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5/9/23

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Checkpoint expands retail security offerings

As thieves go high tech, retailers go even-higher tech.

Retail theft is on the rise, with “shrinkage” amounting to $94.5 billion in losses in 2022 alone, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). And the perpetrators are no longer just petty thieves in it for personal gain. A recent study by the group suggests the theft is due increasingly to organized retail crime (ORC) rings.

Now retailers and their security partners are fighting back by building an arsenal of high-tech tools, including radio-frequency identification (RFID) and RF scanners, and internet of things (IoT) networks. To that end, Philadelphia-based Checkpoint Systems Inc. recently acquired the Danish firm Alert Systems in order to expand its portfolio of anti-theft solutions to include metal and magnet detectors.

Together, the partners plan to help their customers—such as supermarkets, fashion stores, pharmacies, and other retail outlets—identify the tools and techniques used by criminals so they can stop them in their tracks. According to Checkpoint President Ben Lilienthal, these tools include booster bags (handmade containers lined with foil used to block RF scanners) and detachers (magnets used to detach security tags).

Read more here

The U.S. Crime Surge
The Retail Impact

Businesses Fend for Themselves Amid Chicago Burglary Surge
Chicago PD tells businesses to buy Riot Glass product to prevent burglaries

Employees of Chicago businesses said police response times continue slowing

The Chicago Police Department advised businesses in one area of the city to purchase a special kind of glass shield in order to help prevent burglaries.

In a community alert sent out after a string of burglaries in Chicago's Wicker Park and Humboldt Park, police recommended businesses use ArmorPlast, a type of invisible shatterproof shield produced by a company called Riot Glass that is installed over existing glass, to protect themselves, according to a CBS News report Monday.

The advice came after a string of burglaries in the area, with Chicago Police noting that most of the burglaries showed similar characteristics. According to the alert, thieves typically break in from side or front glass windows using rocks, bricks or a crowbar, then enter the business to steal money and other items such as liquor.

Chicago Police specifically pointed to ArmorPlast in the alert, which founder Brad Campbell says can help keep thieves out of businesses.

"We want to keep the bad guys outside the building - and that's what the product does," he told CBS News.

According to Chicago Police Department data, burglaries in the city are on pace to reach 2,253 this year, which would represent a 6% increase over 2022 numbers.

The rise in what some have called "smash and grabs" have employees in businesses throughout the city on edge, with some reporting being the target of multiple burglaries in recent months. foxbusiness.com

San Francisco's Retail Crime Exodus Making More Headlines
San Francisco's Criminals and Crack Heads Lose Another Big Retailer to Loot

Soon there will be three fewer department stores for looters to pick clean in San Francisco.

Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, and Saks Off Fifth are all bailing out of what used to be a safer and more vibrant city. Nordstrom cites “rampant criminal activity” and blight as the chief reasons it’s pulling up stakes.

As we’ve reported, Whole Foods closed a key store recently in what used to be a lovely area before drug-addled “homeless” people and “organized retail theft” gangsters began stealing the merchandise. The city “leaders” chose not to enforce laws against tent-dwelling, fentanyl zombies, and crackheads. As a result, the people who are not tent-dwelling fentanyl zombies and crackheads decided to follow the employers and leave. This is what we call a market tell.

When Walgreens closed five stores, Mayor London Breed claimed the retailer did it only to cut costs. It was true. Walgreens got tired of – together now – tent-dwelling fentanyl zombies, crackheads, and organized retail theft gangs stealing its stuff. The pharmacy and all-purpose store had to spend fifty times more on security for its San Francisco stores than its others. Security staff could only wave at thieves as they walked out with $950 worth of stuff.

California and San Francisco have become sanctuaries for addicts and criminals. They can rip off $950 worth of loot before it becomes a felony. Now, after these “leaders” agitated to go easy on criminals, there are more criminals. That which is rewarded is repeated.

Abercrombie & Fitch left for the same reason. Ditto for Anthropologie. H&M and Uniqlo had to close most of their stores because San Francisco’s honored-citizen crackheads kept ripping them off.

San Francisco is killing itself. Too bad the people running it don’t know CPR. pjmedia.com

Retailers Crack Down on Soaring Self-Checkout Theft
Aldi rival takes new measures to tackle soaring self-checkout theft – but it will impact how you shop

Grocery chain and Aldi rival Giant has announced a major change to self-checkout as shoplifting and crime soar.

Giant is now limiting self-checkout kiosks to 20 items per customer. In addition, Giant stores now close at 10pm. Both new rules are in response to an increase in shoplifting and crime. At one location in Annandale, Virginia, additional security guards are also being added.

A note from the president of Giant Food, Ira Kress, has been placed in the store, according to Annandale Today.

“Due to a significant increase in crime and theft that we and many other retailers are experiencing across our market area, we have made several changes to our operating procedures to mitigate the impact of theft to our business," the note read.

Many shoppers have shared their thoughts on the matter with Annandale Today. "It’s awful and unfortunate that they have to do this," one person commented. Others suggested that security guards checking receipts as shoppers exit is necessary at stores.

Many stores across the country have responded to the increase in theft. Ikea recently announced increased anti-theft measures. Its new San Francisco store will be equipped with 24/7 security, the company told The San Francisco Standard.

“The safety of our co-workers and customers is always the highest priority for Ikea. Ikea San Francisco, which will be part of a new meeting place from Ingka Centres on Market Street, will be staffed with a security team at all times,” an Ikea spokesperson told the outlet.

This rivals the likes of Walmart and Target stores, which don't all offer the same security protections. the-sun.com

Crime Crisis Putting Big Cities at Risk of Turning into 'Ghost Towns'
Are the Bay Area’s largest downtowns caught in a doom loop?

San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland are all facing crises at their urban cores

Nordstrom confirmed last week it plans to close the flagship store this summer, along with the nearby Nordstrom Rack — two of the most prominent department stores in the heart of the city. The company cited the changing “dynamics” of downtown, a thinly veiled reference to the perception that crime and homelessness are out of control.

Police data may show otherwise — violent crime has actually fallen in San Francisco in recent years, though property crimes have spiked. And unlike most of the rest of the Bay Area, the city’s homeless population dipped slightly in 2022, according to the latest count. Still, there’s no doubt that San Francisco’s downtown is in crisis.

It’s not the only one. All three of the Bay Area’s largest cities are staring down huge setbacks to their efforts to revitalize urban cores hollowed out by a once-in-a-generation pandemic.

Factors cited in the decline of these Bay Area downtowns are numerous: crime, homelessness, income inequality, remote work, online shopping, housing shortages and poor transit alternatives. As the region emerges from the pandemic, an existential question has emerged: Are these challenges the beginning of a “doom loop” that effectively transforms downtowns into ghost towns? Or will the Bay reimagine its relationship with its city centers? mercurynews.com

Another Retailer Ditches San Francisco
T-Mobile becomes San Francisco's latest retail casualty as phone carrier shutters flagship store

Latest storefront vacancy in the Union Square neighborhood

T-Mobile’s two-story flagship location in San Francisco’s Union Square neighborhood was permanently shuttered, with a note now directing customers to instead visit two other locations in the city, according to the San Francisco Business Times.

The building broke price records for the area back when it was sold in 2013 at $50 million, according to the outlet, but now the building joins other properties sitting vacant in the city. The 17,000-square-foot space was previously occupied for decades by an Apple flagship location until it moved to a large location in 2016.

This notches the third storefront in a row in Union Square that sits unoccupied, joining a 19,000-square-foot building on Stockton Street that previously had a storefront for Armani Exchange, and a 10,387-square-foot space that was previously home to a Disney store location, according to the San Francisco Business Times. foxbusiness.com

118 Law Enforcement Line of Duty Killings in 2022
FBI Releases 2022 Statistics on Law Enforcement Officers Killed in the Line of Duty
According to statistics reported to the FBI by March 1, 2023, 118 law enforcement officers were killed in line-of-duty incidents in 2022. Of these, 60 officers died as a result of felonious acts, and 58 officers died in accidents.

Felonious Deaths

Sixty officers were feloniously killed in 2022, a decrease of 17.8% when compared to the 73 officers who were killed as a result of criminal acts in 2021. The 60 felonious deaths occurred in 28 states and the District of Columbia.

The five- and 10-year comparisons show an increase of three felonious deaths when compared with the 2018 figure (57 officers) and an increase of 33 deaths when compared with 2013 data (27 officers).

Circumstances Encountered by Victim Officer Upon Arrival at Scene of Incident

Of the 60 officers feloniously killed:

• Six officers were killed in unprovoked attacks.
• 12 officers died as a result of investigative/enforcement activities.
• 12 officers were ambushed (entrapment/premeditation).
• Four officers encountered/assisted an emotionally disturbed person.
• Four officers were involved in pursuits.
• Six officers responded to disorders/disturbances.
• Six officers were involved in tactical situations.
• One officer was involved in arrest situation.
• Three officers responded to crimes in progress.
• Three officers were assisting other law enforcement officers.
• Two were serving/attempting to serve a court order (eviction notice, subpoena, etc.).
• One officer was providing/deploying equipment (flares, traffic cones, etc.).

Weapons: Offenders used firearms to kill 49 of the 60 victim officers. Three officers were killed with vehicles used as weapons. Eight officers were killed by the offender’s use of personal weapons (hand, fists, feet, etc.)

Suspects: Law enforcement agencies identified 51 alleged assailants in connection with the felonious line-of-duty deaths. 10 of the assailants had prior criminal arrests. Two of the offenders were under judicial supervision at the times of the felonious incidents. fbi.gov

Violence Against Security Guards
2023 Quarterly Private Security Statistics

On-Duty Security Officer Deaths: 29
On Duty Security Officer Suicide: 1
Security Officers Shot: 68
Security Officers Stabbed: 18
Security Officer Assaults: 587
Fatal Shootings by Security: 23
Security Involved Shootings: 147
Security Officers Carjacked: 5
Security Officers Disarmed: 4
Security Officers Arrested: 87

Data was collected through police reports, media releases, news articles and public records. These numbers are lower than actual numbers because not all incidents are reported to police, nor are they made publicly available in the media or public records. PrivateOfficer.org

Bellingham stores beef up security in response to rising crime

New Orleans DA sounds alarm on crime surge: 'This is a triage moment'

More Fallout from Texas Mall Mass Shooting

Texas Mall Shut Down 'Indefinitely' After Mass Shooting Attack
Simon Property Group lists mass shootings as a top threat to their business

Outlet mall ‘closed indefinitely’ after Allen shooting on Saturday

Simon Property Group reopened a mall in Greenwood, Ind., two days after a mass shooting last summer.

Allen Premium Outlets is “closed indefinitely” after Saturday’s mass shooting, and the company has listed the mall as closed through at least Sunday on its website, which is a departure from how the shopping center’s owner has responded after other recent shootings.

“The shopping center is closed indefinitely,” said Megan Hakes, a spokeswoman for the mall’s owner, Simon Property Group. She added it’s a “fluid situation.”

Simon is the largest U.S. mall operator and last year had revenue of $5.29 billion and a profit of $2.14 billion. Simon-owned and other malls bounced back from the COVID-19 pandemic as shoppers felt more comfortable returning to everyday activities like going to the mall.

Simon lists mass shootings, random acts of violence and consumer perceptions of safety among the risks that could materially and adversely affect its business.

“Concern around safety risk may impact the willingness of consumers, tenants and tenants’ employees to shop and/or work at our properties, which could result in decreased consumer traffic and decreased sales at our properties, directly and indirectly impacting our revenue and overall asset value,” the company said in its most recent annual filing.

The mass shooting at the outlet mall Saturday was not the first for Indianapolis-based Simon, which has more than 200 U.S. properties.

Last summer, a gunman killed three people in the food court of its Greenwood Park Mall in Greenwood, Ind., before he was shot by an armed civilian. dallasnews.com

Store Associate Saved More Than a Dozen People Before Being Killed
Texas mass shooting survivor says a store employee who was killed saved her and 12 others by hiding them in a bathroom closet

The woman said she later saw the store employee's dead body while being evacuated from the scene.

A survivor of the Texas mass shooting at a mall on Saturday said that she and 12 others were saved by an employee who was later killed. Racquel Lee, a mother of two, told CBS News Texas she was shopping at the Allen Premium Outlets mall when the gunman began shooting.

"It sounded like a war zone," Lee told the outlet. "It was horrifying and it felt like you were in a dream, like, just shock." Lee said that an employee gathered her and 12 others and hid them inside a store's bathroom closet.

"We were just in the closet trying not to be heard crying, praying, people were trying to call 911, we couldn't dial out," Lee said. "I just remember thinking, 'oh god, he's coming in here next.' I was crouching down like 'I hope we don't get hit by a bullet," a visibly emotional Lee told the outlet.

"The store associate saved our lives," she said.

Lee said the group walked over "bullets and bodies" as they left the mall — including the body of the store employee who had saved them. insider.com cbsnews.com

Allen mall shooting: What we know about the victims

Allen, Texas, mall shooting suspect Mauricio Garcia had brief stint in the US Army

Allen Premium Outlets is one of the busiest North Texas shopping centers

Workplace Injuries Fueled By New & Aging Employees
Age, Experience Matter in Cost of Workplace Injuries

Employees in their first year on a job account for 34% of workers' compensation claims, resulting in 7 million missed workdays.

After examing more than 1.2 million worker compensation claims from 2016 to 2020, a new study from The Travelers Companies, Inc. shows that an employee’s time spent in a particular role and their age were driving factors in injury frequency and cost of claims, respectively.

“The data clearly highlights two populations to watch when it comes to workplace injuries: new and aging employees,” said Rich Ives, vice president of Business Insurance Claim, Travelers, in a statement. “As employers navigate turnover and a multigenerational workforce, it’s important that they stay aware of the risks that come with changing worker demographics so they can help keep employees safe and businesses running.”

Employees in their first year on a job, regardless of their age or industry experience, represented more than one-third (34%) of all claims and accounted for nearly 7 million missed workdays due to injury.

Though they were injured less often than most other age groups, employees ages 60 and older had higher average costs per claim, totaling nearly 15% more than employees between the ages of 35 and 49 and approximately 140% more than those ages 18 to 24. ehstoday.com

Retail CEOs Speak Out Over Proposed Merger
Kroger, Albertsons CEOs Counter Myths About Merger

Executives clarify intentions and actions in letter published in the Cincinnati Enquirer

The CEOs are speaking out. Vivek Sankaran of Albertsons Cos., Inc. and Rodney McMullen of The Kroger Co. shared a jointly-penned opinion letter to the editors of the Cincinnati Enquirer and Cincinnati.com.

In the April 28 message, the leaders sought to dispel misconceptions around the proposed merger between their organizations. They emphasized their respective legacies of serving customers while also pointing to the marketplace changes that led to their decision to pool their businesses.

The piece called out three specific myths surrounding the pending merger. First, they sought to allay concerns about store closings, noting that Kroger has committed to “zero store closures” as a result of the business move. The CEOs also tamped down rumors about job losses, reiterating the point that “no frontline workers will be laid off as a result of the merger.”

Finally, the executives addressed perceptions around price. “We have seen claims we will lower prices by squeezing farmers. This is simply not accurate. Farmers are the backbone of our business and help put fresh, affordable food on families’ tables daily,” Sankaran and McMullen declared, adding that the combined organization aims to offer lower prices and more choices for shoppers. progressivegrocer.com

REI's Nationwide Unionization Push
Chicago REI store workers vote to join union

The store becomes the outdoors retailer’s fourth with a unionized staff.

Workers at the Near North Side store of REI have voted to unionize, part of a nationwide push to organize at the outdoors retailer.

Employees at the 905 W. Eastman St. store voted to affiliate with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. The proposed bargaining unit will cover about 64 employees.

Organizers cited a “living wage” and more predictable hours as key goals for collective bargaining. They also cited a pattern of unfair treatment by REI, a company based near Seattle that is organized as a co-op.

“This is a win for the people who REI has unfairly fired, denied transfers and promotions to, denied the opportunity to flourish in the proper department and so many other grievances,” said employee Sarah Diefenbach, a member of the store’s organizing committee, in a statement provided by the union. chicago.suntimes.com

Bed Bath & Beyond to pay out severance to 1,300 workers after initially bypassing law
Bed Bath & Beyond is now paying out severance to nearly 1,300 workers it will lay off, public records show, after the retail chain faced backlash for effectively bypassing that law.

Subway locations hit lowest level since 2005 as company looks to sell

Imports expected to remain below 2022 for most of this year

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Businesses Embrace AI While Consumers Think Twice
Consumer skepticism is the biggest barrier to AI-driven personalization
Businesses worldwide are eagerly embracing the potential for AI to provide personalized customer experiences, but customers remain cynical, according to Twilio.

This year’s report underscores the value of an AI-driven personalization strategy for brands looking to both retain existing customers and acquire new ones, especially in today’s competitive market.

62% of business leaders cite customer retention as a top benefit of personalization, while nearly 60% say personalization is an effective strategy for acquiring new customers.

Consumers also increasingly confirm the value of personalization, with 56% saying they will become repeat buyers after a personalized experience, a 7% lift from last year’s report. These findings clearly point to a growing opportunity to build customer loyalty and lifetime value by engaging consumers with tailored experiences. During this time of uncertainty in the macro economic climate, businesses shouldn’t let potential ROI like this pass them by.

The report also shines a light on how a staggering amount of businesses are experimenting with AI to differentiate and drive business growth, but it also provides guidance on how to get this right, starting with the critical need to raise consumer confidence in the technology.

AI becomes a game-changer for businesses

To power even more sophisticated real-time customer experiences, the vast majority of businesses are turning to AI to harness high volumes of real-time data and power their personalization efforts. According to the report, 92% of businesses are now using AI-driven personalization to drive business growth.

However, a disconnect exists between this enthusiasm and the comfort level of consumers: only 41% of consumers are comfortable with companies using AI to personalize their experiences, and 51% of consumers trust brands to keep their personal data secure and use it responsibly.

To effectively leverage intelligence technology in a way that strikes a balance with the current comfort level of consumers, businesses must first establish a baseline of trust about the data used to deliver that personalization.

“While our report shows that businesses are racing to implement AI-powered personalization, and reaping benefits like boosting customer lifetime value as a result, it’s crucial they don’t overlook the importance of trust and transparency,” concluded Wong. helpnetsecurity.com

Ransomware Crackdown Beginning to Make Progress
Government, Industry Efforts to Thwart Ransomware Slowly Start to Pay Off

Public-private collaboration, law enforcement, and better defenses are helping make inroads in the war against ransomware, according to the Ransomware Task Force.

It may seem counterintuitive given its regularity of ransomware attacks today, but these debilitating cyberattacks actually declined for the first time ever in 2022, thanks to actions and policy changes implemented by enterprises and governments in countries around the world.

This bit of good news comes courtesy of the Ransomware Task Force (RTF), an industry group founded by the Institute for Security and Technology (IST) during the height of the COVID-19-onset rise in ransomware. In its May 2023 progress report, RTF announced that of its 48 recommendations for how society could fight back against the scourge of ransomware, a full 92% have already been addressed in one way or another.

The results of this progress are already showing up in the data and being felt on the ground.

"I think it's reasonable to compare ransomware to COVID," says Curt Franklin, principal analyst for enterprise security management at Omdia. "We're past the epidemic and into the endemic. It is not the constant in your face. Now it's just part of the everyday cybercrime background that we all deal with."

Still, ransomware attacks continue. New threat actors are still cropping up every week, getting better at what they do and always evolving their tactics and technologies to circumvent our best defenses. Major, multimillion-dollar attacks — the likes of which would've seemed extreme even just a couple of years ago — continue to befall both enterprises and government targets. Just last week, for instance, the Sheriff's Department in San Bernardino, California admitted to paying off a ransom of $1.1 million.

RTF was founded in Dec. 2020, bringing together dozens of leaders from organizations as far and wide as Microsoft, Bank of America, Mandiant, the US Department of Justice, and Europol. In April 2021 the group released its inaugural report, centered around "a comprehensive framework of actions (48 in total) that government and industry leaders can pursue to significantly disrupt the ransomware business model and mitigate the impact of these attacks in the immediate and longer terms."

It would've been easy to lose track of all those actions or ignore them entirely. Instead, "two years later, we have seen impressive moves by industry, US, and partner governments toward implementing these recommendations," the authors of the newest report wrote. darkreading.com

Banning Ransomware Payments?
White House considers ban on ransom payments, with caveats

Experts suggest the effort, a reversal from the administration’s previous stance, is fraught with complications that could cause unintended consequences.

The White House and international partners in the fight against ransomware are considering a ban on ransom payments, eyeing a new and complicated means to counter financially motivated threat actors.

It’s a potential move cyber authorities have grappled with in the U.S. government, bilaterally and multilaterally, as part of the International Counter Ransomware Initiative, Anne Neuberger, deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technologies, said Friday during a presentation at the Institute for Security and Technology’s Ransomware Task Force event.

Specific conditions would warrant a waiver to the ban, especially in cases where a ransomware group is preventing the delivery of critical services, pending proper notification and permission from the pertinent government agency, Neuberger said.

“Do we ban ransomware with a waiver?” Neuberger said. “Fundamentally, money drives ransomware and for an individual entity it may be that they make a decision to pay, but for the larger problem of ransomware that is the wrong decision.” cybersecuritydive.com

North Korean Cyber Espionage Group
North Korean APT Uses Malicious Microsoft OneDrive Links to Spread New Malware

ReconShark, aimed at gaining initial access to targeted systems, is a component of previous malware used by the Kimsuky group.

North Korean cyber espionage group Kimsuky has expanded its attack arsenal with a new spear-phishing campaign that uses Microsoft OneDrive links in documents armed with malicious macros that drop novel reconnaissance malware.

The campaign shows the longstanding APT wielding new malware dubbed ReconShark that's a component of — and thus named for — a custom malware variant called BabyShark previously used in campaigns toward the end of last year. darkreading.com

Western Digital Confirms Customer Data Stolen in Ransomware Attack

1M NextGen Patient Records Compromised in Data Breach

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Online Shopping Scams the 2nd Most Reported Fraud Type
How to avoid this common social media shopping scam
Social media apps aren't just a place for people to share photos and connect with friends. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are rife with scam artists looking to prey on young people who are susceptible to buying things they see advertised on the apps.

In 2022, online shopping scams were the second-most reported type of fraud to the Federal Trade Commission, behind investment scams. Not all of the cases reported took place on social media apps, but fraudsters are increasingly targeting the platforms to take advantage of unsuspecting users.

Scammers pose as businesses selling products like clothing, home goods and jewelry but in some cases, never deliver the goods, and steal individuals' credit card information.

The products in question are ones "that either don't show up at all or that show up not being quite what people ordered," Wall Street Journal reporter Julie Jargon told CBS News.

If you're shown a targeted shopping ad on a social media feed, don't make a purchase directly through the app. Click through to the seller's website and try to verify its legitimacy.

"It's best to open a new browser and go to the product or company's website and check that out first to see if it's legitimate," Jargon said. "The other thing to do is just to Google the company or product."

"The old adage that if it looks too good to be true then it probably is, is one of those key things to remember," Jargon warned.

There have also been instances of consumers handing over their credit card details only to receive empty boxes or plastic bags instead of home-organizing containers.

"There are things that are complete scams," Jargon said. She spoke to a woman who purchased what were advertised as plastic shoe containers on TikTok. cbsnews.com

UK Amazon Workers Will Vote on Strikes Again
More UK Amazon workers to vote on strike action

More Amazon workers are to vote on whether to strike over pay.

GMB union members in Rugeley, Staffordshire, and Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, will vote in the next few weeks. It comes after numerous days of industrial action in Coventry which the union says has had a "domino effect".

Amazon said it regularly reviewed pay to ensure competitive wages and recently announced another increase for UK teams.

The GMB is not recognised in the UK by the US firm, but workers have since submitted a request for union recognition, after the union says it reached the membership threshold for mandatory recognition.

This could mark Amazon's first union recognition in Europe. bbc.com

E-Commerce And Third-Party Services: Are They Putting You At Risk?

Amazon settles case after driver totaled woman’s car in her driveway

Port St Lucie, FL: Former Sam's Club Employee accused of fraudulently returning over $100K worth of items
A Sam's Club employee on the Treasure Coast was busted by police. The Port St. Lucie police say the employee at the Gatlin Boulevard store in Port St. Lucie was involved in a scheme, in which she used six figures worth of goods from the store as cover for fraudulent transactions. Over the last 3 months, police say 32-year-old Keondra Breland of Fort Pierce made 36 fraudulent returns at the store, where she credited more than $100,000 onto debit cards in her family’s name. She was caught on video entering a stolen code from a manager to commit fraudulent transactions at the store. “This is all about greed and this is all about consistently doing it, and in this case, did it once, did it two times, but we did get involved, we were able to stop the activity and she’s been arrested and charged with significant crimes,” PSLPD Acting Assistant Chief Marc DiMeo said of the situation. Police say that between February and April, Breland scanned the barcodes of high-priced items that never left the store on numerous occasions, crediting more than $103,000 worth of returns to debit cards belonging to her and her family. cbs12.com

Manteca, CA: Alleged ORC thief was also wanted for attempted murder
On 05/08/2023 the Organize Retail Crime Unit assisted Kohl’s Loss Prevention with a suspected retail theft / identity theft involving two individuals. The individuals were later identified as 45-year-old Tommy Lee Taylor Jr and 41 year old Stephanie Marie Douglas both out of Modesto CA. Taylor Provided a false name to Detectives to hide his identity. During the investigation Taylor was positively identified and found to be wanted by Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Dept for multiple felony crimes including attempted murder, felony reckless driving while evading police, and felony transportation of narcotics. Taylor also had warrants in Mendocino County. Taylor and Douglas were arrested for ID Theft, Retail Theft, possession of a narcotic (Fentanyl), and drug paraphernalia as a result of their criminal activity today in Manteca. abc10.com

Gastonia, NC: Update: Arrest made in $80,000 Kohl's jewelry robbery
A Bessemer City man is facing charges in connection with the armed robbery of approximately $80,000 worth of jewelry from a Gastonia Kohl's in mid-January, police said. Gastonia police responded to an armed robbery at Kohl's on East Franklin Boulevard on Jan. 17. Surveillance video showed the suspect, identified as 31-year-old James Randall Willard, smashing a jewelry case that had several wedding rings and other items. The suspect then pepper-sprayed an employee who approached him. Willard was in jail in another county on unrelated charges when detectives identified him as the suspect, according to the Gastonia Police Department. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Willard in connection with the robbery. He's being held in the Gaston County Jail under a $52,000 bond. A similar robbery was reported at Kohl's in Matthews in January 2022. A suspect who stole approximately $51,000 worth of jewelry was arrested in February. wcnc.com

Ottumwa, IA: Hy-Vee employee busted for over $10,000 theft in Lotto and fake Refunds

Schuylkill County, PA: PA State Police investigating a $2000 theft at Walmart

Pueblo West, CO: Police investigating 2 Pueblo West theft suspects at Walmart

Prattville, AL: Police investigating the theft of electronic shooters from Walmart

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Shootings & Deaths

Lawrence, IN: Female employee dies after shooting at Dollar Tree; former employee facing preliminary murder charge
A woman has died after she was shot while working inside a Dollar Tree in Lawrence Monday afternoon. Police said the shooting happened in the Dollar Tree located at 10555 Pendleton Pike, near East 56th Street and Sunnyside Road, around 1:30 p.m. Chief of Police Gary Woodruff told 13News that the shooting was not believed to be a random act and said the suspect knew the female employee. The circumstance surrounding the shooting is still under investigation. Medics took the woman to a hospital in critical condition, but she later died from her injuries. Witnesses at the scene told 13News that they got a frightening call from a family member who was inside the store and heard gunshots. Woodruff said the suspect, 21-year-old Jalen Thomas, has preliminarily been charged with murder. Thomas is a former employee of the Dollar Tree where the shooting happened. The Marion County prosecutor will determine formal charges. wthr.com

Moultrie, GA: McDonald’s worker lures Manager to door, then shoots and kills her
A Georgia man is accused of shooting and killing three people, including his manager, state investigators say. Surveillance video shows Kentavious White, 26, called his manager to the door of a McDonald’s in Moultrie before shooting and killing her, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. White then turned the gun on himself, agents said. Authorities responded to the restaurant May 4 and found their bodies inside, investigators said. The woman who died was identified as Amia Smith. yahoo.com

Tacoma, WA: Man stabbed to death in grocery store parking lot
The Pierce County medical examiner has determined a man who died last week in a grocery store parking lot in Tacoma was stabbed to death. The Tacoma News Tribune reported that 50-year-old Marion Hodges died of multiple stab wounds May 1. Police are continuing to investigate the incident as a homicide. Tacoma Fire Department personnel found the man in a WinCo Foods parking lot in the 1900 block of South 72nd Street after 911 dispatchers received reports of an injured man there. Life-saving measures were performed on Hodges, but he was declared dead at the scene. No arrests have been made, and police have not identified any suspects. It’s not clear whether Hodges was stabbed in the parking lot or somewhere else. news.yahoo.com

Washington, DC: Bailey's Crossroads Restaurant Shooting Kills DC Man, Pair Sought
Authorities are seeking the identity and location of a pair wanted in connection with a double weekend shooting that left a Washington DC man dead at a Fairfax County restaurant. Maurice Anderson, 24, was fatally shot, and another victim on the 3800 block of South George Mason Drive in a restaurant at the Build America Plaza, in Bailey's Crossroads, around 2:20 a.m. Sunday, May 7, county police said. dailyvoice.com

Ocean Springs, MS: Arrest made in Cinco de Mayo restaurant party shooting that killed 1, injured 6
Police in Mississippi have arrested a suspect in a shooting that left one person dead and six others injured at a restaurant during a Cinco de Mayo party. Ocean Springs police announced the arrest in a statement Saturday evening. Police Chief Mark Dunston declined to release the suspect's name, citing the ongoing investigation. “Detectives are continuing to conduct interviews and do not want details to taint any forthcoming information,” Dunston said. The suspect was charged with first-degree murder, though additional charges were possible, Ocean Springs Police Capt. Ryan LeMaire told The Sun Herald. clarionledger.com

Ashtabula, OH: Suspect ID’d in shooting outside O’Reilly’s Auto Parts
Police have released the identity of a gunman accused of shooting and killing a 46-year-old Ashtabula woman and injuring a 33-year-old man outside an auto parts store on Friday, May 5, in what appears to be a random attack. David Montalban, 54, of Ashtabula, faces felony counts of aggravated murder, murder and attempted aggravated murder, each with a firearm specification. He was arraigned Monday afternoon in Ashtabula Municipal Court, where he was declared indigent and appointed a public defender. According to an update from police Monday, officers responded to a report of a man firing multiple shots in the parking lot of O’Reilly Auto Parts along West Prospect Road just after 3 p.m. that day. fox8.com

Lincoln, NE: Smoke shop employee shot with pellet gun during robbery

Robberies, Incidents & Thefts

Nashville, TN: Woman drove truck into Family Dollar after fight with boyfriend
A woman is facing multiple charges, including attempted murder, after Metro Police say she drove her pickup truck into a Family Dollar store following an argument with her boyfriend. Police said in a tweet Monday night that Tasha Marie Bradley, 33, reportedly argued with her boyfriend in the parking lot of the Clifton Avenue store. Police said she was "attempting to locate the victim" when she drove her truck through the building. Photos from the scene show crime scene tape across a broken front door with glass completely shattered. Bradley is charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, and felony vandalism. fox17.com

Davenport, FL: RaceTrac clerk stabbed 9 times in 'random attack'
The Davenport Police Department said a RaceTrac clerk was stabbed nine times early Monday morning in an "unprovoked, random attack." The suspect has since been captured and is charged with attempted first-degree murder. Police said it happened at 4:40 a.m. at a RaceTrac on Highway 27 in Davenport. The victim, who was not identified by the police, is being treated at a local hospital and is expected to survive her injuries, Chief Steve Parker said. abcactionnews.com

Sydney, Australia: Jeweler charged with faking $2.8m heist for insurance
A luxury jeweler’s traumatised employee was tied up and threatened during an armed robbery her boss allegedly masterminded in a bid to rip off his insurer. Michel Elias Germani, 65, initially told police he and a staff member were threatened by two men at his eponymous jewelry store in Sydney’s CBD earlier this year. The pair had their feet and hands bound with cable ties before the two men fled the George St store after threatening the employee with a knife and demanding access to a safe shortly after 6.30pm on January 19. Investigators allege the robbery was a scam orchestrated by the award-winning jeweler to defraud his insurer. Court documents seen by AAP allege Germani sought $2,821,348 from Barrenjoey Insurance, underwritten by Lloyds of London, allegedly making false statements to do so. Detective Superintendent Joe Doueihi told reporters a large amount of jewelry of a “sizeable dollar amount” was claimed stolen. The innocent female staff member, who was injured in the attack, was “absolutely traumatized” and had no knowledge of the hoax, Det Supt Doueihi said. “She was under the belief that it was a genuine robbery,” he said. Police said the robbery “just didn’t seem right” and investigators concluded Germani “orchestrated the entire event”. The jeweler handed himself in on Monday afternoon. He was charged with aggravated robbery and depriving a person of their liberty, attempting to dishonestly obtain a financial advantage by deception, publishing false or misleading material to obtain property, and participating in a criminal group and contributing to criminal activity. aap.com.au

Germantown, MD: Smash-and-grab robberies investigated at mobile phone stores in Montgomery County

Champaign, IL: Women wanted for theft, pepper spraying Meijer store employee

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