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1/26/21 D-Ddaily.net
 

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Brian Wedoff, MA promoted to Senior Director - Loss Prevention Operations for Ulta Beauty
Brian has been with Ulta Beauty for nearly five years, starting with the company in 2016. Prior to his promotion to Senior Director - Loss Prevention Operations, he served as Director - Loss Prevention for the company. Before joining Ulta, he spent more than two years with Mattel, Inc. as a Regional Asset Protection Manager. Earlier in his career, he held AP roles with Target and AT&T. Congratulations, Brian!


See All the Executives 'Moving Up' Here   

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How might COVID-19 impact retailers for years to come?

How has the retail industry been impacted since the pandemic hit? How have companies tried to adapt and evolve to meet today’s challenges?

Two of Axis’ industry experts answer these questions and discuss how network technology is and will continue to play a pivotal role in the retail industry now and post-pandemic.


Many retailers today serve their customers through an omnichannel approach. This encompasses everything needed to provide a seamless experience for customers regardless of their manner of shopping. Whether they shop via e-commerce using a mobile device or laptop, by phone, or in-person at a store, consumers expect their shopping experience to be integrated and whole.

The COVID-19 health crisis has accelerated some shopping behaviors and caused them to grow at a faster-than-normal pace - and it’s easy to see how. For example, look at the surge in buy online pick up in store (BOPIS) or curbside pickup. General merchandise retailer Target recorded more than 700 percent growth in curbside pickup in the second quarter of 2020, compared with the same period in 2019.

Safety and security requirements in the retail sector have become more complex as a result of COVID-19-related restrictions on indoor shopping, as well as the rapid expansion of BOPIS shopping. This is especially true for nationwide retail chains, which currently face a multitude of different COVID-19 restrictions that vary by locale.

COVID-19 has caused retailers to want to implement network technology at an accelerated pace. In mid-2020 the industry buzzed with talk about solutions that could depict occupancy levels in stores, check shoppers’ compliance with wearing masks, and detect elevated skin temperature for indication of a person with a fever.

But Hedgie Bartol, segment development manager–retail, Axis Communications, Inc. says that’s putting the cart before the horse per se. Read More Here
 



Protests & Violence


'Smashing Windows & Looting Are Not Protesting'
White House condemns violence amid Portland, Seattle riots

White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked during the White House press briefing Monday for Biden’s reaction to recent unrest in the Pacific Northwest.

"President Biden condemns violence and any violence in the strongest possible terms," Psaki said. "Peaceful protests are a cornerstone of our democracy but smashing windows is not protesting and neither is looting, and actions like these are totally unacceptable." foxnews.com

Portland Mayor 'very pleased' with police protest response on Inauguration Day
Weeks after he vowed to take a stronger stance stopping violent or destructive protests, Portland’s mayor said Monday he’s “very pleased” with how the city’s police bureau handled demonstrations during last week’s Inauguration Day. In the midst of those demonstrations, people smashed windows at the headquarters of the Democratic Party of Oregon and clashed with police, as well as federal officers, outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) offices along the South Waterfront.

“[Police] were able to make good identifications of people engaged in criminal destruction and violence,” Wheeler said in a press conference Monday. “They were able to make quick arrests.” kgw.com

Missouri bill would allow deadly force against demonstrators
A Missouri senator on Monday pitched a bill that would allow the use of deadly force against protesters on private property and give immunity to people who run over demonstrators blocking traffic. The proposal is one of several that follow sometimes violent protests in Missouri last summer over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody. ksdk.com

NPR: Fatal Police Shootings Of Unarmed Black People Reveal Troubling Patterns
The deadly shooting of unarmed Black men and women by police officers in the U.S. has increasingly garnered worldwide attention over the last few years. The 2014 killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, sparked a week of protests that catapulted the Black Lives Matter movement into the national spotlight. Since then, tens of thousands of people across the country have taken to the streets to protest police brutality of Blacks by mostly white officers.

Since 2015, police officers have fatally shot at least 135 unarmed Black men and women nationwide, an NPR investigation has found. NPR reviewed police, court and other records to examine the details of the cases. At least 75 percent of the officers were white. The latest one happened earlier this month in Killeen, Texas, when Patrick Warren, Sr., 52, was fatally shot by an officer responding to a mental health call.

For at least 15 of the officers the shootings were not their first--or their last, NPR found. They have been involved in two--sometimes three or more--shootings, often deadly and without consequences.

Those who study deadly force by police say it's unusual for officers to be involved in any shootings. "Many officers will go their entire career without shooting--sometimes without pulling their gun out at all," said Peter Scharf, a criminologist and professor in the School of Public Health at Louisiana State University and author of The Badge and the Bullet: Police Use of Deadly Force. "It's rare."

Among NPR's other findings: At least six officers had troubled pasts before being hired onto police departments, including drug use and domestic violence. Several officers were convicted of crimes while on the force, such as battery, and resisting and obstructing, but kept their jobs. More than two dozen officers have racked up citizen complaints or use of force incidents. Several officers have violated their department policies and been cited for ethics violations. Nineteen of the officers involved in deadly shootings were rookies, with less than a year on the force. One was on the job for four hours; another for four days. npr.org

Anti-Mask Protests at Stores
Fresno, CA: City leaders address anti-mask protest at Sprouts, photo showing police officer posing with protesters

Fresno city leaders are addressing the anti-mask protest at Sprouts Farmers Market over the weekend that ended with an arrest and the store closing for a few hours.

“We are asking people, can you just please abide by the mask rule in our city? And if there is a business that requires a mask. Would you just wear it?” said Mayor Jerry Dyer.

The group protesting the mask policy at Sprouts Saturday also went to Total Wine; a few weeks ago they also went to Trader Joe’s, forcing the store to close due to the disturbance. yourcentralvalley.com
 



The Favorable Post COVID-19 Future of Retail Loss Prevention

By Tony D'Onofrio, Global Retail Influencer

This article summarizes and expands on some of my high-level concepts shared in a recent LP Foundation webinar titled "The power of Teamwork: How Retail LP can work with law enforcement to combat the double problem of ORC and Violent Gangs."

Organized Retail Crime Increasing and Getting More Violent

As a December 2020 National Retail Federation (NRF) report pointed out, USA organized retail crime (ORC) cost retailers an average $719,548 per $1 billion in sales, up from $703,320 in 2019. This is the fifth year in a row the figure has topped $700,000 and is up significantly from $453,940 in 2015.

A disturbing trend is the increase in retail violence. Fifty-seven percent of retailers surveyed report that ORC gangs are exhibiting somewhat to much more violence that the previous year. A separate industry report from the D&D Daily confirmed these violent retail challenges. Even with all the pandemic store lockdowns, in 2020, retail fatalities were up 5% and incidents were up 14%.

The Evolution of Retail Loss Prevention | Retail Loss Prevention Disrupted | Read More Here
 



COVID Update

US: Over 25.8M Cases - 431K Dead - 15.6M Recovered
Worldwide: Over
100M Cases - 2.1M Dead - 72M Recovered


Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 267  
Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: 216

*Red indicates change in total deaths


Coronavirus Cases & Hospitalizations Continue Downward Trend - For Now

For the first time since November 3rd, no state has over 600 people per million hospitalized with COVID-19.


 

New Covid Variants Could Quickly Erase Progress
Everyday activities like shopping are more dangerous now that new Covid-19 variants are circulating, expert says

Health officials are "extremely" worried about the new Covid-19 variants that have been detected in the US and what they could mean over the coming months, one expert said Monday night.

"We've seen what happens in other countries that have actually had coronavirus under relatively good control, then these variants took over and they had explosive spread of the virus, and then overwhelmed hospitals," emergency physician Dr. Leana Wen told CNN's A
nderson Cooper.

Officials in Minnesota announced Monday they detected the P.1 variant of the virus in a traveler from Brazil. The variant is one of four being closely watched by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and appears to be more easily transmissible. CDC officials have also said another variant -- called B.1.1.7 and first spotted in the UK -- has been detected in more than 20 states.

While the US seems to be heading in the right direction on infection rates -- with 42 states reporting downward trends -- that progress could be erased if variants take hold, Wen said. Preventing that will mean extra vigilance.

"If there is something more contagious among us,
if we thought that going to the grocery store before was relatively safe, there's actually a higher likelihood of contracting coronavirus through those every day activities," she said. "Wearing an even better mask, reducing the number of times that we have to go out shopping, or in indoor crowded settings, all of that will be helpful." cnn.com

How Covid Has Changed The Retail Workforce
Few sectors of the economy have been as affected by Covid-19 as the retail sector, with most non-food stores forced to close for extended periods, shifting demand online, while food-based retailers enjoyed booming sales as people attempted to stock up (while obviously not eating out quite so much either).

New research from UC Santa Cruz explores how the pandemic has changed the very nature of the retail workforce, with a particular focus on the food retail sector. As with so much, the authors argue that the pandemic has accelerated many of the labor market trends that had been emerging in recent years. For instance, e-commerce had been a growing presence in the grocery sector, which created a number of implications for workers.

"The growth of e-commerce sales for food has increased the number of jobs available at a time when unemployment across the U.S. economy has skyrocketed. Grocery workers now are seen as essential workers, even heroes," the researchers say. "At times they even have received extra hazard pay. And yet media reports also are full of stories of ongoing low wages and poor working conditions, severe health risks, and employer retaliation against workers who speak out."

Making the transition | A changing landscape | New labor models | Read more here: forbes.com

Incentives for Shots
Amazon, Aldi, Walmart, Trader Joe’s and other retailers
begin to encourage workers to get the vaccine


Some stores say they will give employees paid time off and bonuses when COVID-19 vaccines are more broadly available.

Retailers are still trying to get priority status for their employees in the COVID-19 vaccine pipeline while they promote the shots to their workers with incentive offers to get vaccinated.

Amazon, which has 800,000 employees in the U.S., said Wednesday that it had an agreement with a health care provider to vaccinate workers at its Amazon fulfillment centers, AWS data centers and Whole Foods Market stores who can’t work from home. Amazon’s front-line employees haven’t been given a time frame because Amazon doesn’t yet have access to the vaccines, but in messaging to employees the retailer has referenced the shots’ effectiveness.

Walmart, the largest U.S. employer, with 1.5 million employees, has also been talking up the vaccine. “We’re educating essential workers and all associates on getting the vaccine as soon as they are eligible,” Dr. Cheryl Pegus, the chain’s executive vice president for health and wellness, said in a blog post Friday. “We are strongly encouraging all associates to get vaccinated but are not mandating anyone receive the vaccine nor are we providing incentives at this time.”

Dollar General is offering its 157,000 employees four hours of pay to get the vaccine.

Aldi said last week that it would give two hours of pay for each dose employees receive. The discount grocer also said it planned to set up vaccination clinics at its warehouses and offices to provide easier access.

Trader Joe’s is encouraging employees to get vaccinated and will make sure schedules are adjusted around vaccine appointments. dallasnews.com

Walmart positions itself as key COVID-19 vaccine provider for rural America
Walmart expects to be able to administer between 10 million and 13 million COVID-19 shots per month at its more than 5,000 in-store pharmacies in the United States and Puerto Rico once it has sufficient access to vaccine supplies, the company said Friday in a blog post. The retailer said it is especially focused on providing vaccinations in regions where people have limited access to healthcare services and is prepared to work with community organizations to run vaccine clinics outside its stores. retaildive.com

3M Vaccines & Counting
CVS, Walgreens finish first round of vaccines
CVS Health has administered 2 million COVID-19 vaccines at nearly 8,000 long-term care facilities, completing the first round of vaccines under a federal program with plans to finish the second round in four weeks. Walgreens, which has also partnered with the federal government to vaccinate residents of these facilities, said it expected to finish the first round Monday after giving more than 1 million shots. dallasnews.com

The Complexities of Securing COVID-19 Vaccines in Hospitals

Collaboration, video surveillance and access control have proved essential for healthcare facilities to be able to safely store and administer the coronavirus vaccine.

While the monstrous and ever-evolving task of executing a vaccine rollout has required cooperation and dedication from nearly all hospital employees, security departments have played an integral role in ensuring it runs as smoothly as possible with minimal threats.

As with any public health crisis, natural disaster or other emergency, it is essential that hospitals constantly review security plans already in place to ensure the continued safety of patients, employees and assets. ASIS, a professional organization for security professionals, recommends facilities review their processes for coordinating with local law enforcement partners and other healthcare facilities to “stay abreast of any potential risks, such as civil disturbances, protests or other security issues” that may arise during the rollout.

Civil disturbances were of significant concern before vaccine distribution began due to many reports of conspiracy theorists looking to disprove the existence of or steal or sabotage the vaccine in order to halt its distribution for a multitude of reasons. campussafetymagazine.com

New York’s vaccine rollout has left out a high-risk group: inmates
When New York announced new vaccine eligibility guidelines two weeks ago covering millions of additional state residents, one particularly hard-hit group remained unmentioned: the nearly 50,000 people incarcerated in the state’s prisons and jails. Now, with state supplies dwindling and no clear plan for vaccinating incarcerated people,
the virus is roaring back behind bars. At least 5,100 people living and working in New York’s prisons have tested positive and 12 have died in recent weeks, outpacing even the early days of the pandemic. But how and when to vaccinate incarcerated people as millions around the state wait has raised legal, logistical and ethical questions. nytimes.com

New COVID-19 test requirement for international flights to the US begins
Travelers boarding international flights to the United States have a big hurdle to clear beginning Tuesday. For the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began,
all passengers ages 2 and older must present a negative coronavirus test taken no more than three days before their flight or proof they recovered from the virus within the past three months. Those who don't will be denied boarding. Canada, the United Kingdom and many other countries already have this entry requirement. usatoday.com

More vaccines will go to states next week, showing companies are on track to deliver their pledged doses

U.K. reports over 100K deaths, as the country prepares to tighten travel restrictions

Experts weigh economic impact as world reaches 100 million COVID-19 cases

Budweiser will sit out Super Bowl, shifting marketing dollars to boost vaccine awareness
 



433 Private Security Officers Arrested in 2020,
According to Private Officer International

Security officers do good work, save lives, and protect people and property. They're also frequently the victim of assaults and vicious attacks and in 2020, 327 died on duty. Security officer on duty deaths is often the result of assaults and homicides.

Most of the time security officers work alone and must defend themselves against attackers who are armed, and this can sometimes lead them to be arrested for going too far. Even with the best training, an individual being attacked, fearing for his life or being in a situation where they are alone and defenseless, will go into a survival mode and use whatever means necessary to escape harm or death.

It is not unusual for a private security officer to find themselves on the wrong side of the law and 2020 was no different. Although the pandemic slowed down the economy, closed businesses and in some cases reduced the need for the use of private security, 433 security officers were arrested and a number face profoundly serious charges including assault with a weapon, aggravated assault, and murder.

Of those 2020 arrests, at least 17 face murder charges, 2 were charged with kidnapping after unlawfully restraining a person and dozens of other security officers faced felony charges of identity theft, burglary, rape, and fraud.

61 security officers faced charges for unlawful firearm possession, expired security licenses, and not complying with other state regulatory laws. Dozens more were charged with misdemeanors ranging from disorderly conduct, shoplifting, theft, to vehicle tampering, all while on duty.

Between 2016 and 2021 the number of on-duty arrested security officers rose by 61.7 percent and certain factors directly correlate to those arrests including the higher use of private security, more armed security personnel, and a reduction of training requirements by some state regulatory agencies. privateofficer.org

Beyond COVID-19: Six policy priorities for NRF in 2021
NRF members’ highest priority remains the health and safety of retail workers, customers and the communities they serve. Steps such as robust support for testing and vaccine distribution should be the first order of business alongside additional action on fiscal stimulus. The pending Safe and Healthy Workplace Tax Credit, for example, would help offset enormous costs retailers incur for protective gear and store safety measures. Other priorities include further direct payments to individuals in a combination of income and rent assistance to help consumers manage during these trying times. Lastly, targeted and temporary liability protection against unwarranted lawsuits should be enacted for customer-facing businesses.

As the situation improves, however, other priorities will return. Here are key issues impacting retailers that NRF is asking Congress to address:

International trade and the retail supply chain | Supply chain infrastructure | Data privacy | Labor | Payments and card security | Tax reform | Read more: nrf.com

NRF Podcast: What a new administration means for retail
After a tense election and a chaotic and unruly start to 2021 in the nation’s capital, the country remains as divided as ever. But nevertheless, there is work to be done. On this week’s Retail Gets Real podcast, NRF Senior Vice President of Government Relations David French shares what to expect from a new administration and a new environment in Washington, what matters most for retailers, and how NRF plans to work for the industry’s progress in the coming year. Listen Here

RILA Outlines 2021 Public Policy Priorities
The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) today delivered its 2021 Retail Public Policy Agenda to lawmakers outlining the retail industry’s priorities for the year. As the voice for leading retailers in Washington, RILA’s focus will be on ensuring policy makers understand the impact proposals will have on retailers and how those policies reach millions of jobs, families, and communities.

Our public policy agenda is reflected in 5 pillars:

  ● Building Communities
  ● Ensuring a Safe, Sustainable Future
  ● Investing in People
  ● Leading in the Community
  ● Supporting Free Markets  rila.org

UK's LP Think Tank - ECR Retail Loss Group
Food Waste Webinar: Prompted Expiry Date Checking

The potential to reduce waste, improve productivity and increase regulatory compliance was bought to the attention of the working group by two start-ups, WhyWaste and Deligate. In this session, two retailers will share their learnings using these new capabilities, and their future plans to deploy in their organizations. This will be followed by a group discussion on other retailers experiences, including insights from retailers who have already built similar systems in-house.

The webinar takes place tomorrow, Jan. 27 @ 2 pm GMT / 9 am EST | Register Here


Supply chain issues threaten to disrupt retail ops
Shortages of workers at the nation’s docks, higher costs for containers and other factors are complicating the movement of products from factories to retail distribution centers. “It’s crazy. Prices are at record highs. Multiple things are happening all at once,” said Phil Levy, an economist with Flexport. “People work off of expectations. But now there’s just so much uncertainty.” An executive at Gap said its operations were being negatively affected by issues at ports that are experience worker shortages and that ships are remaining offshore waiting to be unloaded. washingtonpost.com

110,000+ Restaurants Closed in 2020
Pandemic wiped out six years of gains made by restaurant industry
The National Restaurant Association said restaurant and food-service sales were $240 billion below its 2020 pre-pandemic forecasts. More than 110,000 eating and drinking establishments closed last year, either temporarily or for good. The association hopes 2021 will be a year of rebuilding, with trends like off-premise dining and delivery continuing to gain in importance as consumer preferences shift. cnbc.com

Fifth Avenue Retailers See Signs of Budding Revival
After a very dark period, the sun is starting to shine again on Manhattan’s famed Fifth Avenue retail corridor. With Donald Trump’s tenure in the White House over, store owners are looking forward to fewer disruptions from protesters and fewer police barricades near Trump Tower, which nearby store owners say have had a dampening effect on their business. Retailers also anticipate that the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccines will help bring back tourists to New York City, where Fifth Avenue has been a must visit for many. wsj.com

Amazon to add 3,000 new corporate jobs in Boston
Amazon.com plans to add 3,000 new jobs at the company’s tech hub operations in Boston. The jobs will be spread across the Alexa, Amazon Pharmacy, Amazon Robotics and Amazon Web Services business units. abcnews.com

Criminal Justice Reform
Biden to order DOJ to end private prison contracts as part of racial equity push
President Joe Biden will order his Department of Justice not to renew its contracts with private prisons, one of multiple new planks of Biden’s broad-focused racial justice agenda. cnbc.com

Beauty retailer L'Occitane files Chapter 11, closing 23 stores

Cici’s buffet pizza chain files for bankruptcy

Belk may file for Chapter 11 with lenders to take equity stake

GameStop short-sellers lost $1.6 billion in a single day after Reddit traders took action

U.S. retail and fashion brands cautiously optimistic about Biden’s ‘Buy American’ plan

 



Senior LP & AP Jobs Market

Rite Aid posts 5 Corporate Asset Protection job openings
Rite Aid Asset Protection currently has 5 "corporate" positions open,
none of which require you to live near Camp Hill, PA. For these positions, applicants can live anywhere in the U.S. because Rite Aid has reimagined the corporate office. It is preferred (but not a requirement) that candidates live near a Rite Aid. Check out the listings below.

Sr. Director Asset Protection (Field) - Camp Hill, PA
Director, AP Finance & Analytics - United States
Physical Security Manager - United States
Sr. Financial Analyst, Asset Protection - United States
Analyst, Profit Protection (Pharmacy) - Camp Hill, PA
 




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Thanks to our sponsors/partners - Take the time to thank them as well please. If it wasn't for them The Daily wouldn't be here every day for you.
  

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Businesses around the world are facing unique challenges as they try to reduce the health risks for their employees and customers. New public health guidelines from COVID-19 are forcing businesses to adapt to new operating practices.

To help organizations navigate these guidelines, March Networks is offering a new Health Compliance Solution, based on our highly flexible data analytic platform, Searchlight. The solution delivers real-time alerts about building occupancy and elevated body temperatures, and helps visually verify compliance with new health and safety policies.


 

To find out more about how the March Networks Health Compliance Solution can help your business comply with new physical distancing and health & safety measures, visit our website.

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RH-ISAC's Upcoming Cyber Thursday Webinars

Jan. 28 - Prepare for eCommerce Threats in the New Year

Jan
. 28 - Rise of the Hybrid Threat: Resiliency in the Age of Evolving Cyber Attacks

Jan. 28 -
Improve Your Detection Process with Attack Range


RH-ISAC Virtual Regional Workshop Hosted by CVS Health - March 4, 2021

Register now: 2021 RH-ISAC Cyber Intelligence Summit - Sept. 28-29, 2021
 



String of IT Security Vendor Hacks
SonicWall Is Latest Security Vendor to Disclose Cyberattack

Network security firm SonicWall is investigating a coordinated attack in which attackers allegedly exploited vulnerabilities in the company's products to breach its internal network. It's the latest in a string of security vendors to become a target for attackers. In a statement published Jan. 22, SonicWall officials wrote they detected an attack "by highly sophisticated threat actors exploiting probably zero-day vulnerabilities on certain SonicWall secure remote access products."

As of Jan. 23, the company has confirmed its SonicWall Firewalls, NetExtender VPN Client, Secure Mobile Access (SMA) 1000 Series, and SonicWave Access Points were not affected in the recent attack. The SMA 100 Series, used to provide employees with remote access to internal resources, is under investigation but "may be used safely in common deployment use cases."

A Concerning Trend

SonicWall is the latest IT security vendor to confirm a breach in recent weeks. Others include
Microsoft, FireEye, and Malwarebytes, all of which disclosed cyberattacks related to the massive SolarWinds attack campaign targeting major US government agencies and businesses. Attackers also attempted to breach CrowdStrike; however, their efforts were not successful.

"There is an undeniable trend of security companies disclosing more breaches publicly over the last several months," says Allie Mellen, Forrester analyst covering security and risk. "That said, I wouldn't rush to judgement and assume this is due to an uptick in targeted attacks against security companies specifically."

She suspects the increase in reported attacks can be linked to some companies changing their approach to breach disclosure. Over time, more security firms have chosen to speak publicly about the attacks they face — sometimes due to regulatory compliance, sometimes to warn the community of a new threat.

While breach disclosures are growing common, it's worth noting that
security vendors are an appealing attacker target, notes Brandon Hoffman, CISO at Netenrich. That's a concern, he says, because security practitioners need tools they can depend on for detection and defense. By targeting the tools meant to detect cyberattacks, adversaries stand to gain an advantage. And they don't have to succeed to make an impact, he notes.

"To a degree,
it is less important that these attacks are successful, but at a minimum eroding confidence in the tools," Hoffman explains. Whether this erosion serves as a distraction to key security functions or forces security practitioners to refocus their efforts remains to be seen. darkreading.com

DDoS extortions making its way back
Radware recently published a cybersecurity alert, warning users were once again being targeted by DDoS extortionists for a second time by a global ransom DDoS campaign that initially started in August 2020. Organizations received a new letter that said, "Maybe you forgot us, but we didn’t forget you. We were busy working on more profitable projects, but now we are back.”

Organizations that received this letter were companies that received threats in August and September of 2020. Analysis of this new wave of ransom letters suggests that the same threat actors from the middle of 2020 are behind these malicious communications. securitymagazine.com

Google steps up retail cloud competition with AWS, Microsoft
Google Cloud is officially launching Product Discovery Solutions for Retail, a suite of solutions designed to enable retailers to implement seamless search and recommendation capabilities for enhancing consumer engagement and improving conversions across their digital properties.

Google initially released Google Cloud for Retail in April 2019 to directly challenge Amazon Web Services (AWS) for Retail cloud platform. Since that time, Microsoft has also bolstered the retail value of its Azure cloud service with the release of new Dynamics 365 digital commerce solutions in September 2019. chainstoreage.com

How to Better Secure Your Microsoft 365 Environment
Security experts offer security guidance as more attackers target enterprise cloud environments.

How do I select a data encryption solution for my business?

82% of companies give third parties access to all cloud data


 
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$5.4 Billion in Annual Losses
The Hidden Costs of Buying Fake Cosmetics on Sites Like Amazon
Thanks to the rise in sales on e-commerce platforms like Amazon, counterfeiting luxury products has become a “highly profitable venture,” according to the Department of Homeland Security. The cosmetics industry loses more money to counterfeit products each year than any other industry, losing around $5.4 billion each year to fraudulent sellers, according to a report from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Amazon, for its part, “strictly prohibits the sale of counterfeit products,” and “invest[s] heavily in both funds and company energy” to enforce the policy, according to a company spokesperson.

Still, over 42% of items purchased during a 2018 government investigation of third-party vendors on sites like Amazon and Walmart were fakes. Every single cosmetic item purchased in the investigation was believed to have been a counterfeit, including an Urban Decay eyeshadow primer that was a near-exact replica of the actual product.

The rise in counterfeit cosmetic goods is dangerous for consumers’ health — and their wallets.

Counterfeiters aren’t beholden to customer complaints, and the goods they peddle go unchecked by federal regulators like the Food and Drug Administration. So buyers run a much higher risk of coming into contact with ingredients that cause allergic reactions or contain toxic materials. money.com

Amazon employees gave millions to Biden, strongly outweighing cash for Trump, data shows

Amazon employees gave Biden $2.2M, but donated just $260,000 to Trump

Amazon employees showered Joe Biden's presidential campaign with cash during the 2020 election, funneling millions of dollars to the then-candidate — far more than they gave to Republican Donald Trump.

Figures published by the Center for Responsive Politics show that Amazon workers gave more than $2.22 million to Biden's presidential campaign during the election, and $934,747 to the DNC Services Corp.

The third-highest donation by Amazon employees went to Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Sanders, a self-declared democratic socialist who frequently battles with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, received $803,732 from individuals who work at the e-commerce behemoth.

By comparison, then-President Trump received just $260,140 in donations from Amazon workers. Of the top 10 political candidates and organizations that Amazon employees donated to, Trump is the only Republican. foxbusiness.com

Combat Online Counterfeiting by Protecting Trademarks

Facebook to soar 26% on e-commerce, advertising strength, says BofA


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Richmond, CA: Los Leyva Western Wear burglary suspect busted while shoplifting at Home Depot
A suspect in the burglary at Los Leyva Western Wear in Richmond on Saturday was arrested that same day after being caught shoplifting at Home Depot, police said. An officer responded to the commercial burglary at Los Leyva Western Wear at 516 23rd St. and obtained several photos of the suspect from the business surveillance system, police said. That afternoon, Home Depot detained a shoplifter who was found in possession of the property stolen from Leyva Western Wear. Richmond police positively identified the shoplifter as the suspect seen in the surveillance system at the burglarized business. “Great cooperation between businesses and law enforcement,” police said, adding that officers have not recovered all of the stolen merchandise. richmondstandard.com

Little Rock, AR: 2 steal over $1,000 in merchandise from Park Plaza mall, threaten to shoot employee
Two people stole around $1,000 of merchandise from a mall in Little Rock on Saturday night and then threatened to shoot a store employee, according to a police report. Around 9:10 p.m. on Saturday, employees at the store Drip inside Park Plaza Mall called police about a robbery. Witnesses told police that two suspects came into the store, pulled out a Claire's shopping bag and filled it with clothing. One of them had a device to remove tags from the merchandise, according to one witness.

A Claire's employee told police that the pair had taken about $400 worth of merchandise from their store. Sephora employees told police that they had been inside the Sephora as well but they didn't know if the suspects took anything. Drip employees began approaching the suspects and they left the store, according to the police report. One employee then took photos of the suspects and followed them out of the store to ask them to return over $600 worth of stolen clothing. The suspects turned around and told the employee they'd shoot them if they kept following them, according to the report.  katv.com

Bainbridge Township, OH: Shoplifting duo sweep up vacuums in crime spree
Police are investigating a man and woman who were caught on store video stealing six robotic vacuums valued at $1,964 from Walmart on Jan. 18. They pushed a shopping cart out the door with the merchandise and left in a car after making no attempt to pay. The duo got away, but may have returned to the same store the next day. cleveland.com

Oak Park, IL: Shoplifter steals $600 worth of jackets from Old Navy in downtown Oak Park
A man wearing a brown baseball hat, a tan jacket and blue pants stole 10 men’s jackets valued at $599.90 from Old Navy, 417 N. Harlem Ave., between 11:21 a.m. and 11:25 p.m. Jan. 18. chicagotribune.com

Madison, WI: 19-year-old accused of stealing over $400 in merchandise at East Towne Mall; suspect is accused of jumping bail 11 times

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Shootings & Deaths

Knoxville, TN: Restaurant Owner 'devastated and heartbroken' after 2 Restaurant staff killed in shooting by former employee
Three people died, including the alleged gunman. Police identified the victims as 26-year-old Alexis Clayton and 50-year-old Rob Goebel. Investigators say Christopher MacGuire, 27, killed the two and later took his own life. Officers say this all unfolded on Sunday morning at Cazzy’s Corner Grill. wbir.com

Washington, DC: 5 shot, 1 dead, in early morning shooting at C-Store
One person is dead and four people are injured after an early morning shooting in Southeast D.C. Monday. D.C. police said the shooting happened inside a store just before 9 a.m. on the 1400 block of Good Hope Road. When police arrived, they found three men shot. Two men were taken to the hospital: one with injuries that were not life-threatening, the other with life-threatening injuries. The third man, Edward Wade, 22, was found dead and taken to the medical examiner’s office. Two other men sought treatment at hospitals for gunshot wounds that D.C. police said were not life-threatening. One of these men, Terrance Oxner, 21, was a suspect in the case, a news release from D.C. police said. Oxner has been arrested on a charge of first-degree murder while armed. Preliminary investigations show more than one shooter was involved and shots were fired inside and outside the store. wtop.com

Lynnwood, WA: Homicide investigation underway after man stabbed outside Fred Meyer dies
Police said Monday that a man who was stabbed several times Sunday outside a Lynnwood grocery store has died, prompting a homicide investigation into his death. The victim, who has not been identified but was in his early 60s, was rushed for medical treatment to Harborview Medical Center with critical injuries but passed away while there, authorities said in a social media post. According to officials, he was stabbed several times by at least one of the suspects. Police said the man argued with a group of three or four people near the entrance of the Fred Meyer before he was attacked. komonews.com

Fort Wayne, IN: Man sentenced to 35 years for 2018 shooting inside Kroger store
A man who argued he shot a man in self-defense at a Kroger store two years ago was sentenced Monday to 35 years in prison. A jury found Marr Brown, 33, guilty in November of attempted murder and criminal recklessness in the Dec. 19, 2018, shooting at the Kroger on North Clinton Street. . Brown told the jury he shot James Walker, 48, because he thought Walker was going to kill him. Allen Superior Court Judge David M. Zent handed Brown a 35-year sentence and credited Brown with having served 71 days in jail. Brown was ordered to pay $38,400 in restitution and to stay away from Walker. Walker was shot three times and badly wounded inside the supermarket about 6:30 p.m. journalgazette.net
 



Robberies, Incidents & Thefts

Iron County, MO: 2 remaining Missouri jail escapees arrested in Colorado for Shoplifting at Walmart
The final two escaped inmates from Iron County, Missouri, have been arrested in Colorado and are waiting to be extradited to Missouri. According to a release from the U.S. Marshals, Dwight Abernathie was arrested in Arvada, Colorado, for attempting to shoplift from a Walmart on Sunday night. Authorities were also able to arrest Samuel Gillam after interviewing several witnesses in Denver. Gillam was arrested at a Salvation Army Homeless Shelter Monday. Both inmates are in Colorado jails waiting to be extradited to Missouri. Last week, authorities were able to arrest Tracy Brown in New Mexico. Brown was originally arrested on charges of burglary, Abernathie had been arrested on charges of assault and sodomy, and Gilliam had been arrested on kidnapping charges, the Marshals said. everythinglubbock.com

Atlanta, GA: Burglary crew hits Cherokee County pharmacy and leaves with narcotics, money; suspects may be tied to pharmacy burglaries in Metro Atlanta
Multiple agencies are looking for clues in an early morning pharmacy burglary that may be connected to several more in the region. The Ball Ground Police Department in Cherokee County reports that, around 4:30 a.m., three men forced their way into the Ball Ground Pharmacy. The suspects then took "a significant amount" of narcotics and an undisclosed amount of cash. Investigators soon learned there were similarities to an incident in Pickens County at Bell's Pharmacy around 4:19 a.m. Detectives in that county were able to provide surveillance video showing one of the men carrying a yellow crowbar and another holding a gun. Police now believe the same group may be behind pharmacy burglaries in Covington, Newnan, and Gwinnett County as well. The department is now asking anyone with information to call 911 - and the public-at-large to be vigilant. 11alive.com

Burbank, CA: Bodycam footage shows moment Burbank police officer catches thief red-handed
The Burbank Police Department tweeted the footage on Saturday, saying the officer was "in the right place, at the right time." The officer had just completed a hit-and-run investigation when the would-be thief exited the back door of a nearby business with stolen merchandise. The suspect had activated the building's security alarm, making it an easy arrest for the officer. abc7.com

(WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO) Colinas, Chile: Shocking moment 16-year-old 'busted for shoplifting' stabs two security guards at a supermarket
A 16-year-old boy is restrained after he stabbed one of two security guards (pictured) at a supermarket in Colinas, Chile, on Sunday after he and a gang of shoplifters were busted. The teen appeared before a judge Monday but no charges have been filed. The stab wounds suffered by the guards were not considered life-threatening, the supermarket said. dailymail.co.uk

Philadelphia, PA: Sledgehammer bandits hitting convenience stores across the area

Pittsfield, MA: Man arrested in robbery spree that hit 5 convenience stores

Vernon, CT: Verizon store Robber pleads guilty, facing 4 years; co-defendant lost part of leg in vehicle crash while fleeing

San Francisco, CA: Korean Restaurant Has $10,000 in Valuables Taken in Burglary

Elkins, WV: AutoZone employee charged with $3,000 theft of cash and merchandise

 



Counterfeit

CBP Officers seize more than $550K in counterfeit designer goods
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Minneapolis seized two shipments of fake designer clothes worth more than $550,000. According to a news release, CBP officers on Jan. 22 seized the shipments arriving from Laos, with officers noting the clothing had "various inconsistencies, poor quality and incorrect packaging." The items – handbags, wallets, fanny packs and phone cases with logos from designers that included Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Chanel – were headed to two separate addresses – one in Minneapolis, the other in Superior, Wisconsin. It was then determined the goods violated CBP trademark and copyright codes. If the goods were authentic, they'd be worth $562,719. bringmethenews.com


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C-Store – Royal City, WA – Armed Robbery
C-Store – Madison, WI – Robbery
C-Store – Pittsfield, MA – Armed Robbery
C-Store – Las Vegas, NV – Robbery
Clothing – Little Rock, AR - Robbery
Clothing – Richmond, CA - Burglary
Dollar General – New Orleans, LA -Robbery
Home Depot – Seattle, WA – Robbery
Jewelry – Puyallup, WA – Robbery
Jewelry - Freehold, NJ – Robbery
Jewelry – San Antonio, TX – Robbery
Jewelry – Watertown, NY – Robbery
Jewelry – Bonney Lake, WA – Robbery
Jewelry – Hayward, CA – Robbery
Jewelry – Clarksville, IN – Robbery
Mall – Burbank, CA – Robbery
Pawn – Robstown, TX – Armed Robbery
Restaurant – Tulsa, OK – Armed Robbery (McDonalds)
Restaurant – Windsor Locks, CT – Armed Robbery (McDonalds)
Restaurant – San Francisco, CA – Burglary
Tobacco – Texarkana, AR – Robbery
7-Eleven – Merced, CA – Armed Robbery 
 

Daily Totals:
• 20 robberies
• 2 burglaries
• 0 shootings
• 0 killed



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