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5/11/23

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Alisa Dart named SVP of Asset Protection & Safety for Dollar Tree & Family Dollar

Alisa Dart has joined the Dollar Tree & Family Dollar team as SVP of Asset Protection and Safety. She previously held leadership roles at Nordstrom, Macy's and Target, where she managed local, regional and national loss prevention teams. Most recently, she led the Asset Protection efforts at Albertsons Companies.

Alisa serves on several industry boards and councils in the Loss Prevention / Asset Protection space and was the recipient of the NRF Ring of Excellence Award in 2022. She holds a Master of Science in Criminal Social Justice and Emergency Management from Lewis University. Congratulations, Alisa!

See All the Executives 'Moving Up' Here

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ADT publishes 2022 Environmental, Social and Governance Report

I’m proud to share that ADT has published its 2022 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report, detailing our company’s journey to continuously respect the environment, promote social responsibility and lead with responsible governance.

Specifically, the 2022 ESG report details our progress in the following key areas:

ESG management - Inclusive diversity and belonging - ADT safety - Community impact - Environmental management

In addition to updates on our efforts in those categories, the ESG report highlights ADT employees’ efforts throughout the year to create safer, smarter and more sustainable communities.

The 2022 ESG report outlines additional ESG progress we made in the past year. We’re a mission-driven company, and believe our ESG work reflects our commitment to our central purpose: empowering our customers to connect and protect what matters most. By Steve Avadek May 9, 2023 adt.com

The U.S. Crime Surge
The Retail Impact

SF Lawmaker Pushes Bill to Ban Security Guards from Drawing Guns
Opponents say the legislation is 'incitement to robbery'

Woke San Francisco lawmaker is slammed over legislation to ban store security guards drawing guns after trans Walgreens shoplifter was killed
A woke San Francisco lawmaker has been slammed after pushing for legislation to ban store security guards from drawing their guns after a trans shoplifter was killed.

Dean Preston, who is an attorney and member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, caused a stir as he spoke about the death of unarmed Banko Brown, 24, who was shot by Walgreens security guard Michael Earl-Wayne Anthony.

A murder charge against him was dropped after the city's DA ruled the killing was self-defense, because Anthony feared being stabbed.

Preston said: 'Today at the Board of Supervisors I will be calling for legislation to specifically prohibit security guards from drawing their weapons to protect property.

'Human life is more important than property. We need to change our local law so that security guards cannot un-holster their weapons just to protect property.'

He doubled down on his comments today, writing on Twitter: 'Our proposal to fix San Francisco’s strange and possibly illegal law that allows a security guard to draw their gun to protect “person and/or property” should not be controversial.'

The San Francisco lawmaker's comments were faced with backlash. One person said: 'This is basically incitement to robbery.'

Another said: 'In SF they're called insecurity guards now,' while another chimed in 'There won't be any businesses left in SF to rob soon.'

Another called for Preston's resignation: 'Glad to know you continue to place a higher value on the lives of criminals than on the employees and citizens that are being violently threatened, harrassed, and attacked for simply trying to work at a low salary job or shop without threat of violence. You should resign.' dailymail.co.uk

Closing New Flagship Store After 7 Months & Multimillion-Dollar Investment
San Francisco's Doom Loop Continues

Coco Republic will close massive Union Square flagship after just seven months
In yet another major blow to downtown San Francisco's retail scene, Coco Republic announced it's pulling out of its massive 53,000-square-foot flagship bet at 55 Stockton St. less than seven months after it opened.

SFGate reported on Wednesday that the Australian home goods retailer plans to shutter the store permanently — likely before the end of July — for similar reasons as other recent exits: low customer foot traffic attributed in part to unwelcoming street conditions. The move comes in spite of a multimillion-dollar investment to transform the former Crate & Barrel store into Coco Republic's first U.S. flagship. bizjournals.com

Police Departments Nationwide Cracking Down on ORC
Boise Police Department cracking down on retail thefts
Boise Police Department (BPD) is cracking down on retail thefts with their Organized Retail Crime Unit.

Boise Police Officer, Ryan Thueson tells CBS2 the organized retail crime unit works in conjunction with nearby cities that are experiencing retail theft crimes as well as those committing crimes here in the Treasure Valley.

"Our job is to actively try and apprehend individuals who come to our city to specifically commit crimes in our retail stores. We also work to locate and apprehend the local individuals who target retail stores to steal, commit fraud, and do various activities like that," Thueson said.

Detective Thueson gave us an explanation of what organized retail theft looks like:

When we talk about organized retail crime we don't talk about individuals who walk into a store and at the last second steal a candy bar or pack of gum," he said. "A lot of the things we deal with are sophisticated schemes, people come in, they have a plan to steal or to commit fraud inside a retail store and they quickly leave."

BPD says its success comes from its partnership with retail companies that work with them to prevent these crimes from happening.

They encourage all businesses, especially local businesses to partner with the BPD unit to prevent future retail thefts. idahonews.com

'Heroic' Security Guard Saved Lives Before Being Killed in Texas Mall Shooting
Allen shooting survivor recalls security guard helping him before his death
During Tuesday’s press briefing, Allen's police chief highlighted the heroic actions of a security guard who was killed in the attack. Christian LaCour is being credited with helping one person evacuate to safety and then staying on site to help others. One of those people he helped may have been Irvin Walker.

Walker was shot in the chest after dropping off his girlfriend at a store. He told his family a security guard came to his aid. Walker’s attorney says it’s a miracle he survived the shooting.

Walker was shot in the parking lot of the Allen Premium Outlets Saturday while he was still in his vehicle. He had just dropped his girlfriend off at a store. Walker told his family right after being shot, he got out of the car. A security guard came over to help him.

"Irvin actually witnessed this guy get shot. Imagine having to deal with this," Washington said. "The thing is we try not to talk about it so much because we know the trauma. But this was a security guard that was checking on him and seeing what was wrong with him, and shortly after this guy gets shot."

During a media briefing Tuesday, Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey heralded the actions of LaCour right before his death: "We also must acknowledge the bravery of allied security guard Christian LaCour, who evacuated one individual to safety and was shot while courageously remaining to help others."

Walker’s girlfriend said she was on lockdown inside of a store during the shooting. She tried to call her boyfriend multiple times, but he never answered. Walker had a successful surgery Monday, but bullet fragments remain in his body.

From the investigative standpoint, Washington says they are looking into how many security guards were on the property at the time of the shooting. fox4news.com

In Case You Missed It: NRF Reacts to Mall Shooting
NRF Statement on Allen, Texas, Outlet Mall Shooting
WASHINGTON – The National Retail Federation today issued the following statement from Vice President of Asset Protection and Retail Operations David Johnston following the Allen, Texas, outlet mall shooting.

“On behalf of NRF staff, our members and leadership, we are horrified by the senseless loss of life on Saturday in Allen, Texas, at a retail outlet mall. We strongly encourage policymakers to find lasting solutions to prevent these needless acts of violence against innocent victims.

“The NRF Loss Prevention community has and continues to work with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other law enforcement agencies to provide active shooter resources for the retail industry. These resources are frequently reviewed to ensure they maintain the latest guidance with DHS, CISA and other agencies. We know that our retailers and malls have these guidelines, as well as their own policies, strong partnerships with law enforcement, employee training programs and updated safety protocols.

“Retailers large and small work every single day to ensure the health and safety of their employees and the customers they serve. It is a shared and urgent priority for the industry and NRF.” nrf.com

New Nationwide Crime Trend Targeting Mail Carriers
‘Outraged’ letter carriers demand action to stop robberies
Postal carriers have more worries than snow, rain or the gloom of night keeping them from their appointed rounds. They’re increasingly being robbed, often at gunpoint, from Maine to California.

Robberies of postal carriers have exploded, surging 78% to nearly 500 in 2022, according to data provided by U.S. Postal Inspection Service to The Associated Press under the Freedom of Information Act. Letter carriers are demanding action from the U.S. Postal Service.

The Postal Service said it’s adapting and implementing new measures to address the robberies, which are taking a toll on letter carriers tasked with delivering about 162.1 million pieces of first-class mail each day.

The robberies have more than quadrupled over a decade, the data show. Weapons were used in most of the 496 robberies, injuring 31 postal carriers, last year. One, Milwaukee letter carrier Aundre Cross, was shot to death, leading to three arrests.

Many of these criminals are becoming more sophisticated and organized. Some are targeting the special keys that carriers use to access collection boxes and to deliver mail in apartment buildings.

Theft of mail carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, and possession, concealment or disposal of property carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, Martel said. Assault carries a sentence of up to 10 years for a first offense, and up to 25 years for a subsequent offense, he said. fourstateshomepage.com

Why are there so many mass shootings this year?

Report: Anti-Semitic incidents up more than 40% in California & 41% in NYC

Cutting Fleet Trucking Deaths & Injuries in Half by 2030
New Fleet Trucking Safety Standards Proposed For Fundamental Safety Instruments

Instruments include telematics, pedestrian detection systems, automatic braking, airbags, side curtain airbags, side view mirrors and seatbelts.

As the 7th Annual UN Global Road Safety Week, May 15-23, begins next week, Together for Safer Roads (TSR) announces the launch of the Fleet Trucking Global Safety Standards Initiative. The global undertaking will develop a set of shared fleet trucking safety standards.

“Together for Safer Roads applauds the United Nations and World Health Organization’s efforts to promote road safety and their goal to reduce road deaths and injuries by half of their current rates by 2030 – and eventually reach Vision Zero, the elimination of all traffic fatalities and severe injuries,” said Peter Goldwasser, executive director of Together for Safer Roads, in a statement.

TSR has a longstanding commitment to this work on a global scale. For example, after implementing TSR’s recommended Vision Zero strategies, the state of São Paulo experienced a 13% reduction in road fatalities across 64 towns and cities, and Shanghai municipality saw an astounding 90% reduction in intervening road fatalities. TSR recently launched a Truck of the Future pilot program with vehicles from the City of New York that identifies and tests innovative and cost-effective solutions to eliminate collisions between large vehicle operators and vulnerable road users; later this year this pilot will expand internationally, working with a private sector fleet in Mexico City.

“On any given day, we have nearly 16,000 trucks on the road, and safety remains a top concern. Republic Services is thrilled to support the Fleet Trucking Global Safety Standards Initiative to bring better information and shared standards to all fleet trucking in the U.S. and globally,” said Jim Olson VP of Safety at Republic Services Inc. “This effort will help all fleet truck companies better serve their communities.” ehstoday.com

Amazon's Brick & Mortar Pullback Continues
Report: Amazon abandons plans for grocery stores in six Twin Cities suburbs

It's looking like the Twin Cities might not see any Amazon Fresh stores open after all.

Six developments long-rumored to be upcoming Amazon Fresh grocery stores are up for sublease in the Twin Cities. Axios Twin Cities broke the news Tuesday, reporting the listings by Mid-America Real Estate signal the end of Amazon's plan to bring its Fresh grocery store concept to the Twin Cities.

The vacant stores are located in Burnsville, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Arden Hills, Lakeville and Coon Rapids. The news comes three months after Amazon executives told investors the company would reevaluate how to deliver its Amazon Fresh shopping experience to customers.

Amazon Chief Financial Officer Brian Olsavsky told investors the company would move to close some Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go stores with "low growth potential."

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy added the company wouldn't be expanding Amazon Fresh supermarkets until they land on the right equation for moving the business forward.

"We're doing a fair bit of experimentation today in those stores to try to find a format that we think resonates with customers," Jassy said, adding he remains optimistic about 2023. bringmethenews.com

Westfield Hopes to Sell Most U.S. Properties by end of 2023
Westfield San Francisco Centre - San Fran's Largest Mall in Doubt about Future
Leases for two of the largest tenants at Westfield San Francisco Centre will expire soon, raising further questions about the future of San Francisco’s largest mall as anchor tenant Nordstrom prepares to shut down and its owner seeks to sell its U.S. holdings.

The lease of Century Theaters, occupying more than 52,000 square feet on the top floor, is set to expire in September. The lease for H&M, which occupies 25,289 square feet, is set to expire in January. The lease of another large tenant, co-working company Bespoke, for 40,000 square feet of flexible office and event space expired in January 2023, per the CMBS report. It's unclear if that lease was renewed or if the tenant has quietly packed up.

"Borrower does not currently have potential new tenants to backfill the spaces. Borrower also has other large vacant spaces," read analyst commentary attached to the report. "The San Francisco mid-market area is extremely challenged for office leasing as you probably know due to a surplus of vacancy with little demand. bizjournals.com

Simon Will End Up Unloading Retailers
Simon Property ownership in retailers could end in 5 to 10 years, CEO says
Simon Property Group’s retail holdings swung to a Q1 net operating loss of $54.5 million from net operating income of $25.9 million in the year-ago period, according to a company press release.

Some retailers did better than others, with the mall REIT’s investment in brand management firm Authentic Brands Group performing the best, CEO David Simon told analysts Tuesday. J.C. Penney is profitable but required investments in stores and its new beauty spaces, he said.

“I expect growth to continue to have more ups and downs,” he said. “It won’t be a straight line, but I expect more growth from that category. At the same time, you know, 10 years from now, five years from now, we don’t have to own any of these companies.” retaildive.com

COVID Emergency Officially Ends Today
As Covid Emergency Ends, U.S. Response Shifts to Peacetime Mode

The coronavirus public health emergency, declared by the Trump administration in 2020, will expire on Thursday. Interviews with senior health officials suggest the nation is not ready for a new pandemic.

On Thursday, three years and 100 days after the Trump administration declared the coronavirus a public health emergency, the Biden administration will allow the emergency declaration to expire, ushering in a new era when the government will treat Covid-19 like any other respiratory ailment.

If the coronavirus pandemic was a war, the United States is about to officially enter peacetime.

But interviews with senior federal and state health officials — including the secretary of health and human services and the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration — make clear that while the United States has greatly improved its capacity to fight Covid-19, it is not fully prepared for a radically different future variant or a new pandemic.

State health officials, tasked with tracking the coronavirus, are burned out, their departments understaffed. President Biden’s coronavirus response team will soon disband. The White House has yet to fulfill Congress’s directive to set up a new pandemic preparedness office, and key officials, including Dr. Ashish K. Jha, the coronavirus response coordinator, and Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are stepping down or intend to do so. nytimes.com

Using Biometrics to Defend Against COVID
Study shows fingerprint scanners from Integrated Biometrics protect against Covid
The electroluminescent light used in fingerprint scanners from Integrated Biometrics for print capture kills the virus that causes COVID-19, a University of Missouri laboratory has confirmed.

They tested a fingerprint scanner made by IB and featuring its Light Emitting Sensor (LES). The electroluminescent film killed more than 90 percent of coronavirus traces deposited by a user over the course of the two-second touch needed for accurate biometric identification. When the following scan again kills 90 percent of coronavirus particles, the protection of individuals against infection is calculated at 99 percent or higher. biometricupdate.com

RELATED: 10 Questions about Your Organization’s COVID-19 Response

SML RFID State of Retail Insight Report 2023—Part 1: Order Fulfillment and the In-Store Customer Experience

Dollar Tree to lay off about 90 at corporate office

NRF: U.S. economy ‘remained in gear’ during the first quarter

Quarterly Results

thredUP (online reseller) Q1 up 4% ($75.9M)

Vroom Q1 total ecommerce revenue down 79.9%

Senior LP & AP Jobs Market

Director, AP Equipment & Technology job posted for Burlington Stores in Burlington, New Jersey
The Director, AP Equipment and Technology will lead all Asset Protection Equipment and Technology initiatives across the organization. This includes the responsibility for the strategic design, roadmap, planning, and implementation efforts through the stores, corporate, and distribution footprint. They interact with leaders of field and corporate departments to facilitate support and alignment on the technology roadmap. burlingtonstores.jobs

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Ransomware Gangs Leaning More Heavily on Data Theft & Extortion

Threat actors encrypted data in three in four ransomware attacks last year, the highest rate of data encryption linked to ransomware in at least four years, according to research Sophos released Wednesday.

Of the 3,000 IT and cybersecurity leaders surveyed across 14 countries, two-thirds of respondents said their organizations were hit by a ransomware attack last year.

The increased rate of data encryption during ransomware attacks indicates threat actors are sticking to a defining characteristic while executing ransomware.

Despite some variance in ransomware attack methods — scenarios when threat actors skip encryption and lean more heavily on data theft and extortion — locking up critical data remains the top act carried out by ransomware groups.

Business and professional services organizations experienced data encryption in 92% of all ransomware attacks, the report found.

Nearly all, or 97%, of organizations that had data encrypted during a ransomware attack ultimately recovered that data. Nearly half of those organizations paid the ransom to recover data, according to Sophos.

In addition to ransom payments organizations incurred costs related to downtime, devices, networks and lost opportunities. Excluding ransoms, organizations reported a mean ransomware recovery cost of $1.8 million during the last year, and 43% of respondents said their organization “lost a lot of business/revenue” as a result of the attack. cybersecuritydive.com

Make them pay: Hackers devise new tactics to ensure ransomware payment

Payouts from ransomware victims declined by 38% in 2022, which has prompted hackers to adopt more professional and corporate tactics to ensure higher returns.

“Cybercriminals increasingly have KPIs and targets to achieve. There are specific targets that they need to penetrate within a specific time period. It has become a very organized crime because of the business model that the ransomware groups follow because of which they have started increasing the pressure,” said Maheswaran S, country manager at Varonis Systems.

The double extortion tactic

One of the tactics that is increasingly being used by the ransomware groups is double extortion. In the double extortion method, the ransomware group, in addition to encrypting the files on the victim’s systems, also downloads sensitive information from the victim’s machine.

“This gives them more leverage, since now the question is not only about decrypting the locked data but also about leaking it,” Mehardeep Singh Sawhney, a threat researcher at CloudSEK, said.

The triple extortion method

Some ransomware gangs go a step further and deploy the triple extortion method.

In the triple extortion method, the ransomware gangs encrypt files, extract sensitive data, and then add distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks to the mix. Unless the ransom is paid, not only will all the files remain locked, but even regular services will be disrupted through DDoS.

now with a collaboration with other groups, they are involved in data exfiltration as well they compromise the victim organization’s website or carrying out DDOS attacks. The idea behind this is to add more and more pressure on the victim organization,” Maheswaran said.

Contacting stakeholders of the victim organizations

Another tactic that the ransomware groups use to add pressure on the victim organization is directly contacting the customers or stakeholders of the victim organization.

Since this adversely affects the reputation of the victim organization and can sometimes lead to financial losses that can amount higher than the actual ransom, victim organizations tend to pay up, Maheswaran said. csoonline.com

Twitter Hacker Extradited to the U.S.
Infamous Twitter Hacker Cops to Cybercrimes, Extradited to US for Trial
Stalking, extortion, and swatting are just a sampling of the cybercrimes UK citizen Joseph James O'Connor has confessed to committing — dating back to a spectacular 2020 Twitter caper where he hijacked famous accounts, including Elon Musk's, to defraud victims.

O'Conner (aka PlugwalkJoe), 23, was extradited from Spain to New York to face charges related to exploitation of social media accounts, online extortion, and cyberstalking, according to the Department of Justice (DoJ).

"O’Connor used his sophisticated technological abilities for malicious purposes — conducting a complex SIM-swap attack to steal large amounts of cryptocurrency, hacking Twitter, conducting computer intrusions to take over social media accounts, and even cyberstalking two victims, including a minor victim," US Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York said in a statement. "O’Connor’s guilty plea today is a testament to the importance of law enforcement cooperation, and I thank our law enforcement partners for helping to bring to justice those who victimize others through cyber-attacks." darkreading.com

Evil digital twins and other risks: the use of twins opens up a host of new security concerns

Digital twins are incredibly useful tools for a range of industries. But they also come with intrinsic risk factors and could create new avenues for attacks unless security is involved when they’re created.

The use of digital twins — virtual representations of actual or envisioned real-world objects — is growing. Their uses are multifold and can be incredibly helpful, providing real-time models of physical assets or even people or biological systems that can help identify problems as or even before they occur.

Grand View Research has predicted that the global digital twin market, valued at $11.1 billion in 2022, will grow at a 37.5% compound annual growth rate from 2023 to 2030 to eventually hit $155.83 billion.

But as companies expand their use of digital twins and others create new ones, experts say organizations are also increasing their cybersecurity exposure. Because digital twins rely on data to create an accurate representation of whatever they model, they are vulnerable. What if that data is corrupted or — far worse — stolen and used for evil rather than their intended purpose? csoonline.com

How CSOs Can Build Robust Risk Management Foundations
Effective risk management enables CSOs to ensure business continuity by identifying potential disruptions and developing plans to minimize their impact. This ensures that the organization can continue to operate, even in the face of unexpected events.

How 2022’s threats will impact the global landscape in 2023

The true numbers behind deepfake fraud

NY's War on Illegal Cannabis Market Continues
Illegal cannabis sales are again a criminal offense in NY as black market shops surge

New York Passes New Laws To Criminalize Illicit Marijuana Sales

Barely more than two years after New York legalized recreational cannabis for adults, the state has passed new laws to criminalize illicit sales of marijuana as part of the state budget passed last week. Supporters of the measures maintain that they are needed to control unlicensed weed retailers and protect New York’s nascent regulated cannabis industry, which so far only includes a handful of licensed dispensaries. But some lawmakers and cannabis policy reform advocates are concerned about a return to incarceration for cannabis offenses, a preferred tactic of the failed but continuing War on Drugs that has put millions behind bars.

Last week, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that the budget for the 2024 fiscal year includes provisions to reign in the state’s unlicensed cannabis market, which supports nearly 2,000 unlicensed marijuana dispensaries in New York City. The legislation empowers the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and the Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF) to assess civil penalties against cannabis storefronts and vending trucks engaged in the unlicensed selling of cannabis and cannabis products. The OCM will be able to assess civil penalties against unlicensed cannabis businesses, with fines of up to $20,000 a day for the most egregious offenders. Additionally, the DTF will be allowed to conduct regulatory inspections to determine if proper taxes are being paid by businesses selling cannabis products, as well as businesses that sell or give cannabis in indirect ways, including “sticker shops” or gifting schemes that include what is ostensibly a gift of cannabis with the purchase of inexpensive merchandise.

But with little fanfare, the budget bill also once again makes illicit marijuana sales a criminal offense.

“This legislation also makes it a crime to sell cannabis and cannabis products without a license,” the governor’s office wrote in a May 3 press release announcing the new measures to reign in New York’s unregulated retailers.

Elliot Choi, counsel and chief knowledge officer at the cannabis and psychedelics law firm Vicente LLP, notes in an email that the budget bill stipulates that any person who sells or gives away cannabis “for which the sale of such products requires a license, permit, or registration” without such authorization “shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor,” according to the text of the legislation. He adds that “class A misdemeanors are punishable with up to one year in jail, so there is some element of re-criminalization in the enforcement bill.”

When asked if the budget bill provisions represent a step backward for cannabis policy reform, Choi responds, “Potentially, but that will be determined based on enforcement. I believe (and hope) that enforcement focuses on fines and penalties and not jail time, which appears to be the government’s preference based on statements from various public officials.” forbes.com

RELATED: NY state belatedly cracks down on illegal cannabis sellers

California Creates Unit to Pursue Labor Exploitation in Weed Industry
Cannabis workers face death and exploitation. California is stepping in after Times investigation
Acknowledging growing concern over the mistreatment of cannabis workers, California regulators have quietly assembled a team to pursue labor exploitation in the state’s burgeoning weed industry.

The new unit, housed within the Department of Cannabis Control, recently solicited help from law enforcement agencies statewide to investigate cannabis operators who coerce or threaten workers, subject them to hazardous conditions or deny them pay.

The April 13 bulletin, obtained by The Times, said the unit seeks to create a “central repository” of cannabis-related human trafficking investigations.

Its launch followed the December publication of “Dying for Your High,” a Times investigation detailing the plight of cannabis workers who are cheated, threatened with violence or even die because of unsafe working conditions. The newspaper identified abuse allegations against nearly 200 cannabis farms or contractors — half of them licensed by the state— since legalization. It found 35 cannabis workers killed on the job in a five-year span, a toll that has since risen to at least 37.

The story spawned a legislative town hall in March to gather information on exploitation in the cannabis industry, with the promise of additional hearings this fall. It has been taken up by others pushing for a centralized state agency to pursue labor trafficking investigations for workers in all industries. Though California banned human trafficking in all forms in 2005, a state watchdog agency found enforcement of the law is haphazard and often lacking, with no central agency for victims to turn to.

There is a growing awareness that California’s cannabis explosion — a dramatic escalation by both legal and unlicensed cultivators seeking to capitalize on the nation’s rapidly expanding weed markets — has put many workers in peril. latimes.com

In Case You Missed It

Security Training in the 'High-Risk' Cannabis Industry
High Risk Security Training in the Cannabis Industry
One of the most critical investments high-risk retail businesses should make is investment in the security training of their team members. All forms of businesses invest in their training programs, so why should high-risk retail be different?

Let’s start by clarifying what “high-risk” businesses are for the purposes of this article. These businesses operate high demand products or services where cash is the main form of payment inbound or outbound of the business. This includes cannabis, pawn, gambling, and jewelry. Due to the inherent nature of cash flow in these businesses, they are naturally at a higher risk for unethical activity. And some states (Oklahoma and Washington as examples) are experiencing critical incidents at these businesses at an alarming rate. Visit sapphirerisk.com to view all the products and services we have to offer high-risk businesses.

So why is security training a critical investment in these high-risk businesses? Proper training has been shown to dramatically improve productivity, performance, and morale in team members that state they have been “effectively trained” while reducing losses and inefficiencies throughout the businesses where advanced training has been a specific target. In businesses that naturally have a higher risk for incidents, it is imperative that team members know how to handle each situation that could potentially develop.

The solution to high-risk security training can be broken down into five main concepts:

1. Train relevant topics using relevant methods!
2. Be impactful with your training!
3. Training repetition!
4. Test for comprehension and understanding!
5. Motivate your team for Security success! sapphirerisk.com

$1M Illegal Cannabis Bust
Riverside County Sheriff Seizes $1M in Illegal Cannabis, Mushroom Products

A recent search warrant in Riverside County yielded $1 million in illegal cannabis and psilocybin mushrooms.

According to a press release from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, the raid occurred on May 4 around 5:30pm. Multiple people attempted to flee the scene, but the sheriff’s department reports that many were detained.

On site, officers found a variety of illegal cannabis products. “During the service of the search warrant, deputies located approximately 115 pounds of processed marijuana, 10 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, 100 pounds of marijuana concentrate, 2,400 marijuana vapes, and 1,200 edible marijuana items. The estimated value of the seized items was determined to be over $1,000,000,” the department reported.

As of May 9, the investigation is still ongoing and no further information has been shared at this time. hightimes.com

Cannabis advocates ask for changes in state law to provide protections for patients, business owners and motorists

Future of cannabis legalization in doubt in New Hampshire Senate

Fake Online Reviews Remain a Big Problem
Before you buy, here's how to spot fake online reviews
New research shows fake online reviews cost us 12 cents for every dollar we spend. While online marketplaces try to crack down on fake reviews, they’re still hard to spot. Companies are getting smarter.

They’re not just using bots to create fake reviews but they’re also enlisting regular people to buy their products and post positive reviews, making it harder for you to tell what’s legit.

Here are some tricks to make sure you’re only reading the real reviews:

1. Head straight for the 2, 3, and 4-star reviews. Companies pay for 5-star ones, so the moderate reviews are more realistic.

2. Check for a sudden burst of reviews during a short time span. Phony reviews tend to be published in bulk over a short period of time, sometimes all on the same day.

3. We always buy the items that have the most amount of reviews with a good average number of stars. We love to see 5,000 reviews and an average rating of 4.9. But experts say those numbers could be padded, so don’t put too much weight on them.

4. Check for pictures. Good and bad, real customers post photos of the product. This will help you analyze what it looks like in real life.

5. The FTC recommends checking to see if the reviewer of the product is legit. Click on the name to see if they’ve written other reviews as well. If they’ve written the same short review on a lot of products, they might be a phony.

6. Web extensions like Fakespot will help you as well. wapt.com

Grocers Launching Their Own E-Commerce Platforms
How grocers can cut the cord on third-party marketplaces and take control of their own ecommerce

Some grocers are questioning the profitability and long-term viability of relying on third-party marketplaces

Some grocers are questioning the profitability and long-term viability of relying on third-party marketplaces — which do bring them business, but much of it is unprofitable, and it comes at the expense of ceding the digital relationship with their own customers.

Recently, independent grocers have begun looking for ways to get off those marketplaces and take back control of their own ecommerce. We are seeing more grocers cut the cord and run their own profitable ecommerce operations funded by the fees they used to pay a marketplace.

One is the Cleveland, Ohio-based Heinen’s, which announced the launch of its own mobile ecommerce app and website in February, indicating that orders would now be fulfilled “by trained Heinen’s associates who will carefully pick and pack only the best quality groceries for you,” and noting that order questions would now be handled by local Heinen’s staff. supermarketnews.com

A look inside the new Amazon warehouse in Altoona

'Amazon Anywhere' brings shopping experience inside new AR game

CVS Stores Under Siege in the Nation's Capital
Washington, DC: At Least 6 CVS Stores Robbed in DC Over Past 10 Days
A group of five or six thieves in hoodies and masks ransacked a CVS on Wednesday, taking toiletries and detergent. News4’s Walter Morris reports that it’s just the latest incident in a troubling trend. Today’s attacks follow 5 other robberies beginning back in late – April. . . Police in DC and Maryland are investigating two incidents, one of which was caught on camera showing someone stuffing a bag with merchandise at a CVS Wednesday evening. According to the Metropolitan Police Department, officers were called to a CVS in the 4800 block of MacArthur Boulevard in Northwest just after 5:30 p.m. for a theft investigation. nbcwashington.com

Forest Lake, MN: 2 men charged in brazen $250,000 Pokémon store break-in
Two men have been charged with third-degree burglary in connection with the theft of more than $250,000 in Pokémon cards from a Forest Lake gaming store on Feb. 10, 2022. Matthew James Cuypers Jr., 40, of Duluth, and Dustin Anthony Wittern, 40, of Forest Lake, are accused of gaining entry to Punch-Out Gaming by breaking into the vacant shop next door and then smashing two large holes through the adjoining wall into the gaming store’s storage rooms. Online sleuths helped the Johnson brothers identify Cuypers and Wittern shortly after the break-in, but police had to wait until DNA results confirmed their suspicions before charging them, Eric Johnson said. Cuypers was tracked down using DNA from his saliva left at the scene, he said. Wearing gloves and a nylon mask, Cuypers can be seen peering into the frame as he works to cover the camera. Fortunately, he took off a glove to remove some tape and tore off a piece with his teeth, Johnson said. Hence, the saliva. The Pokémon cards have not been recovered, but the store’s insurance company has covered the loss, he said. The shop is the largest seller of Pokémon products in the Midwest, Eric Johnson said, and the brothers are expanding into the space next door. twincities.com

Baltimore Man Sentenced to Almost Five Years in Federal Prison in Relation to a Counterfeit Card Encoding Scheme
Defendant Used the Re-encoded Gift Cards to Sell Fuel to Truck Drivers in Exchange for Cash at Half-Price

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III sentenced Leroy Holmes, age 62, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 57 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for bank fraud in connection with a scheme to re-encode credit cards, debit cards and gift cards with the stolen financial information of multiple victims to make fraudulent purchases in the victims’ names and without their knowledge or permission. Holmes used the cards to purchase fuel for truckers at half price, in exchange for cash. Judge Russell also ordered that Holmes must pay restitution in the full amount of the victims’ losses, which is at least $212,000 and must forfeit electronic equipment including several cell phones, laptop computers and hard drives, as well as pay a money judgment of $106,032.

Holmes created or used at least 594 counterfeit credit and debit cards, resulting in a loss of at least $212,000 to financial institutions, businesses and cardholders. justice.gov

Manteca, CA: Alert Kohl's LP Staffers again help police nab violent felons
For the second time this week a group of violent felons are off the street thanks to the collaborative work between the Manteca Police Department’s organized retail crime task force and the Kohl’s team of loss prevention staffers. And one of them was willing to go to great lengths – including running across a freeway – to try and escape. According to the agency, the incident occurred at the Manteca Kohl’s location on Monday at around 8 p.m. when officers were contacted after loss prevention officers noticed three individuals amassing nearly $4,000 worth of merchandise into carts that they believed was being staged to be stolen from the store. All three suspects were taken into custody and booked into the San Joaquin County Jail on a variety of felony charges related to organized retail theft – a crime that Manteca Police has made a priority to thwart by dedicating detectives and working closely with retailers to send a message to would-be thieves. Both Martinez and Zepedarios, according to Manteca Police, have extensive criminal histories. Zepedarios is being held on $180,000 bail and isn’t due in court until May 23, while Martinez is being held without bail for a parole violation and is scheduled to appear in court today to answer to those charges. Cruz is being held on $175,000 bail and will also appear in the Manteca branch of the San Joaquin County Superior Court on May 23 at 1:30 p.m. mantecabulletin.com

Florence, SC: South Carolina traffic stop leads to arrests, discovery of credit card cloning operation
A South Carolina traffic stop put a stop to a scheme by two men to steal thousands of dollars worth of merchandise by cloning credit cards, officials said. Deputies with the Florence County Sheriff's Office said they charged Jorge Yandi Cabrera Tapanes, 31, and Yoel Luis Alvarez, 47, both of West Palm Beach, Florida, with financial transaction card theft and receiving stolen goods. The arrests came after deputies stopped two men in a vehicle Monday for speeding on Interstate 95. Deputies developed a "reasonable suspicion of criminal activity" and got consent to search the vehicle, they said. During the search, deputies said they found about 15 cloned credit cards, 12 of which had unknown cardholder information. They also found about $5,000 worth of merchandise they believe was bought illegally with the cloned credit cards, including household goods, lawn equipment and a 100-gallon fuel tank full of fuel. wyff4.com

Greenwood, IN: $9,500 in merchandise stolen from Vape Store ends in a Crash

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Shootings & Deaths

New Orleans, LA: Man shot dead outside Church’s Chicken in New Orleans
One man was killed in a shooting outside of a Church’s Chicken location in the St. Claude neighborhood of New Orleans, according to police. The New Orleans Police Department says the victim, whose age and identity was not immediately disclosed, sustained at least one gunshot wound to the body around just after 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 10. He was taken to a hospital in a private vehicle and pronounced dead a short time later. A Fox 8 crew on scene observed two vehicles riddled with bullet holes in the parking spaces behind the fast-food restaurant. fox8live.com

Cathedral City, CA: Update: Man Pleads Guilty to Shooting Circle K Clerk in 2017 Robbery, Sentenced 26 Years
A man who shot a store clerk in 2017 during a robbery he committed in Cathedral City was sentenced to 26 years in state prison Wednesday after pleading guilty to attempted murder and three felony counts of robbery. James Goodwin, 28, also admitted to a sentence-enhancing allegation of using a firearm with a specific felony, according to court records. He was immediately sentenced to 26 years in prison. Goodwin had 15 counts of robbery dismissed in the interest of justice along with one felony count each of evading arrest, being a convicted felon and narcotic addict in possession of a firearm, and possessing ammunition, according to court records. The attempted murder along with a robbery and evading arrest charges stemmed from a March 9, 2017 robbery at a Circle K convenience store in the 68000 block of Ramon Road during which Goodwin shot the store clerk. nbcpalmsprings.com

Cedar Rapids, IA: Chicago Man Sentenced to up to 92 Years in Prison for Shooting Iowa Deputy During Robbery
A Chicago man who was convicted of shooting and seriously wounding an Iowa sheriff's deputy during a convenience store robbery in 2021 has been sentenced to up to 92 years in prison. usnews.com

Robberies, Incidents & Thefts

Gastonia, NC: Police respond to Armed Robbery at Eastridge Mall
An armed robbery was reported Wednesday night at Eastridge Mall, the Gastonia Police Department tweeted. The robber reportedly used a handgun during the crime. The police department said at 7:15 p.m. that there was a heavy law enforcement presence at the mall. There was no word on any arrests. The mall closed at 7 p.m. so it was not put under lockdown, said Steve Stout, mall manager. wsoctv.com

Cedar Falls, WI: Man charged with Target burglary, convicted of other break-ins
A Wisconsin man serving time for break-ins at big box retailers and electronics stores across the Midwest has now been charged with hitting the Cedar Falls Target store in 2019. Carl Williams Carter, 40, of Madison, was booked at the Black Hawk County Jail on charges of first-degree theft and third-degree burglary Tuesday. Bond was set at $15,000. Authorities allege Carter and another person broke out a glass door at Target on Viking Plaza Drive in the early morning hours of Dec. 14, 2019. They spent about an hour inside the establishment, breaking into secured areas with pry bars and bolt cutters and loading electronics into hockey bags. In all, they fled with $15,304 worth of merchandise, according to investigators. Ten days later, Carter was detained as part of an investigation into a burglary to an electronics store in Wauwatosa, Wis. Inside his car, authorities found hockey bags, tools and a list of electronics stores, including the Cedar Falls location, according to court records. wcfcourier.com

Lorain, OH: Guns and ammunition stolen overnight from Rural King in Lorain County
The Lorain County Sheriff's Office is searching for suspects after they allegedly stole an unknown number of firearms and ammunition from Rural King. Police say the incident happened on Wednesday, May 10, at around 3:36 a.m. when the front doors of Rural King on Oberlin Road in Elyria were forced open. wkyc.com

Southport, NY: Attempted burglary of Motorcycle shop takes police on multi-county chase
An attempted burglary at a motorcycle shop in Southport led police to chase after a U-Haul truck across county lines early Wednesday, later finding the truck near Savona, police said. According to Chemung County Sheriff William Schrom, sometime around 6 a.m. a U-Haul truck occupied by four individuals wearing hoods and masks pulled behind Glider City Cycle Shop in Southport. The four could be seen exiting the vehicle on security footage and going behind the truck before quickly racing back inside the truck and leaving the area. Following a police chase by local and state law enforcement, the stolen U-haul truck and 3 motorcycles were recovered, the 4 suspects are on the run. rochesterfirst.com

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Your self-evaluation is probably the most important document you'll write all year and it requires a degree of self-reflection and openness that, if done correctly, thoroughly, realistically and written well, will in actuality garner more respect than virtually anything else you can do. However, it's also a double-edged sword that mandates your adherence and constant effort to reach your written objectives and goals. The problem is that while most are rather open about their areas of improvement, very few actually quantify what they are going to do to improve and set specific goals that are realistically obtainable. The first step may be in just approaching and completing the reviews of your direct reports first and doing them with the same intensity and focus as you do yours. This step gets you in the game so to speak and allows you to tie yours into your teams and also may just give you some feedback you need to hear.

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