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2/15/24

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David Rogers promoted to Senior Director, Asset Protection - East Region for Macy's

David has been with Macy's for 18 years, starting with the company in 2006 as Regional Director of Special Investigations. Before his promotion to Senior Director, Asset Protection - East Region, he served as Senior Director of Market AP Leadership and Training for three years, Senior Director of Investigation for eight months, and Senior Director of Operations & AP for five months, among other roles during his time with the retailer. Earlier in his career, he spent two years with Hecht's Department Stores. Congratulations, David!

See All the LP Executives 'Moving Up' Here

Submit Your New Corporate Hires/Promotions or New Position

Free ISC West 2024 Exhibit Hall Registration On Us!

We hope you’ll stop by the OpenEye Booth (#22031) at ISC West this coming April.

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The U.S. Crime Surge
The Retail Impact

The Nationwide Debate Over Felony Theft Thresholds
RetailWire: What Should the Felony Threshold Be for Shoplifting?
California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently discussed how he had to defend his state’s $950 threshold for grand theft after a Target worker unknowingly blamed him for a shoplifting incident.

Under California’s Proposition 47, which passed in 2014, stealing anything worth less than $950 constitutes a misdemeanor rather than a felony.

According to World Population Review, the majority of states have a felony theft threshold between $1,000 and $1,500 — the average across the U.S. is $1,184. New Jersey has the lowest threshold in the country at $200, followed by Illinois and New Mexico at $500. The highest, $2,500, is found in Texas and Wisconsin.

Misdemeanors generally result in less than a year in jail, community service, fines, rehabilitation, and/or probation, while felonies result in at least a year in prison. A felony can also affect someone’s ability to rent or buy housing, apply for a job, and vote.

In 2022, a police reform advocacy group Campaign Zero launched a “Raise The Threshold” effort, arguing that low threshold dollar amounts for felony convictions result in “overly harsh sentences and contribute to the mass incarceration crisis in this country,” also disproportionately affecting communities of color.

The National Retail Federation (NRF), which has been sending out alarms about jumps in shoplifting, has blamed increased felony theft thresholds in part for reported retail crime surges.

In a 2022 blog entry, the NRF wrote that many state laws in recent years had not only increased felony theft thresholds but lowered the bail required for minor offenses and removed non-violent offenders from the prison system in hopes of reducing the likelihood of “career criminals.” retailwire.com

NYC Becoming 'Paradise for World's Thieves'
'NYC is a Shangri-La for international theft rings and migrants to rob and burglarize'

Opinion: Dems roll out welcome mat for world's criminals
Migrants who rack up clashes with police should be made ineligible for the city’s largesse. Handing out hotel rooms and free meals to repeat thugs makes it easier for them to commit crimes and makes us into patsies.

The Democratic Party is turning New York City into a Shangri-La for international theft rings and migrants here to rob and burglarize. Taxpayers foot the bill for the thieves’ hotel accommodations, plus three meals a day and a long list of other benefits, even free bus tickets if they have to skip town in a hurry. If you’re a criminal, what’s not to like?

This stupidity isn’t new. For over a year, New York City has coddled criminal migrants with long rap sheets, sheltering and feeding them while they continue their crime spree.

Last year, while announcing the arrests of migrants who stole $12,489 worth of goods from Macy’s at Roosevelt Field, Commissioner Patrick Ryder of the Nassau County Police warned about “ongoing organized theft groups that are being sent up here for the purpose to commit crimes here.” Two of the men arrested lived at the Watson Hotel on West 57th Street, courtesy of taxpayers.

Here’s the kicker: They were living in city shelters. Taxpayers were providing these career criminals with a roof over their heads and meals. We’re the suckers.

In 2022, Immigration and Customs Enforcement launched a crackdown on international retail theft rings. But New York’s Democratic politicians have vowed never to cooperate with ICE. Too bad for the businesses and citizens here.

In December, Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas) told a House hearing that international crime rings are heading to blue states with soft-on-crime policies such as releasing suspects without bail and deeming thefts of less than $1,000 misdemeanors, not felonies.

There’s nothing funny about an invasion of career criminals posing as asylum seekers. New York has a heart, but it’s time New York used its brain and stopped making our city a paradise for the world’s thieves. news-journal.com

Florida's War on Theft Makes More Headlines
DeSantis proposes up to 30 years prison time for retail theft

DeSantis: “You should not have to get five thefts to make a felony"

On Tuesday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis held a press conference at the Cape Coral Police Department to support legislation that would crack down on retail theft. Currently, the governor said the Sunshine State's laws for shoplifters are not strong enough.

“Right now we have a situation in Florida where you only get a felony if you do five different retail thefts within a 45-day period,” said Governor DeSantis.

In Cape Coral, people like Ralph Sangiovanni, owner of Razzle Dazzle off Cape Coral Parkway discussed the impact of shoplifting on local businesses. “...Steals let's stay 15-20 articles of clothing that's a major hit on the bottom line,” said Sangiovanni.

Thats why Governor DeSantis said he wants stiffer penalties.

Those penalties would include felony charges for people with repeat retail thefts, anyone who is caught using social media to recruit people to steal, and a first-degree felony for someone who uses a gun to steal.

In Florida, a first-degree felony carries a maximum of 30 years in prison and/or up to $10,000 in fines. A second-degree felony carries up to 15 years in prison and/or up to $10,000 in fines and a third-degree felony could see up to 5 years in prison and/or up to $5,000 in fines.

Governor DeSantis also spoke about upping the penalty for someone who steals items from people's porches. newsnationnow.com fox4now.com

Is Oakland America's Most Dangerous City?
Oakland's progressive mayor blasted by Gov. Gavin Newsom after she didn't apply for funding to tackle retail crime

55 awardees used the funds to create task forces, hire and train new staff and obtain new technologies, but crime-ridden Oakland did not benefit, because it missed the application deadline

California governor Gavin Newsom has reportedly blasted Oakland mayor Sheng Thao for not applying to funds set aside to tackle retail crime in the Bay Area.

In September, the governor's administration approved over $267 million to be given to local police departments and the offices of district attorneys in the state to battle against organized retail theft.

The 55 awardees used it to create task forces, hire and train new staff and obtain new technologies.

But crime-ridden Oakland did not benefit, because it missed the application deadline - something Newsom was not happy about, according to Robert Harris of the Oakland NAACP.

'The governor brought that up one, two, three times... He talked about the missed deadline, and then about 10 minutes later he said the same thing over, "We’ve made that available to you, and you didn’t file."' Harris told Local News Matters.

The city has been rocked by a citywide crimewave for over two years, with homicides up 80 percent in July 2023 compared to 2019 rates, while assaults and robberies were up 40 and 20 percent, respectively.

According to crime tracker Neighborhood Scout, Oakland is essentially the most dangerous city in America, with a violent crime rate almost four times higher than the national average that makes it safer than zero percent of US neighborhoods. dailymail.co.uk

Receipt Scanners at Store Exits is Curbing Theft
Safeway rolling out big change that may annoy customers

The national chain is instituting a new technology that may delay shoppers' shopping experience.

Safeway, the grocery chain owned by Albertson's, has begun instituting a policy which will verify that shoppers really did pay for what they have in their carts before they leave the store.

The store has begun to set receipt scanners near the entry and exit of stores across the larger San Francisco and Washington, D.C. metropolitan areas. The scanners intake a receipt after a shopper pays for his or her items and confirms that the items in the cart match up with the shopper's total.

“Recent changes were made at select Safeway stores in Washington D.C. to maintain a safe and welcoming shopping experience for our customers,” Albertsons said in a statement. “Those updates include operational changes to the front end of the stores to deter shoplifting.”

Several locations have been confirmed to now have the scanners, including several in San Francisco and one in Wheaton, Md. The Wheaton location also has high-value items locked behind plastic bins, such as teeth whitening strips and allergy medications.

And while the process might add a little bit of time to a grocery trip, several shoppers confirm it actually makes the experience nicer.

"Brazen shoplifting appears to be way less common to me (haven't personally seen any since the security updates, I used to see it probably 20% of the time)," one Redditor said of the Webster, San Francisco location with the new scanners.

"The Safeways on Mission [in San Francisco] also updated. Same experience as others," another wrote. "The shoplifting, at least from my own experience walking into Safeway for groceries, has dropped from at minimum one incident every time I went to shop to zero since they updated security." thestreet.com

One dead, 22 shot — including 9 children — at Kansas City Super Bowl parade
One person was killed and 22 others injured after a shooting near the Kansas City Chief’s Super Bowl parade route following the festivities on Wednesday afternoon, officials said.

Panicked crowds raced for cover as gunfire erupted west of Union Station at the end of the victory parade — attended by hundreds of thousands of fans

The Kansas City Police Department said that one person died and a total of 22 were wounded by gunfire. Children’s Mercy Hospital Kansas City told KSHB that the hospital is treating nine kids who have gunshot wounds. nypost.com

Shoplifting Epidemic: Retailers Call For Tougher Laws And Police Response

Police issue warning about serial pickpockets at Radnor, PA shopping center

Target Further Restricts Self-Checkout Amid Shrink Battle
Target is limiting self-checkout hours in some stores as the retailer continues to battle missing inventory

Target is curtailing hours of operation for self-checkout at some locations as it battles shrink.

Target’s self-checkout reckoning continues as the retailer is cutting the hours of operation for self-service lanes at some of its stores.

The move does not yet include all of the company’s nearly 2,000 locations, but employees told Business Insider that store staffing levels and sales volumes are key factors in the decision.

In particular, Target is aiming to keep the percentage of overall store sales through self-checkout below a certain threshold, the workers said.

Most Target stores are open daily from 7 a.m. or 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., but Reddit users on r/Target indicated that the self-checkout lanes in some of their stores were only open from about 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. An employee in Illinois confirmed to BI that her store’s self-checkout hours were reduced and were no longer available after 8 in the evening.

Workers in Oklahoma and Michigan said their stores hadn’t made the change, and expressed concerns about having enough staff available to cover enough full-service lanes to avoid long lines for customers. BI has verified their employment but is not identifying them as they are not authorized to speak to the media. businessinsider.com

Kroger-Albertsons Merger Faces More Obstacles
Colorado AG sues to block Albertsons/Kroger merger
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser filed a lawsuit Wednesday to block the proposed $24.6 billion merger between Kroger and Albertsons. Kroger is the owner of King Soopers and City Market, and operates 148 stores in the state, while Albertsons operates 105 Safeway and Albertsons stores.

The lawsuit claimed the merger would eliminate head-to-head competition between the two and consolidate an already concentrated market. The lawsuit aims to permanently block the merger from going into effect, arguing that it violates Colorado antitrust laws.

The lawsuit specifically claims that the merger would reduce consumer choice and raise grocery prices for food and other products, as well as reduce the quality of customer service. It also argues that it would unlawfully increase market concentration, weakening competition.

The merger between the two companies was first announced in October 2022. Then, in December of that year, AG Weiser launched an investigation into the merger. In addition to the opposition to the merger, the lawsuit claimed that other unlawful activity was uncovered during the investigation into the merger.

“Despite being competitors, Kroger and [Albertsons] have already colluded to suppress the wages and benefits of their workers,” the lawsuit said. kdvr.com

Meanwhile, Kroger Tries to Reassure Regulators & Customers
Kroger promises to lower prices, invest in stores following merger
The Kroger Co. has detailed its commitment to customers as it faces regulatory scrutiny over its proposed acquisition of rival Albertsons Cos.

The supermarket giant said, consistent with its previous approach to mergers, it will lower prices following its merger with Albertsons. It plans to invest $500 million to lower prices following the close of the deal — starting day one. It also will also invest $1.3 billion to improve Albertsons' stores.

Kroger noted that this strategy is not new. The company invested more than $125 million to lower prices at Harris Teeter after its merger in 2014 and more than $100 million to lower prices at Roundy's after its merger in 2016. chainstoreage.com

Retail sales tumbled 0.8% in January, much more than expected
Consumer spending fell sharply in January, presenting a potential early danger sign for the economy, the Commerce Department reported Thursday. Advance retail sales declined 0.8% for the month following a downwardly revised 0.4% gain in December, according to the Census Bureau.

However, the pullback was considerably more than anticipated. Even excluding autos, sales dropped 0.6%, well below the estimate for a 0.2% gain. The sales report is adjusted for seasonal factors but not for inflation, so the release showed spending lagging the pace of price increases. On a year-over-year basis, sales were up just 0.6%. cnbc.com

NRF Response: Census Retail Sales Data Shows Consumers ‘Still Engaged’

Away lays off 25% of internal staff
The DTC luggage brand is undergoing a reorganization that also includes “the elimination of a traditional executive team structure.”

Walmart is closing a store in Ohio a week after shuttering 2 locations in San Diego

Nordstrom Rack adds more stores to its 2024-2025 lineup

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Scarsdale for Big Retail and Small Shops

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Companies Getting Serious About Cybersecurity
Contractual obligations driving data privacy, cybersecurity upgrades

To secure work from business partners, more companies are getting serious about having the right technical and legal safeguards, a specialist says.

The increased regulation of data privacy and cybersecurity is only half the reason in-house legal should help ensure their organizations are serious about breaches; the other half is the expectation of business partners who increasingly won’t do business with companies that don’t have protections in place, Otterbourg Partner Erik Weinick says.

“Companies are being forced by contractual provisions,” Weinick told Legal Dive. “If they are a small company but are doing business with a large company, as a condition of doing business with them they have to change what they’re doing from a privacy or security standpoint.”

Small and mid-sized companies are starting to get that message, said Weinick, co-founder of his firm’s data privacy and cybersecurity practice group. Until recently, many companies thought that because they’re small or don’t typically hold sensitive information, they’re not a target of threat actors, and even if they are, there’s little they can do to prevent an incident given that large companies that invest heavily in security still get breached.

“‘Look at all these big companies that spend tens or hundreds of millions of dollars a year on security and still get attacked,’” he said, sharing the thinking of some companies. “‘Why should I bother? I’ll just deal with it.’”

Weinick encouraged counsel that don’t have resources to add in-house technical and legal expertise to start with outside counsel to boost their privacy and security posture. The outside firm will bring to the company well-established relationships with insurance companies, technical specialists and law enforcement agencies. cybersecuritydive.com

57K Customers Impacted
Bank of America customer data exposed in IT provider breach

Infosys McCamish Systems, which works closely with the lender, was impacted by the cybersecurity incident in November that exposed customer Social Security numbers and other account information.

A November 2023 “cybersecurity event” at Infosys McCamish Systems exposed Bank of America customer data, according to a breach notification letter from the bank’s outside counsel filed with the Office of the Maine Attorney General.

Customers’ first and last names, addresses, business email addresses, dates of birth and Social Security numbers may have been among the compromised information. Bank of America said it was “unlikely that we will be able to determine with certainty what personal information was accessed.”

A threat actor compromised IMS systems around Nov. 3, taking some IMS applications offline, Bank of America said in its letter. Bank of America said 57,028 customers were affected by the incident.

LockBit claimed responsibility for the IMS attack Nov. 4 and said more than 2,000 systems were encrypted. cybersecuritydive.com

Using Social Media as a Spyware Testing Ground
Meta details actions against eight spyware firms

Details about the spyware firms, based in Italy, Spain and the UAE, were shared by the social media giant in its quarterly adversary threat report.

Meta took a series of actions in the last quarter of 2023 against a half-dozen networks of accounts tied to eight spyware firms, which had used the social media’s platform to perform reconnaissance against targets and also test exploit capabilities, the company said Wednesday.

The spyware firms — based in Italy, Spain and the United Arab Emirates — employ a series of complicated corporate structures, likely to obfuscate attribution as well as rebranding after exposures, according to Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Nevertheless, Meta’s broad visibility into its popular social media platforms gives some visibility into how these firms’ products work, particularly before the exploitation phase, which gets most of the attention in media coverage and in discussions about spyware firms’ activity. cyberscoop.com

Rise in cyberwarfare tactics fueled by geopolitical tensions

State-backed hackers are experimenting with OpenAI models

In Case You Missed It

Introducing Sapphire's Loss Prevention course!

The Importance of Loss Prevention

"Implementing proactive loss prevention measures among a business begins by educating employees and arming them with the right information. Since it can be difficult sometimes to determine whether theft, loss, or diversion is internal or external, this is why fortifying a company with tools before an incident begins is vital."

Improving Cannabis Security While Reducing Burden on Businesses
Thoughts to Improve Security Regulations Across the Nation

Sapphire works with clients all over the country to ensure that their security standards apply best practices and meet compliance requirements. However, several business owners in the cannabis industry alert us to burdensome requirements from regulators.

In this article, we examine common security regulations which may be construed as "burdensome". Then we explain the ramifications of each. Finally, we offer solutions which may be aligned with best practices as well as with regulators' interests.

Excessive Video Retention

In the camera-heavy cannabis industry, we see hundreds of terabytes of storage required to meet regulations.

Most retail and warehouse businesses store video for between 7-30 days. 90 days is common for cannabis businesses (California, Massachusetts, Maryland). Canada still requires one year of retention, while West Virginia and Pennsylvania previously did (now both at 180 days). More retention can double the materials costs for video systems, to say nothing of increased maintenance costs. States like Illinois or Mississippi require off-site cloud storage. Yes, this feature removes reliance on an on-site NVR and makes remote access easier; however, again the price tag jumps dramatically, and onsite bandwidth requirements become a non-negligible calculation.

Our suggestion is to cap video retention at 45 days, which is sufficient for most investigations. As cloud storage technology develops, it may become more affordable, but for now, it annihilates security budgets for several years forward without clear ROI. Perhaps an emphasis on motion-activated recording instead of continuous recording would increase ROI for cloud storage.

Secondary Alarm Systems

Requiring two alarm systems with two separate monitoring companies creates an installation expense AND a recurring (monthly) expense. Redundancy can be achieved within one alarm system, or better yet, one can spend that money on proactive video monitoring or better door hardware. UL 681-standard alarm systems are much tougher to beat than those with minimum capabilities. Generators and battery backups can solve the power-outage problem. Overnight private security patrol/response teams are ideal too, when available.

Fencing Materials

A solution of 6-foot fencing with screening and possibly barbed/razor wire will enhance barrier security. Emphasis on CPTED generally produces strong ROI. Either of these will hopefully assuage those who want above-standard fencing. sapphirerisk.com

Cannabis Shops Remain Targets for Criminals
Pot shop smash-and-grabs: Legislators float solutions, but others say they don't go far enough
Pot shop owners across Washington are taking drastic measures to protect their businesses from smash-and-grab thefts, turning their storefronts into fortresses with concrete barricades, metal bollards, and heavy-duty planters.

Lawmakers in Olympia are currently considering tougher penalties for these crimes, but some cannabis retailers argue Senate Bill 6133 doesn't go far enough to curb the rash of ram-raids.

The purpose of Senate Bill 6133 is for the state to start handling pot shop robberies like they do robberies at pharmacies. If passed into law, three key provisions would take effect:

1. 12-month sentencing enhancement for anyone using a vehicle to break into a cannabis retailer

2.Pot shops must report break-ins to the Washington State Liquor & Cannabis Board (LCB) within 10 days of the incident

3. LCB must share findings with the Washington State Patrol "to discuss any evidence that indicates a pattern of, or coordinated effort by, a criminal enterprise"

Walter contends that, while she’s pleased by the bill’s intent, it lacks teeth. Specifically, in targeting what she believes is a group of young criminals terrorizing her businesses. She believes rings of juveniles are responsible for the majority of the stolen cars that crash through local storefronts. fox13seattle.com

Cannabis in the Workplace
What every business needs to know about Minnesota’s marijuana laws
Even if you don’t work in the cannabis industry, you still need to make sure your company’s policies reflect the state’s new legalization laws. So your employee showed up to work stoned. The best-case scenario for dealing with such a predicament: There’s a policy against THC intoxication in the workplace written in your company’s employee handbook for you to follow.

If not, you might as well ask them to pass the joint and take a hit because there’s not much you can do about it.

Minnesota’s legal marijuana laws enacted last year go far beyond licensing growers and sellers. They apply to every business because of new rules on who can test for marijuana and when. With a few exceptions, the law protects employees who smoke weed on their own time and prohibits pre-employment and random testing.

But employers can still ban on-duty use if they wish. cannabisbusinessexecutive.com

California Bill May Change State’s Cannabis and Hemp Industries

Tax implications of cannabis rescheduling

Wave of Amazon Delivery Accidents in Philly
Safety concerns raised in wake of Amazon crashes
Amazon is facing increasing scrutiny for its driving safety record and liability related to accidents. In December, a jury awarded a family $44 million in damages and expenses.

The verdict came just as the Action News Investigative Team was seeking answers into several accidents in the Philadelphia area. The accidents here were by delivery operators outsourced by Amazon -- called Delivery Service Partners or DSPs.

Critics argue the business model shields the corporate behemoth from liability and leads to risky and negligent driving. Kathleen Mears is one of the accident victims now fighting back in the courts.

In October 2021, Mears was crossing the intersection of Synder Avenue and South Water Street in South Philadelphia when an Amazon van slammed into her on the crosswalk. The impact sent her sprawling on the pavement.

Judith Bernbaum, who is not represented by Fritz, said an Amazon delivery driver ran over her beloved border collie, PJ, on November 18 last year. Bernbaum said PJ suffered fatal injuries and had to be put down.

The company said it's paying for all vet bills and the cost of a new dog. "That still doesn't bring our dog back. It's very nice of them. It doesn't bring our dog back and it doesn't prevent it from happening again," she added.

An Amazon spokesperson called the incident a "terrible accident," but claims the driver sped off because Bernbaum yelled at him that he was trespassing and that she'd call police.

Her attorney said that not only does Amazon put undue pressure on its DSPs to make deliveries and meet deadlines, but the driver for CJB Logistics had a history of speeding and careless driving.

"Amazon is up to their eyeballs in creating the situation that's causing the injuries. If they want to have the DSPs, their delivery service providers along for the ride, that's fine with us, but they're not going to be excused from responsibility," said Fritz. 6abc.com

BNPL Causing Confusion
Why Are Merchants and Acquirers So Confused About BNPL and Installment Payment Plans?
Installment or split-payment plans like buy now, pay later (BNPL) enable consumers to align their spending and credit management strategies. PYMNTS Intelligence’s data analysis reveals that 3 in 5 shoppers used installment plans for consumer product purchases in the past year. This use spans all age groups and income brackets. The uptake of these flexible payment options signals a shift to more deliberate and calculated purchasing decisions.

As a result, 78% of merchants plan to enhance acceptance of general-purpose card installment plans. For acquirers, 39% plan to allow clients to offer general-purpose credit card installment plans during checkout. But are these the split-payment plans consumers want the most?

Although consumers are keen to take advantage of installment offerings as they take a more active role in managing their spending, acquirers and merchants remain confused about the definitions and applications. Merchants and acquirers must overcome several challenges to meet consumers’ demands. pymnts.com

Norton announces Dark Web monitoring tool; what this means for your online shopping

E-commerce marketplace giant Temu spends big on Super Bowl

Carmel, IN: Man steals $2M in international fraud scheme
A Carmel man was sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison after stealing $2,000,000 in an international identity fraud scheme where he stole from multiple victims in the United States and abroad. Tuong Quoe Ho, 36, pleaded guilty to the following counts: twenty counts of wire fraud, two counts of aggravated identity theft, one count of possession of multiple unauthorized access device, one count of unlawful possession of identification, two counts of money laundering. According to the United States Department of Justice, Ho and co-conspirators unlawfully obtained personally identifiable information of victims around the world. Ho, who went by the alias Robert Parker, stole names, addresses, dates of birth, phone numbers, social security numbers, and credit cards. He would then create fraudulent PayPal and eBay accounts in the victim’s names. With the accounts, Ho would then place expensive items for sale, such as video game consoles, designer handbags, and other luxury items for lower prices on eBay. Further, he would purchase the products through a vendor shipping directly to individuals. How would still profit despite the lower prices because the items were purchased with stolen money. Ho’s personal bank accounts were linked to over 500 fraudulent PayPal accounts. PayPal marked the accounts for suspicious activity, but Ho provided the additional information needed for the accounts including driver’s licenses, passports, utility bills, and bank statements, to make them appear to belong to the account holder. Throughout the entire scheme, Ho stole more than $2,000,000 and wired $1,200,000 to his family in Vietnam. Ho also laundered money by purchasing property in Carmel worth more than $300,000. readthereporter.com

Freeland, MI: Woman accused of stealing $800,000 of designer clothes from rental firms, then selling them
Federal prosecutors out of New York say a Freeland woman was renting designer clothes, but instead of returning the merchandise, she sold the items. The woman was arrested at her home Wednesday morning in Freeland without incident. The prosecutors allege that Brandalene Horn rented more than $800,000 worth of designer clothes and accessories and then made a pretty penny selling the clothes that weren't hers. The complaint states the alleged activity began in April 2022. When the companies tried to charge Horn for the items she rented and wouldn't return, she disputed the charges with her credit union or canceled the credit and debit cards she had used. Horn's accounts were flagged, but court records indicate she just opened new ones. Court documents indicate an investigator posed as someone else and purchased an outfit that Horn posted online for sale. It alleges Horn even used the victim companies' proprietary photographs and descriptions. The item was shipped to New York from the post office in Freeland and is believed to be one of the many items stolen by Horn. She allegedly stole more than 1,000 items, valued at more than $823,000, from the victim companies. She then sold more than $750,000 worth. abc12.com

Buffalo, NY: Serial shoplifter sentenced to time in prison
The Erie County District Attorney's Office said a man was sentenced Wednesday for being a serial shoplifter and stealing from various stores across Western New York. According to the news release, 38-year-old Justin K. White of Buffalo was sentenced to 3 ½ to 7 years in prison. During a five month span, White stole merchandise from four stores on six separate occasions. Four of the crimes occurred at stores where he was previously served a “no trespass” notice during a previous shoplifting incident, which banned him from entering any of the store’s locations. According to the DA's office, White stole various items, including electronic devices, kitchen tools, clothing, food, and drinks with a total estimated value of $5,000. wgrz.com

Milford, CT: 2 Charged In Strong-Arm Robbery At Marshall’s in Milford
Two men were charged recently in connection with a strong-arm robbery at Marshalls in Milford, according to police. Police responded to a report of a strong-arm robbery on Saturday. Police received a description of the vehicle that the suspects fled in and stopped the vehicle nearby the 1413 Boston Post Road store. Loss prevention officers at the store told police that they saw the two men take items and put them in reusable shopping bags. One of the men also used a shoplifting tool. Both men left the store without paying for the items, police said. When the employee approached one of the men to retrieve the merchandise, the man pushed the employee out of the way. In the vehicle the suspects fled in, police found a machete, merchandise worth $808.40, and the shoplifting tool. A 35-year-old Jamaica, NY man was charged with conspiracy to commit third-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit fifth-degree larceny, fifth-degree larceny, and weapon in a motor vehicle. patch.com

Irvine, CA: Woman allegedly stole thousands of dollars worth of gum in Orange County
Police are searching for a woman who allegedly stole thousands of dollars worth of chewing gum in Orange County. On Jan. 27, the woman was captured on surveillance cameras stealing around $1,800 worth of gum from a store in Irvine, according to the Irvine Police Department. After loading up her cart with the stolen items, she exited the store without paying, authorities said. The woman is also suspected of committing similar gum thefts at stores across Orange County. Typically, the stolen items will likely be sold on the secondary market for cash, officers said. ktla.com

Lady Lake, FL: Woman riding mobility scooter 'began to run' when approached for shoplifting at The Home Depot; 5 prior arrests for theft

Port Moody, B.C. Canada: Man arrested twice in 1 hour after back-to-back thefts reported in Port Moody, B.C.

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Shootings & Deaths

Portland, OR: Man identified in Grocery store parking lot stabbing
The man who was stabbed to death near a grocery store in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood on Sunday morning has been identified by Portland police. Ladarius Davis, 43, died by homicide via stabbing, according to the medical examiner. According to the Portland Police Bureau, officers responded to reports of a stabbing at the 3500 block of Southeast 122nd Avenue at 1:23 a.m., finding one Davis in the parking lot of a grocery store. Emergency medical services determined Davis was dead at the scene. “The suspect or suspects left the scene before police were called, and no immediate arrests were made,” PPB said in a release. Anyone with information about the stabbing is encouraged to contact police. koin.com

Louisville, KY: Downtown Louisville Thorntons to close after guard accused of shooting, killing someone in 2022
A downtown Louisville Thorntons location will be closing at the end of the month, the company confirmed to The Courier Journal on Tuesday. The gas station, located at 100 W. Broadway, will close on Feb. 26, BP spokesperson Christina Audisho said via email. The company did not offer an explanation for the closure. The location has been the scene of several reported crimes in 2023, including assault, according to a database maintained by Louisville Metro Police. The database states that some of the reported crimes are fraud, assault and vandalism. Back in 2022, Thorntons terminated its contract with the store's security firm after a guard was accused of shooting and killing someone, The Courier Journal previously reported. The guard, who worked for Alert Patrol Inc., told officers he confronted the victim who for stealing a can of beer and then pointed a gun at him "because he believed the victim wanted to fight him," the arrest citation states. courier-journal.com

Robberies, Incidents & Thefts

Oakland, CA: CHP arrests 71, recovers 145 stolen vehicles during crackdown in Oakland area
The California Highway Patrol is cracking down on crime in Oakland and the East Bay. The department announced the results of the initial operation which included the arrest of 71 suspects and the recovery of 145 stolen vehicles by CHP’s regular and undercover officers. They also took four crime-linked firearms off the street. The suspects were arrested by the CHP for charges including possession of stolen property, auto theft, drug possession, DUI, and felony gun possession, as well as arrests for outstanding warrants. kmph.com

Columbus, IN: Man grabbed woman by throat, claimed she cut in line at Kroger
A 65-year-old Columbus man is under arrest after police said he grabbed a woman by the throat after alleging that she cut in the Kroger Pharmacy line. Steven M. Ebert was taken to the Bartholomew County Jail where he is being held on a preliminary charge of strangulation, a Level 6 felony. According to the Columbus Police Department, police were called to the Kroger located on N. National Road shortly after 5 p.m. on Monday on report of an assault. The victim told police she was being helped by a Kroger Pharmacy employee when Ebert approached her and began arguing with her, claiming she’d cut in line. Ebert is accused of lashing out and grabbing the woman by the throat before bystanders in the store pulled him off the woman. Police spoke to several witnesses and reviewed store security footage before arresting Ebert. fox59.com

Spring, TX: Man captured putting items up kilt at Spring antique mall
An investigation is underway after a man was captured on surveillance video placing antique items under his kilt at the Antique Gallery in Spring. KPRC 2′s Corley Peel spoke with the Manager, Susan Golden. She says the incident happened on Thursday, February 8. “I was really in shock. I didn’t know what to say or think,” said Golden. Several cameras inside antique dealers’ booths captured the man placing an item under his kilt, then placing it back on a shelf. Golden said the man was in the store with a woman. She said they were in the mall for hours. She said the antique dealers have access to the mall’s WI-FI camera system that they regularly watch to monitor their booths. Golden said that is how one dealer spotted the man doing the inappropriate acts. click2houston.com

Duluth, GA: Cashier wanted, man arrested after Gwinnett County police say two employees staged a robbery

• AT&T – Riverhead, NY – Burglary
• Antiques – Spring, TX – Robbery
• Auto – Fort Myers, FL – Robbery
• C-Store – Spokane Valley, WA – Robbery
• C-Store – Springfield, IL – Robbery
• C-Store – Las Vegas, NV – Burglary
• C-Store – Duluth, GA – Robbery
• C-Store- Randolph County, NC – Robbery
• Dollar – La Vergne, TN – Armed Robbery
• Grocery – Orange County, CA – Robbery
• Hardware – Lady Lake, FL – Robbery
• Santa Fe, NM – Burglary
• Ogden, UT – Robbery
• Aurora, CO – Robbery
• Puyallup, WA – Robbery
• Sparks, NV – Robbery
• Liquor – Bakersfield, CA – Armed Robbery
• Liquor – Moncks Corner, SC – Armed Robbery
• Marshall’s - Milford, CT - Robbery
• Restaurant – Chicago, IL – Robbery
• Restaurant – Chicago, IL – Robbery

Daily Totals:
• 18 robberies
• 3 burglaries
• 0 shootings
• 0 killed

Click map to enlarge

None to report.

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