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The D&D Daily Mobile Edition
LP, AP & IT Security's #1 News Source

4/27/20 D-Ddaily.net
 

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GLPS 'Where Are They Now?' Series

Find Your Old Friend & Colleagues - Where Have They Gone?
Take a Look Down Memory Lane


Who are these folks?



Team Pictures Submitted August 2014

Find out how your team can win a pizza party as we take a stroll down memory lane!


Show Your LP/AP Team Pride!

Send in your team's 'Group LP Selfie'



 


Key Questions (and Answers) for Retail as the Economy Reopens


Stuart Levine, CFI, CFCI
CEO at The Zellman Group


What is the return of retail going to look like from a policy perspective? Will customers be able to try on clothing like they did in the past? Will retailers be able to return ready to ware directly to the sales floor? Will refund policy change and will there be a sterilization process that takes place prior to returning goods to the sales floor?

"Certainly until a reliable, safe vaccine is developed, safeguards and accommodations are going to be a challenge for every public entity." -Donald Burkett, Director Environmental Health, Safety & LP Analytics, Party City Holdings, LLC

"I think as long as you make the customers happy and keep the staff safe it's all good. I think a mandatory 2 week quarantine should be done on all return product anyways. Wearables are 100% returnable and disposable. Retail brick and mortar should be focused on how to make the customer 1st moving forward. That's how you will maintain traffic in your stores and how you will win. At this point I have a sterilization procedure for receiving in my store as well." -Jennifer McClung, General Manager, Party City


What Are Your Thoughts?  
Send us your comments and we'll post them for the industry to see and share.
How's ORC going to be impacted?

 


 


 
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Filmed in January 2017 at the Daily's 'Live in NYC at the NRF Big Show 2017' event

ALTO US is a new venture in the United States for South America's powerhouse Asset Protection solution provider ALTO. Starting back in 2003 in one of Chile's biggest retail stores, where they reduced shrinkage by 23% in the first year, they're now supporting nearly 7,000 stores in more than 100 cities in Latin America, Europe and now the U.S. Karl Langhorst, Senior Advisor for ALTO US, explains how their programs help bridge the gap between retail and law enforcement, creating an effective and productive partnership, while managing the prosecution processes for a retailer's external and internal theft cases.

 



Stay tuned as we continue to count down LPNN's All-Time Top 10 LP Leader and Top 10 Solution Provider videos. See who's made the list so far here.

 


 

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Coronavirus Update: April 27

US: Over 1 Million Cases - 56K Dead - 137K Recovered

Worldwide: Over 3 Million Cases - 210K Dead - 915K Recovered

U.S. Law Enforcement Deaths | NYPD Deaths: 33
Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 79+
 



NRF Launches Operation Open Doors

Guidance for retailers on reopening stores

NRF launched "Operation Open Doors" and a new online solution center. As retail businesses open to employees and customers, this effort will provide operational guidelines and considerations developed with input from hundreds of retail industry leaders convened by NRF. The Operation prioritizes four functional areas for America's retail sector: health and safety; people and personnel; logistics and supply chain; and litigation and liability.

Here is a letter announcing the program to the President, key administration officials and elected leaders. Reopening the retail sector and putting our economy back on track will require a gradual, phased-in approach. The smart, iterative strategies our members are building will help guide policymakers and business leaders through dozens of critical topics as we work to restore the American economy.

Explore the Operation Open Doors Checklist, an outline of key topics to consider as retailers seek to reopen operations. The checklist and other Operation Open Doors resources will be available only to NRF members beginning Tuesday, April 28 at 12 p.m. ET. Click here more information about NRF membership.

Resources are currently being developed by a broad mix of retail brands and professionals. If you would like to be involved, please sign up here. nrf.com
 



Retailers Unveil Blueprint for Shopping Safe

Blueprint encourages uniform statewide rules of operations to reopen retail

   

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and the National Retail Federation (NRF) released a Blueprint for Shopping Safe today outlining a phased-in approach to reopening retail. The plan urges governors to issue uniform, statewide protocols for retailers to adopt as they reopen stores and work to keep employees and customers safe.

The Blueprint was developed in accordance with CDC guidelines and benchmarking by leading retailers with a focus on ensuring the health and wellness of employees and customers. Retailers have been learning from each other throughout this crisis, sharing leading practices and protocols to keep stores clean and sanitized, and keeping customers and employees as safe as possible.

The Blueprint details three phases for reopening retail:
● Phase 1 - Allow E-commerce, Contactless Curbside Pickup & In-Home Delivery
● Phase 2 - Re-Open Stores to the Public, with Social Distancing Protocols & Reduced Occupancy
● Phase 3 - Establish Protection, Then Lift All Restrictions nrf.com rila.org
 



Reopening Has Begun. No One Is Sure What Happens Next.

"It's going to take much longer to thaw the economy than it took to freeze it"

The economy shut down almost overnight. It won't start back up that way.

Politicians and public health experts have sparred for weeks over when, and under what circumstances, to allow businesses to reopen and Americans to emerge from their homes. But another question could prove just as thorny - how?

Because the restart will be gradual, with certain places and industries opening earlier than others, it will by definition be complicated. The U.S. economy is a complex web of supply chains whose dynamics don't necessarily align neatly with epidemiologists' recommendations.

Georgia and other states are beginning the reopening process. But even under the most optimistic estimates, it will be months, and possibly years, before Americans again crowd into bars and squeeze onto subway cars the way they did before the pandemic struck.

And it isn't clear what, exactly, it means to gradually restart a system with as many interlocking pieces as the U.S. economy. How can one factory reopen when its suppliers remain shuttered? How can parents return to work when schools are still closed? How can older people return when there is still no effective treatment or vaccine? What is the government's role in helping private businesses that may initially need to operate at a fraction of their normal capacity? nytimes.com

What Will In-Store Shopping Look Like When Stores Reopen?
Once physical stores are permitted to reopen in the US - and that date continues to slide as many states extend stay-at-home orders - what kinds of shopping options will be available to consumers? The "New York State on PAUSE" executive order closing all nonessential businesses was issued on March 22, and the absolute earliest date that stores can reopen has now been extended twice - to April 15 and most recently to May 15. US orders vary drastically state by state. For example, in contrast to New York, Georgia began reopening certain types of service businesses (such as barbers and other esthetic businesses) from April 24.

Given that the coronavirus is unlikely to be vanquished on a global scale by mid-May, we expect consumers to remain extremely cautious about protecting themselves - and retailers to be cautious about the safety of their staff and customers. This means that retailers anxious to reopen stores and generate revenue may open gradually, in stages. It is likely that companies are honing plans based on multiple reopening scenarios.

When stores do reopen, several new safety measures are possible:

Social distancing | Masks (and possibly gloves) for everyone | Temperature checks | Contactless payments | Virus-free certificates or apps | BOPIS/BOPIM |
coresight.com


 



The LP Industry is Facing Some Hard Decisions
As LP Warning Signs Begin to Appear


American's Mental Health & Shopping
Half of the Nation's Workforce Have Lost a Job or Income Due to Coronavirus


How Does LP Operate in the Stores Themselves?

With many businesses shut down and job losses mounting nationwide, just over half of the nation's workers (55 percent) now say they have lost a job or had their incomes reduced as a result of the health and economic crises sparked by the novel coronavirus pandemic, the latest KFF Health Tracking poll finds.

In recent poll 28% say they're having difficulty controlling their temper and they've increased their alcohol and drug use.

In addition to those who personally experienced a coronavirus-related job or income loss, 16 percent say they have a spouse or partner who has lost their job, had hours reduced, took pay cut, or been furloughed. In total, 42 percent of all U.S. adults say they or their spouse or partner has been affected in such ways.

For many, the loss of a job and income is affecting the ability to keep up with their bills, the poll says.

Most Affected Workers Expect Their Situations to Improve Within the Next Six Months. Worry and Stress Related to Coronavirus are Affecting Most People's Mental and Physical Health.

The coronavirus outbreak's impact on mental health and well-being also seems to be affecting a larger share of those who experienced a loss of employment income, the poll says. securitymagazine.com

Editor's Note: With states releasing restrictions, a lot of these people will be shopping in the stores with 28% already reporting temper and drug and alcohol issues and 36% falling behind on their bills. A recipe for possible increased conflict, aggression, and theft. Loss Prevention personnel simply must be aware of this and sensitive to it.

The question begs to be asked: Do you make apprehensions? Under what conditions? How are they managed? And what happens if it turns aggressive?

And what about catching Coronavirus? And what happens when the suspect threatens the agent with spitting coronavirus at them? Are they aware that this is a federal domestic terrorism charge now? Does the local police department know it? And how do they plan on responding to it?

Only once before in the industry have we seen a no apprehension policy. In the 80's Target effectively used it to clean house of the old war horses that went more on gut then they did the five steps.
(We'll hear about this comment)

As an industry we need to come together and make some hard choices and decisions.

 



The Simple Law of Supply & Demand Drives Organized Crime, Too!
Grocery Retailers - Meat Shortages Coming - Increased ORC? Increased Organized Crime Cargo Theft?

Increased Focus on Meat Supply Chain

Meat plants across the nation are shutting down, as reported last week, due to COVID hitting the employee populations. Resulting in a large numbers of processing plants literally having to shut down operation. And it seems to be increasing over the last week.

Now the increased news coverage could also be playing into the perceived problem as well. But fact is this is happening.

From Smithfield to Tyson to the farmers supply surpluses, this has never happened before and shortages are about to hit the market with most news outlets are already covering it and we'll see increased coverage this week. Which also drives the attention of thieves. From the larger more sophisticated gangs right down to the local gangs. They know they can make even more money stealing meat.

Meaning organized crime syndicates, small local groups, and especially where the smaller retail operator is steering the gangs may focus their theft activities on meat even more so, with the increased demand and higher prices.

The grocery retailers may want to focus on the entire meat supply chain over the next few weeks. Especially when all of the restaurants open up. That first two months, there will be so much demand the supply won't be there. Just some thoughts  - Gus Downing


'The food supply chain is breaking,' Tyson CEO says as plants close


180,000 People Conducting Contact Tracing
Health Experts Want $46.5B to Expand Contact Tracing

Once this Gets Legs - It Won't Stop

A group of leading health experts on Monday sent a letter to Congress calling for $46.5 billion to expand contact tracing and isolation of infected people in order to safely reopen the economy. 

The letter asks for $12 billion to hire 180,000 new workers who would conduct contact tracing, meaning interviewing infected people to find out who they have been in contact with and then notifying those people so they can self-isolate for 14 days. The experts say this is important until a vaccine is developed.

While increased testing has been a focal point recently, the experts say that the contact tracing and isolation capacities are key steps as well, and capacity is currently well short of what is needed.

The remaining funds 34B would be used to house and support those while they self-isolate for 14 days.

Two Senators have proposed legislation to provide $55 billion per year for a new Health Force to hire hundreds of thousands of workers to do contact tracing and other health tasks to fight coronavirus. thehill.com

The Real Apocalypse - There Are No Sacred Cows
S&P: Pandemic 'catastrophic' for retail

With S&P Global forecasting nonessential retail and restaurant sales to decline 30% this year, analysts with the ratings agency said in a new report that the COVID-19 pandemic has created "catastrophic" financial conditions for the sector. And they don't expect sales to return to 2019 levels until 2022.

Since the pandemic began roiling the industry, S&P has downgraded about one-third of the retail companies it covers. That includes retailers that have investment-grade credit ratings such as TJX Cos. and Ross Stores.

And there is no certainty about what happens when doors open again.

Department stores, apparel, and off-price retail face the highest impact from the pandemic, according to the S&P report. The first two sectors - department stores and apparel - went into 2020 with deep troubles in the form of flagging sales, deteriorating profits, multi-pronged competitive issues and declining foot traffic in malls, among other issues. 

TJX announced mid-March that in addition to its brick-and-mortar locations, it was also temporarily closing its online operations, and has yet to reopen either. Ross has no e-commerce presence and Burlington recently announced it would wind down its online store. 

"Off-price is worst positioned given they are solely reliant on store traffic returning, which could take time." retaildive.com

Some States Ease Lockdowns
More U.S. states and cities began to ease lockdown orders Monday, allowing patrons back into establishments and certain employees to return to work. Some residents and business owners remain skeptical that it is safe to do so, and public-health officials have cautioned that lifting restrictions hastily could lead to a surge in new cases.

Health experts say states need to meet certain thresholds for new daily infections and have increased testing capabilities and public-health workers ready to track new infections. wsj.com

States Reopen for Business, but Many Big Chains Sit It Out for Now

Macy's, Gap and TGI Fridays and other national chains say they will pass on the early phase of reopening in states such as Georgia and South Carolina

Macy's, Gap, and TGI Fridays, are among the big national chains saying they will sit out the early phase of reopening in states such as Georgia and South Carolina, citing health concerns and uncertain customer demand. Other businesses, including Best Buy, and Starbucks will also continue in lockdown mode, keeping stores closed to shoppers and fulfilling online orders or curbside pickup.

Big chains say their phased reopening plans will rely on state and local guidelines, along with infection rates, their own market analysis and consumer surveys. Many large retail locations aren't profitable if the number of shoppers who can safely enter is restricted to just a handful of people, consultants say.

Retailers are likely to reopen gradually to avoid financial strain, considering some shoppers will be uneasy going into physical stores for some time, said Jean-Emmanuel Biondi, retail consultant at Deloitte. The firm is using cellphone location and credit-card data to advise clients which areas are likely to see store traffic return first.

Reopening would require national retailers to rehire thousands of workers and add cleaning costs, even though it could be weeks before shoppers return in large numbers.

Kohl's Corp. plans a phased reopening based on state and local guidelines, health data and the installation of protective equipment, a spokesman said. When the lights come back on, the department-store chain may add safety measures including removing beauty-counter testers and signage reminding shoppers to keep a safe distance.

Anderson Mall in Anderson, S.C., will reopen Friday, one of the few malls in the state opting to do so after restrictions were lifted on retailers there this week. Shoppers will be encouraged to wear masks, and frequent cleaning and sanitization will be the norm.

Hibbett Sports, Trends, White Willow Boutique, Chick-fil-A, Books-A-Million and Philly Cheesesteak Express are among mall tenants expected to open Friday, the landlord said.

Orders requiring malls to close in Tennessee and Georgia haven't been lifted yet. Saks Fifth Avenue plans to open for curbside pickup at its Houston and San Antonio locations Friday, part of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's "retail-to-go" plan to get the economy moving. Saks hasn't set a date for opening stores to shoppers.

Landlords of open-air shopping centers say tenants generally decide whether to reopen, though property owners are considering how to manage popular restaurants, such as Chick-fil-A, that may have lines out the door. wsj.com

Retailers Improvise on Shopping Bags, Other Areas, During Pandemic

Store Occupancy Rates Vary Around the Country

During the pandemic, retailers are setting their own customer limits either voluntarily or via mandates from government officials, another source of potential confusion, while dealing with pressure from workers to back those limits even in the absence of mandates. New ideas are regularly popping up. In Maryland, for instance, the Calvert County Health Department has asked food retailers and customers to follow a voluntary guideline that would limit shopping to one trip every five days. Consumers would shop according to their last names - the first letter of a last name would correspond to a specific shopping date, according to a Fox News report.

Now, of course, retailers beyond those who sell groceries face the choice of whether to open up in Georgia and certain other states that have taken their own steps to restart their economies. The pandemic is causing all businesses to improvise, and those efforts will continue for the foreseeable future.

California Suspends Plastic Bag Ban - Shoppers Own Bags May be Infected

PA., Render's Markets Ask Shoppers To Refrain From Using Their Own Bags
retailleader.com

OSHA Gets Employee Complaints Nationwide on Unsafe
Working Conditions @ Dollar Tree


OSHA proposes $539,934 fine for La Vista Dollar Tree, citing alleged safety violations

OSHA cited the retailer for what it called willful, serious and repeat violations. Last summer, OSHA also cited another Family Dollar store.

According to OSHA, the La Vista store didn't provide workers with the proper safety equipment and training to handle helium gas, improperly stored compressed gas and allowed for haphazard placement of merchandise and other items in a way that obstructed fire exits and threatened worker safety. Some stacks were more than seven feet high, the agency said. The store is in Brentwood Square.

OSHA this was the fourth time that exits in the storeroom were found to be obstructed.

"OSHA continues to receive complaints about unsafe working conditions at Dollar Tree stores nationwide," Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for OSHA Loren Sweatt said. omaha.com

Jailed Huawei Workers Raised a Forbidden Subject: Iran
China arrested five former employees who had discussed the tech giant's Iranian sales in a chat group, raising questions about its government ties.

At least 79 security officers have now died from the COVID-19 virus

Aurora, CO: Widow of security guard who worked at Walmart and died of COVID-19 says she warned store of dangers

J.C. Penney in talks with lenders for bankruptcy funding, according to report

Bed Bath & Beyond Extends Store Closings To At Least May 16th

Bed Bath & Beyond converts 25% of its stores into regional fulfillment centers

Washington state's Snohomish County Sheriff says he won't enforce governor's stay-at-home order

Why 'constitutionalist sheriffs' won't enforce coronavirus restrictions

Flight attendant union to America: Please don't fly for leisure amid coronavirus

Woman gets 3 years for posing as FBI agent on dating websites


Quarterly Results

This will be the worst reporting quarter in the history of retail. The issue is everyone's in the same boat.

Adidas Q1 net sales down 19%, predicted Q2 sales fall by 40%
 



Last week's #1 article --
 

Will COVID-19 further accelerate the decriminalization of shoplifting in the US?

By Bobby Haskins, Director of Market Development - North America & Retail Asset Protection at Auror, the Retail Crime Intelligence Platform.

Since 2000, 40 states raised their felony thresholds and 9 states have done that twice. This is leading to an increase in ORC activity for all retailers. In fact, the National Retail Federation (NRF) National Retail Security Survey found that total shrink topped $50bn in the USA for the first time in 2018. The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) estimates Organized Retail Crime is responsible for $30bn in loss per year nationally.

Click here for the full article.
 


All the News - One Place - One Source - One Time

Thanks to our sponsors/partners - Take the time to thank them as well please. If it wasn't for them The Daily wouldn't be here every day for you.
  

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In Case You Missed It


Director, Global Asset Protection job opening for eBay in Draper, UT

eBay is looking for a Head of Global Asset Protection. This role will lead a global team of investigators to execute our value proposition. Candidates should be passionate about the eBay customer, and efficient self-starter with an ability to operate effectively in a fast paced, rapidly-changing environment. The position is full-time and located in Salt Lake City, UT.

eBay works closely with local, state, federal and international Law Enforcement Agencies as well as retailers, financial institutions and industry peers to protect our marketplace from illegal activity. We are the primary contact for Law Enforcement regarding criminal investigations and a liaison for the legal community to assist in all compliance aspects of criminal investigations regarding our services. jobs.ebayin.com


 

 

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Reinventing Grocery: The Timeline to the New Normal

Tuesday, April 28 @ 2:00p-3:00p ET

Join the Agilence & Date Check Pro teams as they walk through the "new normal" that's emerging across the grocery industry post-COVID 19.

This new co-produced webinar delivers grocers a data-driven perspective as permanent disruption unfurls within the grocery retail experience.

This webinar will cover:

  • Why cleanliness & safety protocols will arise as a key driver to new sales

  • How former "slow moving" categories may be worth further investment

  • The role your Associates play in future customer acquisition & retention initiatives

  • Why a familiar business adjacent to the grocery industry may emerge as a direct competitor

  • The DNA of the New Shopper

  • And more...

Who Should Attend - Grocery Professionals of all levels and titles; Loss Prevention, Operations, Category Management, Merchandising and Marketing Leaders

Register Here


 

 

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DOJ Fraud Video Program Released Today
DOJ: Pick Six to Stop COVID-19 Fraud
Click on the VIDEO to see United States Attorney Grant Jaquith’s six minute message regarding fighting COVID-19 fraud, including examples of scams and tips to thwart them. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York is working closely with our federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners and prioritizing efforts to stop and punish criminal activity related to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. To report COVID-19 fraud and other crimes, please contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or disaster@leo.gov.

You can find up-to-date and reliable information online about COVID-19 at https://www.coronavirus.gov and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website, https://www.cdc.gov.

WHO Reports 'Dramatic' Increase in Cyberattacks - Up 500%

UN Agency Reports Five Times More Incidents Than Same Period Last Year

The World Health Organization, which has been at the forefront of the global COVID-19 pandemic, has witnessed a "dramatic" increase in the number of cyberattacks since the healthcare crisis began earlier this year, according to the agency's CIO.

The number of cyberattacks and hacking incidents targeting the United Nation's organization is now five times the amount the WHO saw during the same time period in 2019, according to CIO Bernardo Mariano.

This high-profile position has also meant the organization is now a top target of cybercriminals and nation-state actors attempting to use its name and reputation for their own means. govinfosecurity.com

Editor's Note: There are serious ramifications of what's happening around the world right now during this pandemic. With a few nations trying to take advantage of this time of weakness and testing us in numerous ways both economically and militarily. With supporting criminal activity around the globe to further weaken democratic nations. And don't think the nation's retailers won't be impacted. As just two weeks ago we ran into fake news regretfully in the UK reporting on widespread looting on LA and a few other American cities. When in fact there was no looting. And just look at China's shipping of defective PPE around the globe. Was it intentional or a mistake? Are you selling PPE from China? Just a thought  - Gus Downing

North Dakota Researchers Look for Ways Drones can Help Sanitize, Deliver Supplies and More
To help fight COVID-19, North Dakota university and industry researchers are looking for ways a drone can quickly sanitize playgrounds, deliver supplies and detect people's temperature from a distance, according to a MPR News report.

Thermal sensors on a drone can detect elevated body temperature, one symptom of COVID-19, says the report. "This is being done in Australia right now, where the thermal sensors can detect if someone has an elevated body temperature from a distance.

A drone, Dunlevy says, could be used “if there's a checkpoint where people are testing and they want to send blood samples back as the crow flies with immediacy, (or) the rapid distribution of a vaccine via drone someday would also be another way to get the nation back online.”

Askelson says the pandemic could accelerate the wide adoption of drone use. For the full report, please visit MPRnews.org | securitymagazine.com

10 ways to get more from your security budget
A survey conducted in April by IDG (CSO's parent company) found that 35% of IT leaders expect their budgets to decrease as a result of Covid-19 and the related economic downturn, and for 45% of them expense management has become their primary focus.

“You never have enough money, you never have enough people to do the job you need to get done. But the CISO’s job every single day is to reduce risk, so you have to be really smart about how you do things,” says Curt Dalton, a managing director and global leader of the security and privacy practice at the consulting firm Protiviti.

With that in mind, Dalton and several other security leaders offer their ideas on how they and other CISOs can get more out of their security budgets:

Increase automation
Executives throughout the enterprise are turning to robotic process automation (RPA) and other automation technologies to speed processes and add efficiencies. CISOs, too, should embrace automation opportunities.

Cisco’s 2020 CISO Benchmark Report found that 77% of the responding 2,800 security professionals planned to increase automation in their security ecosystems.

Rebalance teams
Dalton once oversaw a security department where the 15 members of his threat assessment and response team were completely flat out with work, often putting in nights and weekends in addition to their usual workweek schedule. On the other hand, his risk assessment team had several busy periods during the year but had more moderate schedules the rest of the time.

To address the workload imbalance, Dalton cross-trained people from the risk assessment team to take on some of the threat assessment team’s work during those long stretches when the risk assessment team had lighter workloads.

Review risk and realign - Renegotiate with vendors - Sever the security budget from IT - Leverage more outside resources - Train on a shoestring budget - Maximize existing tools

Move to best-of-suite - Review business-led initiatives for extra security costs.
csoonline.com

EU Publishes Privacy Guidance on the Use of Contact Tracing Technology in the Fight Against COVID-19

Apps That May Help Enterprises Get Through the Pandemic


 
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As Google Shopping challenges Amazon with free listings, fraud is inevitable
Removing the ad requirement now is a smart move for Google. The pandemic has led to ad rates plummeting and online shopping taking off. Amazon’s stock is at an all-time high, while Google’s has taken a hit.

Google argues free listings means retailers will gain free exposure to millions of people, and shoppers will get more products from more stores.

Fraud
Except for a handful of its own phones, tablets, and laptops sold in the Google Store, all of Google Shopping sales come from third-party sellers. There is no easy way to ensure that a product isn’t screwing the consumer and/or the merchant. Well, at least not anymore. That’s what paid listings was helping accomplish. It becomes very expensive, very quickly to sell scam products if you have to pay every single time.

I’m sure Google will work harder than Amazon to keep fraud off Google Shopping. The company has to, after all, as it hasn’t spent its whole existence building its own store and products. Overall, Google Shopping going free is a good thing, both for consumers and for merchants. But consumers and merchants will likely have to be more vigilant, while small businesses will have to pay up to stand out. Just like on Amazon. venturebeat.com

Should You Online Shop During Coronavirus?
Experts Suggest There's A Lot To Consider

Since most states have extended shelter-in-place orders and most beauty and fashion retailers have kept their brick-and-mortar stores closed for longer than most expected, for the time being, the urge to online shop grows every single day.

But, as the entire world grows antsy and feels more tempted to online shop much more frequently than usual, there are still a lot of questions about consequences. Does online shopping still put you at greater risk of getting coronavirus? Should you be limiting your purchases to just the necessities? Where should you be shopping when you do online shop? Does not being conservative with your online shopping practices hurt delivery, warehouse, and distribution workers? If you’re worried about online shopping amidst the pandemic, experts have some thoughts and guidelines. Read more here

NJ mayor calls for temporary closure of Amazon warehouse due to COVID-19

Amazon extends pay raise for warehouse workers but ends unlimited unpaid time off policy amid COVID-19

Grocery retailers adapt as coronavirus upends shopping patterns


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Top ORC Cases from 2018 - By Dollar Amount

2018 was a banner year for ORC. According to NRF's 2018 ORC Study, organized retail crime losses reached an all-time high that year. The report found that 92% of companies surveyed had been a victim of ORC in the past year and that 71% said ORC incidents were increasing. Losses averaged $777,877 per $1 billion in sales, up 7% from the previous year's record of $726,351.

We at the D&D Daily compiled the top ORC cases we reported in 2018, ranked by dollar amount. Here are the top cases from that year, with more to follow tomorrow.


1. $12M - Roxbury Township, NJ: Defendant Indicted In $12M Go-Go Bar ORC Theft Ring
An Edgewater man conspired with the owner of a shuttered go-go bar to use stolen credit card information - and illegally acquired gift cards - to steal more than $12 million. Kevin Bae, 30, shared a bank account with the Morris County bar owner "into which millions of dollars were transferred" through the scheme, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said Friday. The investigation - dubbed "Operation Smiles" -- found Lipka and others buying stolen credit card information on the dark web and cloning it onto blank cards with a special machine that made them look legitimate, Grewal said.

Groups of runners used the bogus credit cards to buy pre-paid gift cards issued by Master Card, Visa and American Express at retail stores - among them, Target and Home Depot -- stretching from Brooklyn to southeast Pennsylvania, the attorney general said. They then converted the collected gift cards to cash through bogus transactions at Smiles II, keeping 20 percent of the proceeds for themselves and dividing the rest among the runners, he said. dailyvoice.com

2. $9M - Anderson County, SC: 3 arrested in connection with Organized Retail Thefts, 'Operation Turning Tables'
Investigators worked since June to identify shoplifters who stole large amounts of merchandise from retail stores in Anderson. The shoplifters would sell stolen merchandise for a fraction of its retail value to others, referred to as fences. These people would then resell the stolen merchandise at flea markets for a profit, according to a press release form the Sheriff's Office. Troy Fowler, 75, of Piedmont; William "Billy" O'Leary, 44, of Anderson; and Peggy O'Leary, 41, of Anderson were identified by deputies as suspected fences, arrested and charged with organized retail theft. Search warrants were executed at the suspects' properties where an estimated $121,997 of stolen merchandise was recovered. The arrests were made as a part of "Operation Turning Tables" that included investigators from the Anderson County Sheriff's Office, Home Depot, CVS, T.J. Maxx, Belk and Publix. independentmail.com

3. $5.9M - North Haven Man Pleads Guilty in U.S. Court to Role in Large-Scale $5.9M Fencing Operation; Using Boosters With Opioid Addictions - Facing 15 Yrs in Fed Prison
PAUL WILLIAM MUZYKA, 48, of North Haven, pleaded guilty in U.S. court to charges related to his role in a large-scale fencing operation.

According to court documents and statements made in court, MUZYKA helped operate a licensed secondhand store, Ace Amusements, located at 42 Kimberly Avenue in New Haven. At Ace Amusements, MUZYKA and others knowingly purchased stolen property from "boosters," who typically were shoplifters with opioid addictions. The boosters stole the goods from retail stores such as Home Depot, Walmart, Target and Kohl's, and sold the goods at Ace Amusements for approximately one-third of their retail prices. MUZYKA and others then resold the stolen goods at Ace Amusements, and also online at websites such as eBay.

The loss attributed this scheme exceeds $5.9 million.

MUZYKA pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit the interstate transport of stolen property, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and one count of interstate transport of stolen property, an an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. A sentencing date is not scheduled. justice.gov

4. $5.M - CC Cloning Gang Member - Syracuse Woman Sentenced to 51 Months in Fed Prison
Taylor Boyd-White Used Stolen Credit Card Numbers for Two Years. Many of the stolen credit card accounts were purchased from computer hackers located overseas. She and her co-conspirators used the cloned credit cards to purchase thousands of dollars in merchandise and prepaid gift cards. Members of the conspiracy later used these to purchase United States Postal Service money orders, which they converted to cash. Boyd-White's criminal conduct spanned from 2014 through 2016 and took place in Syracuse, as well as the state of Georgia. justice.gov
 



San Angelo, TX: Police searching for 2 men disguised as Walmart employees
The San Angelo Police Department is urging two men to turn themselves in after a video showed them stealing goods from Walmart while wearing employee vests. The men entered an employee only area of Walmart, took two employee vests, then stole items around the store while disguised as employees, according to a post on the department's Facebook page. The video showed them taking items from an aisle and putting them into a black bin. They left in a white Subaru. "If this is you, please turn yourselves in," the post stated. "It will spare you both the embarrassment of a wanted poster being circulated about crimes committed during a pandemic." gosanangelo.com

Cary, IL: Arrest warrant issued for 1 of 3 suspects who burglarized Cary store of $8K in electronics
A Chicago man has been charged in connection with the burglary of Cary Grove Computers in Cary in January, police said. Nearly $8,000 worth of electronics were taken. David A. Smith, 33, was charged with burglary, theft between $500-$10,000, possession of burglary tools and criminal damage to property. Smith was identified on social media after being arrested and charged for a similar incident in Chicago. lakemchenryscanner.com

Santa Ana, CA: California Highway Patrol nabs pair for retail thefts
On 04/23 at approximately 1515 hours, Border Division CHP Organized Retail Crime Task Force Sergeant J. Kelley and Investigator J. Campbell were contacted by the CHP – Santa Ana Area office regarding a high-speed pursuit that had just occurred in Costa Mesa. CHP Officer Mackay had initiated a traffic stop on SR-73. During a vehicle inventory of the suspect vehicle, officers noticed a large quantity of new retail items from CVS Pharmacy and Rite Aid. The CHP ORC Task Force was called when CHP officers on scene recognized that the large number of brand new items, most of them the same product, in the vehicle as being consistent with retail theft. Upon further investigation by the ORC Task Force it was discovered the suspects had been committing thefts earlier in the day at CVS and Rite Aid within the cities of Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, and Irvine prior to being stopped by CHP. Approximately $5,000 worth of stolen property was discovered inside the suspect vehicle. oc-breeze.com

Riverhead, NY: Another vacuum thief at Riverhead Target
Dyson vacuums continued to be a hot item at one Riverhead store, from which they’ve been reported stolen again, according to police. A woman stole a Dyson vacuum cleaner from the Target store on Route 58 last Thursday night. On March 27, police had received a report that two men stole three Dyson vacuum cleaners from the same store. timesreview.com

Riverhead, NY: Police investigating Home Depot employee theft of nearly $2,000 in merchandise

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Shootings & Deaths


Update: El Paso, TX: Death toll reaches 23 from Last Year’s Mass Shooting at Walmart
The death toll from a mass shooting last August at an El Paso, Texas, Walmart store has climbed to 23 after the last victim left hospitalized from the rampage succumbed to his injuries over the weekend, the hospital said on Sunday. “After a nearly nine-month fight, our hearts are heavy as we report Guillermo 'Memo' Garcia, our last remaining patient being treated from the El Paso shooting, has passed away,” said, David Shimp, chief executive of Del Sol Medical Center in El Paso. Garcia was a youth soccer coach who was on a fundraising event with his team outside the store on the morning of Aug. 3, 2019, when a man opened fire on shoppers with an AK-47 rifle in a massacre prosecutors have branded an anti-Hispanic hate crime. About four dozen people were struck by gunfire, and 20 were killed outright. Two more victims died of their wounds two days later. kfgo.com

San Antonio, TX: Man shot after trying to break up fight outside Gas Station
 



Robberies, Incidents & Thefts

Nassau County, NY: Man Pretending To Be Cop Charged With Robbing Nassau Lowe's
Police say a man who was just released from Rikers Island pretended to be a police officer and robbed a Long Island Lowe's with a nail gun. They say 51-year-old Sekou Shutsha tried to steal some items at the North Lawrence store Tuesday. Security intervened, but according to reports, he claimed he was a police officer and displayed alleged phony identification. Security told police he then said he had a gun and threatened to kill people in the store. Nassau police say Shutsha had recently been released from Rikers Island where he was awaiting trial for multiple other alleged crimes, and for allegedly not showing up to court. He was charged with robbery, criminal possession of a weapon and menacing. news12.com

Charles City, IA: Kmart employee gets a deferred judgment in $6,200 cash and merchandise theft
The Charles City Kmart closed in early February of 2020. The employees of the local superstore were keyed in on this fact months before – as early as October of 2019. After this, Kenin Neve, 28 started to nab merchandise from the economically collapsing store. Neve ended up stealing over $6,200 worth of cash and merchandise from the store – accumulating a 2nd degree theft and Class D felony count. Neve pleaded guilty to the charges as security and management were able to spot him stealing money from the store’s cash bags. The district judge placed a civil penalty of $750 on Neve. In addition, he would be under 2 to 3 years of probation and would need to repay Kmart $5,645. kchanews.com

San Francisco, CA: 2 women face charges after allegedly stealing from Walgreens while claiming to have COVID-19
 



Credit Card Fraud

Brooke County, WV: Three people were arrested following a Credit Card Fraud investigation
David Alexander Cole, Kabir Alaniye-Aderemi, and James France Conteh, all from New York, are facing charges of possessing credit card making equipment, conspiracy to commit a felony, obstructing an officer, and possession of a controlled substance. Deputies located several credit cards as well as a portable Bluetooth magnetic card reader/writer in the suspects’ vehicle. They were initially arrested and charged with obstructing for being from the state of New York and traveling to West Virginia and failing to quarantine, per Governor Jim Justice’s executive order. wtov9.com

Lincoln, CA: Police seeking 2 suspected Credit Card thieves, used card to purchase Apple Watches, AirPods and Gift Cards at Target

Columbus, OH: Identity Thief hits Lowe’s for $800 in merchandise
 


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C-Store – Easton, MD - Robbery
C-Store – Bradley County, TN – Burglary
C-Store- Troy, NY – Burglary
Clothing – Memphis, TN – Burglary
Dollar General – Charlotte, NC – Armed Robbery
Dollar General – Brooklyn, MD - Armed Robbery
Family Dollar – Akron, OH – Burglary
Gas Station – Grove City, OH – Armed Robbery
Gas Station – Otsego County, NY - Robbery
Guns – Davenport, NY – Burglary
Guns - Slidell, LA – Burglary
Jewelry – Los Angeles, CA – Burglary
Jewelry – Scottsdale, AZ - Burglary
Lowe’s – Shawnee County, KS – Burglary
Lowe’s Nassau County, NY – Armed Robbery
Restaurant – Brooklyn, MD - Armed Robbery (Subway)
Restaurant – Hicksville, NY – Robbery (Dunkin)
Restaurant – Newark, NJ - Burglary (Wendy’s)
Restaurant – Madison, WI – Burglary
Restaurant – Houston, TX – Burglary (Taco Bell)
Restaurant – Houston, TX – Burglary (Burger King)
Restaurant – Houston, TX – Armed Robbery / Delv. Driver wounded
Restaurant – Washington, DC – Burglary
Rite Aid – Richland, WA – Robbery
Rite Aid – Fontana, CA – Armed Robbery
T-Mobile - Rohnert Park, CA - Burglary
7-Eleven – Oxnard, CA – Armed Robbery
7-Eleven – Wichita Falls, TX – Armed Robbery

 

Daily Totals:
• 12 robberies
• 15 burglaries
• 0 shooting
• 0 killed



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