmacy left behind the backpack and a white construction hardhat with the words "Perryman Building and Construction" in red on the front and the initials "D.A." in marker on the inside. Not the brightest guy in the world and DNA evidence should be enough to get them sooner or later. (Source cbsnews.com)

Flint, Mich., billing security companies for false alarms
A decision by the city to begin billing security companies for false alarms—more than $31,000 in the first month alone—has the industry working with police to shift the burden to end users. According to the ordinance, no fees are assessed for the first two false alarms at a given location in any one-year period. The third false alarm is $75, with the fee rising $25 for each subsequent incident. A $35 late fee is added to any bill not paid within 30 days. “Some [cities] have tried it before,” Mowrey told Security Systems News. “There are several in California that got involved in legal action and the courts all upheld that you need to bill the end user, not the alarm company. [Flint] probably set it up not knowing the consequences and not realizing that it’s not going to help reduce alarm calls. (Source securitysystemnews.com)

Well dressed armed Jewelry thief hits Shay’s Jewelers in Houston. The well dressed suspect asked the manager about credit options, as he was completing the application with the store manager, a second suspect entered the store and took his place at the rear of the store near two associates. The well dressed suspect pulled his gun and forced customers and associate to the ground. He then ordered the manager to give him the keys to the front showcases, then zip tied the managers hands behind his back. No one was injured, the suspects are still at large. (Source chron.com)

Nine Men Sentenced For Series of Armed Robberies in Northern California
Police said the group was involved in 15 robberies of 7-Eleven stores, Wing Stop restaurants, and gas stations throughout southern Alameda County and a robbery in Milpitas. (Source patch.com)



Chicago Police warning local businesses of potential armed robbers.    Two suspects in the Chicago area have already hit four stores, including a CVS, stealing cash, bus passes, and cigarettes from behind the register and quickly disappearing. No one has been injured in any of the incidents, but a weapon has been displayed each time. (Source myfoxtwincities.com)


Columbus, Ohio man sentenced to 36 years for 19 armed robberies. Christopher Blaho was facing 160 years after pleading guilty to 19 Columbus area robberies, Blaho is believed to have targeted gas stations, Subway restaurants, United Dairy Farmer stores, pizza shops, a beverage drive-through and a pharmacy, no one was ever injured. Blaho’s attorney said, Blaho was abusing drugs and alcohol and committed the crimes to feed a heroin addiction, he was living in his minivan. (Source dispatch.com)

Thieves smash SUV into fire doors of a St. Louis, Mo. Rent-a-Center store.    St. Louis police are searching for two men who drove an SUV through the back door of a Rent-A-Center store and stole merchandise. The crime happened around 3 a.m. Thursday. A witness saw a black sport utility vehicle back into a rear door. The driver and a second man ran inside and stole items. Store officials were still trying to determine what was taken. The extent of the damage to the building has not been determined. (Source kmov.com)

Gunshots fired at shoplifters in Miramar, FL, Officer fears for his safety.    A police officer fired gun shots at shoplifting suspects near a Miramar Target when he felt they were going to run him over, according to authorities. It happened Wednesday night near the store located on Miramar Parkway and 163rd Avenue. Miramar police said three suspects were in custody and the search for a fourth person would continue. Officers said they arrived at the scene and found the suspects trying to leave the area in a car with two TVs taken from the Target. Police said they stopped the suspects, who took off when an officer approached the car. One person reportedly exited the car before the others circled around the lot in the car and headed straight for the officer. According to police, the officer felt his life was threatened. That's why he pulled out his weapon and shot at the suspects. No one was hit by the gunfire, authorities said. The suspects then ran away on foot and the abandoned car hit a tree and possibly a parked car. (Source wsvn.com)

Serial shoplifter wanted in Clarksville, Tenn.
Shanta Griffin, 35, has four theft warrants on file. Police said Griffin often wears a Sponge Bob knit cap when shoplifting. She is currently out on bond awaiting trial on previous theft charges. (Source wkrn.com)


Man caught shoplifting with a stolen John Deere Tractor in Washington.    A man in Yakima, Washington was attempting to shoplift more items from a local Walmart, earlier that day he had already stolen a John Deere tractor from YV Tech. The tractor was actually on the back of a truck driven by the suspect, the truck belonged to a relative that said he let someone borrow it, but never got it back. (Source kimatv.com)


A $4 shoplifting case could lead to 8 years in prison.
The $4.19 of stolen merchandise is only part of the problem for Lori Suter of Stark County, Ohio. As she fled from the IGA Grocery store, she knocked down an employee who was attempting to stop her, she is now being charged with a second degree felony, punishable by 8 years in prison and a $15,000 fine. (Source cantonrep.com)

Jewelry Store Burglar returns the next day, wearing two stolen watches. Okay, maybe not the greatest plan to attempt to go back to the same store you burglarized the night before. What makes it worse, wearing two of the stolen watches. Nashville Police staked out the Variety Jewelry and the Radio Shack stores which were burglarized Tuesday, and early Wednesday morning the burglar returned to scene of the crime attempting to break back into Variety Jewelers. Brad Kendall was taken into custody and admitted to the burglaries. (Source newschannel5.com)


Burglars hit Jimmy Choo Store on Chicago’s Gold Coast.    The doors were pried open by two suspects, while a third suspect waited in the get-a-way car. An inventory is being conducted to determine the loss; no numbers were released thus far. Last month, the American Apparel store was hit on the same block by burglars. (Source nbcchicago.com)



Jack in the Box Robbery suspect turned in by his Wife.
On November 28, Johnny Reyes and another suspect entered the Jack in the Box restaurant in San Antonio and stole cash from the registers and the safe. Reyes and his accomplice forced employees into the storage freezer at gunpoint. Reyes told his estranged wife that he committed the robbery and threatened her if she told anyone. Reyes’s wife worked with Police identifying her husband from the robbery video. Police are now also trying to connect Reyes with an armed robbery of a Dollar General store. (Source kens5.com)


November Same Store Sales results

Walgreen down 6.2%

Quarterly Same Store Sales Results

Lululemon 3Q up 18% with sales up 38%- Canada's darling
Ascena Retail Group 1Q up 1% with sales up 48% due to acquisition of Charming Shoppes - now the largest specialty retailer in terms of store count in the U.S.