Retail Crime Wave Has Proven that Stores Still Need the 'Human Touch'
'Some retailers have seen the wisdom of reinserting people back into the process.'

Opinion: Shoplifting, self-checkout and the limits of AI

A retail crime wave is a warning about the unintended consequences of automation

Retail executives have stopped using apocalyptic language and returned to talking about stock losses as “shrink”, as they had done for decades. Some retail chains are still closing locations — as they were before the pandemic — but they are talking mostly about improving performance and a lot less about crime.

But to the extent that theft did rise, the experience serves as a cautionary tale about the limits of automation even as a wider range of companies tout the cost-saving potential of artificial intelligence.

Many chain stores that reported unexpected jumps in shrinkage had ramped up use of self-checkout and sensors during the pandemic while reducing employee ranks at tills and on shop floors. Those measures cut labour bills and helped stores navigate post-pandemic worker shortages.

But the empty aisles and unmanned registers proved vulnerable to opportunistic pilfering and criminal gangs who found online marketplaces made it easy to dispose of ill-gotten goods.

AI hooked up to sensors and overhead cameras can now identify much of the cheating that goes on at checkout and flag up odd behaviour in the aisles that may signal theft. But stores still need people to deal with the miscreants, and the resulting confrontations can be unpleasant or dangerous.

Some retailers like Dollar General and Target have seen the wisdom of reinserting people back into the process by removing or modifying self-checkout. Chains are also hiring additional greeters, floor walkers and security guards to deter misbehaviour in the first place, while relying on technology to help identify which items and aisles are most in need of supervision.

Retailers have discovered the hard way that dealing with the public often requires the human touch. As other industries rush to use AI to cut their labour costs, it is a lesson they should ponder. ft.com


Progressive Backlash Against California's Retail Crime Crackdown
Democrats and Republicans have teamed up to fight theft - Progressives aren't happy

California Democrats anger progressive left, push harsher penalties for shoplifters amid rising crime
California Democrats appear to be backtracking on some soft-on-crime policies, according to a number of new bills introduced in the state legislature seeking harsher penalties for retail theft.

Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo, a Democrat from LA County and vice chair of the Legislative Progressive Caucus, introduced AB 1990, which would allow law enforcement to conduct arrests without a warrant for shoplifting. Officers would only need to have probable cause.

The bill, known as the Secured Transactions and Organized Theft Prevention (STOP) Act, would also make any theft of merchandise or property under $950 a misdemeanor, sparking the anger of progressive lawmakers who believe tough-on-crime policies will lead to overcrowded prisons as they did in the 1990s.

Carrillo's fellow progressive caucus member, Tina McKinnor, disagreed on social media, saying AB 1990 would be "bad for black and brown folks."

Some Republicans supported Carrillo's bill and signed on as co-authors. Republicans are also leading a grassroots effort to repeal Proposition 47, a 2014 ballot measure that relaxed penalties for thefts below $950 in value and drug possession to reduce overcrowding in jails.

Other bills making their way through the California legislature include SB 923, authored by Democratic Sen. Bob Archuleta, which would sentence shoplifters who have several prior convictions to up to three years in prison. It's part of the "Safer California Plan," a new public safety initiative spearheaded by Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire, also a Democrat.

The bill comes as blue cities are also embracing tough-on-crime policies. Lawmakers in San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and New York all have introduced legislation to tackle certain crimes like carjacking and theft plaguing the cities.

Last week, the Kansas legislature passed a bill that would classify organized retail crime a felony offense, joining nine other states that have passed similar laws in the last year.  yahoo.com


Overview of Retail Theft Bills Introduced Across California
Which of the retail theft bills do city leaders need to know about?
So far, the legislation broadly falls into four categories: organized retail theft, cross-jurisdictional issues, repeat offenders, enhanced penalties, and online resellers. But the biggest measure by far is AB 2943 (Rivas and Zbur), the main vehicle for comprehensive reform.

AB 2943 is just one of the many measures Cal Cities has provided feedback on. The others — listed below — are all supported by Cal Cities.

Organized retail theft and cross-jurisdictional issues

• AB 1802 (Jones-Sawyer) Crimes: Organized Theft
• AB 1972 (Alanis) Organized Retail Theft: Cargo
• AB 2406 (Davies) Crimes: Theft
• AB 2790 (Pacheco) Crimes: Organized Retail Theft
• SB 928 (Niello) Crimes: Organized Retail Theft

Additionally, AB 1779 (Irwin) would allow prosecutors to file charges for offenses committed in different counties. AB 1794 (McCarty) would allow prosecutors to aggregate multiple thefts with several victims.

Enhanced penalties and enforcement

As such, lawmakers have introduced several measures that would increase penalties for different retail theft-related actions. SB 1242 (Min) would create higher penalties for people who commit arson to attempt retail theft. SB 1416 (Newman) would enhance sentencing for professional organized retail theft, particularly large-scale resale. AB 1960 (Soria) would impose stiffer penalties for property loss or damage that occurred during a felony. Other key bills include:

• AB 1990 (Carrillo) Criminal Procedure: Arrests: Shoplifting
• AB 2438 (Petrie-Norris) Property Crimes: Enhancements
• AB 2814 (Low) Crimes: Unlawful Entry: Intent to Commit Package Theft

Legislators introduced several sentencing bills targeted specifically at repeat theft. Both AB 1772 (Ramos) and SB 923 (Archuleta) would reinstitute penalties for repeat theft eliminated by Prop. 47. If passed, the bills would go to voters for approval.

Online resellers and fencing stolen property bills: calcities.org


Florida's Tough Stance Against Retail Theft
Retail thieves face harsher penalties under new Florida bill
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is cracking down on retail theft, which has cost businesses over a billion dollars a year. He supports a bill that increases penalties, including a five-year minimum prison sentence for those caught taking merchandise without paying.

Senate Bill 824, filed by Sen. Blaise Ingoglia from Spring Hill, revises the minimum number of thefts required within a specified aggregation period to commit a specified violation for retail theft. It also prohibits someone from committing retail theft with a specific number of other persons when such a person uses social media to solicit others to take part in the scheme.

Naples Republican State Rep. Bon Rommel filed the House version of HB 549. The bill states that it's a third-degree felony to commit retail theft of over $750 with five or more individuals, a second-degree felony for criminals to use social media to solicit others to participate in retail theft, and a first-degree felony for individuals who commit retail theft with a firearm or who already have two or more prior convictions of retail theft.

Conspiring with another person to commit retail theft with the intent to sell the stolen property for more than $3,000 for monetary gain would become a second-degree felony, punishable by a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment.

Gov. DeSantis has signed the bill into law, which takes effect October 1. islandernews.com


Catch & Release: Thousands of Shoplifters Set Free
UK: Thousands of shoplifters still walking free after being detained, Co-op warns
Thousands of shoplifters are walking free after being detained by undercover guards in Co-op stores, as the retailer urged action to stop criminals viewing it as a crime without consequences. The firm said there had been some early signs of improvement since the Government stepped in to help crack down on a spike in retail crime.

But it comes after reporting the highest levels of shop crime last year with more than 335,000 cases of shoplifting, abuse, violence and anti-social behaviour across its food stores. Co-op said that specially trained undercover guards detained about 3,360 suspected criminals across its stores during 2023.

Earlier this year, it found police failed to attend in nearly four out of five cases where someone had been detained in its shops.

New data shows that since the Government introduced its Retail Crime Action Plan, non-attendance rates have improved but police are still failing to attend in three out of five cases, Co-op told the PA news agency.

It indicates that thousands of shoplifters are still walking free even after being caught by specialist security guards, which Co-op said sends the message that it is consequence-free crime. finance.yahoo.com


Another City Enacts Mandatory Business Security Cameras
Northeast Ohio city requiring security cameras outside all businesses
One Northeast Ohio city is requiring security cameras outside every business within city limits. Stores like the Diamond’s Men’s Store inside the Hilltop Plaza Shopping Center in Richmond Heights reacted to the news that the Richmond Heights was mandating cameras in area businesses. “I don’t mind it. It’s really more safe that way. So if we have shoplifters, we have some recourse,” said Jay Berkowitz, an employee.

According to Richmond Heights Police Chief Calvin Williams, city council passed the new ordinance last week. “It requires all businesses within city limits to have a camera at each entrance and exit as well as the parking lot,” said Williams. Williams said if police believe a crime has occurred, the business will be required to provide immediate access to the recordings.

“If they don’t cooperate, we have to get a search warrant. Luckily, we currently have an ordinance that requires apartment buildings to have cameras. This ordinance literally mirrors that to cover retail establishments,” said Williams.

Businesses have six months to comply and if they don’t, they could face fines and citations. The ordinance also states that each business will be responsible for purchasing and posting the cameras. fox8.com


Customers Charged for Security
Los Angeles, CA: Popular rooftop eatery in downtown L.A. charging customers security fee
Angelenos are used to seeing fees for gratuity and even healthcare on the restaurant bill, but a downtown Los Angeles rooftop eatery is now charging a fee for security. Considered an essential experience in rooftop dining, diners at Perch, which is on the 15th floor of the Pershing Square Building at Hill and 5th streets, may soon notice the 4.5% surcharge on their receipt. What's a little less normal, though, is that the security fee is not about protection from people outside the restaurant, rather it's protection from other patrons. "Us paying their security fee is crazy, if you think about it," Earnest Traylor said. "Are we actually paying for food or are we paying the bills to keep the business running?" Dill added.  ktla.com


Armed Walgreens Security Guard Harasses Customers
How many guns does a Walgreens ‘loss prevention officer’ need? A young woman is speaking out after a security guard accused her of shoplifting and followed her around the store.

And it happened right here in Washington state. Jack and Spike analyze the footage and discover a striking doppelganger for our beleaguered protector of the shampoos.  mynorthwest.com


California Black Caucus Members Clash Over Retail Theft Bill

Columbus Police Conclude Operation Unity, Yielding Significant Results