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2/25/22 D-Ddaily.net
 

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Peter Nwankwo promoted to Director, Asset Protection – Global Supply Chain & Logistics for Target
Peter has been with Target for nearly two years. Before his promotion to Director, AP – Global Supply Chain & Logistics, he served as Regional AP Business Partner - Global Supply Chain & Logistics. Prior to joining Target, he served as Regional AP Manager for The Home Depot for nearly four years. Earlier in his career, he held roles with 7-Eleven and Best Buy. Congratulations, Peter!

Adam Oberdick named Lead Director, Asset Protection
for CVS Health
Before being named Lead Director, Asset Protection for CVS Health, Adam spent 11 years with Nike in various key LP roles, including Director - EMEA Loss Prevention & Risk Operations, Director - EMEA Loss Prevention and North America - Digital Loss Prevention, among others. Prior to joining Nike, he had roles with both Target and Kmart over the span of five years. Congratulations, Adam!


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The U.S. Crime Surge
The Retail Impact


U.S. Shoplifting Surge Gets Global Coverage
Losses skyrocket as wave of shoplifting sweeps US
Shoplifting and retail crimes have been soaring throughout the United States for the past five years, forcing retailers to bulk up on security. National chains like Rite Aid are closing hard-hit stores, locking up aisles of seemingly mundane items like deodorant and toothpaste. A video of rib-eye steaks locked behind wire mesh in Florida recently went viral.

Rampant shoplifting at chain stores in New York City also led to another Rite Aid store on Manhattan's Upper East Side to close its doors on Feb 15.

The NYPD reported that it has not seen shoplifting levels this high since 1995. From Jan 1 through Sept 12, 2021, police reported that there were more than 26,000 shoplifting complaints compared with the same time period in 2020, which was over 20,000.

John Catsimatidis, owner and CEO of the Gristedes, a grocery chain in Manhattan, told the Daily Mail that the thieves are not hungry vagrants, but "professional criminals" who often travel to the city from other states, where they cannot get away with such crimes.

Store closures

Walgreens, a drugstore chain and parent of Duane Reade, cited shoplifting as the reason it was planning to close five stores throughout the city in November. Seventeen stores had already been closed. It has already closed 10 stores in San Francisco since 2019.

The CEOs of nearly two dozen retail companies wrote a letter to US congressional leaders in December to pass the INFORM Act, which would require online marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Facebook to verify sellers and provide contact information to buyers.

Brian Dodge, president of Retail Industry Leaders Association, told news site Axios that thieves today can sell products to unsuspecting customers. The offenders are "hiding behind fake user names and untraceable email addresses rather than legitimate kinds of business information that any other operating business would have to provide-like a name," he said.

Up to 15 percent of retailers now use using radio frequency identification technology to track shoplifters, reported NBC News citing retail security experts. The practice has raised privacy concerns. chinadaily.com.cn

Indiana's Lack of ORC Law Making it a Shoplifting Epicenter?
Multi-million dollar shoplifting rings under investigation in Indiana
Law enforcement confirms they are battling a $70 billion organized theft problem nationwide that is affecting the state of Indiana. People are stealing products en masse from retail stores and reselling those items online. “These are people that steal from a dozen stores a day, sometimes $10,000 per store,” Ben Dugan, president of the National Coalition of Law Enforcement and Retail, said. “They’re stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars a week and they travel state to state, county to county and funnel that product through these online fences.” Dugan and other law enforcement professionals describe the criminals as “professional thieves.”

According to investigators, the thieves map out which stores to hit. They target low-cost hardware stores, beauty supply stores and big chain retail stores like Walmart and Kroger. In some cases, they’ll store products in a warehouse until they’re able to sell them online. Often, they sell products at a discount online, but make a good amount of money doing it.

“When you’re making an income of $5,000 to $7,000 a week, tax free, that’s pretty attractive,” Jerry Biggs, manager of major investigations for Sally Beauty, told CBS4 Consumer Investigations. “They work seven days a week, and they’ll travel throughout Indiana, then go back home to perhaps Chicago or Cleveland,” Dugan added.

Each law enforcement official CBS4 spoke with confirmed the same thing: There are currently several multi-million-dollar investigations underway in Indiana. They cited the fact that Indiana is so centrally located. “We follow these guys for weeks at a time and watch them steal the product. Eventually, they get arrested, but we’re always trying to track that product. That’s how we know, for a fact, that it originated in Indiana,” Dugan confirmed. “Because we were there.”

Often, investigators said, the thieves know exactly how much to steal so that they aren’t charged with a felony. Furthermore, Indiana doesn’t have an organized crime law on the books.

“I have done groups — even years ago back in Texas — when it was $1,500, they would steal $1,400. And so, they do that all day long knowing they’re committing misdemeanors,” Biggs explained. “Every state that surrounds Indiana has some type of organized crime law. Indiana doesn’t. We have tried to push one for the last few years, but we have struggled with getting it through.”

Biggs may have been referring to HB 1323. In 2019, Republican State Rep. Sharon Negele introduced that legislation. Had it passed, it would have enhanced penalties for those involved with organized retail crime. The bill passed the House but died in the Senate. It was referred to a committee but never heard. cbs4indy.com

C-Stores Under Siege by Robbers
Philadelphia convenience store operators fed up with increased crime
Convenience stores across Philadelphia have increasingly become a target for robbers. In some cases, they're entering the stores in broad daylight, and store owners say they want more help from police.

"The city is under siege, that's what I see," said store owner Vincent Emmanuel.

At a Shell Gas station, burglars recently broke a large window to make their way into the store. Surveillance footage shows as many as three men in the store. One of them is seen swinging an ax, trying to break into an ATM.

Store operator Sukhbir Singh says the burglars ransacked the place using a sledgehammer and were able crack the bulletproof glass to gain access to the cashier cage: "It is not good at all. They have to be stopped. They have to be put in jail," said Singh.

"People are just simply afraid of working in the city because stores are getting busted, machines are getting broke into, stores are getting robbed and the police responding are taking too long," said Emmanuel.

There was no immediate response from a police spokesman, but last week, Commissioner Danielle Outlaw acknowledged that it was taking police much longer to respond to 911 calls for help. Outlaw pointed to the shortage of 911 dispatchers and that the department was roughly 600 police officers down from staffing levels in 2015.

Meanwhile, Emmanuel says some store owners are closing in the wake of all the robberies: "The 7-Elevens are closing. There's a 7-Eleven store on Oxford Avenue that got robbed nine times in one month. How could a store owner operate a business like that?" said Emmanuel. 6abc.com

Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Retail Criminals
Assembly OKs Mandatory Jail Time for Shoplifters

The state Assembly has approved a Republican-authored bill that would create a mandatory minimum jail sentence for habitual shoplifters.

Judges would be required to sentence habitual shoplifters to at least 180 days behind bars under a Republican-authored bill the state Assembly sent to Gov. Tony Evers on Thursday.

Under current Wisconsin law, the severity of a shoplifting offense varies from a misdemeanor to a felony depending on the value of the merchandise stolen. Punishments vary from nine months to 10 years behind bars. Under the bill, judges would be required to sentence anyone convicted of a third or subsequent shoplifting offense within five years to at least 180 days behind bars.

The bill's chief sponsors, Sen. Duey Stroebel and Rep. Janel Brandtjen, argue mandatory sentences will deter shoplifters and send a a strong anti-crime message. Opponents, including the state public defender's office and the Wisconsin Counties Association, counter that the legislation will do little to deter crime and lead to overcrowded jails.

The Senate passed the bill on Tuesday. The Assembly followed suit Thursday afternoon. The bill goes next to Evers, who can sign it into law or veto it. usnews.com

Flood of Anti-Theft Legislation Continues
Virginia legislation targets organized retail crime
Major retailers in the Commonwealth and across the country report an increase in organized criminal activity. State lawmakers are now considering legislation they hope will address the problem.

Goods stolen from stores are resold quickly online.

“Organized retail crime is not petty shoplifting,” said Mike Combs, Director of Investigations for The Home Depot. “We’re talking about people who are stealing and making money by selling it for a living. That’s their job. Those are the groups of people we are going after.”

The legislation would require online marketplaces to verify the authenticity of high-volume sellers. The measure won approval in the State Senate. It will soon reach a House of Delegates committee that killed a similar measure earlier in the session. wdbj7.com

Indianapolis residents call for new anti-crime strategy

With shootings up, carjackings down, St. Paul officials talk safety approaches

Long Beach shootings rose to start 2022, but gun violence has eased


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COVID Update

551.8M Vaccinations Given

US: 80.4M Cases - 969.6K Dead - 52.6M Recovered
Worldwide: 432.3M Cases - 5.9M Dead - 361.6M Recovered


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

Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 348  
Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: 670

*Red indicates change in total deaths


Still 2,000+ COVID Deaths Per Day
Covid-19 is killing more people now than during most of the pandemic
Plummeting Covid-19 case counts across the United States are leading to lifted mask mandates and more conversations about steps toward normalcy -- but more people are dying of the coronavirus now than during most points of the pandemic.

More than 2,000 Covid-19 deaths have been reported in the United States each day for the past month. Average daily deaths are falling, but from a very high point. They dipped just below that mark in recent days, to about 1,900 on Monday; the federal holiday may have delayed reporting.

Before Omicron became the dominant coronavirus strain in the US, there were only about 100 other days when there were more than 2,000 Covid-19 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The only other time that deaths have been this high for this long was during the first winter surge, before vaccines were available. The Omicron wave has also been deadlier for longer than the Delta surge: In September, when Delta was dominant, average daily deaths topped 2,000 for half as long. cnn.com

Law Enforcement COVID Deaths
COVID-19 Related Line of Duty Deaths: 2022 Analysis Update
An analysis of the line of duty deaths (LODD) based on data compiled by the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP) found that COVID-19 killed 221 law enforcement officers in the line of duty from March through December 2020.* This represented 68% or more of all the LODDs in 29 states, two territories, and the District of Columbia. A majority of these officers were 50 years of age or older, in line with general population trends. As of February 15, 2021, ODMP recorded 346 total LODDs in 2020, a 131% increase from the previous year – COVID-19 being the single highest cause of 2020 LODDs.

ODMP's numbers are based on public submissions to their page, which are evaluated against their criteria for inclusion using information compiled from user submissions, media accounts, and correspondence with the officer’s agency. These statistics include any law enforcement officer who dies as a result of COVID-19 as a direct result of the officer’s law enforcement duties policefoundation.org

New Federal Mask Guidance
CDC expected to relax indoor mask guidance for states on Friday

The updated recommendations come as Covid case numbers continue to fall across the country.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to relax its mask guidance Friday, according to two sources familiar with the plans.

The new guidance — which will most likely loosen indoor masking requirements — will come as most states have already lifted or announced plans to lift their indoor masking mandates as the omicron-driven wave of the coronavirus subsides.

It's the first change to the agency's indoor mask guidance since July. Amid last summer's surge of the delta variant, the CDC recommended universal indoor masking in areas with substantial or high transmission after it said vaccinated people could stop wearing masks.

Covid case numbers continue to decline across most of the country. The seven-day average of daily new cases is around 75,000, down by 38 percent from the previous week, according to CDC data. nbcnews.com

LA Joins Chicago, D.C. and More in Lifting Mask Mandates
Los Angeles County removes mask mandate for indoor public places
Los Angeles County will no longer require people to wear masks at indoor public places as long as they can show proof of vaccination, county officials said on Wednesday, as the number of new coronavirus cases continued to plunge.

The order, which is set to take effect on Friday, will allow customers to skip wearing masks if they provide proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test taken in the previous two days, the county, which is home to 10 million people, said in a news release.

Many states and local governments across the United States have eased coronavirus mandates as cases of the Omicron variant have fallen steeply in recent weeks after a devastating spike that began in December.

Connecticut and Massachusetts will lift some mask mandates starting Monday. Washington, D.C., will end a city-wide mask mandate and Chicago will end a mask mandate for some public places on that day. nytimes.com

Google Preps for Return to Office
Google relaxes mandates, opens amenities as it prepares for workers to return
Google is no longer requiring its US-based workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, according to CNBC. “We’re not enforcing vaccination requirements as a condition of employment for US office workers at this time,” Google spokesperson Lora Lee Erickson said in a statement to The Verge after we first published this article. “We’re continuing to implement our vaccination policy requiring COVID-19 vaccinations or approved accommodations for any individuals accessing our sites, because it’s one of the most important ways we can keep our workforce safe and keep our services running.”

However, a policy that requires staffers to be vaccinated to return to the office is still in effect. “Google’s original vaccination policy announced last July remains in place, which requires COVID-19 vaccinations or approved accommodations for anyone accessing our sites,” according to Erickson. In addition, only employees at Google’s Santa Clara County facilities will have to wear masks in the office, Erickson says. theverge.com

Santa Clara County plans to end indoor mask mandate next week

New Covid vaccine shows 100 percent efficacy against severe disease

Poland will lift most remaining restrictions on March 1


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$3.6M in Dollar General OSHA Fines Since 2016
OSHA: Recent safety violations at multiple Dollar General stores illustrate the retailer's 'long history' of endangering workers

OSHA has proposed over $3.6 million in penalties over 55 inspections at Dollar General stores since 2016.

Federal inspections into four Dollar General retail locations last summer "found the nationwide discount retailer's long history of exposing employees to dangerous working conditions continues," according to a press release from the Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Thursday.

It's the latest in a series of OSHA penalties for the company since 2016, the release added. Since that year, OSHA has proposed over $3.6 million in penalties over 55 inspections at Dollar General stores throughout the US, the release said.

OHSA conducted the investigations last August into Dollar General locations in Alabama and Georgia. In Alabama, OSHA inspectors found five "willful violations".

The violations were for not keeping areas where inventory comes in "clean and orderly" and for "stacking materials in an unsafe manner – hazards which expose workers to slips, trips and being struck-by objects," the release said. It added the stores did not keep exit routes and spaces around electrical panels clear enough, creating fire risk.

OSHA proposed $683,680 in penalties for the Alabama stores and $364,629 in penalties for the Georgia store. Dollar General has 15 business days to pay and comply, talk with a local OSHA area director, or dispute the findings in front of OSHA's Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, which acts to independently resolve disputes around OSHA penalties.  businessinsider.com

The End is Officially Near for Kmart
This Iconic Store Has Closed All But 4 Locations

The nearly disappeared retailer once had nearly 2,400 U.S. stores

After decades of decline, Kmart has only four remaining locations open to the public after it was announced that two more stores had recently closed, The Oregonian reports. The retailer's current state marks a stunning decline from its days as a commerce powerhouse, reaching nearly 2,400 locations across the U.S. and Canada at its peak during the 1990s.

As store numbers dwindle, the remaining locations are spread out over four states. New Jersey is home to two Kmart stores in Avenel and Westwood. Meanwhile, New York has one location left on Long Island in the town of Bridgehampton, while the last Florida store remains open in Miami.

According to Shultz, it's likely not an accident the last remaining stores happen to be where they are—at least for now. "New York has had a strong stance against Walmart, so that has helped [Kmart]. But they still have to compete with Target and Amazon," he told The Oregonian. "I have a hard time imagining them staying around much longer." bestlifeonline.com

'One of the Largest Verdicts of its Kind'
Brookshire Brothers to pay $1.3 million in slip-and-fall lawsuit
A jury has returned one of the largest verdicts of its kind in Orange County, Texas. A woman in Orange County has been awarded $1.325 million by a jury after she slipped and fell at a Brookshire Brothers grocery store while shopping for ice cream on Memorial Day weekend in 2020.

Jurors in the trial heard evidence that the store had recurring issues with leaking freezers dating back as far as August 2019, according to a release by Brasher Law Firm, which represented Huelsman. She was shopping when she slipped on a puddle near the ice cream freezers which caused her to fall and suffer serious injuries.

Throughout the trial, Brookshire Brothers denied any responsibility for the accident, blaming the flip-flops that Huelsman was wearing at the time. At trial, Huelsman's attorneys suggested apportioning 20% responsibility on her.

Lufkin, Texas-based Brookshire Brothers has more than 100 grocery stores, 16 express stores, a central distribution center, 72 pharmacies, 87 fueling stations, four coffee shops and two event venues. chainstoreage.com

Russian Invasion's Consumer & Business Impact
U.S. economy appeared ready to surge, but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could send shockwaves
Rampant geopolitical uncertainty has helped drive up energy prices and send global markets on a roller-coaster ride. These changes could give many consumers and businesses pause and put more pressure on Washington leaders to respond, even though it is unclear how exactly they will intervene.

President Biden, meanwhile, has said he would consider measures to blunt the impact of rising oil prices on Americans, including the sale of more oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. He warned energy companies not to opportunistically jack up prices, while acknowledging that the economic consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would be felt by Americans.

Although it’s too early to assess the conflict’s full impact on the world economy, economists predict a number of cascading effects, starting with things such as fuel prices. He added that the government is “closely monitoring energy supplies for any disruption” and raised the potential the U.S. could further tap its petroleum reserves if conditions warrant. The president also fired a warning shot at oil and gas giants themselves, adding they “should not exploit this moment to hike their prices. washingtonpost.com

Inflation Isn't Stopping Shoppers - Yet
CEOs say consumers aren’t changing their shopping behavior yet

Walmart said earlier this month that consumers are aware of rising prices but haven’t changed their behavior yet.

Inflation has led many food and beverage companies to raise prices by shrinking package sizes, cutting promotions or outright price increases at the grocery store. But companies have to strike a delicate balance, raising prices enough to offset higher costs without making products too expensive for consumers, who could always trade down to cheaper alternatives like private-label brands.

We’re feeling good about how our consumers are staying loyal to our brands in spite of some of our pricing decisions,” Laguarta said on Pepsi’s earnings call in early February.

Many shoppers have had more cash to spend at the grocery store after receiving government stimulus checks during the Covid pandemic and changing other behaviors, like traveling and eating out less. cnbc.com

US Labor Dept: CA McDonald's franchisee owes over $25K in child labor penalties

Aaron’s to acquire appliance/ electronics retailer BrandsMart

Inflation is a worry for 9 in 10 Americans polled



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Cyber Security in the Retail & Consumer Industry
Protecting your brand from hackers and how to deal with cyber attacks
In a digitalized economy, companies in the retail sector are big targets for cyber criminals. The new cyber security risk landscape has been transformed by the increase in remote working, the growth in the number of connected devices, and the ever growing sophistication of threat actors, e.g. through ransomware attacks. Between 2019 and 2023 an amount of more than EUR 300 billion of lost revenues are estimated due to cyber attacks by the retail industry worldwide. Further, such issues are under growing public scrutiny, illustrated, for example, by the latest Log 4 Shell vulnerability.

AdvertisementWhy is cyber security relevant especially for companies in the retail sector?

The retail industry typically processes huge amounts of personal data from their customers.

Hackers select targets based on their financial capability, which makes retailers attractive targets.

Which (direct and indirect) sources of law obligate companies to implement cyber security measures?

Cyber security law is unfortunately fragmented.
 
Obligations for retail companies can thus stem from various sources in public and private law, for example the GDPR, product liability and product security law, EU directives on cyber security as well as from contracts with customers or business partners.

How may cyber security be required to protect your intellectual property?

Besides the obvious economic self-interest of each company to keep its IP confidential, insufficient protection of IP against cyber risks may also have legal implications. For instance, under EU law, trade secrets only remain protected as such if safeguarded by appropriate (cyber) security measures.

What legal consequences can arise if your brand falls victim to a cyber attack?

notification obligations of your company vis-á-vis authorities
investigations, measures and sanctions by authorities
claims by affected parties, such as consumers or contractual partners.

What to do in the first place to protect you brand from cyber attacks?

Besides the obvious factual need to implement any such measures, from a legal perspective it is imperative to produce appropriate documentation as well as internal measures on how to protect company asset. Further, a company should, in preparation to any such incidents, clearly allocate responsibilities among its personnel and appropriate contingency plans. For example, these should set out clearly reporting obligations towards authorities and reporting lines inside the company. osborneclarke.com

Top Cyberattack Types: 2021 vs. 2020
Ransomware wreaked havoc last year, manufacturing was most targeted
IBM Security released its annual X-Force Threat Intelligence Index unveiling how ransomware and vulnerability exploitations together were able to “imprison” businesses in 2021 further burdening global supply chains, with manufacturing emerging as the most targeted industry.

While phishing was the most common cause of cyberattacks in general in the past year, there was a 33% increase in attacks caused by vulnerability exploitation of unpatched software, a point of entry that ransomware actors relied on more than any other to carry out their attacks in 2021, representing the cause of 44% of ransomware attacks.

The 2022 report details how in 2021 ransomware actors attempted to “fracture” the backbone of global supply chains with attacks on manufacturing, which became 2021’s most attacked industry (23%), dethroning financial services and insurance after a long reign. Experiencing more ransomware attacks than any other industry, attackers wagered on the ripple effect that disruption on manufacturing organizations would cause their downstream supply chains to pressure them into paying the ransom.

An alarming 47% of attacks on manufacturing were caused due to vulnerabilities that victim organizations had not yet or could not patch, highlighting the need for organizations to prioritize vulnerability management. helpnetsecurity.com

The Importance of Supporting Cybersecurity Teams
Log4j Remediation Took Weeks or More for Over 50% of Organizations

(ISC)² survey also found that half of cybersecurity teams worldwide worked on fixing Log4j issues on weekends and during time off.

It indeed was an all-hands-on-deck job for organizations around the globe when the Log4j vulnerability was exposed: a new (ISC)² study found that 52% of security teams spent weeks or more than a month fixing the flaw in their networks — and some 48% did so on weekends and during their holiday time.

Around 27% of respondents to the (ISC)² survey say their organizations were less secure during the remediation process, and 23% report that their 2020 security priorities were delayed due to the intense focus on Log4j fixes.

"The main takeaway from the Log4j crisis and this data is that dedicated cybersecurity professionals are spread thin and need more support to effectively remediate zero-day exploits while still maintaining overall security operations," Clar Rosso, CEO of (ISC)², said in a statement. "Log4j is one critical vulnerability of many and it's only a matter of time before the next novel attack occurs. To avoid burnout — the consequences of which can lead to catastrophic breaches — organizations must support their cybersecurity teams by expanding their recruiting efforts, providing more resources and investing in the development and retention of their existing staff." darkreading.com

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine spotlights the urgent need for crypto policy

Cyber attacks on Ukraine: DDoS, new data wiper, cloned websites, and Cyclops Blink


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Fighting Fraud in E-Commerce
What are the next steps for the European grocery industry?

Grocery apps downloads rose by 200% in 2020 – If this trend continues, how will fraudsters take advantage?

The pandemic has been an inflexion point for the online grocery market globally, boosting the number of online grocery buyers by 30%.

And while we’ve seen some levelling off with the easing of restrictions across Europe, it’s a trend that’s not going away. In the UK in 2021, nearly 50% of shoppers said that they would continue to buy their groceries online once the pandemic was over.

But it’s not just online grocers that are benefitting from this shift in consumer behaviour. Online shopping, home delivery and Q-commerce have also opened up a whole host of new money-making opportunities for online fraudsters.

In our recent Retail Ecommerce Fraud & Payments report, grocery merchants rated their top three fraud risks: online payment fraud (73%), account takeover or ATO (65%), and friendly fraud (58%).

The majority of online payment fraud is a result of stolen credit card details, gained by skimming or bought on the dark web and these bad actors have a number of techniques to obtain verifying information that can ‘legitimise’ their purchases from the retailer perspective. On the dark web, food account mentions have increased 230% since 2019, and login details are easy to buy at USD 1.50-USD 10 each.

Friendly fraud occurs when a customer makes a purchase with their own credit card, and then requests a chargeback instead of contacting the merchant for a refund. A version of friendly fraud rife in grocery deliveries is refund abuse, where contactless delivery relies on the honesty of customers to claim for items not received. Opportunistic customers are aware how hard it is to discredit their complaints and are quick to take advantage.

Account takeover (ATO) occurs when a fraudster infiltrates a genuine customer’s account and then makes unauthorised transactions. Interestingly, despite online grocers not seeing account takeover as the biggest threat to their business, of all the ecommerce sectors, they’ve seen the largest increase in ATO (+50%) thepaypers.com

Amazon Anti-Union 'Scare Tactics'?
Amazon called the cops on a union organizer who was bringing food to warehouse workers. The NYPD arrested him and 2 Amazon workers.

The NYPD arrested three Amazon union organizers at a Staten Island warehouse on Wednesday.

The New York Police Department arrested three union organizers at Amazon's JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island on Wednesday.

Among those arrested was Chris Smalls, a former worker and president of the Amazon Labor Union. The ALU successfully petitioned the National Labor Relations Board for a union election at JFK8 last week. The election is due to be held between March 25 and March 30.

Smalls told Reuters he had come to the warehouse to give out food to workers in the break room.

Derrick Palmer, an ALU organizer and employee who witnessed the arrests, told Vice an Amazon general manager said they were calling the police after organizers brought grilled chicken and pasta to workers in the break room.

"I think it started off as a scare tactic that completely went off the rails," Connor Spence, another ALU organizer and employee, told Bloomberg.

An Amazon spokesperson told Reuters and Bloomberg Amazon had called the police because Smalls has "repeatedly trespassed" on JFK8. businessinsider.com

How Online Shopping Adds to the Global Problem of Abandoned Clothes


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Simi Valley, CA: 2 Men Arrested After Simi Valley Police Detectives Uncover SoCal Theft Ring Targeting Home Depot Stores
Detectives uncovered an alleged organized retail theft ring behind dozens of heists from Home Depot stores throughout Southern California, Simi Valley police announced Thursday. Two people were arrested Tuesday in connection with a series of thefts at Home Depot stores across Southern California – 29-year-old Luis Delasancha of Anaheim and 45-year-old Prudencio Avelar-Lemus of Santa Ana, the alleged fence, both face charges of conspiracy, organized retail theft, and grand theft.

Simi Valley police say an investigation that started with the Nov. 8, 2021 theft of about $2,000 worth of tools from Home Depot, 575 Cochran St. in Simi Valley, led to the identification of two suspects who had been targeting Home Depot stores in Ventura, Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, and Riverside counties. The suspects behind these thefts are believed to responsible for approximately 25 thefts totaling more than $30,000.

The investigation, which was aided by a vehicle description and license plate taken from the Simi Valley theft, identified an Anaheim home and an alleged fence location in Santa Ana believed to be involved in the thefts. Delasancha was arrested at the Anaheim home, where a small number of the suspected stolen tools and narcotics were found. Detectives found much more at the alleged fence location in Santa Ana – more than 3,700 stolen electric saws, table saws, drills, tool kits, and bottles of laundry detergent – with an approximate value of $341,000. losangeles.cbslocal.com

New York, NY: Update: Group steals $500,000 of luxury items from store on Madison Avenue
Police are looking for several people who stole nearly half a million dollars worth of items from a high-end store on Madison Avenue. Police say seven people entered The RealReal store last week and took off with jewelry, watches, and handbags. The haul adds up to nearly $500,000. Investigators released pictures of two of the suspects and a white getaway car. They are asking for the public's help tracking down the perpetrators. abc7ny.com

Memphis, TN: 6 men break into East Memphis Target, steal $19K of items
Six men are wanted by police after breaking into a Target by using a sledgehammer and crowbar. On Feb. 22, MPD responded to a burglary call in the 600 block of Colonial Road. When officers arrived, they spoke to the store manager, who said around 3:50 am, approximately six men broke into the store, and stole roughly $19,280 worth of merchandise. The suspects used a sledgehammer, and a crowbar to break into the business, police said. The suspects occupied a silver-colored 2-door Dodge Challenger, a silver 4-door Infiniti G35, and a black 4-door Infiniti. Police also said the same group attempted to break into Dillard’s at the Wolfchase Mall around 3:20 a.m., but could not get in. fox13memphis.com

Clovis, CA: PD Arrest Five for Mail Theft
Clovis Police Detectives served two search warrants Wednesday afternoon, February 23, one at a home in Biola, and one in Fresno, related to an on-going mail theft and fraud investigation. Their investigation was assisted by a resident who had video surveillance of mail being stolen on the morning of February 23 and reported it to Clovis Police. Detectives were able to recognize a known mail theft suspect, which helped lead them to the homes in Biola and Fresno.

During the search warrants, Detectives located and collected evidence, including two handguns, property that had been purchased fraudulently, and countless pieces of stolen mail from the Clovis, Fresno, and Kerman area. Charges against the five people arrested include felon in possession of a firearm, committing a felony while out on bail, narcotic sales, forgery, mail theft, possession of burglary tools and drug paraphernalia, and more. clovisroundup.com

San Antonio, TX: Suspected thief arrested after trying to steal over $1,600 in copper wire from Lowe's
A man that police believe is responsible for numerous thefts of copper rolls from different stores was finally captured. Michael Anthony Ruiz, 43, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with four counts of theft. Police said that Ruiz was spotted on June 11, 2021 by an associate at a Lowe's Home Improvement store as a suspect in numerous thefts at different Lowe's locations. On this occasion, Ruiz was seen asking an employee for help loading 12 rolls of copper wire into a shopping cart. Ruiz then gets in line like he is going to pay, but then heads toward the lawn and garden section. It isn't long before Ruiz then pushes the cart out of the store without paying, according to the police report. The loss prevention associated catches up with Ruiz in the parking lot, who then threatens the employee before running off. The approximate value of the rolls of copper wire was $1,680. Ruiz was identified from video surveillance footage and a photo lineup. He is in Bexar County Jail on bonds totally $41,000. foxsanantonio.com

Campbell River, British Columbia, CN: Over $8,000 recovered, 32 arrested in RCMP Shoplifting sting
Campbell River RCMP are urging stores to be proactive and adopt theft-reduction strategies following an eight-day blitz resulting in 32 arrests and more than $8,000 of merchandise recovered. Police are recommending that more than 35 charges be laid, most for theft under $5,000. Additional charges expected include resisting arrests, breaching court conditions to stay outside of specific stores, and driving while prohibited. Police concentrated on places with higher-than-usual theft problems. “Despite the success of projects such as this and other police actions in the past, it’s very clear that some of our criminal element are clearly not getting the picture,” said Campbell River RCMP Const. Maury Tyre. Some people arrested had already been arrested earlier within the eight-day campaign, he said. Of the 32 people arrested, 25 had criminal records including property crimes or were awaiting sentencing on previous theft files, he said. campbellrivermirror.com

West Springfield, MA: Police searching for repeat offender in $1300 theft

Santa Clarita, CA: Man Arrested For Grand Theft Following Santa Clarita Retail Crime Suppression Operation


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Shootings & Deaths

Houston, TX: Deputy Constable shot and killed inside the PlazAmericas Mall
A Texas deputy constable was shot dead by a suspect who wrestled his service weapon away at a Houston shopping mall where the officer was working an extra job. Deputy Constable Neil Adams was killed just before 4 p.m. as he responded to a disturbance inside one of the stores at the PlazAmericas Mall, the Houston Police Department said. “There was some kind of altercation with a suspect,” said Houston Police Chief Troy Finner. “The suspect was able to gain control of his gun … very sadly, shot it.” Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush paid tribute to Adams on Twitter. Finner said that after the shooting, police responded and found the suspect in the food court. “He had a sharp-edged weapon aimed at the officers,” Finner said. “Two officers fired upon him, striking him. The suspect later died at the hospital.” Police have not released the identity of the deceased shooter, but said he was 35 years old. Adams had served with the San Jacinto County Constable Precinct 1 since 2012. He was the environmental officer for all of Harris County, said his boss, Constable Roy Rogers. “We lost one of our heroes,” said Rogers. “He was a good man. He worked hard (to) take care of his family … to take care of the constituents of our county. Y’all please pray for Deputy Constable Adams’ family.” Speaking outside the hospital where her husband died, Adams’ widow asked for prayers. nypost.com

Hazlehurst, MS: Auto Shop Owner charged with murder after allegedly shooting customer over repair work
A 47-year-old has been arrested after a man was shot and killed at a Hazlehurst auto shop around 3:30 Thursday afternoon. According to police, Stanley Eckhoff is charged with murder in the shooting death of 49-year-old Christopher Buie. It happened on Caldwell Drive at Stanley Tire and Auto. Police say the two men got into an argument at the store over the repairs made to Buie’s vehicle. That’s when Eckhoff, the owner of Stanley Tire and Auto, allegedly shot Buie once in the neck. wlbt.com

Allentown, PA: Coroner ID's Victim Killed In Shooting At Allentown Restaurant
The victim of a deadly shooting at a restaurant in Allentown has been identified as a 42-year-old man, authorities said. Responding officers found Anthony Rodgers, of Allentown, with multiple gunshot wounds at Big Woody's sports bar and restaurant in the 1300 block of Hanover Avenue just after 2:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, according to the Lehigh County Coroner's Office and the Allentown Police Department. No arrests have been made as of Thursday afternoon. dailyvoice.com

 



Robberies, Incidents & Thefts

Lenior, NC: Man uses flame thrower for robbery, sets C-store counter on fire
A would-be robber took a fiery approach this week when he combined seemingly innocent store products to make an improvised flame thrower, according to the Lenior Police Department in North Carolina. Logan Ryan Jones failed to get the cash he sought, but he did manage to set the store’s counter on fire. It happened around 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 23, at the Ross and Company convenience store. “While inside the store, the suspect approached the cash register with a cigarette lighter and a can of spray de-icer,” police said in the release.

“The suspect then handed the cashier a note demanding money. When the cashier refused to give the suspect any money, he sprayed the de-icer and ignited it with the cigarette lighter,” police said. “This caused a small fire to start near the cash register.” The fire “was quickly extinguished” and no one was hurt, but the resulting turmoil gave Jones, 29, an opportunity to flee, police said. The vehicle was found “a short time later” by Caldwell County sheriff’s deputies outside another convenience store. The deputies then tracked Jones to his home on Watson Place, which is less than a mile from where the car was found, officials said. charlotteobserver.com

UK: London: $200,000 of Antique props from 'The Crown' stolen in UK robbery
Britain's Sun newspaper said the stolen items were worth around 150,000 pounds ($200,550) and included jewellery, candelabras, silverware, a domed birdcage and a replica of a rare Fabergé egg, acquired by Queen Elizabeth's grandfather George V in 1933. The robbery happened near the English town of Doncaster. reuters.com

San Jose, CA: SJPD Arrests Thief Wanted For Over 50 Thefts
California police recently arrested a thief that had been targeting small businesses with smash and grab theft. Police say the thief is responsible for dozens of cases in the cities of San Jose and Milpitas. ntd.com

Fayetteville, AR: Bella Vista man arrested in connection with 14 burglaries

Boise, ID: Miami man sentenced to Federal prison for vehicle break-in and credit card fraud scheme

 



Fire/Arson

Walmart arson spree: 5 arrested in Gulf Shores driven by ‘manifesto’
Suspects accused of carrying out arson attacks on Gulf Coast Walmart stores, for reasons mapped out in a document prosecutors call the “Walmart Manifesto,” have been arrested in Gulf Shores following a grand jury indictment. The indictment, filed Wednesday in open court, identifies five men: Jeffery Sikes, 40, aka Kenneth Allen; Sean Bottorff, 37, aka Sean McFarland; Michael Bottorff, 21; Quinton Olson, 21; and Alexander Olson, 23. The five were arrested Thursday morning. At an arraignment Thursday afternoon, each of the five declared his intent to plead not guilty to all charges. The next step will be a detention hearing to determine the conditions under which any of them may be released pending trial; because of Mardi Gras festivities Monday and Tuesday, Magistrate Judge Sonja F. Bivins set that hearing for Wednesday.

The indictment accuses the five of taking part in a conspiracy “to affect interstate and foreign commerce by maliciously setting fires to damage and destroy Walmart stores and the property within them. Specifically, the fires were maliciously set to force Walmart, Inc. to meet demands related to interstate and foreign commerce set forth by the conspirators in their manifesto (identified herein as ‘The Walmart Manifesto.’)” The indictment details arson attacks carried out at the Walmart store on Mobile’s I-65 Service Road on May 27, 2021; the store in Tillman’s Corner on May 28, 2021; and at stores in Gulfport and Biloxi on June 4, 2021. al.com

 

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C-Store – Lenior, NC – Armed Robbery
C-Store – Las Vegas, NV – Armed Robbery
Gas Station – Tulsa, OK – Burglary
Gas Station – Sheboygan, WI – Armed Robbery
Gas Station – Manchester, CT - Armed Robbery
Gas Station – Miramar, FL – Armed Robbery
Jewelry - Katy, TX - Robbery
Jewelry - Keizer, OR - Robbery
Jewelry - Wheaton MD - Robbery
Liquor – Bloomington, MN – Robbery
Marijuana – Oakland, CA – Burglary
Restaurant – Independence, MO – Armed Robbery
Restaurant - Waukegan, IL – Armed Robbery (Papa John’s)
Restaurant – LaGrange, GA – Armed Robbery (Waffle House)
Restaurant – Lacey, WA – Burglary
Target – Memphis, TN – Burglary
Tattoo - Fayetteville, AR – Burglary
Tobacco – Glen Burnie, MD – Burglary
Walgreens – Cary, IL – Burglary
7-Eleven – Reading, PA – Armed Robbery
7-Eleven – North Port, FL – Armed Robbery                                                                                                                    
               

Daily Totals:
• 14 robberies
• 7 burglaries
• 0 shootings
• 0 killed

 

Weekly Totals:
• 98 robberies
• 17 burglaries
• 0 shootings
• 0 killed



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Asset Protection Lead
Brooklyn, NY - posted February 25

You are charged with identification and mitigation of external theft and fraud trends within a specific market and group of stores. This role will conduct investigations focusing on Habitual Offenders, high impact external theft/fraud incidents through the use of company technology (CCTV, Incident Reporting, Data Analysis)...



Regional Asset Protection & Safety Manager
Chicago, IL - posted February 23

Responsible for ensuring application of EHS, occupational safety, and loss prevention programs and policies at the store, region, and cross-regional levels. Works to ensure education, communication, and understanding of safety and loss prevention policies, including how safety and asset protection contributes to profitability and business success...



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This role is to lead the Asset Protection business partner model for the two regions of retail stores and serves as a strategic partner to regional operations leadership. The role is responsible for leading a team of market and store asset protection personnel responsible for ensuring the safety of people, the security of assets, compliance with internal and regulatory standards and the prevention of shrink...



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The Loss Prevention and Safety Business Partner (LPSBP) is responsible for effectively delivering on operational objectives and KPI performance across Assets Protection, Associate Safety, Physical Security, and Investigations, in an assigned DC of responsibility, in partnership with the facility leadership and home office team...



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The Loss Prevention Manager is responsible for supporting the day-to-day operations of our retail locations. This role is responsible for the implementation and coordination of all Loss Prevention best practices. This includes training for store teams to ensure understanding and compliance of physical security, inventory and loss control...



Loss Prevention Auditor
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As a Loss Prevention Auditor and Fraud Detection Analyst for Staples, you will conduct LP operational field audits remote, virtual and in person, within a base of 60 retail stores to ensure compliance to operational standards to drive operational excellence and preserve profitability...



Asset Protection Specialist
Portland, OR - posted January 26

The Asset Protection Specialist is responsible for protecting the assets and teammates of Under Armour at the Portland office. Essential Duties & Responsibilities - Development and implementation of policies and procedures focused on maximizing physical security, access control, safety, emergency response, investigations, and minimizing theft and fraud...



District Asset Protection Manager
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As the District Asset Protection Manager you will lead administration of Asset Protection programs and training for an assigned district in order to drive sales, profits, and a customer service culture; Oversees AP Programs by providing leadership and guidance to Asset Protection teams and General Managers on methods to successfully execute programs in stores...



Regional Asset Protection Manager
Central US Remote (Dallas, Chicago, or Houston)
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The successful candidate will be responsible for the management of the Asset Protection function in their assigned area. Guide the implementation and training of Asset Protection programs, enforcement of policies and procedures, auditing, investigations and directing of shrink reduction efforts...



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Doral, FL - posted December 21

Responsible for managing asset protection programs designed to minimize shrink, associate and customer liability accidents, bad check and cash loss, and safety incidents for stores within assigned region. This position will develop the framework for the groups’ response to critical incidents, investigative needs, safety concerns and regulatory agency visits...

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Regional Loss Prevention and Safety Specialist
New York, NY - posted November 29

You will act as a coach, trainer, mentor, and enforcer to support the risk management program at Legends. Responsibilities can include, but are not limited to: Identify, develop, and implement improved loss prevention and safety measurements with risk management team; Conduct internal audits that have a focus on loss prevention, personal safety, and food safety, and help the team to effectively execute against company standards and requirements...



Safety Director (Retail Background Preferred)
Jacksonville, FL - posted November 3

This role is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing purpose-directed occupational safety and health programs designed to minimize the frequency and severity of customer and associate accidents, while complying with applicable regulatory requirements. This leader is the subject matter expert on all safety matters...

Corporate Risk Manager
Fort Myers, Miami, Tampa FL - posted October 5

Summary of Role and Responsibilities: A proactive approach to preventing losses/injuries, whether to our employees, third parties, or customer's valuables. They include but are not limited to cash in transit, auto losses, or injuries...
 



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When you think you've got your job mastered, think again. That's usually when something bad happens in one's career or company. If you reach that point, and most everyone does, it's time to reevaluate everything you're doing. Go on the hunt for new technology, new ideas, rewrite your program, take a fresh look at every aspect of your department. Maybe even bring in a consultant you don't know or have ties to, someone who will challenge you and debate with you and won't be there to merely confirm what you're doing and agree with your approach. But someone who will test you and force you to grow, someone who you may even be uncomfortable with. Get out of your comfort zone and have some fun!


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