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Genetec to highlight the
benefits of a connected store at RILA
Genetec is showcasing its latest innovations at the Retail Asset
Protection Conference April 30-May 1 (booth #801)
At
booth (#801) Genetec
will show the latest innovations for
Genetec Security Center, a unified security platform that combines all of a
retailer’s data points from the video management system (VMS), access control
system (ACS), automatic license plate recognition (ALPR), intrusion monitoring,
intercom, and more, along with other business systems and IoT devices, in one
intuitive interface. It helps retailers tap into the full potential of devices
and equipment they already own, using data in new ways to do more with less.
Highlights will include demonstrations of the solution resulting from the
recently-announced
collaboration between Genetec and
Axis Communications
-- the industry’s first enterprise-level access control offering that combines
Genetec access control software with Axis network door controllers in a single,
all-in-one offering.
Genetec is also showcasing
Streamvault Edge, a line of innovative connected appliances that help
retailers modernize their physical security infrastructure while still
leveraging their investment in existing sensors. It essentially enables them to
migrate their physical security systems to a hybrid-cloud architecture
gradually.
Learn more about RILA's AP Conference & register
here
The U.S. Crime Surge
The Retail Impact
Organized Retail Crime Has Reached 'Epidemic
Levels'
America's theft surge continues to make national
headlines
Retail Theft – Its Impact Is Far Reaching And Very Costly
Here are some facts according to
NRF Vice President of Asset
Protection and Retail Operations David Johnston.
1.
Retail theft is a serious, widespread problem. A daily review of
national and local news highlights that the situation has reached an
epidermic level. And, it has gone beyond individual theft to become a more
organized operation. Shoplifting is no longer an invisible act of concealing
merchandise – brazen scofflaws are openly stealing from national retailers and
local businesses. Some retailers are curtailing their hours or even closing
their doors due to theft. These criminal acts are beyond a by-product of a
challenging economy or mental health concerns. The frequency, scale, and
number of people stealing tells a different story.
2. Stolen items are not for personal use.
Shoplifting to resell stolen merchandise is now part of an organized retail
crime enterprise. Shoplifters might be stealing in order to enjoy a
financial windfall or feed an addiction; they are selling the products to a
fencing operation, pawn shop, or other illicit businesses for cash or drugs,
etc.
3. Widespread retail theft impacts the customer
experience. When items are unavailable for purchase, frustration
mounts and consumers lose confidence in their local retailers. Worse,
reduced store hours or store closings due to theft
inconvenience shoppers and force some to travel farther for everyday needs.
4. Retailers understand the impact on their business
and have been forced to act. Retail executives, asset protection
personnel, and store associates fully recognize the impact retail theft has on
their business, customers, and the industry. In response, businesses are
incurring new costs, revising their operations, and developing new strategies
to deal with customer service issues.
5. Communities must respond to the issue.
Public leaders are feeling the pressure because these thefts affect both bottom
lines and public safety. Some states have begun to re-structure and/or enact
new laws or create tasks forces to go after these criminal groups.
6. It will take a “whole community approach” to
resolve. Retailers must continue working with law enforcement and
communities to provide data, report incidents, and support investigations.
Law enforcement must partner with the retail industry across communities to
target and capture those coordinating and leading these organized enterprises.
forbes.com
San Francisco's Crime 'Doom Loop'
Closure of Whole Foods means prospect of S.F. ‘doom loop’ is now ‘more doomy’
Its abrupt temporary closure on Monday was another sign of San Francisco’s
persistent public safety and economic challenges, fueling more criticism of
city leaders and headlines around the world about the city’s crime woes for the
second straight week.
Whole
Foods cited the safety of workers as the reason for the closure, and Supervisor
Matt Dorsey said Monday that the store was hit by
“drug-related retail theft, adjacent drug markets, and the many safety issues
related to them.”
As nearby Mid-Market office buildings empty out — Uber, Block and Reddit have
left or plan to leave the neighborhood this year, and Twitter has laid off more
than two-thirds of its staff — residential and retail activity is
increasingly important for the area’s economic vitality. Whole Foods’ closure
and its uncertain future — the company did not say when the store could reopen —
is another worrying sign.
“Doom loop just got slightly more doomy,” Arpit Gupta, a New York
University professor who co-wrote a paper on potential urban death spirals,
posted on Twitter in reaction to the closure.
San Francisco Police Department crime data for the Tenderloin Station area,
which includes the Mid-Market Whole Foods location, shows an increase in
assaults and motor vehicle thefts over the past two years. Burglaries spiked
in the first two years of the pandemic, mirroring citywide trends, but have
fallen below 2019 levels in recent months. However, police officials have said
at past public hearings that retail crime and
shoplifting is underreported.
Crime is also a major challenge for the Market, a grocery store located
in the Twitter headquarters building two blocks west of Whole Foods.
“We are concerned about safety. We have private security. It’s still very
unpleasant,” owner Chris Foley said.
The double whammy of remote work and theft led to a plunge in revenue
during the pandemic, and the Market cut its hours and closed on weekends.
Foley said that the Market will continue to stay open. He hopes more companies
and government workers come back to the office more often.
“Downtown S.F. looks like a zombie apocalypse. People who’ve not been
there have no idea,” Twitter’s owner Elon Musk wrote on the social media
platform Monday.
sfchronicle.com
Congressional Hearing Targets Progressive DA's
Crime Approach
Bodega clerk Jose Alba among Bragg ‘victims’ at House Judiciary hearing
New
York City
bodega clerk Jose Alba will be among the witnesses who testify next week
about District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s performance at a special House
Judiciary Committee “field hearing” near the DA’s Lower Manhattan office.
Alba, then 61, was charged by Bragg’s office with
second-degree murder last year after he fatally stabbed ex-con Austin
Simon, 35, who attacked Alba while he worked inside
a Harlem shop.
Bragg ultimately dropped the case against Alba amid public outcry,
determining that surveillance footage showed he acted in self-defense — but
not before Alba was locked up on Rikers Island for several days.
Alba moved back to the Dominican Republic after being traumatized by the
experience, sources told The Post. He reportedly is
planning to sue Bragg for wrongfully prosecuting him.
The committee indicated that additional witnesses may join the unusual hearing,
which targets Bragg’s approach to crime after the DA indicted former
President Donald Trump on charges linked to 2016 hush-money payments. Trump is
the first former president to face criminal charges.
Before bringing charges against Trump, Bragg, an elected Democrat, downgraded
the severity of charges against many offenders — and Republicans announced
Monday they would spotlight Bragg’s “victims” with the field hearing on his home
turf.
In the first 11 months of his DA tenure, Bragg
downgraded 52% of felony cases to misdemeanors. When felony charges
were brought, his office won a conviction just 51% of the time.
nypost.com
Employees & Customers Fuel Workplace Attacks
Advice on How to Deal with Workplace Shootings
Companies should have procedures for
employees to report (including anonymously) concerns in the workplace, threats
and acts of violence.
As
the nation mourns with the employees of Old National Bank in Louisville where
one employee shot five others, we again ask ourselves what could have been
done.
In an
article on PBS, James Densley, professor of criminal justice at Metropolitan
State University in DePaul, Minnesota and co-founder of
The Violence
Project, made this observation. “We have built an industry around how to
lock bad guys out. We have heavily invested in physical security measures
like metal detectors, cameras and armed security guards. But too often in
workplace shootings, this is someone who already has access to the building.”
And the numbers bear this out as a recent study of mass shootings between 2016
and 2020 found that about half of all attacks were
perpetrated at businesses, many by employees or customers.
How can companies address this? An
article by Christina Jepson, of Parson Behle & Latimer, says a company's
anti-violence policy should also contain policies that address other subjects
including:
-
The company’s right to conduct background checks to ascertain any patterns
of violence in applicants’ backgrounds
-
Mental health support for employees
-
Resources for employees who are involved in a violent incident
-
A
zero-tolerance anti-violence policy
-
Disciplinary procedures for employees who violate the anti-violence policy
-
Workplace dispute mediation
-
Procedures for employees to report (including anonymously) concerns in the
workplace, threats and acts of violence (including no retaliation policies)
-
Procedures for employees to comfortably report domestic violence and
protective orders so employers can enact a safety plan
-
Procedures for when law enforcement should be contacted
-
The company’s right to search employees’ personal storage areas, such as
desks and lockers
-
The company’s right to conduct regular on-site inspections
-
A
communication policy that informs employees their workplace email and
messaging is subject to monitoring
-
Employee surveys to analyze and address existing safety concerns and threats
-
A
threat management team
-
Training employees for an active shooter situation and other violent
situations
Over the past few years, EHS Today has looked at this issue from a variety
of angles and here are some of the articles:
•
SLC 2022 Mitigating Workplace Violence
•
Active Shooter Survival
•
Workplace Violence and Mass Shootings
•
Indicators of Workplace Violence
ehstoday.com
Deep Dive Into Federal Law to Crack Down on
Theft & Online Selling
New Law Requires Greater Transparency for Online Consumer Marketplaces
On December 29, 2022, President Biden signed into law the INFORM Consumers Act
("the Act") as Title III of the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, which provides federal appropriations
for the remainder of the 2023 fiscal year.[1] The Act, which takes effect June
27, 2023, imposes data collection, disclosure, and other requirements on online
consumer marketplaces that host "high-volume" third-party sellers in order to
"combat the online sale of stolen, counterfeit, and dangerous consumer
products."
Greater transparency should "help deter the online sale of counterfeit goods by
anonymous sellers and prevent organized retail crime
rings from stealing items from stores to resell those items in bulk
online."[5]
Who does the INFORM Consumers Act apply to?
The Act applies to "online marketplaces" that facilitate "high-volume
third-party sellers." An "online marketplace" as defined in the Act is a
person or entity, regardless of its size or revenue, that operates a
"consumer-directed electronically based or accessed platform" that (A) includes
features that facilitate or enable third-party sellers to sell, purchase, pay,
store, ship or deliver consumer products in the United States; (B)
third-party sellers use for such purposes; and (C) has a contractual
relationship with consumers governing their use of the platform to purchase
consumer products.[6]
How must online marketplaces comply?
1. Collect high-volume third-party seller information.
2. Keep collected information current and verified.
3. Maintain data security measures.
4. Make disclosures to consumers.
How is the INFORM Consumers Act enforced?
The FTC may investigate violations of and enforce the INFORM Consumers Act
by the same means and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as are
granted to it through the Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC Act). Violations of
the requirements to collect, verify, and disclose information on sellers would
be an unfair or deceptive act or practice in violation of section 18(a)(1)(B) of
the FTC Act. Unless the FTC has already brought an action, state attorneys
general may also bring a civil action in federal court to enjoin further
violations, enforce compliance, obtain civil penalties or other remedies
permitted under state law, and obtain damages or other compensation on behalf of
state residents, with notice to the FTC and an opportunity to intervene.
jdsupra.com
80% of Americans Believe Shoplifting is a
'Problem'
Exclusive: New survey reveals consumer attitudes on shoplifting
Results from a new survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers from YouGov that have been
exclusively released to Chain Store Age show that a combined 80% of
respondents believe shoplifting is either a very (43%) or somewhat (37%) serious
problem in the U.S.
While two-thirds (67%) of respondents believe shoplifting is never acceptable,
4% say it is always acceptable and 19% say it can be acceptable under certain
circumstances.
Security issues
Respondents were also asked a number of questions relating to security around
shoplifting. Close to half (49%) think store employees should be required to
intervene if a shoplifter has no weapon, although that number drops to 35%
if a shoplifter is unarmed but threatening employees and only 20% in the case of
an armed shoplifter.
Slightly more than half (51%) of respondents have reported or confronted a
shoplifter. More than eight in 10 (82%) have been to a store where many
products are kept locked behind security cases to reduce the risk of being
stolen.
While about seven in 10 (69%) respondents think keeping products locked
behind security cases reduces the risk of theft, 44% say it makes the shopping
experience worse. One in five think security cases make the shopping
experience better, while 29% say it makes no difference.
One in 10 respondents admitted to having shoplifted at least once as an
adult aged 16 or older. The leading reason was not being able to pay (51%), but
20% wanted to make money reselling the item and 22% did it for the thrill.
chainstoreage.com
Wichita and Derby report sharp increases in thefts, shoplifting
Portland PD begins 24/7 foot patrols at open-air fentanyl market
Union Scare Tactics at Apple Stores
Nationwide?
Apple reportedly held anti-union meetings at all of its US stores
Some workers described the gatherings as a "scare tactic."
Apple
appears to have taken its most aggressive step yet to warn its retail employees
against unionizing. According to
Bloomberg, the company recently held meetings at all of its roughly
270 stores across the United States meant to “discuss the risks of
unionization.” The tone of the gatherings was “consistent” across Apple’s
retail footprint. Managers reportedly opened with a prepared statement from
corporate leadership before turning to the state of union negotiations in
Towson, Maryland, the location of the company’s
first unionized store in the US.
According to Bloomberg, Apple management cast the election at Towson,
and the
slow progress workers at the store have made toward securing a collective
bargaining agreement “as a bit of a cautionary tale.” Managers leaned on
talking points that criticized union dues and the unionization process,
including the collection of authorization cards. “While Apple didn’t say it, the
underlying message to the company’s tens of thousands of retail employees: if
your store unionizes, you may be at a disadvantage,” according to
Bloomberg.
Bloomberg suggests some employees saw the meetings as a “scare tactic”
and an attempt to “pour cold water on the idea” of unionization. Last May,
Apple Store employees in Atlanta
accused the company of subjecting them to anti-union captive audience
meetings. For decades, companies were allowed to hold such gatherings until 24
hours before a union election begins. In 2022, however, National Labor Relations
Board general counsel Jennifer Abruzzo claimed captive audience meetings were a
violation of the National Labor Relations Act.
engadget.com
50K+ Stores Closures by 2027?
More than 50K stores may close by 2027: UBS
Retailers closed more stores in 2022 than they
opened
Slowing
consumer spending, reduced availability of credit and rising penetration of
e-commerce may contribute to the closure of 50,000 retail stores by 2027,
UBS analysts led by Michael Lasser said in a report published Tuesday. That
forecast is based on the assumption that 25% of online orders will be fulfilled
by a retail store by 2027, up from 15% now.
If online penetration reaches 28-29% with 2.5% retail sales growth, up to
130,000 stores could close. Although that estimate is down from
what UBS forecasted in 2021, with less access to capital needed to
invest in omnichannel, smaller retail chains are most at risk of closing, the
analysts said.
Retailers closed more stores than they opened in 2022, reversing a trend in
2021 that saw about 11,000 net stores added to the U.S. retail sector’s
brick-and-mortar footprint. That trend is likely to continue “as a tough macro
backdrop and shift in spending away from goods forces closures at smaller,
undifferentiated retailers,” the analysts said.
retaildive.com
Fallout from Walmart's Chicago Closures
(Update) Walmart's plan to abruptly close 4 Chicago stores slammed as
'unethical' and 'unceremoniously abandoning these neighborhoods'
Elected officials said that the decision to close the stores "worsens food
deserts" in the area.
Walmart's decision to shutter four Chicago stores has drawn ire of elected
officials representing the Windy City. In a rare press release on April 11
announcing store closures, Walmart said bluntly that these stores "have not
been profitable since we opened the first one nearly 17 years ago."
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a statement she was "incredibly
disappointed" by the decision. "Unceremoniously abandoning these
neighborhoods will create barriers to basic needs for thousands of residents,"
Lightfoot said. "While near-term arrangements will be made for workers, I fear
that many will find that their long-term opportunities have been significantly
diminished."
Illinois' layoff law — broader in scope than the federal WARN Act — requires
many large employers to provide 60 calendar days' notice before a location
closure that is expected to result in 75 or more job losses. Walmart
typically does file advance notice where required.
Local lawmakers meanwhile have expressed alarm over the swift closures — Walmart
is shutting the stores five days after its announcement — and the impact on
communities where shoppers rely on Walmart for everyday essentials.
businessinsider.com
Will Employees or Employers Win the Remote
Work Battle?
Employers want everyone back in the office — for real this time
The power, once in the hands of workers with lots of options, is shifting
back to employers, Challenger said, especially in industries with more
layoffs and fewer openings.
Julia Pollak, an economist at ZipRecruiter, said most companies don’t like
fully remote work because studies show that, generally, candidates who
tend to apply for those jobs are less productive.
“People who want to moonlight or want to smoke pot all day or watch movies while
working or whatever,” she said.
Workers in
hybrid environments have the highest productivity levels because it allows
for face-to-face meetings without the taxing daily commute. And Pollak said
companies that list hybrid jobs get the most applicants.
marketplace.org
Juul Reaches $462 Million Settlement With New York, California and Other States
The case ends major litigation over claims of
marketing e-cigarettes to adolescents, resolving thousands of lawsuits and
amounting to billions of dollars in payouts to states, cities and people.
Updated list of Walmart's 2023 store closures
JLL: Restaurant sales top $1 trillion in 2022
The list of oldest malls in every state
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Target's Cybersecurity Approach Balances
Security & Convenience
How Target approaches identity and access management
Designing an identity and access management
system that provides a good user experience while preventing unauthorized access
is a critical responsibility.
The
FBI and international law enforcement seizure
last week of Genesis Market, a cybercrime marketplace that facilitated
the purchase and sale of data that allowed threat actors to impersonate
legitimate users, exemplifies the high-level risk posed by digital identities
and how they can be exploited for nefarious activities.
Designing an identity and access management system that provides a good
user experience while preventing unauthorized access is a critical
responsibility for cybersecurity professionals. Balancing those requirements is
a tricky proposition fraught with challenges.
Target and other organizations addressed the importance
of IAM to mark the third annual Identity Management Day, which was
created to boost awareness among business leaders, IT professionals and
individuals.
“We believe that considering security versus convenience doesn’t have to be a
trade-off for our teams as we are developing solutions,”
Tom Sheffield, senior director of cyber solutions at
Target, said in a
blog post published Monday.
The use of biometrics, which Target uses in its single
sign-on program, can achieve security and simplicity together instead
of competing with one another, Sheffield said.
“It’s not a trade-off,” Sheffield said. “It’s magnifying both the
security and the user experience simultaneously to increase the value
delivered instead of needing to promote one over the other.”
Adoption is the most important measure of success, and to hit that goal
it’s important to consider the user’s perspective as much as the cybersecurity
benefits that will be gained, according to Sheffield.
Target also adheres to FIDO standards for authentication, which Sheffield
describes as “phishing resistant, cryptographically backed and significantly
stronger than a password.”
Sheffield prescribes many of the same recommendations at Target, including the
use of multifactor authentication and unique, strong passwords across
every site.
Target has made multiple changes to improve its security posture during the
last decade. The retailer suffered a data breach in 2013 that exposed
financial records on more than 41 million customers.
cybersecuritydive.com
No Company is Fully Safe from Cyberattacks
Cyberattacks hit almost all companies last year, Sophos says
A constant barrage of malicious activity has
organizations reeling, negatively impacting their ability to strategize or
accomplish IT projects.
Cyberattacks aren’t a roll of the dice for organizations, but rather a near
certainty. Almost all organizations, 94%, experienced a cyberattack of some
form during the last year, according to
research Sophos released Tuesday.
All companies should assume they will be a target in
2023, researchers warned.
This constant barrage of malicious activity has organizations reeling. Most
businesses are confronting threats that are too advanced to deal with internally,
and a majority report cyberthreats negatively impact their ability to accomplish
IT projects or dedicate time to strategic issues.
“Many organizations are overwhelmed and struggling to accomplish both routine
operational tasks and strategic initiatives,” John Shier, field CTO of
commercial at Sophos, said via email. “This manifests itself in organizations
that are reactive and unable to improve their situation because they are
constantly on the back foot.”
Nearly all respondents, 93%, said essential security operations tasks remain
challenging and only half of security alerts are investigated.
Three-quarters of respondents reported difficulty identifying the root cause of
cyberattacks.
“It’s not so much that security controls are failing, though for some that might
be the case, but rather the overall system not operating,” Shier said. “Like
many complex systems, security infrastructure requires many layers operating
together with redundancies applied throughout.”
The top five cyberthreats of concern to IT and cybersecurity leaders surveyed
include: data theft, phishing, ransomware, extortion,
and DDoS attacks. Just 1% said they’re not concerned about any
cyberthreats affecting their organization this year.
cybersecuritydive.com
CISA's 'Secure by Design' Principles
On heels of US cyber strategy, CISA set to release secure by design principles
CISA Director Jen Easterly said the agency
plans to release the principles this week to encourage more safe coding
practices.
The
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency plans to release its secure
by design principles this week to encourage the adoption of safe coding
practices, which are a core part of the Biden administration’s recently
released
national cybersecurity strategy.
The document isn’t meant to be the “Holy Grail” on secure by design, said CISA
Director Jen Easterly during the CrowdStrike Government Summit in Washington on
Tuesday, but it’s an important step when it comes to “shifting the burden to
software companies from individual users and small businesses” when it comes to
cybersecurity.
The secure by design approach to building software products isn’t a new
idea but it is gaining more traction. Before the release of the national
cybersecurity strategy, Easterly and Eric Goldstein, CISA’s assistant director
for cybersecurity, wrote an op-ed calling on software vendors to “stop
passing the buck on cybersecurity.” Easterly also made the case for
secure by design during a speech at a recent Carnegie Mellon University
event, where she called for three “core
principles” for technology manufacturers.
At the CrowdStrike summit, Easterly repeated those principals for software
vendors, which are: take ownership of security outcomes for their customers,
provide “radical transparency” to their customers, and improving design quality
in product by focusing on building safe products. “It’s incredibly important
that we now focus on ensuring that the software that powers our lives is secure
by design and secure by default,” she said.
One early implementation of secure by design comes from the Department of
Energy’s
cyber informed engineering strategy, a framework aimed at including
cybersecurity in engineering practices.
cyberscoop.com
RELATED: CISA to unveil secure-by-design principles
this week
Gartner: Human-Centric Design Is Top Cybersecurity Trend for 2023
In order to reduce cybersecurity risks and failures,
organizations will need to focus on employees, management, and new operating
models.
Cyber threat intelligence programs: Still crazy after all these years
Organizations are spending on threat intelligence,
but ESG research reveals CTI may not be getting a good return on investment.
1M+ WordPress Sites Hacked via Zero-Day Plug-in Bugs |
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It's that time of the year again - time for
the NJ Cannabis Insider Live 2023 Awards!
We'd greatly appreciate if you would nominate
Sapphire Risk Advisory
Group for an award in the categories of "Excellence in Consultancy:
Compliance, Security Planning and Insurance," and "Excellence in Consultancy:
Application Development".
You can
vote daily now through April 17!
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'Unchecked Retail Theft' Hitting Cannabis
Businesses in SF
S.F. cannabis merchants say they're the latest victims of retail theft — and
they want police to help
Business owners gathered Thursday to highlight a recent spate of
burglaries and the kidnapping of a dispensary worker
San
Francisco cannabis merchants reeling from a spate of burglaries — one of which
involved the kidnapping of a dispensary worker — made an impassioned plea to law
enforcement Thursday, describing themselves as the latest victims of
unchecked retail theft in the city.
Gathering Thursday outside of Stiiizy SoMa, the scene of the kidnapping, a group
of local industry leaders agitated for more policing after a rash of terrifying
attacks by thieves whom they described as calculating and methodical. In recent
months the thieves have targeted at least six businesses across the city,
taking with them hundreds of thousands of dollars in product.
Cannabis operators across the Bay Area have begun to pool security footage of
other recent store burglaries from as far away as Sacramento, and the
incidents are often strikingly similar, leading many merchants to believe they
may be connected.
Nearly all of the cannabis leaders who spoke at the Thursday news
conference had recently been victims of burglars armed not only with firearms
but tools such as crowbars. Dispensary owners believe the
thieves may also carry police scanners to track pursuits
by law enforcement, enabling them to plunder dispensaries more
efficiently.
Beyond the loss of merchandise, some business owners struck by thefts say
they are grappling with insurance claims, while others struggle to get
coverage. Many are struggling with whether to hire armed security guards,
escalating what they say is an already high cost of doing business. Several
expressed frustration that police officers are not doing more.
Reported break-ins and burglaries at cannabis
businesses across the state more than doubled from 2021 to 2022,
according to state data obtained through an
investigation by MJBizDaily.
“The recent attacks have targeted cannabis establishments that have
worked hard to build their businesses in compliance with state and local rules.
These businesses and employees deserve to feel safe,” said Nikesh Patel,
director of San Francisco’s Office of Cannabis.
sfchronicle.com
Security is Key to Cannabis Business
Compliance
Prioritizing Physical and Installed Security During Cannabis Business Build Outs
During the construction and buildout phase of opening a cannabis operation, it
is important to prioritize physical and installed security measures.
Often, security system installation (i.e. cameras, alarms) and the focus on
security takes place after the buildout of the operation. Physical, or installed
security can include: doors, barriers, walls, or any other physically installed
feature, that plays a part in securing the operation. If these features are not
properly prioritized, the operation will likely face hindrances to security and
potentially operating altogether. Once these features are appropriately
prepared, it is then important to ensure that they work with the security
technology that will be installed later.
Compliance:
Installed security features are almost certainly part of your compliance
standards for operating a cannabis business. Simply, if these features do
not function properly, you will be out of compliance when operating. You could
face fines and potentially suspension/revocation of your license, depending on
severity and number of compliance violations.
Integration: Once you have identified the
most important security features that are necessary to your compliance
standards, as well as your operational security, you need to ensure that the
technology (cameras, alarms, access control, etc.) works seamlessly with the
installed security feature. After all, what good is a sturdy door, without a
lock or access panel that is also built to last? This is a crux for you and your
business, and if you have a weakness here, it means a threat to you operating
compliantly down the road. sapphirerisk.com
sapphirerisk.com
Minnesota Legalization Bill Sparks Concerns
Retailers, hemp farmers concerned with direction of Minnesota marijuana
legalization bill
Lawmakers are making moves towards legalizing marijuana in Minnesota,
after two dozen hearings in different committees at the Capitol. But that isn’t
stopping some in the hemp industry from raising concerns about how the bill will
impact their existing cannabis businesses.
We’ve all seen the surge of products with the label: “contains THC.” That’s
because state lawmakers here approved low doses of it in food and drink last
summer as long as it comes from hemp, which is a cousin to marijuana and a plant
that’s legal at the federal level.
The huge marijuana legalization bill up for debate at the Capitol contains
new regulations and taxes on hemp products, too. And those new rules are
sparking some concern.
Tuesday, a coalition of hemp farmers and retailers had a news conference
raising issue with some of the bill’s provisions. They believe hemp should
be left out of the bill in the first place. They say taxing the products at the
same rate as marijuana is unfair, and that the new regulations are complex and
overly burdensome.
cannabisbusinessexecutive.com
Cannabis industry will add $100 billion to US economy in 2023
Germany waters down plan to legalize cannabis after talks with Brussels |
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First-Ever 'Review Hijacking' Case Involving
Amazon
FTC orders supplement maker to pay $600K in 1st case involving hijacked Amazon
reviews
The
U.S. Federal Trade Commission has approved a final consent order in its
first-ever enforcement action over a case involving “review hijacking,” or
when a marketer steals consumer reviews of another product to boost the sales of
its own.
In this case, the FTC has ordered supplements retailer The Bountiful Company,
the maker of Nature’s Bounty vitamins and other brands, to
pay $600,000 for deceiving customers on Amazon
where it used a feature to merge the reviews of different products to make some
appear to have better ratings and reviews than they otherwise would have had if
marketed under their own listings.
The case exposes how sellers have been exploiting an Amazon feature that
allows sellers to request the creation of “variation” relationships between
different products and SKUs. The feature is meant to help marketers and
consumers alike as it creates a single detail page on Amazon.com that shows
similar products that are different only in narrow, specific ways, the FTC
explains — like items that come in a different color, size, quantity or flavor.
However, The Bountiful Company exploited Amazon’s feature to merge its newer
products with older, well-established products which had different
formulations, the FTC said.
The FTC cited and screenshotted more than a dozen examples from 2020 and 2021
in its original complaint against the vitamin and supplement maker, which in
2021 sold its core brands — including Nature’s Bounty and Sundown — to Nestlé.
As a result of these product merges, consumers who happened across any of the
newer products would believe them to be better received than they were in
reality, as they were benefiting from the merged ratings and reviews of
other, differentiated items.
“Boosting your products by hijacking another product’s
ratings or reviews is a relatively new tactic, but is still plain old false
advertising,” Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer
Protection, said this February when the consent order was first announced ahead
of its public comment period and finalized version.
techcrunch.com
COVID's Lasting Impact on E-Commerce
How the pandemic’s e-commerce boom drove new packaging trends
While the effects are finally settling out, industry experts say the last
three years have seen an uptick in “ships in own container” packaging as well as
changes in design.
Even if the social distancing and vaccination campaigns that marked the early
pandemic have largely faded, some 2020 shifts — namely, what kinds of
packaging and envelopes brought online purchases to American doorsteps — are
sticking around.
A 2022 report from the U.S. Census Bureau found that the value of e-commerce
sales rose 43% in 2020. In that year, and in 2021, the number of packages
moving through shipment systems had a compound growth rate hovering above 20%,
said Jon Moss, a managing director and partner at L.E.K. Consulting. “That’s a
huge surge in relative growth of parcels.”
Higher e-commerce sales volumes and the added complications of the channel have
pushed brands to revamp their containers in recent years. Of the brand and
packaging managers that said they have e-commerce sales, 86% said they
altered packaging for items sold online, according to a
2022 survey from L.E.K. The firm, which solicited feedback from 421
individuals overseeing brands sold in the U.S., found the largest motivator for
the reported changes was adapting for automated handling, which 39% of
respondents said they did.
retaildive.com
Amazon opens massive 1,000,000-square-foot fulfillment center in Liberty, MO
Some welcome inflation news: Prices for goods online are falling |
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New York, NY: Thieves take off with $242K in Hermes handbags from Manhattan
auction house
Hundreds
of thousands of dollars of handbags were stolen from a Manhattan auction house.
The NYPD released video of a group smashing the windows of Heritage Auctions on
Park Avenue. It happened on March 7 at around 4 a.m. The group took off with
$242,000 in Hermes handbags, approximately eight bags.
abc7ny.com
Beverlywood, CA: $58K Sofa Stolen From Beverlywood Furniture Store
A
Beverlywood business was hit with the theft of a very expensive sofa, but now
with a little help from some alert community members, the owners think they know
who did it. Anyone who visits Merit in Beverlywood will notice they sell a lot
of things, like "stuff that's hard to find" such as mid-century furniture, art,
objects and taxidermy, owner Paul Bearman said. But early Monday, a burglar cut
the video feed from a camera and broke into the business to steal a $58,000
sofa. “It’s called the Mah Jong Sofa. Missoni fabric -- it kind of looks like a
woman’s dress. It’s just really pretty -- silk and corduroy -- a beautiful
pattern,” Bearmn said. Marcos, the gallery director, described surveillance that
shows a man backing up a white van in front of the business. He cut the video
feed, then broke into the store and committed the crime.
nbclosangeles.com
Salt Lake City, UT: Group accused of stealing $10K in diesel fuel
The men are believed to have participated in a fuel theft ring in which
thousands of gallons of diesel fuel were stolen from gas stations in at least
four counties and then sold at well below market value to local trucking
companies, according to police.
deseret.com
Sarasota, FL: Two Arrested For Grand Theft At Sarasota Home Depot
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office arrested two men Friday morning for Grand
Theft and one with an additional charge of Cocaine Possession. Deputies were
initially alerted to the theft by the Loss Prevention Officer at the Home Depot
store on Cattlemen Road in Sarasota. These two were identified as the same two
men who had committed grand theft at another business in North Port less than an
hour earlier. As deputies responded, the suspects gathered numerous items
totaling just under $5,000.
wengradio.com
Medford, NY: Trio Nabs Massage Guns, Lego Sets From Medford Target
Tulsa, OK: Women arrested for allegedly stealing $1,000 worth of merchandise
from Kohl's
Southington, CT: Police identify suspected shoplifter who stole over $600 worth
of items from TJ Maxx
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Shootings & Deaths
Fort Worth, TX: Man died of gunshot in head in killing at Fort Worth C-store
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office has released the name of an
18-year-old man who was slain on Monday at a southeast Fort Worth convenience
store. Marques Parker died of a gunshot wound in the head, according to the
medial examiner’s office. At the same time, another man was shot and critically
injured by the same assailant at the store, Joe’s Food Mart, in the 4200 block
of Miller Avenue, Fort Worth police said. The killing occurred about 2 a.m.
during a disagreement between the assailant and Parker, police said.
star-telegram.com
Nashville, TN: Update: Man accused of killing a Security guard pleads not guilty
The man accused of disarming and killing a liquor store security guard in
Nashville was in court Wednesday morning. Randy Levi, 41, is accused of shooting
Frugal MacDoogal security guard Robert Meek in June, before firing at Metro
officers inside of the store. Meek died after the shooting. Levi pleaded not
guilty to all charges against him during his arraignment Wednesday. He’s charged
with first-degree murder, multiple counts of attempted murder and weapons
offenses. In June, Meek’s family told WSMV4 he was a selfless man who dedicated
his life to helping and protecting others. He was a trained security guard with
decades of experience. “It sucks that it happens to the best people,” Meeks’
stepdaughter Madison Howard said. “There are people that walk freely every
single day that are awful people, and the best people are the ones that get
taken so soon. It is just not fair.” Levi was injured by officers who fired back
during the shooting. He is expected back in court in July.
wsmv.com
St. Paul, MN: Shoplifter sentenced for shooting liquor store worker over 6-pack
A Minneapolis man was sentenced to nearly 11 years in prison Wednesday for
shooting a liquor store employee over a six-pack of beer last year in St. Paul.
Jalen William Dyson, 29, was charged with attempted murder in connection with
the daytime shooting at Park Liquors on Snelling and Hague avenues. A February
plea agreement called for a 130½-month prison term, which was handed down by
Ramsey County District Judge Jacob Kraus. Jalen William Dyson (Courtesy of the
Ramsey County sheriff’s Office) According to the criminal complaint, liquor
store workers reported that a man wearing a full face mask left without paying
for a six-pack of beer at 3:45 p.m. on Jan. 23. A worker who followed the
shoplifter out of the store told him, “I’ll take that stuff back that you took,”
when the man, who was later identified as Dyson, turned and shot him twice from
five to seven feet away. The worker was wounded in the abdomen, in tremendous
pain when police arrived and had surgery to repair damage to his internal
organs.
twincities.com
Tacoma, WA: Smoke shop clerk shot in attempted robbery
The Tacoma Police Department (TPD) is investigating a shooting that injured a
store clerk Wednesday morning. Police received reports at 10:40 a.m. that
someone was shot in the 9300 block of South Steele Street. Officials say at this
time, it appears armed suspects tried to rob a business on South Steele Street
and a clerk was shot. The 26-year-old man was taken to the hospital with serious
injuries and is in stable condition, according to police. "It's not right, they
go in there to rob other people who are trying to make a living," store customer
Diana Garcia told KOMO News.
komonews.com
West Valley City, UT: 5 Shots Fired at Workers in Jewelry Booth Robbery
A
man wearing a mask fired five shots at employees while robbing a jewelry booth
at an indoor swap meet in West Valley City, UT. He entered the swap meet at
about 6 p.m. on March 25 and went to a jewelry booth, according to a press
release from the West Valley City Police Department. He took out a gun and began
shooting toward employees, police said. He then took out a hammer, smashed
showcases and took jewelry.
instoremag.com
Bronx, NY: 4 people shot after fight broke out inside restaurant in Soundview,
the Bronx
Robberies,
Incidents & Thefts
Escambia County, FL: 3 store employees stop alleged robber from stealing
thousands in cash
The
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has released more information about the robbery
suspect, Michael Bryant. On top of the robbery and larceny charge he received
for this incident, Bryant also had multiple warrants out for his arrests. Those
warrants included: Burglary at a laundry mat, Burglary at a gas station,
Burglary at a restaurant, Burglary at a restaurant, and Burglary at a gas
station. A man was arrested after he allegedly tried to rob a grocery store,
according to a Facebook post from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The post
said deputies were called to the store on Brent Lane Tuesday night for a robbery
in progress. At the store closing time, Michael Bryant went into the store,
grabbed money bags and attempted to run out of the store. Three store employees
saw the attempted robbery and were able to stop Bryant and hold him until
deputies arrived. The post said the employees saved the store from “losing
thousands of dollars.”
wkrg.com
Chicago, IL: 3 armored truck robberies reported in Chicago area
Boston, MA: Feds bust $2M theft ring that targeted catalytic converters
Omaha, NE: Man sentenced to 3 years in federal prison for gun theft
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•
Auto – Fairfield, OH -
Burglary
•
C-Store – Alexandria,
VA – Armed Robbery
•
C-Store – Takoma Park,
MD – Armed Robbery
•
C-Store – Steuben
County, PA - Burglary
•
C-Store – Reading, PA
– Robbery
•
Furniture –
Beverlywood, CA – Burglary
•
Grocery – Missoula, MT
– Robbery
•
Grocery - Escambia
County, FL - Robbery
•
Hardware – Billings,
MT – Robbery
•
Hermes – New York, NY
– Burglary
•
Jewelry – West Valley
City, UT – Armed Robbery / shots fired, no injuries
• Jewelry - Victorville, CA - Robbery
•
Pet – Graham, NC -
Burglary
•
Restaurant – Kyle, TX
– Armed Robbery
•
Restaurant – Moorhead,
MN – Armed Robbery
•
Restaurant – Glenview,
IL – Armed Robbery
•
Restaurant - Eugene,
OR - Burglary
•
Target – Medford, NY -
Robbery
•
Tobacco – Tacoma, WA –
Armed Robbery
Daily Totals:
• 13 robberies
• 6 burglaries
• 1 shooting
• 0 killed |
Click to enlarge map
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None to report.
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Director of Retail Solutions - North America
Denver, CO - posted
April 5
This role will be focused on selling our SaaS retail crime intelligence platform
by developing new prospects, and progressing Enterprise level prospects through
our sales process. You will report directly to the VP of Retail Solutions -
North America, and work alongside our Marketing, Partnerships and Customer
Success team to grow our customer base...
Manager, Regional Loss Prevention
Minneapolis, MN -
posted April 4
This position is responsible for managing all aspects of loss prevention for a
geographic area to reduce and control shortage and other financial losses in
124+ company stores. The coverage areas average $850+ million in sales
revenue...
Field Loss Prevention Manager
Atlanta, GA -
posted March 21
As a Field Loss Prevention Manager (FLPM) you will coordinate Loss Prevention
and Safety Programs intended to protect Staples assets and ensure a safe work
environment within Staples Retail locations. FLPM’s are depended on to be an
expert in auditing, investigating, and training...
Regional Distribution Asset Protection Specialist
Landover, MD -
posted February 24
This role is responsible for leading asset protection initiatives and
investigating matters pertaining to inventory shrink, policy violations,
unauthorized access, fraud, and theft within assigned distribution center(s) -
Landover MD, Severn MD, Bluefield VA, Norfolk VA, Lumberton NC...
Corporate Risk Manager
Charlotte or Raleigh, NC - posted
February 14
Summary of Role and Responsibilities: Proactive approach to preventing
losses/injuries whether they are to our employees, third parties or customers
valuables. They include cash in transit, auto losses or injuries; Report all
incidents, claims and losses which may expose the company to financial losses
whether they are covered by insurance or not...
Director of Asset Protection & Safety
Mount Horeb, WI - posted
January 27
The Director of Asset Protection and Safety is responsible for developing
strategies, supporting initiatives, and creating a vibrant culture relating to
all aspects of asset protection and safety throughout the organization. As the
expert strategist and leader of asset protection and safety, this role applies
broad knowledge and seasoned experience to address risks...
Loss Prevention Analyst
Ashburn, VA - posted
February 21
This position pays $67,725 - $75,000 per year:
The LP Analyst protects the company’s assets from internal theft by using
investigative resources (i.e., exception-based reporting (EBR), micros
reporting, inventory reporting, CCTV, etc.). The primary responsibility of the
LP Analyst is to identify potential loss prevention issues such as employee
theft in SSP America’s operation across North America...
Manager of Asset Protection (Corporate and DC)
North Kingstown, RI - posted
February 17
The Manager of Asset Protection - Corporate and Distribution Center (“DC”) role
at Ocean State Job Lot (“OSJL” and “Company”) will have overall responsibility
for the ongoing safety and security of all operations throughout the corporate
office and supply chain...
Business Continuity Planning Manager
Jacksonville, FL - posted
January 26
Responsible for developing, implementing and managing the company's Business
Continuity (BCP) and Life Safety Programs to include but not limited to
emergency response, disaster recovery and site preparedness plans for critical
business functions across the organization. In addition, the position will
develop and lead testing requirements to ensure these programs are effective and
can be executed in the event of a disaster/crisis...
Region Asset Protection Manager-St Augustine and Daytona Beach Market
Jacksonville, FL - posted
January 18
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...
Region Asset Protection Manager: Fresco y Mas Banner
Hialeah, FL - posted
January 18
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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Surveys show that happiness at work significantly improves performance and
productivity. It translates into higher energy levels, better reviews, faster
promotions, higher wages, better health and overall a better environment. While
it shouldn't be surprising it often times needs to be remembered. When fellow
executives are unhappy for long periods or with their co-workers it needs to be
addressed because productivity and overall team health will suffer. Attitudes
are contagious and happier teams produce more and have better results. Is your
team happy?
Just a Thought, Gus
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