Protos Security Whitepaper

Leveraging Law Enforcement and Security Measures to Combat ORC

Organized retail crime (ORC) poses a significant challenge to law enforcement and society as a whole. While it is well known that financial losses, public safety concerns, and broader societal impacts are all part of these issues, it is challenging to find a solution as crime rates continue to rise. The purpose of this whitepaper is to explore the role of law enforcement in combating organized retail crime. Retailers and consumers alike are negatively affected, which results in billions of dollars in losses each year. In order to effectively address this issue, law enforcement must work collaboratively with retailers and other stakeholders.

We present strategies and recommendations to enhance the fight against ORC, contributing to the protection of businesses and the safety of communities. A number of challenges associated with ORC are outlined, as well as strategies and best practices that retailers should follow to collaborate effectively with law enforcement and other stakeholders. The whitepaper also discusses solutions and strategies to combat this growing problem.

Download this whitepaper to learn more about law enforcement's vital role in creating a safer environment for society and communities while reducing organized retail crime.

Click here to download the whitepaper
 

Homeland Security Agents: There's An 'Army of Shoplifters' Hitting U.S. Stores
A 'new breed of high-volume shoplifters' are targeting stores and 'prison time is rare'

Professional shoplifters wreak havoc on stores nationwide
U.S. Homeland Security Investigations agents say there is an army of professional shoplifters wreaking havoc on retailers all over the United States, helping to raise prices for law-abiding customers and causing some stores to go out of business.

Federal agents say organized retail crime rings cost the national economy an estimated $127.5 billion a year, and the number keeps rising.

“Retailers are seeing unprecedented levels of theft ... and the situation is only becoming more dire,” said David Johnston, vice president for asset protection at the National Retail Federation.

“If people had any idea how rampant it is, they would be shocked,” said Lt. Emil DeVincentis of the Cheektowaga Police Special Investigations Bureau in New York. “We’ve arrested people who already had more than 200 shoplifting arrests on their record.”

About 90% of the shoplifters his department encounters are organized “professionals,” DeVincentis estimated, as opposed to those who shoplift because of poverty or drug addiction.

Organized shoplifter rings

Police say some of the organized rings that steal from local stores – including one headed by pawn shop owner Rico Vendetti – pay drug addicts and other people to become serial shoplifters. Ambitious criminals such as Culler and Vendetti typify the new breed of high-volume shoplifter, Keane said.

Because store owners fear shoplifters might become violent, many managers tell retail employees not to approach suspects when they witness the crimes, according to the National Retail Federation.

Prison time is rare

Cheektowaga police handle on average about 40 shoplifting cases a month, according to DeVincentis and Detective Chris Lovallo. “Very few” of those who are arrested, probably less than 5%, wind up serving any prison time, the investigators told The News.

“We’ve had many cases where individuals, repeat offenders, stole more than $50,000 in goods and did no jail time,” the lieutenant added. “If there are no consequences or punishment, they’ll probably keep doing it.” trib.com


Epidemic of 'Rampant Theft & Societal Rot'
Societal Rot, Part 2: In & Out Burger Restaurant a Casualty of Prosecutor’s Failures

Second in a five-part series. Read part 1 here.

Societal rot is a choice. The In-N-Out Burger chain was begun in California in 1948 in the Baldwin Park area of Los Angeles and has expanded to more than 400 eateries in eight states and 287 cities. Until March 24, the company had never closed a restaurant.

However, on that day, the location in East Oakland shuttered because of “ongoing issues with crime,” according to Denny Warnick, the chief operating officer of In-N-Out. Employees at the now-closed burger joint had to deal with “car break-ins, property damage, and armed robberies.”

Did Pamela Price, the George Soros-funded Oakland County district attorney, fail to prosecute the thieves and armed robbers who repeatedly ravaged the In-N-Out Burger? Yes.

Was this an inexcusable policy choice on her part? Yes.

Can the former customers and employees of this restaurant, and others that have shuttered because of rampant lawlessness, fairly blame Price for her pro-criminal policies? Absolutely.

Is it common sense for an elected prosecutor to refuse to enforce the law? No.

Are the results of this rogue approach entirely predictable? You bet. That’s why the voters are seeking to recall her.

Societal rot is a choice. dailysignal.com


Legislation That Gets to the Root of Retail Theft
Opinion: We cannot afford to do nothing about retail theft

By Juan Alanis - CA-22 Assemblymember

While many of the retail theft bills before the Legislature are a serious and real step in the right direction, they are not enough to combat the rampant organized crime and retail theft issues we face. As your Assemblyman, I am uniquely positioned to create laws and help guide legislation that effectively addresses these public safety issues in the California Legislature.

My bills, AB 1845 and AB 1972 are positive steps toward real solutions. They are strategic proposals to address the resource shortage that law enforcement agencies across our state are grappling with. AB 1845 will establish the Identifying, Apprehending, and Prosecuting Resale of Stolen Property Grant Program, providing crucial funds to support law enforcement agencies and prosecutors. AB 1972 aims to bolster the California Highway Patrol's property crimes task force to combat organized cargo theft. These bills, which have already received unanimous bipartisan support, are a significant step towards equipping law enforcement with the resources they need to fight against retail theft.

Passed in 2014, Proposition 47 re-classified certain crimes, such as shoplifting, as misdemeanors if the stolen value was less than $950, up from the previous threshold of $400. Despite its title, the "Safe Schools and Neighborhoods Act," Proposition 47 has not made our communities safer.

The reality is that because the voters themselves passed Proposition 47 into law, only the voters can choose to change or repeal the law.

Everyone deserves to feel safe in their homes, and businesses should be able to operate without the fear that criminals can steal from them without any consequences. That is why I have introduced my two bills this year that address the problem of resources and logistics. turlockjournal.com


Another Progressive Prosecutor Tossed Out By Voters
Voters Oust Progressive Prosecutor in Portland

Mike Schmidt lost to Nathan Vasquez, a deputy district attorney in Multnomah County, Ore., who blamed his boss for the area’s recent problems with drugs and crime.

Mike Schmidt, the progressive prosecutor in Portland, Ore., who has held office during a tumultuous period of street protests, drug overdoses and violent crime, lost his seat to a co-worker who has called for more aggressive prosecution of criminals, The Associated Press said on Wednesday.

The co-worker, Nathan Vasquez, a deputy district attorney in the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, had mounted a campaign that blamed Mr. Schmidt for the city’s recent problems. Mr. Schmidt, a Democrat, was one of a series of progressive prosecutors around the country who had vowed to reshape the criminal justice system.

But in the years since Mr. Schmidt’s election in 2020, voters in Portland have signaled an interest in cracking down on crime and homelessness. As businesses fled the city center, people reported feeling unsafe on the streets. Homicides and overdoses soared.

Mr. Vasquez called for a new approach, setting up a bitter campaign against his boss. He promised to take on lawless behavior and petty crimes, differentiating himself from Mr. Schmidt, who had won four years ago with pledges to move away from focusing on low-level crimes. nytimes.com


Organized Retail Theft the Hot Topic of ICSC Las Vegas
Retail Theft Comes Under the Microscope at ICSC Las Vegas
Talking to most executives at ICSC Las Vegas, you might think that the only headwinds making them sweat are a lack of spaces to rent and consumer spending hitting a wall.

But, depending on where they do business, retail executives are also struggling with the prevalence — or the perception of said prevalence — of organized retail theft, which in some cities has left chains such as Target to close locations. And politicians around the country are throwing money at the problem, with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul recently allocating $40 million in her recent budget to curb organized retail theft. commercialobserver.com


Retail theft rings: Some thieves come from other countries to steal, officials say
Police in the Philadelphia region say that for years retail theft rings have swiped thousands of dollars worth of items from store shelves. Police also say that technology is helping them identify these suspects but banning them from the stores they steal from can be tricky.

‘Criminal enterprise’ from other states robbing Fairfax, Virginia retail stores

Concerning trend of retail fraud hits Lansing, Mich. Mall
 

In Case You Missed It
 
LP & Cybersecurity Leaders Featured at NRF PROTECT
NRF PROTECT to Showcase Leading Loss Prevention, Cybersecurity Experts

NRF takes place from June 4-6 in Long Beach, CA

WHAT: NRF PROTECT convenes retail industry experts from loss prevention, asset protection, cybersecurity, digital fraud and risk management to address retail security risks and experience the latest tools to protect retail customers, employees, assets, reputations and brands.

WHO: NRF PROTECT fosters collaboration among retailers, law enforcement and solution providers from around the world. This year's event includes more than 90 speakers and 220 exhibitors. Featured speakers include:

• Rich Agostino, senior vice president and chief information security officer, Target
• Sean Browne, senior manager, organized retail crime, The Home Depot
• Jeff Blunk, director of investigations, Nordstrom
• Diane Brown, vice president, IT risk management, Ulta Beauty
• Herm Edwards, football analyst, ESPN
• Dean Henrico, senior vice president of asset protection, Loblaw Companies Limited
• Paul Jaeckle, vice president, asset protection and safety, Meijer
• Torrey Kingcade, intelligence analyst, DOJ-FBI
• Mahveen Mohiuddin, VP, risk management, North America, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton Inc.
• Kevin Morrison, director of loss prevention, fraud and payments risk, Helzberg Diamonds
• Amy Nofziger, director fraud victim support and AARP fraud watch network, AARP
• Karen Osorio, head of security and compliance-Americas, H&M
• Adam Parks, deputy special agent in charge, Homeland Security Investigations
• Claire Rushton, crimes against the business, global investigations, senior director, Walmart
• Mark Tomallo, chief information security officer, Victoria's Secret & Co.

See a full list of speakers here.


Lowe's Goes All In On AI
Lowe’s CEO explains why the company is partnering with Big Tech

Ellison said Lowe’s works with Nvidia on AI technology that helps with “sourcing logic, inventory planning, pricing.”

In a Tuesday interview with CNBC’s Jim Cramer, Lowe’s CEO Marvin Ellison described the home improvement retailer’s partnerships with Big Tech companies like Apple and Nvidia.

“We’ve had great work with Nvidia on AI and AI technology that we’re using within our stores, and so we’re just excited about all the possibilities that’s in front of us,” Ellison said. “We’ve got 50-plus active AI models, we have used it for, you know, sourcing logic, inventory planning, pricing — our focus is on creating an environment that’s easier to sell, shop and work.”

Ellison said Lowe’s offers a Chat GPT plugin that aims to better assist customers, adding the company also has a program designed for Apple’s Vision Pro. Lowe’s announced in February it launched a product for the virtual reality headset that aims to help customers better visualize their improvement projects.

Lowe’s archrival Home Depot has delved into the artificial intelligence space in a partnership with Alphabet. In April, Home Depot announced it would extend its “relationship” with Google Cloud to enhance a number of functions, including data analytics so it can “gain deeper insights into customer preferences and needs.” cnbc.com


The Latest Retail War
Bargain-Hunting Shoppers Drive Price Wars Among Retailers
The retail industry is reportedly witnessing a fierce battle among major players as they compete for the attention of bargain-hunting shoppers. For example, Target’s recently announced price cuts on thousands of items in response to weak quarterly results reflects the intense competition in the market as retailers strive to attract and retain cost-conscious consumers, CNBC reported Wednesday.

This struggle is not unique to Target, as other retailers are also facing similar challenges, the report said. Walmart has been actively engaging in price-cutting strategies to attract shoppers. The company reported a 45% increase in its grocery “rollbacks” in April, along with the introduction of a new premium grocery brand featuring items priced under $5, per the report.

Similarly, Aldi recently reduced prices on over 250 items, including popular products like chicken, steak, granola bars and frozen blueberries, according to the report. The trend of offering low prices extends beyond retailers to fast-food chains. McDonald’s plans to launch a limited-time $5 value meal in June to cater to customers who find fast food prices too high, the report said. pymnts.com


Former Walmart CEO sounds the alarm on a growing problem
Walmart announced in March that it would work to reduce the price of food back down to pre-inflationary levels, a move it says has only helped it in the long-run. But not everybody is enthusiastic about the low price party.

Former Walmart U.S. CEO Bill Simon indicated that Walmart's newest high-income customers may just be adding to a bigger problem down the line that may actually hurt those who need price reductions the most. thestreet.com


Best Buy, Amazon capture over 50% of consumer electronics spend

How Should Costco Deal With Non-Members?