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PITTSBURGH, February 17, 2022 - Loss prevention professionals, as well as those who aspire to work in loss prevention in the United States and Canada, can apply for Vector Security Networks’ annual Loss Prevention Foundation (LPF) scholarships now through March 31, 2022.

Details and application information can be found at www.vectorsecurity.com/lpf-vs-scholarship.

The scholarships provide financial support to loss prevention professionals or hopefuls seeking to obtain LPQ and LPC certifications. Vector Security began awarding the scholarships in 2009 in support of career development and continuing education for professionals in this important and rapidly-evolving industry.

Read more in the Vendor Spotlight column below
 

More Retailers Adopt RFID as Theft Surges
Retailers take shoplifting into their own hands with online readers

Retailers are using more radio frequency identification tags to identify stolen goods in stores and online.

Months after a string of high-profile retail thefts, retailers are looking to turn the itchy tags attached to the back of a blouse or new pair of jeans fresh off the rack into a more sophisticated piece of covert tracking technology used to set off store alarms or help identify stolen products being sold online.

While there is no specific data about how many retailers are using the radio frequency identification, or RFID, technology to track shoplifters, an estimated 15 percent of retailers have adopted it, according to retail security experts.

Victoria’s Secret, among other retailers, attaches the tags to online orders to track merchandise across its supply chain, Brooke Wilson, a company spokeswoman, said. It also is testing the tags to prevent theft, she added.

“What you’re seeing now across retail and the staffing challenges for law enforcement is a greater need for retailers to package the cases to do all the investigation,” Joe Coll, vice president of asset protection, operations and strategy at Macy’s, said during a webinar last week hosted by the trade publication RFID Journal. “RFID gives you that ability.”

Retail’s demand for more robust security technologies has increased over the last two years, according to asset protection experts.

While the technology is limited, these tiny RFID tags allow retailers to track when inventory goes missing, which helps alert store managers to a potential theft, he said. Stores have real-time insight into what inventory is on the store floor or if an employee gave a refund or a store credit to someone for the tagged merchandise that was never actually purchased. It can also be used to spot returns fraud where someone steals an item from one store and attempts to return it at another store for a refund or store credit.

Tony D'Onofrio, Global Retail Influencer & Prosegur's CEO & Managing Director, Global Retail Business Unit, said retailers are working with the company to upgrade their tagging systems so that they can gather more information to help police with their investigations.

“Retailers want to move faster,” he said. “With the way communication is now, we have to move much more aggressively.”  nbcnews.com

Crime Closures? Washington Post Explores Factors Driving Store Closures
Opinion: Are retail closures caused by shoplifting or other factors? Well, yes.
The right likes to share viral videos of brazen shoplifters, and blames store closures on feckless progressive cities that have stopped prosecuting these scofflaws. The left says the real culprit is corporate consolidation.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that the only people who actually know why these stores are closing — the executives at major drugstore chains — aren’t necessarily going to tell the public the whole truth.

When conservatives hear that Walgreens is closing five San Francisco stores, blaming shoplifting, they should keep in mind that the company announced a major wave of store closures two years ago for reasons unrelated to theft — and that major retailers are currently pressing California to crack down on shoplifting, which gives Walgreens some incentive to emphasize theft over other explanations. But progressives should exercise the same caution when retailers say shoplifting has nothing to do with closures: Retailers don’t like to offend local governments, which control everything from building permits to sales tax rates, so they might choose to emphasize other issues that won’t embarrass the city council.

And while it would be nice if we could resolve the question by examining shoplifting statistics, shoplifting often goes unreported, because most retail insurance doesn’t cover it. Both retailers and individuals are probably not disposed to bother filing a report in jurisdictions where the local district attorney is unlikely to prosecute, further fogging up the data. And the coronavirus pandemic had all sorts of odd effects on crime, making it even harder to know whether there is a problem and, if so, how big.

All that said, shoplifting does seem to be on the rise, and lax prosecution has probably made that problem worse in some areas, though other factors are also contributing, such as the opioid epidemic, and the ability to resell goods on the Internet.

So, for all the energy that has been poured into debating this question, we don’t really need to answer it to know that shoplifting is bad — or that authorities should probably do what they can to keep it at reasonable levels. washingtonpost.com

NYC Retailers Fight Crime Wave
New York Supermarkets Add Security Amid Shoplifting Crime Wave

Supermarkets in NYC take extra measures as theft surges in the city

A crime wave in New York City has been making national headlines, and it’s spilling over into food retail, with more grocers reporting retail thefts. Some now are even taking matters into their own hands: John Catsimatidis, chairman and CEO of Gristedes/D'Agostino's Supermarkets, said last week that he’s adding extra security measures —nearly 100 security personnel, some from the ranks of retired police officers — to his approximately 30 Gristedes and D’Agostino’s stores throughout the city.

From Jan. 1 through Sept. 12, 2021, the NYPD reported that there were more than 26,000 complaints for shoplifting compared with the same time period in 2020, which was more than 20,000. This is the highest level since the early 1990s.

Many of these retail thefts are being caught on camera in broad daylight. Last month, actor and comedian Michael Rapaport even videoed an alleged thief at Rite Aid passing a store security guard as he walked out the front doors holding bags of stolen loot.

What are these thieves stealing? As meat prices continue to rise, meat items have become a hot ticket item for shoplifters. According to the NY Daily News, to combat meat thefts, Gristedes/D’Agostino’s store managers are putting fewer packaged meat SKUs on store shelves, and replenishing them as needed. Other popular items that are being stolen from these food chains include Tide laundry detergent, soap and ice cream, specifically the smaller containers.

Food retailers in other areas of the country are also stepping up security efforts to prevent in-store crime. For example, Midwestern grocer Hy-Vee recently introduced its Hy-Vee Retail Security team to stores across its eight-state region.

D'Agostino’s and Gristedes supermarket banners are members of the Allegiance Retail Services LLC cooperative. Meanwhile, employee-owned Hy-Vee operates 285-plus retail stores across eight states. The West Des Moines, Iowa-based company is No. 34 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer’s 2021 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America. progressivegrocer.com

Bail Reform + Felony Threshold Changes = Theft Surge
'No silver bullet' to stop wave of retail thefts, industry expert says

From nationwide chains to mom-and-pop shops, retailers have been up against a wave of thefts building for years and has proven difficult to fix.

According to the 2021 National Retail Federation Security Survey, 57% of retailers reported a rise in organized retail crime. According to NRF, organized retail crime costs retailers an average of $700,000 per $1 billion in sales.

NRF vice president of government relations and political affairs Jason Straczewski said bail reform and changes to felony theft thresholds helped send signals that non-violent crime would not receive the same kind of attention from authorities as violent crime.

Since thieves often sell the items they steal, retail groups like NRF have been urging Congress to pass the INFORM Consumers Act, which would require online marketplaces to verify high volume third-party sellers' information and make that information available to customers. Versions of the bill were introduced in the House and Senate last year but haven't gone anywhere since.

Straczewski said passage of the bill would be a "key part of the puzzle" but more needs to be done.

"We need coordinated support. We need federal law enforcement agencies to help share intel and share resources on some of these gangs that are being tracked across state lines," Straczewski said.

On a local level, Straczewski pointed to what was done in California after a series of smash-and-grab thefts.

“You’ve seen quickly how elected leadership there reallocated resources, they’ve taken funding from the American Rescue Plan and shifted it toward community policing and proving support to district attorneys to make sure that they can help retailers with their investigations and go after these organized criminal gangs," Straczewski said. komonews.com

54% of Small Retailers Report Shoplifting Increases
Fed up with the rise in thefts and shoplifting, small biz owners across U.S. are taking action
Shoplifters are hurting big retailers and chain stores, even reportedly forcing some locations in New York City and San Francisco to close up. But unlike many big retailers that can absorb the loss, some small business owners say the crime wave is devastating to their business. Especially now, with many still recovering from a global pandemic.

″[When] you see … several thousand dollars just walk out the door – there really aren’t words that you can put to a situation like that. It’s just tough. It’s very, very difficult,” said small business owner Derek Friedman.

Friedman, who owns two retail clothing chains in Colorado and Texas – Sportsfan and Sock Em’ Sock Emporium – said four out of his 10 stores in the Denver area have seen a significant increase in theft since mid-2019, with losses totaling more than $200,000 in less than three years.

He’s not alone. According to a recent survey of 700 small business owners by Business.org, 54% reported an increase in shoplifting last year, with one in four saying they’re dealing with the issue on a weekly basis.

Last week, Friedman implemented a 1% crime-spike fee to help offset his losses at four of his hardest-hit Denver stores, which will be added to all transactions indefinitely. And that may be just the starting point.

According to Jason Straczewski, the National Retail Federation’s vice president of government and political affairs, if someone comes into a store and steals below that state’s federal theft threshold, it’s highly unlikely that law enforcement will go after them – unless it’s part of a frequent occurrence or it’s a group that law enforcement is tracking. cnbc.com

Updates on Georgia's ORC Effort
Bill aims to crack down on organized retail crime, online sales of stolen goods
Georgia lawmakers are looking at ways to stop illegal online sales of stolen and counterfeit items. The state attorney general says those sales are directly linked to gangs, drug trafficking and human trafficking, too.

When you go online to say, eBay or Facebook Marketplace, you assume that what you buy is legal. But it may not be. The sellers could actually be criminals who stole those items in a violent smash and grab. This bill tries to make those sellers reveal who they are and not sell things anonymously.

Albers authored the Inform Consumers Act to try and cut down on that activity by hitting the criminals where they’re trying to sell their goods: online marketplaces. The act would do things like require third-party, high-volume sellers to provide accurate information like their name, address, and prevents them from being anonymous.

The act gives consumers some civil recourse if they feel they’ve unintentionally purchased stolen or counterfeit goods. The bill passed the Georgia Senate unanimously and now heads to the Georgia House.

Attorney General Chris Carr says a lot of gang activity, including drug and human trafficking, is funded by smash-and-grab robberies. Carr linked this bill to the one that just passed the House, giving his office more authority to prosecute gang activity across the state. wsbtv.com

(Update) Georgia bill aims to crack down on ORC, online sales of stolen goods

AOC blames crime surge on child tax credit ending, calls Congress ‘s–t show’

US: 79.8M Cases - 952.6K Dead - 50.8M Recovered
Worldwide: 418.7M Cases - 5.8M Dead - 342.2M Recovered

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

Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 346  
Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: 652
*Red indicates change in total deaths

Fewer Hot Spots as Omicron Wave Fades

Global COVID Cases Continue to Plummet
WHO: New COVID cases drop by 19% globally, deaths stable
The number of new coronavirus cases globally fell by 19% in the last week while the number of deaths remained stable, according to the World Health Organization.

The U.N. health agency said late Tuesday in its weekly report on the pandemic that just over 16 million new COVID-19 infections and about 75,000 deaths were reported worldwide last week.

The Western Pacific was the only region to report a rise in new weekly cases, an increase of about 19%, Southeast Asia reported a decrease of about 37%, the biggest drop globally. The number of deaths rose by 38% in the Middle East and by about one-third in the Western Pacific. apnews.com

Businesses Get a Boost from Pandemic-Era Remote Work
Work-From-Home Coffee Breaks Boost Nescafe and Nestle

Shift to home working lifts sales of Nescafe and Nespresso, though food giant says higher costs are set to bite into profit margin

Consumers are drinking more coffee at home, even as the pandemic ebbs, buoying sales for the owner of Nescafe instant coffee, Coffee-Mate creamer and Nespresso pods.

Nestlé SA, the world’s largest packaged-food maker, said Thursday its coffee business was the biggest contributor to organic sales growth last year, boosted by demand from consumers continuing to work from home.

Coffee has been a top seller for Nestlé throughout the pandemic, with its portfolio of products predominantly consumed at home, rather than out and about. The 2018 purchase of the rights to sell Starbucks Corp.’s coffee and tea in grocery and other retail stores has also benefited Nestlé since Covid-19 struck.

Mr. Schneider said Nestlé has been working to capitalize on the continuing at-home trend, in part by doubling down on its Starbucks license. Nestlé is now selling Starbucks-branded coffee in pods for its Nespresso machines in soluble form, roast and ground and in whole beans. The company is also expanding its Starbucks range to new regions including Latin America and Southeast Asia, where it will sell it in retail stores and online. wsj.com

Business Vax Mandate Lifted in Philadelphia
Philadelphia drops COVID vaccination mandate for dining establishments; enters 'Mask Only' level
The City of Philadelphia has lifted its COVID-19 vaccination mandate for dining establishments due to the recent drop in cases as it unveiled a new tiered response to the pandemic, but an indoor mask mandate remains in place.

Philadelphia Public Health officials announced that the vaccine mandate was lifted immediately Wednesday. Officials also announced a new four-tier restriction system based on metrics such as case counts, positivity rates and hospitalizations.

Bettigole said the mandate, which went into effect in January and made it mandatory for patrons to be vaccinated in order to enter, was hard on restaurants and places of entertainment. "But the work those establishments have done has helped to decrease transmission and to increase vaccination rates in the city," Bettigole said. 6abc.com

COVID Fades But Business-Vaccine Bills Move Forward
Utah GOP plans to stop private businesses from requiring vaccine passports
On Tuesday, a House committee approved HB60 which blocks private businesses from requiring proof of vaccination for customers and employees.

That’s currently not what’s happening in Utah, but Rep. Walt Brooks, R-St. George, warned he did not want the state to morph into a liberal state like he’s seen in Washington, New York and California.

“If you go to the movies or the grocery store you have to show your ID and your vaccine passport. It just rubs me wrong that, in America, we have to show papers,” Brooks said.

Brooks’ bill also blocks governments from requiring employees from being vaccinated or providing proof of vaccination but does make some exceptions for public and higher education and some hospitals that could lose federal funding. sltrib.com

Washington man attacks Applebee's employee with meat cleaver over vax proof

COVID: Is mask-friendly Bay Area embracing looser mask rule?

In warning to U.S., COVID rates soar after Denmark lifts all restrictions

Covid: Austria and Germany decide to ease rules

Security Lawsuit & Fine
Nashville security company fined $23K after fatal Kroger shooting
Nashville security company was hit with a massive fine after a deadly shooting that happened at a Memphis Kroger back in August.

On Aug. 7, 2021, Gregory Livingston was working as a security guard at the Kroger Fuel Center on Poplar and Kirby when Alvin Motley of Chicago was shot and killed. Witnesses told officials loud music was coming from Motley’s car and Livingston asked him to turn it down. Shortly after, witnesses said they heard a gunshot.

Livingston was hired through a company called Universal Protection Service, LLC out of Nashville. However, after further investigation, court documents show Livingston was not an off-duty police officer as the company previously reported. The company was issued a fine of $23,000, which was reportedly paid the day the consent order was signed.

Family members reportedly said Motley was visiting Memphis from Chicago for business prior to his death. Livingston was held in Shelby County Jail on a $1.8 million bond since his arrest in August. wkrn.com

Former Employee Threatens CEO's Family with "Blood Bath" if Stock Isn't Over $200 in 2 Weeks
Georgia Man Admits Making Interstate Threats Against Executive Officer of New Jersey Company
Alan Wallace, 59, of Cumming, Georgia, pleaded guilty charging him with one count of transmitting interstate threats. The interstate threats charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for June 23, 2022.

From January 2021 to March 2021, Wallace, a former employee of Company-1, sent threatening email communications to Victim-1, an executive officer of Company-1, a publicly traded company with headquarters in New Jersey. Victim-1’s Company-1 email account received the emails every few days beginning on Jan. 11, 2021, and continuing through early March 2021, with more sporadic emails arriving thereafter. The emails were sent to Victim-1 from an anonymous email service.

The emails threatened violence to Victim-1 and to Victim-1’s family if Company-1’s stock did not exceed a certain share value within 30 days. An email received on Feb. 5, 2021, with the subject line “Blood Bath,” read: “[Victim-1], it seems you don't care about your family. This will be an absolute blood bath if stock isn't over $200 in 2 weeks. Your hurt [sic] so many, and now it is your turn to experience it.” justice.gov

NRF Reacts to January Retail Sales Surge
January Retail Sales Overcome Omicron and Inflation to Show Strong Gains
WASHINGTON – Retail sales powered through COVID-19’s omicron variant, inflation and other challenges to post strong increases in January, the National Retail Federation said today.

“January’s numbers show that 2022 is starting very strong for consumers and retailers, especially on the heels of a record holiday season and record sales in 2021,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “While the year ahead has challenges with inflationary pressures, labor shortages, COVID-19 impacts and uncertainty related to international tensions in Russia and China, today’s numbers show that despite these concerns, consumers are spending, and the economy remains in good shape."

The U.S. Census Bureau today said overall retail sales in January were up 3.8 percent seasonally adjusted from December and up 13 percent year-over-year. By comparison, December sales were down 2.5 percent from November but up 16.7 percent year-over-year. Despite occasional month-over-month declines, sales have grown year-over-year every month since June 2020, according to Census data. nrf.com

Retail Price Increases & Supply Chain Snags
CFO survey: 55% of retailers to raise prices in 2022, No. 1 risk to business is supply chain disruption
To boost revenue amid an inflationary environment and ongoing supply chain issues, 55% of retailers will raise prices in 2022 — 38% already have. Some retailers are taking more drastic measures: More than 25% are planning to restructure or reorganize this year.

Supply chain disruption was cited as the number one risk to business by the surveyed executives. Rising transportation costs ranked as the top supply chain threat, cited by 52% of executives, followed by supplier risks or delays (38%), supply shortage (37%) and higher customer expectations (34%). All of these factors translate to rising prices and product shortages and, in response, retailers are largely passing on these costs to consumers, according to BDO. chainstoreage.com

Retail Trade Show Boycott
Patagonia, REI, Public Lands threaten to boycott Outdoor Retailer trade show
A group of major outdoor retailers — including Timberland, Patagonia, REI, The North Face and Public Lands — are threatening to boycott the Outdoor Retailer trade show if it's moved to Utah, according to a release put out by The Conservation Alliance.

The retailers said they would not "support or attend a trade show event in Utah so long as its elected officials continue attacks on national monuments and public lands protections," adding that Utah "leads the fight against designated national monuments and public lands." retaildive.com
 
Grubhub teams with 7-Eleven on convenience delivery
Grubhub has announced a partnership with convenience store chain 7-Eleven that will bring the delivery service company into the world of convenience store delivery. Grubhub first tested the model in New York City as Grubhub Goods and now plans to expand the offering to 3,000 locations across the US, delivering products such as snacks, toiletries and beverages. supermarketnews.com

Former Walmart exec joins Bed Bath & Beyond