Oregon Moves One Step Closer to Passing New ORC Bills
Oregon Senate unanimously passes bills aimed at organized retail crime
On Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously passed a package of bills aimed at curtailing organized retail theft. The bills now head to the Senate floor.

“Oregon has become one of the most active states regarding organized retail crime and many retailers are reporting losing millions of dollars in loss per store location,” said Senator Tim Knopp, the sponsor of SB 900. “What you tolerate, you will get more of and we can no longer tolerate this.”

The amended SB 900 would establish a $5 million grant fund for law enforcement to support organized retail theft enforcement actions. More on Senate Bill 900 and the proposed amendment.

The amended Senate Bill 318 would allocate funding to the Department of Justice to fund positions tasked with investigating and prosecuting organized retail theft. The amount the bill would fund is yet to be determined. More on Senate Bill 318 and proposed amendments.

The amended Senate Bill 340 would make several policy changes to the Oregon criminal code to ensure retailers and law enforcement have the necessary tools to detect, deter, and hold those who commit organized retail theft accountable. It also addresses employee safety when concerning organized retail theft groups. More on Senate Bill 340 and the proposed amendment.

Members of the Oregon Organized Retail Crime Task Force released statements following the passage of the bills.

“Organized Retail Crime is one of the most pressing and fastest-growing issues for grocery stores in Oregon right now,” said Amanda Dalton, the Northwest Grocery Association President. “In the past year our members have seen incidents double and ORC suspects have become brazen and dangerous, putting the safety of customers and employees at risk.”

“This is not petty theft!” said Jeremy Girard, President of the Organized Retail Crime Association of Oregon. “Our loss prevention officers are dealing with dangerous organized crime rings. Our recommended legislative package provides critical tools to businesses, prosecutors, and law enforcement that will aid in addressing organized retail crime.” kptv.com


NY Crime Data: Property Crime Up 24% in 2022
Overall crime index spiked 21%, while shootings & murders decreased

Governor Hochul Details Statewide Crime Data, Highlights Need for Public Safety Investments and Reforms in FY 2024 Budget

Common-Sense Bail Proposal to Eliminate Confusion in Conflicting Laws and Hold Repeat Offenders and Violent Criminals Accountable

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced new statewide crime data and highlighted the need for public safety investments and reforms included in her Fiscal Year 2024 budget.

During a speech at the Capitol, the Governor outlined her $491.9 million investment in proven strategies to address and prevent gun crime and violence, reduce recidivism, and help the criminal justice system continue to rebound from pandemic-era disruptions.

Overall index crime increased 21 percent: violent crime (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault), 10 percent, and property crime (burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft), 24 percent, during the same timeframe.

Shooting incidents with injury declined 17 percent in New York City and 15 percent in the 20 communities that report gun violence data to the state when comparing last year to 2021, and those incidents continued to decline in early 2023.

The number of reported murders declined 11 percent statewide in last year, with 94 fewer individuals killed, and while overall index crime increased 21 percent, those numbers are nowhere near those seen in three decades ago. Governor Hochul also made the case for her common-sense proposal to remove the "least restrictive" standard the state's bail law, which is key to restoring judicial discretion and holding accountable those who continually reoffend and commit violent crimes.  governor.ny.gov


'Many of America's Downtowns' are Under Attack - It's Going to "Wash Over & Affect the Suburbs"

2,300 Businesses Have Left Downtown Seattle Since 2020
“Santa Monica Is NOT safe. Crime … Depravity … Outdoor mental asylum.”

Homeless encampments overwhelm Phoenix businesses
Arizona is facing one of the worst homelessness crises, federal data shows. Madison Street has become the center of one of the largest homeless encampments in the country.

Rampant homelessness in Phoenix, Arizona, is impacting small businesses, who are struggling to stay afloat amid the homeless encampments.

“I think that you would find throughout the country an endemic if not an epidemic of of homelessness related to economic issues as they affect small businesses in downtown areas, the issues that are impacting and even influencing cities are going to wash over and affect suburbs,” said historian Chet Orloff.

Arizona is facing one of the worst homelessness crises in the U.S., according to a report released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The December 2022 report shows while national numbers for homelessness remained mostly stable since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Arizona saw a 23% jump in its homeless population.

For the last three years, as an epidemic of unsheltered homelessness began to overwhelm Phoenix and many other major American downtowns. Cities across the West had been transformed by a housing crisis, a mental health crisis and an opioid epidemic, all of which landed at the doorsteps of small businesses already reaching a breaking point because of the pandemic. In Seattle, more than 2,300 businesses had left downtown since the beginning of 2020. A group of fed up small-business owners in Santa Monica, Calif., had hung a banner on the city’s promenade that read: “Santa Monica Is NOT safe. Crime … Depravity … Outdoor mental asylum.” And in Phoenix, where the number of people living on the street had more than tripled since 2016, businesses had begun hiring private security firms to guard their property and lawyers to file a lawsuit against the city for failing to manage “a great humanitarian crisis.”

In Phoenix police were called to an average of eight incidents a day in 2022. There were at least 1,097 calls for emergency medical help, 573 fights or assaults, 236 incidents of trespassing, 185 fires, 140 thefts, 125 armed robberies, 13 sexual assaults and four homicides. Fire Department and ambulance responders have been attacked and assaulted so many times they now require police escorts to respond to the encampment areas.

More than 1,250 homeless people had died in Maricopa County in the last two years, including hundreds from drug overdoses or heat exposure. Other nearby property owners had started calling the neighborhood Death Row. nytimes.com newsnationnow.com


Safeway Says; “Rampant shoplifting on the rise at alarming levels at retailers throughout California
FOX40 News Crew Attacked By Shoplifter While Investigating Thefts

CRA Responds: Employees at Fair Oaks Safeway say routine theft also causing them to feel unsafe
An employee from Safeway in Fair Oaks said the conditions at their store are similar to the Howe Avenue location that allegedly has routine theft.

The employee contacted FOX40 and said he is also concerned about the safety and security at their location on Madison Avenue and Dewey Drive.

“Every night we’re stressed thinking about: ‘OK, what’s the issue going to be tonight?’ You just know something’s going to happen,” the employee said, who asked to be referred to as Joey. “Almost every night, there’s an incident where we have to contact the police or ask for security.”

Employees from Madison Avenue said corporate isn’t doing enough to keep them safe from suspected thieves, who they say, consistently steal in bulk from their business.

“There’s violent behavior, where people are throwing things. Not just stealing but unstable people throwing things, like alcohol bottles, food and furniture, and just destroying the displays, things like that,” Joey said.

And the violence grew last month.

Employees told FOX40 their coworkers were attacked by a couple of people attempting to steal after they asked them to leave.

“One of them proceeded to attack two workers, punching them, causing physical harm and injury. And the police were called. There was a police report filed,” Joey said.

“Retailers are taking matters into their own hands and they’re hiring more security and taking more proactive measures which we applaud, but we don’t want that to happen at the risk of their safety as well,” Sgt. Amar Gandhi, with Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, said.

FOX40 News Crew Confronted Twice & Rushed By Shoplifter Counterpart

FOX40 went to Safeway on Madison saw many people go into the store and then walk out including one man who left with what looked like a full backpack. His counterpart confronted our reporter and photographer. At one point, the man rushed the car with what appeared to be a weapon in hand.

Our team quickly drove out of the parking lot but was followed a few blocks away. The same man got out of his vehicle and confronted our photographer at his driver’s window.

The FOX40 team quickly did a U-turn and dialed 911 for help. The man stayed behind at a red light. Deputies later searched for the driver but didn’t find him.

A statement from Safeway reads in part, “Rampant shoplifting continues to be on the rise at alarming levels at retailers throughout California. We have increased our investments in security measures in stores throughout Northern California to help combat this ongoing issue.”

“We are committed to working to identify effective solutions to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for our customers and associates,” the statement continues.

CRA President and CEO Rachel Michelin:

Retail theft is not unique to Safeway or the area. The California Retailers Association said it’s been an ongoing problem and the work to improve conditions is in progress.

“For over two year, California retailers, through the California Retailers Association, have pleaded to Sacramento policy makers to work with us to deter the rampant serial theft we see increasing due to changes under Proposition 47, which allows individuals to steal up to $950, multiple times, without any real consequence.

There is no one single fix to this growing problem – we all must work together on solutions that protect our hard working retail employees, provide safe shopping experiences for our customers and ensure our neighborhoods are safe and thriving.”  fox40.com


Theft Hits Record Level Across the Pond
Local Shops report record levels of theft over last year

New figures from the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) have revealed record levels of shop theft being committed against convenience retailers over the last year.

ACS’ Voice of Local Shops survey of over 1200 independent retailers has shown that the ‘theft index’ (the net percentage of retailers saying that theft has increased in their business) has reached a record level of +26, compared to a previous high of +25 in May 2012. 63% of independent retailers reported that theft in their businesses had either increased (35%) or stayed the same (28%) over the last year, with just 9% reporting a decrease in levels of shop theft.

The ACS Voice of Local Shops Survey has been tracking levels of shop theft since the start of 2012. The theft index had been reasonably steady from 2016 through to early 2021, but has since gradually risen to now record highs.

ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “We are extremely concerned about the continued increase in theft levels in local shops. Retailers tell us that the vast majority of incidents are committed by repeat offenders, usually well known in the area, that are stealing high value items like meat, coffee, alcohol and household/beauty products to then sell on, either as part of an organised crime group or to fund a substance addiction.

Across the UK, London retailers are the worst affected, with 48% of retailers surveyed saying that theft has increased over the last year. This compares to 28% of retailers in the North East who reported an increase in theft, the lowest of any UK region.

Figures from the ACS 2022 Crime Report show that convenience stores spent over £246m in the previous year on crime prevention measures like CCTV, security staff and alarm systems.

Retail trade union Usdaw is deeply concerned by the new figures from ACS which, it said, add to evidence from police recorded crime statistics showing increases in shoplifting over the last year, ending a decade-long downward trend. talkingretail.com


Walmart Closes Another Store in a Crime 'Hotspot'
Walmart closing in Brooklyn Center, another retail departure in the north metro

Walmart's departure is the second major retailer to leave Brooklyn Center after the Target store a few blocks north closed in 2019.

The north metro is losing another major retailer. On Tuesday, Walmart announced it will close its superstore in the Shingle Creek Crossing shopping center in Brooklyn Center on April 21, a major blow to customers in need of cheap and convenient groceries and other household necessities.

The north Minneapolis Aldi grocery store that shuttered last month.

On Tuesday, signs posted on the sliding front doors of the store were the only warning to shoppers the neighborhood resource would soon close. Employees at the store said they heard earlier that day of the closing.

Walmart's departure is just the latest major retailer to leave Brooklyn Center. In 2019, Target closed its store a few blocks to the north across from the Brookdale Library. The nearby Sears store closed in 2018.

While Walmart representatives didn't mention public safety concerns as a reason for closing the Brooklyn Center store, the shopping area surrounding the Walmart has been called "a hotspot for crime," Brooklyn Center Police Chief Kellace McDaniel said last month. He made the comment as the city rolled out its first mobile camera trailer and planned to park it in the shopping center's parking lot.

Walmart owns the Brooklyn Center property and will evaluate it for a new use at a later date, the company said. In recent months, Walmart has announced closures in other states including a store in Milwaukee. startribune.com


Security Concerns Remain as NYC Awaits Trump Indictment
Trump's calls to "PROTEST, PROTEST, PROTEST' haven't materialized - yet

Trump Indictment Watch: NYC on Edge as Manhattan Grand Jury Reconvenes

Trump has urged his supporters to "PROTEST, PROTEST, PROTEST" in NYC days ago when he declared he expected to be arrested this week.

After an off day Tuesday, and all eyes are on Manhattan and its district attorney. It's not known when the grand jury hearing the evidence plans to meet again.

It's unclear if any potential organized actions could intensify if the grand jury does in fact opt to indict Trump, which would be the first indictment of a sitting or former U.S. president in history, but with the pall of the Jan. 6 insurrection still looming large, the NYPD, and its law enforcement partners at all levels of government, are preparing accordingly.

NYPD officers of every rank were ordered to wear their uniforms and prepare for deployment starting Tuesday, according to an internal memo obtained by News 4.

The memo, sent by the commanding officer of the NYPD's operations division, instructed all uniformed service members to be mindful of protocol around public disorder and be prepared for mobilization at any time while on duty.

Law enforcement sources said intel teams are closely monitoring social media for protests, including intentional acts to slow down traffic or disrupt daily life across the city. Thus far, nothing of the sort has taken place in the city.

The police department, Secret Service, court officers and FBI continue to meet to discuss security. Two senior officials said the Secret Service has yet to do a security review of the 100 Centre Street courthouse where Trump could face a judge if he is indicted. Entrances, booking areas, hallways, courtroom, surrounding streets and more would be included in that kind of advanced security review, which would only be done if and/or when a potential indictment comes down. nbcnewyork.com


Youths have become the faces of some of the violent crimes in Shreveport
Another city is seeing more violent crime driven by young people with access to guns

Rise in violent crime, overdose deaths pushes LAPD to re-think safety strategies

To reduce adult crime, invest more in early childhood education

FRT - The #1 Biometric Modality & Has the Strongest Momentum
Facing the Future With Biometrics

More businesses are becoming aware of biometrics for identification and access control — and security professionals who help educate them will reap the benefits.

Business adoption of biometrics in access control and identification is at a major turning point right now. Big-name companies, major airlines and retailers — not to mention government and law enforcement — are using some form of biometrics, which is raising awareness around how the technology can help end users streamline operations, increase security and ultimately save money.

The growing use of biometrics and biometrics as a service (BaaS) is expected to reach $51.6 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 12.4 percent during the forecast period of 2022 to 2029, according to analysts Meticulous Research.

A few recent high-profile examples include American Airlines using facial recognition biometrics; Disney theme parks implementing biometric fingerprint scanners; and Amazon incrementally rolling out its Amazon One palm scanning payment technology at Whole Foods retail locations across the country.

“Biometrics have been enthusiastically supported in many consumer applications in which the benefits for security and convenience are clear and adoption is generally increasing,” says Jake Parker, senior director of government relations at the Security Industry Association (SIA), Silver Spring, Md. Recent public opinion research commissioned by SIA finds that more than 70 percent of American adults support the use of facial recognition by airlines, for airport security, banking and financial transactions, and to secure workplaces, he says.