Sensormatic Solutions by Johnson Controls Releases 2021 North America Holiday Shopping Recap Based on Shopper Traffic Analytics

● Sensormatic Solutions accurately predicted nine out of ten busiest days in the U.S. and five out of five busiest days in Canada

● Shopper traffic data indicates that visits to physical stores for the 2021 holiday season accounted for 35.8% of the total season’s brick-and-mortar traffic

● Supply chain disruptions shifted shopping earlier in the season, with fewer consumers saving their shopping for the last minute

Sensormatic Solutions, the leading global retail solutions portfolio of Johnson Controls, today released its annual traffic and behavior trends recap for the 2021 holiday season for the U.S. and Canada. This includes the period of six weeks spanning from the Sunday before Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 21, 2021, through Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022. The annual recap is informed by retail traffic data analytics within the company’s intelligent operating platform, Sensormatic IQ.

The final shopper traffic data showed that Sensormatic Solutions initial prediction of the top busiest shopper traffic days in the U.S. aligned with the actual busiest days in stores. Sensormatic Solutions also originally predicted that the 10 busiest shopping days in the U.S. would account for approximately 40% of all holiday traffic. Altogether, the actual 2021 busiest shopping days accounted for 35.8% of the total season’s brick-and-mortar traffic.

Traffic for the full six-week period was down -19.5% in the U.S., compared to 2019, the last pre-pandemic year. This is an improvement from 2020 when holiday traffic was down -33.1% compared to 2019.

Read more here


Security Industry Association Announces Women in Security Forum Power 100

This new initiative will showcase 100 women who are role models, leaders, innovators and influencers in the global security industry.

The Security Industry Association (SIA) has opened the call for nominations for the SIA Women in Security Forum Power 100. New in 2022, this annual initiative presented by the SIA Women in Security Forum will honor 100 women in the security industry who are role models for actively advancing diversity, inclusion, innovation and leadership in the community.

“The SIA Women in Security Forum is proud to introduce the Power 100 program and looks forward to recognizing the inaugural class of honorees at ISC West,” said SIA Women in Security Forum Chair Kasia Hanson. “The Power 100 is a new way for the SIA Women in Security Forum to celebrate the extraordinary leaders in our industry who are raising the bar, breaking barriers and advancing opportunities for women.”

This new recognition program will honor women in security who model leadership, inspire others and shape and transform the industry. The 2022 SIA Women in Security Forum Power 100 will be announced in March. Honorees will be invited to attend a special Women in Security Forum event at ISC West and be recognized during the trade show.

Read more here
 

253 Security Guard Deaths in 2021
2021 Security Officer Injury-Death Report Released

The information below consists of the injuries, deaths, assaults, kidnappings and violent attacks against Private Security and Private Police officers in 2021.

This information only includes verified information of “On-Duty” personnel and does not include any information relating to incidents occurring while off-duty. These statistics were curated through official records, news and police reports, corporate communications, and victim statements during 2021.

2021 Officer Line-of-Duty Deaths: 253 Total

● Covid-19 - 154
● Murders - 84 (91.3% firearm-related)
● Motor Vehicle Accidents - 7
● Medical Emergencies - 5

Officer Assaults

● 517 Security Officers Shot
● 1,308 Security Officer Injuries
● 1,013 Incidents Involving Firearms
● 4 Reported Kidnappings (2 Results in Homicides)

Read the full report here

The Ripple Effect of Retail Theft
Shoplifting Is Scaring Retailers. Wall Street Should Worry, Too
Wall Street is desperately trying to figure out where consumer demand is going. Alongside sentiment and sales, there’s another indicator worth watching: shoplifting.

This metric is rarely talked about. It’s uncomfortable for retail executives to acknowledge that their customers or, worse still, their employees are stealing from them. But theft has long been a bugbear for retailers, and it’s now been thrust into the spotlight by a spate of increasingly violent robberies across the U.S.

Although these losses were the work of organized criminal gangs, and far from small-scale pilfering, the two can’t be completely disaggregated. Shoplifting, large and small, tends to rise during times of crisis. As inflation makes things harder for more families, retail theft data will be a telling gauge for consumer distress.

Jack L. Hayes International, Inc., a Florida-based loss-prevention consultancy, has been surveying retailers on theft for 33 years. In 2020, the store groups reported a significant increase in the instances of theft for need. With U.S. food prices rising the most in 13 years in November, expectations are that this will become even more of a problem in 2022.

This comes against the backdrop of a rise in organized retail crime. The Retail Industry Leaders Association, whose members include Target Corp., Best Buy Co Inc. and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., estimates that $68.9 billion worth of products were stolen from retailers in 2019, about 1.5% of total retail sales, due to organized gangs. The average amount recovered from apprehended shoplifters has risen sharply since 2016, as raiders have become more prolific, according to Jack L. Hayes. But just a tiny fraction of stolen goods is ever recovered from shoplifters, so overall losses to stores are much bigger.

In the past, stolen goods were often disposed of through flea markets or pawn shops. The explosion in online shopping has made it easier for gangs to resell them without getting caught. Stores are seeing the typical targets go missing — razor blades, infant formula, cosmetics and personal care products can be easily sold off again — but they’re also reporting more theft of larger-ticket items — from designer clothes and handbags to power tools.

Retailers are pressing lawmakers to take shoplifting more seriously. Last month, a letter signed by 20 CEOs urged Congress to pass legislation requiring online marketplaces to collect and verify third-party sellers’ identities and financial details, and forcing high-volume sellers to disclose contact information to consumers.

Even these measures, though, might not be enough to deter theft. The last time consumers were under severe strain — in the wake of the 2007 financial crisis, amid rampant job losses and spikes in prices for food and fuel — shoplifting surged. washingtonpost.com

'A loaded gun in every aisle'
Hy-Vee reveals more information about new retail security team
The shoulder patches say, “A Helpful Smile in Every Aisle,” but the police-style uniforms, complete with belts with holstered taser and possibly handguns, may send a very different message as Hy-Vee deploys a new retail security team in its stores.

The West Des Moines-based supermarket chain will begin introducing its own security force “as part of its ongoing efforts to ensure the health and safety of both its customers and employees,” the company announced in a news release on Dec. 29. The program will roll out throughout 2022, but security teams are already present in some stores.

Internal job postings reveal that security officers will patrol and monitor the premises and “if needed, [apprehend] theft suspects in compliance with Hy-Vee’s standards and guidelines.”

Other listed duties include:

● Exhibiting respect, concern and patience in all customer and employee interactions.
● Monitors the store property, as well as customer and employee activities
● Takes appropriate action to prevent theft; apprehends individuals engaged in theft activity.
● Reports any internal theft suspicions and observations to Loss Prevention Area Manager.
● Assists Loss Prevention with investigations.
● Makes recommendations to Directors regarding loss prevention best practices.
● Contacts and coordinates with law enforcement regarding known offenders or suspicious persons
● Reports unsafe conditions inside and outside of the store to management.

While the news release did not say whether security team members will be armed, the job posting requires applicants to “be able to demonstrate proficiency with duty weapon” and “to pass [a] designated handgun qualification course.” They must also complete a defensive tactic course.

A video released by Hy-Vee shows the security team members carrying a handgun, taser, pepper spray, two magazine pouches, handcuffs, a flashlight and wearing a body camera. The security officers in the video are also unmasked and do not follow social distancing guidelines.

The stated goal of the new security force “is to create a consistent look for the security team and consistent approach to customer service and security across all of our stores,” according to the news release. Previously, Hy-Vee has used third-party security contractors or off-duty law enforcement in its stores. littlevillagemag.com

Reaction to Florida AG's ORC Push
Florida AG wants tougher sentences for retail thefts. Critics say it barely exists
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody stood outside of Hialeah City Hall on Tuesday, calling for beefed-up retail theft sentencing guidelines to deter a crime she acknowledged hadn’t really taken hold in Florida. At least not yet.

Surrounded by state and federal lawmakers, the attorney general referenced widely viewed videos of gangs rampaging through retail outlets — the vast majority of them outside of Florida — and called it an “endless cycle of smash-and-grabs.”

And though she said most “organized theft rings” were doing their dirty work in other states, Moody warned that Hialeah and the state of Florida are not immune to “massive, large theft rings” making their way down the state’s east coast.

“Florida will never become California,” she said. The governor there has already announced he would add state troopers to fight a retail theft wave that’s playing out in San Francisco.

A draft copy of Moody’s bill, provided to the Miami Herald, shows charges stemming from organized retail theft could be enhanced if prosecutors could prove five thefts were committed within a 30-day period with a total of 10 items taken in a minimum of two locations. Moody said the sentencing guidelines would be left to legislators.

The attorney general didn’t provide numbers showing that retail theft had become a major problem in Hialeah or throughout Florida and she took very few questions before being ushered away. Critics and political foes of Gov. Ron DeSantis called the press conference a grandstanding scare tactic and demanded data to support the need for any new law or task force.

“Is this retail crime the most serious problem we have in Florida right now?” asked Florida Democratic Party Chairman Manny Diaz. “It doesn’t even exist. It’s smoke and mirrors.” Diaz equated it to DeSantis’ anti-riot law, which was temporarily blocked by a federal judge in September, and to the governor’s mention of creating a civilian military force. miamiherald.com

Another California Theft Bill
Assembly Rep. Leader Waldron Introduces Bill to Crack Down on Serial Shoplifters

AB 1597 will increase sentences after fourth shoplifting conviction

As the Globe reported Tuesday, Assembly Bill 1599, authored by Assemblymen Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin), James Gallagher (R-Yuba City), and Jim Patterson (R-Fresno), would repeal Prop 47, and all changes and additions made by Proposition 47, except those related to reducing the penalty for possession of concentrated cannabis.

Assembly Bill 1603, authored by Assemblyman Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield), would reduce the threshold amount for petty theft and shoplifting back down to $400 and would re-allow shoplifting to be tried as a felony again but only if the person who did it had prior convictions.

Wednesday, Assembly Republican Leader Marie Waldron (R-Valley Center) announced legislation to impose stricter sentences on repeat or serial shoplifters caught stealing from California businesses.

“AB 1597 will give prosecutors the discretion to charge thieves with three or more prior convictions for theft or receiving stolen property with either misdemeanors or felonies, restoring penalties to pre-Prop. 47 levels for repeat offenders,” Waldron said.

AB 1597 is a more tailored bill, focused on repeat offenders, rather than the first-time shoplifter. There is a significant difference between retail theft used for “resale” such as Louis Vuitton handbags, expensive watches, jewelry, clothing from Burberry, or even a giant shopping bag full of baby formula, and someone stealing food to eat. californiaglobe.com

Former police commissioner warns of new Manhattan DA's soft-on-crime approach: 'Start a recall election now'

Houston leaders blasted for 'social experiment' on bail reform as violent crime spikes

US: 58.8M Cases - 853.6K Dead - 42M Recovered
Worldwide: 298.4M Cases - 5.4M Dead - 256.9M Recovered

Former Senior Loss Prevention Executive
Know of any fallen LP exec? Let's remember & recognize.

Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 337  
Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: 584
*Red indicates change in total deaths

Omicron Silver Lining
COVID-19 hospitalization rate down 50% compared to 2021 peak, data shows
The rate of Americans with COVID-19 who are ending up in the hospital has dropped 50 percent compared to the record highs seen a year ago, data shows.

While new coronavirus cases have more than tripled in the past few weeks and are currently averaging a staggering 490,000 per day, hospitalizations are not climbing as fast.

Three percent of those cases are being admitted in hospitals, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows.

That rate is down from the 6.5 percent of cases hospitalized at the beginning of 2021 when the average daily case count was roughly 250,000, according to CDC data.

New hospital admissions across the US averaged 14,700 per day last week.

Even though new hospitalizations spiked 60 percent compared to the week prior — they are still down from the peak of 16,500 per day this time last year when the vast majority of Americans were unvaccinated.

While new cases may be exploding as the Omicron variant rages, deaths are stable and are about a third of what was recorded in January last year. nypost.com

Macy's Vaccine Mandate Coming?
Macy’s requests vaccination status of all U.S. employees
Macy’s began requesting the vaccination statuses of employees on Tuesday, a sign it was preparing for a potential mandate of vaccinations or weekly testing ahead of a special Supreme Court hearing about such rules on Friday.

In a memo sent to employees that was obtained by The New York Times, the retailer — which also owns Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury — told workers in the United States to upload their vaccination statuses to a third-party platform by Jan. 16 “regardless of whether you work in a store, a supply chain facility, an office, or are remote/hybrid.” For employees who say they are unvaccinated, Macy’s said it would “review your submission and you may be contacted by someone from the Colleague Advisory team to discuss next steps.” The company also said it might require proof of negative tests to be uploaded to the same system starting on Feb. 16.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hold the hearing this week to assess the legality of two measures from the Biden administration: a vaccine-or-testing mandate aimed at large employers and a vaccination requirement for certain health care workers. The retail industry had pushed back on a new rule issued in November by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration requiring companies with 100 or more workers to mandate vaccines or weekly tests, saying it could intensify a labor shortage that many retailers were dealing with during the busy holiday season.

Since then, the Omicron variant has sent global coronavirus cases to record levels, though recent data shows that people infected with it are far less likely to be hospitalized than those infected with the Delta variant, especially if they are vaccinated. nytimes.com

CES 2022 - First Major Industry Event of the Year
Biggest Names in Tech Host Virtual Presentations & Forego CES Altogether
CES is now live in Las Vegas despite the mass exodus of major participants, including Google, Microsoft, IBM, Lenovo, Amazon, Panasonic, Procter & Gamble, General Motors and other brands.

This week, attendees and exhibitors started trickling into the electronics bash. While many of the biggest names in tech decided to host virtual presentations or forego CES altogether, some companies kept their in-person appearances, including Samsung, which will still present its major keynote speech to kick off the electronic’s show on Tuesday.

A slate of programs at CES were absent from Tuesday's schedule as the tech event continues to be upended by the uptick in coronavirus cases. Read more here.

Given the rise in COVID cases and truncated conference, Best Buy cancelled its plans for the trade show.

CES attendees are reporting that safety precautions are being taken seriously with plenty of masking and organizers distributing personal COVID-19 test kits. adage.com

Walmart Temporary Closures for Cleaning Due to COVID
Walmart is taking a more geographically specific approach, temporarily closing Walmart and Sam's Club stores for cleaning, as it has "since shortly after the pandemic's beginning in 2020," according to a company spokesperson.

"This is a proactive measure, based on market-specific data, and is intended to present a safe in-store environment for our associates and customers," the spokesperson said.

The temporary closures typically last a day and a half and the program will remain in place for as long as it's needed, the spokesperson said. "As for any outbreaks, our facilities tend to reflect the communities we serve. Therefore, a rise in positive cases among associates would likely be consistent with any rise in case counts within the surrounding communities." retaildive.com

White House-Retail COVID Testing Agreement
Walmart, Kroger raise at-home Covid test prices after White House agreement expires
Walmart and Kroger raised the price of Abbott's at-home Covid-19 test kit after an agreement with the White House to sell the tests at a reduced price expired, the companies said Tuesday.

The BinaxNOW kit, one of the first at-home tests to be authorized by the federal government, was listed on Walmart's website Tuesday for $19.88, up from $14 last month. Kroger listed the tests for $23.99.

President Joe Biden announced the agreement with Walmart, Amazon and Kroger in September, saying it was part of his administration’s plan to ramp up testing and “better detect and control” the coronavirus variant that then posed the greatest danger — delta.

The three-month agreement to sell the tests “at cost” expired last month, just as the new omicron variant began advancing quickly across the U.S. A spokeswoman said in an email Tuesday that unlike other retailers, Walmart continued selling the product for $14 through the holidays. nbcnews.com

Starbucks Employees Walk Out Over COVID
Buffalo workers at only unionized U.S. Starbucks walk out over Covid, staffing concerns
Workers at a Starbucks store in Buffalo that last month became the chain's only company-operated U.S. store to be organized walked out Wednesday to protest what they viewed as unsafe Covid-19 levels that have left the location short-staffed.

About one-third of the location's workers are in self-isolation because they tested positive for Covid-19 or were exposed to the virus.

Borges said Starbucks has rolled out additional steps to keep employees safe and comply with the latest federal guidelines. That includes allowing stores to adjust service options based on case counts and the virus' effect in the market. Retail leaders, he said, are allowed to modify operations locally – including temporarily closing a store, changing a store's hours or adjusting to grab and go – based on data they have access to on community spread, partner exposures, mandates and health guidance. buffalonews.com

Workplace Vaccine Mandate Faces Uphill Battle In Supreme Court
Pandemic-wary U.S. Supreme Court to weigh Biden vaccine mandates
The U.S. Supreme Court, which has restricted its own operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, is preparing to decide whether to block President Joe Biden's vaccine mandates for large businesses and healthcare workers in a test of presidential powers to address an unyielding public health crisis.

The court will hear in-person arguments on Friday on emergency requests in two separate cases by challengers including business groups, religious entities and various Republican-led U.S. states for orders blocking the vaccine requirements, with rulings expected in short order. The challengers maintain that Biden and his administration have overstepped their authority.

The court's 6-3 conservative majority in the past has shown skepticism toward sweeping actions by federal agencies.

Decisions against Biden could hamstring his ability to take broad action to tackle a pandemic that already has claimed the lives of roughly 830,000 Americans, with COVID-19 cases driven by the coronavirus Omicron variant soaring nationally. reuters.com

California extends face mask mandate amid record COVID cases

Postal service concerned vaccine mandate will slow deliveries

Minneapolis, St. Paul reinstate indoor mask mandates today at 5 pm

Coronavirus and influenza co-infections reported as omicron surges