D&D Daily Mobile Edition

The D&D Daily Mobile Edition
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5/24/21

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How retailers are leveraging video in the fight against shrink

As retailers continue to adapt in Covid-19 world, they’re also noticing a rise in shrink. Opportunistic theft in particular is growing, as criminals seem to be taking advantage of retailers being distracted by the pressures of running stores under strict safety guidelines.

New advances in video technology are helping retailers up their ante in the fight against shrink while providing a safe, secure shopping environment in a Covid-19 world. Today, retailers can leverage their existing video equipment for even more value with insights to help manage shrink, improve safety and streamline operations.

In the UK, grocery chain Asda is already taking advantage of this integration. Its alarm data is reported through Sensormatic Shrink Management as a Service, uncovering insights about Organised Retail Crime (ORC). According to Andrew Rees, Asda’s senior manager for asset protection, “we wanted to see if we could track a pattern of these organised crimes. We have an intelligence centre in our department where we can look at closed-circuit monitors of each store and see what’s happening with each alarm.”

Read more here

The Loss Prevention Foundation (LPF) & the International Organization of Black Security Executives (IOBSE) Team Up for Education

LPF and IOBSE focus on advancing loss prevention and asset protection through scholarships

During the IOBSE Spring Conference on April 21 -22, 2021, the LPF awarded 22 LPQ Course Scholarships to deserving college students. These scholarships will provide the opportunity for the students to graduate college with not only their degree, but also an industry recognized certification in Loss Prevention/Asset Protection.

“The International Organization of Black Security Executives (IOBSE) is excited to once again partner with the Loss Prevention Foundation for our virtual 2021 IOBE Spring Conference," said Kim Hooper, MBA, Director of the Student Education Committee for IOBSE. "One of our pillars is to provide education and training to keep students abreast of current trends in security operations and technology. There is no better way to do this than to partner with the Loss Prevention Foundation!"

Tyson Robertson, LPC, Chair of the Loss Prevention Foundation Advisory Council commented, "I am both very excited and honored to support the partnership between LPF and IOBSE and look forward to celebrating the success stories I am certain these young professionals will achieve in pursuit of their ambitions.”

Read more here

Violence, Crime & Protests

Violence Escalating & Businesses Still Destroyed One Year Later
A year after George Floyd’s death, Minneapolis remains scarred, divided
A year after George Floyd’s death sent millions across the country into the streets in some of the largest sustained protests in American history, the city at the center of that movement continues to struggle with its own reckoning over policing, equality and racial justice.

Colorful signs featuring Floyd’s name and face still decorate front yards across this Upper Midwestern city in a collective demand for justice. Visible scars also remain from the unrest that erupted after his death, leaving scores of buildings damaged or destroyed.

While the city breathed a collective sigh of relief last month when a jury convicted former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin of murder and manslaughter in Floyd’s death, the sensation was fleeting.

As Minneapolis prepares to mark the first anniversary of Floyd’s death Tuesday, it remains a city in turmoil, with many of the racial inequities highlighted during last year’s protests unresolved. The police department is in crisis — woefully understaffed, its officers demoralized and its practices and culture under investigation by the Justice Department. At the same time, there has been a pronounced increase in crime while the relationship between the police and residents remains fractured.

Adding to the anxiety is escalating violence in the city, including a dramatic spike in shootings in its Black community. A 6-year-old girl was killed and two other children gravely wounded in shootings in recent days, shocking residents and prompting a war of words among elected officials and community leaders, including some who have sought to link the violence to calls to defund the police in the aftermath of Floyd’s death.

Three more people were fatally shot in two incidents late Friday and early Saturday, including a shootout outside a downtown nightclub that left two dead and eight injured. No arrests have been made in any of the recent incidents, according to police.

The city remains deeply divided over the future of its police department, which some city council members want to replace with a public safety agency, a proposal that is likely to be on the ballot in November. washingtonpost.com

Violence Continues to Surge in NYC
NYC sees nearly 30 shot this weekend alone
Nearly 30 people have been shot across New York City this weekend — with nearly half a day left to go, law-enforcement sources told The Post on Sunday.

As of around 2 p.m. Sunday, 29 victims had been struck by gunfire — one fatally — since Friday, with 11 wounded in just the hours after Saturday ended, sources said.

A veteran NYPD source blamed most of the shootings on gang warfare, saying, “These kids are having running gun battles and innocents are getting shot.”

“Nobody is interested in hearing how many shots are fired but if people knew how many shootings occurred where there are no victims — it’s by the grace of God,” the cop said.

There were also two killings Friday that didn’t involve guns, with one man fatally stabbed in northern Brooklyn and another beaten to death in the northeastern Bronx, sources said. nypost.com

DOJ Civil Disorder Charges Surge Amid Protests & Violence
DOJ Uses Civil Rights-Era Law To Charge Protesters And Insurrectionists
In the last year, the Justice Department has turned extensively to civil disorder, a once rarely used law, to crack down on crimes they say were committed during protests and other unrest.

During the last 30 years, civil disorder was used in roughly a dozen cases nationwide. Federal prosecutors filed it in response to crimes the government says occurred during a variety of protests, including actions over the Dakota Access Pipeline and the Baltimore police killing of Freddie Gray.

In the last 12 months, the Justice Department turned to the charge more than 125 times.

First, during protests that followed George Floyd's murder by police in Minneapolis. Prosecutors filed civil disorder cases in North Dakota, Alabama, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Through the end of last year, the majority of the charges were filed in Oregon, where protesters in Portland took to the streets for more than 100 nights of direct action against police violence.

Since Jan. 6, federal prosecutors have brought hundreds of cases against people who stormed the U.S. Capitol. About a quarter of those charged in the attack face civil disorder.

While the cases are very different, the charge — civil disorder — is the same. For months, attorneys representing racial justice protesters have been trying to get those charges thrown out. Their arguments serve as tests for those facing civil disorder after the Capitol attack. npr.org

Anti-Protest Law in Texas
Texas cracks down on protesters who block traffic: 'Won't be tolerated'
A bill that would increase penalties for protestors blocking roads and obstructing emergency vehicles is on the way to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk. And the two term GOP governor who’s running for re-election next year says he’ll sign the measure into law.

"I will sign soon," Abbott tweeted this weekend. "Peaceful protest doesn’t include blocking roadways & preventing emergency vehicle access. That chaos won’t be tolerated in Texas."

The governor sent his tweet soon after the Texas Senate voted 25-5 to pass the bill, which would toughen penalties and calls for jail time for protestors who purposefully block emergency vehicles from passing through a roadway, or obstruct a hospital entrance.

The measure, which passed the Texas House a few weeks ago by a 90-55 vote, came in response to last year’s nationwide protests over police brutality that were sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minnesota by now-former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was convicted of murder. foxnews.com

Anti-Jewish Attacks Across the Country
Biden condemns attacks on U.S. Jewish community as 'despicable'
.S. President Joe Biden condemned violence against Jewish communities in the United States and abroad on Monday after a string of attacks amid the conflict between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers.

Physical or verbal assaults were reported against Jews in New York City, Los Angeles and South Florida during the 11 days of fighting in the region.

"The recent attacks on the Jewish community are despicable, and they must stop. I condemn this hateful behavior at home and abroad — it’s up to all of us to give hate no safe harbor," Biden wrote in a Twitter post.

Gilad Erdan, Israel's ambassador to the United States, tweeted his thanks in response and said he hoped the assailants were swiftly brought to justice and hate crimes deterred. yahoo.com

Post-George Floyd police reforms in Chicago ‘disappointing,’ activists say
They continue to push for civilian oversight of the police department and non-police alternatives to respond to mental health crises and provide public safety in schools.

Dozens Arrested Friday After Conflict in Gaza Leads to Clashes in Times Square

5 Ways Officials Have Cracked Down on Protests Since the Floyd Uprisings

COVID Update

285.7M Vaccinations Given

US: 33.9M Cases - 604K Dead - 27.5M Recovered
Worldwide: 167.5M Cases - 3.4M Dead - 148.6M Recovered

Former Senior Loss Prevention Executive
Know of any fallen LP exec? Let's remember & recognize.

Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 279
Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: 300
*Red indicates change in total deaths

300 Law Enforcement Officers Have Died from COVID Throughout Pandemic
Beginning in early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country have contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic due to requirements of their job.

Unfortunately, the number of law enforcement officers who are now confirmed to have died from the virus while on duty stands at 300, according to Officer Down Memorial Page.

ODMP continues to work with dozens of other agencies that have suffered COVID-19 related deaths as they work to make confirmed or presumed determinations of line-of-duty status. See the full list here

Another Promising Vaccine Milestone
Half of US states have fully vaccinated at least 50% of adults
At least 25 states -- plus Washington, DC -- have now fully vaccinated at least half of their adults, data published Sunday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows.

Those states are Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Washington state and Wisconsin.

The state with the highest proportion of adults who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 is Maine -- with more than 62% of people 18 and over having completed their shots. Across the US, roughly 61.3% of American adults have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose and about 49.6% are fully vaccinated, CDC data shows. cnn.com

'You wonder, do they really have their COVID shot?'
Retail, grocery employees are nervous as co-workers, customers go maskless
An abrupt relaxation of mask policies has left workers at supermarkets and other stores reeling as they try to sort out what the new environment means for their own safety and relationship with customers.

Kroger, the country’s largest grocery chain, became one of the latest to announce that, as of Thursday, workers and customers can stop wearing masks in states where mandates are no longer in effect. Other companies that have adopted similar changes include Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Macy’s, Costco, Home Depot, Trader Joe’s and Target, following updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The new CDC guidance has left retailers, grocery stores, restaurants, hospitals and other employers scrambling to decide whether and how to adjust their own policies. Some companies, including Trader Joe’s and Macy’s, are allowing vaccinated customers to drop their masks but not employees. Meanwhile, some grocery chains like Safeway are leaving their mask requirements in place.

Some workers worry they have been left to bear the fallout of a confusing jumble of policies. John Bartlett, a meat manager at a Safeway in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, said he is personally relieved that, for now, his store is still requiring masks for everyone but he worries that the policy will make dealing with anti-mask customers even more difficult. chicagotribune.com

Retail Workers Continue to Speak Out Against Easing Mask Restrictions
Kroger union strikes back at recently announced mask changes
The labor union representing Cincinnati-based Kroger's frontline workers wants the grocery giant's CEO to assure the public that the majority of people in its stores will continue to wear masks despite recent announcements of loosening mandates.

Marc Perrone, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers International, issued a statement May 19, warning that despite the fact that retailers like Kroger – the country's largest grocery chain with nearly 2,800 stores – are allowing customers to refrain from mask wearing if they have been vaccinated against Covid-19, more than 200 million Americans have not been fully vaccinated and the pandemic is still ongoing.

The UFCW's statement came the same day that Kroger announced a loosening of its mask requirements in its store locations. Starting May 20 the grocery chain no longer required vaccinated associates or customers to wear masks.

Customers who have not been fully vaccinated are asked to continue wearing masks, but Kroger put no mechanism in place to ensure that unvaccinated customers would wear masks. wlky.com

Spotting Counterfeit Vaccine Cards
Fake, stolen vaccination cards have become commonplace in recent weeks
Oregon announced Tuesday that fully vaccinated people now can go maskless in public indoor spaces, but only with proof that they’ve been inoculated against COVID-19. Some other states are considering similar approaches as they too fully reopen their economies.

Anticipation of this development is surely one of the reasons fake vaccination cards have been selling briskly on eBay, Etsy and other internet sites for weeks.

“We are seeing these vaccination cards being sold on many social-media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and even TikTok,” FBI Special Agent Jeanette Harper said in a press statement last month.

An official vaccination card, which is a 3-x-4-inch piece of common heavy-stock paper with straightforward printing on it, is relatively easy to fraudulently reproduce. Selling (or buying) fake vaccination cards could result in a prison sentence of up to five years, as well as a fine, the FBI says. oregonlive.com

The Post-COVID Retail Comeback
Are malls and department stores really springing back to life?
"You would think it was the day before Christmas,” Phibbs said. “There were so many packages and people.”

Phibbs is not just a shopper –– he runs a retail consultancy, The Retail Doctor. He said it’s clear people are ready to get out and shop and shop in malls. “And this idea that all malls are dead, and no one will go to physical shopping, and online is going to do 50% [of all sales] in one year,” Phibbs said. “It just didn’t pan out. It didn’t even pan out in the pandemic.”

Still, consumer habits have shifted. Bill Lewis, a director at the consulting firm AlixPartners, said that the pandemic certainly accelerated some of those shifts and retailers recognize that. “So they’re still making digital an important part and a growing part of their business. But at the same time, they’re prepared to integrate the physical and digital even more than they did in the past,” Lewis said.

He added that COVID-19 lockdowns might have had a positive effect on retailers, forcing them to gain a better understanding of what customers want and how they want to get it. marketplace.org

Post-Vaccination Impulse Shopping
Americans get vaccinated and then go shopping
Retail stores offering COVID-19 vaccinations to the public find that people treat themselves to purchases after they get their shots.

UK Shopper Numbers Surge as COVID Lockdowns Ease

Top 5 Physical Security Trends in Retail to Watch in 2021 and Beyond

By Tony D'Onofrio, Global Retail Influencer & Prosegur's CEO & Managing Director, Global Retail Business Unit

On many fronts, 2020 was a challenging year for the retail industry. During the early days of strict lockdowns to slow the spread of the coronavirus, governments around the world categorized some retailers as “essential” and others as “nonessential,” leading to a $285 billion transfer of wealth from nonessential retailers to essential retailers and a $250 billion transfer of wealth from small retailers to larger companies. This created a massive shock to the worldwide economy with GDP levels initially dropping 30% or more.

Even with widespread store closures, the United States saw an increase in retail fatalities and violent incidents in brick-and-mortar retail stores. In 2020, 485 violent incidents, up 14% from the previous year, led to 523 fatalities, up 5% from 2019. Customers, store associates, and security personnel made up 76% of the victims with the remaining 24% being suspects (Source: D&D Daily).

Managing new health and safety policies to fight the pandemic and violent incidents in retail stores elevated the importance of physical security in the retail industry. As with all other sectors, security was also impacted by the acceleration of digital trends that were already underway prior to COVID-19. The security “new normal” will include these top 5 physical security trends in retail to watch in 2021 and beyond.

Read more here

Game-Changer for the Security Industry?
Security app operates like Uber but dispatches a security patrol vehicle instead
It’s a new on-demand security service that would work something like ride-hailing app Uber, but instead of a driver, the app summons a security detail. The product would, for example, let you request a security guard to escort you while walking late at night, according to a Citizen spokesperson, who described the test as a "pilot project."

The test was reported earlier Friday by Motherboard, which cited leaked internal documents. Such a feature would represent a significant expansion of the company's current services, which let users of its app report "incidents" that can trigger localized safety alerts in the form of notifications pushed to other nearby users.

Citizen confirmed in an emailed statement to CNET that it has partnered with private security firm Los Angeles Professional Security, or LAPS, which is providing security staff for the limited test program.

According to Motherboard, Citizen also contacted the Los Angeles Police Department, which reportedly responded in an email that such a service could be a "game-changer" in addressing the LAPD's mounting backlog of property crime. privateofficerbreakingnews.blogspot.com

Equality in the Workplace
SHRM Blue Ribbon Commission Issues Report, Strategies to End Workplace Racism

New research and a DE&I Action-to-Change Toolbox can help employers make tangible differences

Workplaces are struggling to stay solvent, safe and inclusive as they face the coronavirus pandemic, social unrest and economic uncertainty, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) points out in a new report issued today by its Blue Ribbon Commission on Racial Equity (BRC).

The 13-member commission is part of Together Forward @Work, an initiative SHRM launched in 2020 to increase learning and collaboration on diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) and social justice.

"While we do not believe we have all the answers," the BRC added, "this report presents solutions that can be duplicated in different workplaces under varied circumstances."

SHRM leadership and the BRC will continue to work on these issues. The report includes a manifesto in which the BRC pledges to:

● Define a 21st century approach to address bias in organizational culture.
● Outline a robust set of actions to drive a long-range agenda on inclusion and bias.
● Develop metrics aimed at ensuring accountability at all levels of an organization.
● Charge HR professionals to be change agents and leaders on behalf of inclusive, equitable workplaces. shrm.org

Did COVID Actually Delay the Retail Apocalypse?
The pandemic might have saved brick-and-mortar shopping as restrictions lift and customers head back to stores
COVID-19 and a year of staying at home may have saved some brick-and-mortar stores from the retail apocalypse, or at least slowed its advances.

Some of the country's biggest retailers, including Walmart, Macy's, Target, and Home Depot, said sales are strong and shoppers are returning to stores as pandemic restrictions ease and the country reopens. Some experts predict that after more than a year of staying at home because of the lockdowns, people will again embrace shopping in person, kickstarting a new life for some traditional retailers.

This is a period of "retail reinvention," Cowen senior equity research analyst Oliver Chen told Insider. "There were winners and losers" in the pandemic, he said. "The survivors are getting stronger" and taking more market share, he told Insider, pointing to Walmart and Target as examples.

Shoppers are likely to continue heading out to stores as more states lift mask requirements, allowing vaccinated customers to shop without a face covering. businessinsider.com

Customers Returning in Droves
Discount retailers TJX, Ross stage a comeback as shoppers crave ‘treasure hunting’ for clothes again
Any doubts about whether shoppers would return to discount retail stores to rummage through racks in the hunt for bargains were crushed this week when TJX Companies and Ross Stores reported their first-quarter earnings.

Both companies’ sales surged past analyst estimates, as consumers started packing back into their stores to look for new outfits, shoes, luggage and home goods as pandemic-induced lockdowns eased.

TJX and Ross cited a pent-up demand from shoppers, many of whom have been armed with extra stimulus dollars in recent months, but also a desire among many people to still look for good deals. So-called treasure hunting in stores could be something that many consumers end up craving more than they did before the Covid health crisis.

“We believe the appeal of our entertaining, treasure-hunt shopping experience gives consumers a compelling reason to shop us,” TJX CEO Ernie Herrman said in an earnings conference call. “In-store shopping is not going away.” cnbc.com

Chicago Macy's hangs world's largest American flag in department store

The flag is a replica of an original that was retired in 2003 and covered 5,000 square feet

National Urban League & NRF collaborate to discuss race, business and jobs

Victoria's Secret experiencing a major comeback after years of declining sales

Foot Locker to convert, wind down most Footaction stores

Retailers now struggling to sell excess hand sanitizer

Gorillas ultra-fast delivery operator to make US debut in New York City this month

Senior LP & AP Jobs Market

VP - Loss Prevention job posted for Michaels Companies in Irving, TX
Develop, implement and maintenance pro-active Loss Prevention and Safety programs in partnership with stores, distribution centers and corporate personnel. Control losses due to internal and external theft or losses caused by administrative or operational errors. Direct, train and inform Zone Vice Presidents on Loss Prevention and Safety Programs; Pro-actively direct and assist in the development, administration and maintenance of Loss Prevention and Safety Programs for all low margin stores. michaels.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com

Director - Store LP job posted for Michaels Companies in Irving, TX
The Director – Store Loss Prevention will lead the field organization in the protection of assets and the reduction of financial loss, achieving industry leading results, while maintaining industry leading rates of expense; Own strategy and oversee implementation of programs designed to both reduce shrink and protect company assets from loss due to internal, external theft and fraud. michaels.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com

Last week's #1 article --

Widespread Mask Confusion Leads to More Aggressive Customers
Store manager threatened and nearly attacked after customer refuses to wear mask inside store
A store manager was threatened and nearly attacked in Hampden on Sunday after a customer became irate when she was repeatedly told to put on a mask inside the store.

Surveillance video captured the customer getting in the face of one their employees and calling her names after the customer refused to put on her mask. At one point in the video, the customer is seen slamming her fist on the counter behind the cash register.

At least three different times, the video shows the customer charge at Schisler, shouting at her and pointing her finger in Schisler's face.

"It was completely uncalled for," Schisler said. "There was no reason you speak like that any one. I was just doing my job."

Last week, Governor Larry Hogan lifted the state's mask mandate, but still gave local jurisdictions and businesses the power to keep it in place. Baltimore decided not to lift its indoor mask mandate, saying more people need to be vaccinated. wmar2news.com

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4 Questions to Ask When Looking for a Loss Prevention Partner

1. Am I working with experts?

At Product Protection Solutions (PPS), we are a team-oriented company that brings an extensive knowledge of LP, EAS, and supply chain experience to the company. Our President and CEO, Christopher Cox, is an expert in the product protection field, and he leads the PPS team. His expansive knowledge and expertise allow him to view and understand complex situations from various vantage points.

2. Can they become an extension of my business?

We will listen then guide with trustworthy advice to ensure a rapid, complete, custom, and technologically advanced LP solution. We are ready to find or create the best business solutions for you.

3. How do I know I can trust them?

PPS is a veteran-owned and operated company, and we live by our values every day. Our President and CEO, Chris, served 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. Our Chairman, Jerry Aldridge, is a U.S. Air Force veteran with a long career in the LP technology and solution provider industry.

4. Do they stay current on industry trends?

The PPS team constantly learns and prepares for upcoming changes within the retail, technology, and LP industries. We are continually working to find another way to make your life as an LP/AP professional easier and help you do your job more effectively.

Contact us to learn about the latest technological advances in the LP industry and how you can utilize these solutions.

FBI Ransomware Alert
FBI Issues Conti Ransomware Alert as Attacks Target Healthcare

Officials have identified at least 16 Conti ransomware attacks targeting US healthcare and first responder networks.

The FBI has issued an alert warning of Conti ransomware following its identification of at least 16 attacks in the past year targeting US healthcare and first responder networks including law enforcement agencies, emergency medical services, 911 dispatch centers, and municipalities.

Attacks linked to Conti and the DarkSide ransomware variant, most recently linked to the attack on Colonial Pipeline, are believed to originate from "criminal networks operating from a non-cooperative foreign jurisdiction," according to the advisory published by the American Hospital Association (AHA).

Ransomware attacks connected to these variants have interrupted critical infrastructure including hospitals in the US and Ireland, the advisory said, noting that hospitals in New Zealand have also been hit with disruptive ransomware campaigns.

"These ransomware attacks have delayed or disrupted the delivery of patient care and pose significant potential risks to patient safety and the communities that rely on hospitals' availability," officials said.

Conti attackers gain unauthorized access to target networks by using malicious emailed links, attachments, or stolen RDP credentials. The malware weaponizes Word files with embedded PowerShell scripts, first using these documents to stage Cobalt Strike and then dropping Emotet onto the network. This gives them access to deploy ransomware, officials said in an alert.

Attackers may dwell inside a target network for an average of four days to three weeks before deploying ransomware. They first use tools that are already on the network and add more as needed, such as Windows Sysinternals1 and Mimikatz to escalate privileges and move laterally. darkreading.com

Password-Stealing Malware
This massive phishing campaign delivers password-stealing malware disguised as ransomware
A massive phishing campaign is distributing what looks like ransomware but is in fact trojan malware that creates a backdoor into Windows systems to steal usernames, passwords and other information from victims.

Detailed by cybersecurity researchers at Microsoft, the latest version of the Java-based STRRAT malware is being sent out via a large email campaign, which uses compromised email accounts to distribute messages claiming to be related to payments, alongside an image posing as a PDF attachment that looks like it has information about the supposed transfer.

When the user opens this file, they're connected to a malicious domain that downloads STRRAT malware onto the machine.

The updated version of the malware is what researchers describe as "notably more obfuscated and modular than previous versions", but it retains the same backdoor functions, including the ability to collect passwords, log keystrokes, run remote commands and PowerShell, and more – ultimately giving the attacker full control over the infected machine.

As part of the infection process, the malware adds a .crimson file name extension to files in an attempt to make the attack look like ransomware – although no files are actually encrypted.

This could be an attempt to distract the victim and hide the fact that the PC has actually been compromised with a remote access trojan – a highly stealthy form of malware, as opposed to a much more overt ransomware attack. zdnet.com

Data in Danger Amid New IT Challenges

Survey finds new threats due to the pandemic make managing enterprise cyber-risk even more challenging.

A survey of IT and cybersecurity professionals finds a significant number believe their data is at higher or imminent risk because of COVID-19 related threats.

Dark Reading's most recent Strategic Security Survey shows that a high percentage of organizations struggle to minimize the unexpected risks around widespread remote work, even as they seek to minimize the existing risks related to cloud, mobile, and endpoint systems and applications.

A majority of survey respondents express confidence in their ability to assess and manage enterprise cyber-risk. However, the data also shows that organizations face a slew of challenges — many of them related to COVID-19 — that could undermine risk management efforts. darkreading.com

The 10 most dangerous cyber threat actors

These are the most notorious global cybercriminal and state-sponsored groups according to security researchers.

Cyberattacks have never been more complex, more profitable, and perhaps even more baffling. At times, drawing clear lines between different kinds of activities is a challenging task. Nation-states sometimes partner with each other for a common goal, and sometimes they even appear to be working in tandem with cybercriminal gangs. Moreover, once a malicious tool is released, it is often recycled and reused by competing threat actors. Click here to see the list

Cloud Security Blind Spots: Where They Are and How to Protect Them

Privacy and Preparation

A major contributor to resistance in an interview is the environment and location of the conversation. In addition to distractions, interviewer’s appearance, reminders of punishment and overall comfort; the lack of privacy can be detrimental to a productive conversation. The lack of privacy can be a result of a poor planning by the interviewer or uncontrollable distractions. The subject, whether they be a victim, witness or suspected of wrongdoing, may be restrictive in the amount of information they share if they don’t feel that the details will be kept on a need-to-know basis. Truth be told, we experience this in our daily lives; any time a personal phone call comes in while we are in a public setting, we tend to give less information, talk softer and hope that the person on the other end of the line will understand we aren’t in a position to be fully transparent.

Read more here

Lawsuit Involving Defective Amazon Products
Loomis v. Amazon: Strict Products Liability in the World of E-Commerce

On April 26, 2021, the California Court of Appeal issued its decision in Loomis v. Amazon.com LLC, which could have drastic consequences for operators of e-commerce sites being sued for strict liability for injuries incurred as a result of defective products sold on their platforms.

In Loomis, Kisha Loomis brought suit against Amazon.com LLC (“Amazon”) for injuries she suffered from an allegedly defective hoverboard that was sold by a third-party seller named TurnUpUp through the Amazon website. The California appellate court was tasked with deciding whether Amazon may be held strictly liable for Loomis’s injuries from the defective product. In rendering its decision under California strict liability law, the appellate court relied on another recent decision from the California Court of Appeal, Bolger v. Amazon, LLC, wherein the court held that Amazon “is an integral part of the overall producing and marketing enterprise that should bear the cost of injuries resulting from defective products.” Bolger v. Amazon.com, LLC, 53 Cal.App.5th 431, 267 Cal.Rptr.3d 601 (2020).

In Loomis, Amazon argued that it should not be held liable for Loomis’s injuries because it is not a manufacturer, seller, or supplier, but merely a service provider and is thus not subject to strict products liability. The appellate court rejected Amazon’s argument, explaining that Amazon provided “a service to TurnUpUp in the form of a website to list its product and, . . . was also instrumental in the sale of the product by placing itself squarely between TurnUpUp and Loomis.” The court thus held that, because Amazon was “pivotal” in bringing the product to the consumer, it could be held strictly liable for defective products.

The Loomis court also considered the public policy reasons for holding Amazon strictly liable for defective products sold on its platform. Amazon argued that it has no proactive authority over product design or manufacture because its relationship is typically with the distributor or retailer, not the manufacturer, and that it can only reactively address safety issues by removing or suspending sellers after a product has been shown to be unsafe. The appellate court rejected this argument, in part because Amazon takes steps to ensure product safety, thus refuting Amazon’s contention that it cannot proactively affect product safety.

As demonstrated by Loomis, courts are increasingly willing to hold e-commerce platforms, like Amazon, strictly liable for injuries resulting from defective products sold on their platforms. If other courts adopt the holding in Loomis, e-commerce platforms could face an increased risk of liability. Courts may be willing to hold various entities in the distribution chain strictly liable for injuries incurred as a result of defective products, if those entities were “pivotal” in bringing the product from the manufacturer to the consumer. In Loomis, the buck stopped with Amazon. jdsupra.com

Consequences of the E-Commerce Boom
Surge in cardboard demand is causing a supply squeeze for box makers amid the online-shopping boom
International Paper makes one in every three boxes in the US, and it — along with the rest of the industry — is dealing with supply squeezes amid larger concern that manufactures could soon face a cardboard shortage.

Thomas Ryan, the director of corporate communications at International Paper, said that the reason was multifaceted. "As COVID restrictions began to loosen, the economy started to pick up steam," he told Insider. "Then, the winter storms hit, and inputs began to get tight – for us, fiber, recovered fiber, petroleum derivatives such as chemicals for adhesives. Then, add a tight labor market to the mix."

The spike in e-commerce during the pandemic, when those Americans staying at home increasingly opted to shop online, resulted in unprecedented demand for corrugated cardboard.

At the end of March, The Wall Street Journal reported that the price of containerboard is rising and that suppliers have warned customers to expect the trend to continue. And a trade publication, Pulp Paper News, reported that in 2021, "global prices for pulp for three months of the current year increased by 30%." businessinsider.com

U.S. defended Amazon after article showed company bypassed Indian law

Windham, NH: Five dirt bikes worth more than $40,000 stolen from Nault's Powersports
Five dirt bikes worth upwards of $40,000 were stolen from Nault’s Powersports in Windham this weekend. The robbery was captured on the store’s security camera. Surveillance footage shows multiple people with hoods on come into the store and immediately start taking dirt bikes out. All were 2021 green Kawasaki dirt bikes of various sizes. news.yahoo.com

Salisbury, NC: Walmart shoplifting roundup results in 35 charged
Police and Walmart started an anti-shoplifting campaign in April to help curtail theft at the store. In April alone, the campaign resulted in 35 people charged. Crimes ranged from larceny to preventing the activation of an anti-shoplifting device. Through the anti-theft program, Salisbury Police and the store publicly identify individuals who have been charged with shoplifting. A news release said the goal is “to publicly identify individuals who have been charged in hopes that it deters them from shoplifting again and to create public awareness of what happens when a violation occurs to prevent others from shoplifting.” Items stolen in April varied from beauty supplies to electronics. People charged either received a written promise to appear or a small cash bond. salisburypost.com

San Antonio, TX: Man, juvenile arrested after breaking into North Star Mall, stealing $2,000 in jewelry
About a dozen businesses, mostly kiosks, targeted. Police have arrested two people who they say got inside North Star Mall after hours and caused damage to at least a dozen businesses. Officers answered a call around 3:30 a.m. Monday from security guards at the mall about the burglary. When they arrived, they found out that someone had used rocks to shatter the glass on a door on the Rector Street side of the mall. ksat.com

Coral Springs, FL: Man Allegedly Dressed As Lowe’s Employee Stole Merchandise From Coral Springs Store
Inside a Coral Springs Lowe’s Home Improvement store, a 39-year-old man got dressed up to look like a store employee, filled a cart with more than $1,000 worth of merchandise, and then walked out without paying, a witness told police. But as he rolled the cart with the stolen items in the store’s parking lot and then disappeared behind another store, the man, later identified police as Clinton Tripp, continued to play the part of a Lowe’s employee: he helped a customer load a large item in their car. Days later, police arrested Tripp, who may be homeless in the Pompano Beach area, for the May 8 theft at the store at 3651 Turtle Creek Drive after the witness, who was a store employee, identified Tripp in a “photo lineup,” a police report said. tapinto.net

Charlotte, TX: Man arrested in theft of hundreds of dollars in cigarettes at Valero store

Menomonee Falls Merchandise stolen from Kohl's, suspects sought

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Shootings & Deaths

Minneapolis, MN: Suspect arrested in downtown shooting that left 2 dead, 8 wounded
Two people died and eight others were wounded after an argument ended in gunfire in downtown Minneapolis early Saturday. Police announced Saturday evening that one of the two suspected gunmen was among the two people who died at the scene. The other suspected gunman, a 23-year-old Bloomington man, was arrested Saturday afternoon in Bloomington. Police spokesperson John Elder said investigators are not looking for any additional suspects in the shooting. He said investigators’ "working hypothesis" as of Saturday evening was that the second man who died was a bystander unconnected to the argument that preceded the gunfire. mprnews.org

Tampa, FL: Dunkin' manager charged with manslaughter in death of customer
Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren's office released a detailed chronological account of a May 4 incident now receiving national attention and scrutiny. What happened: Corey Pujols was working as manager at the Dunkin' on South 50th Street in Tampa when a regular customer began verbally berating the staff because he was upset about service in the drive-thru line.

Then, per the state attorney's office: Staff told the 77-year-old customer to leave several times, but the man parked his car and entered the store. Pujols told a coworker to call police. The customer approached the counter and continued to argue with Pujols, who remained on the opposite side of the counter, separated by a waist-high swinging door, some six feet from the customer. The customer called Pujols a racial slur. Pujols slowly walked forward through the swinging door and stood face-to-face with the man, with his hands at his sides, and warned the man not to say that again. The man repeated the slur, and Pujols punched him in the jaw, which caused the victim to fall and hit his head. Pujols then slowly walked away. The man died three days later in the hospital.

The state attorney charged Pujols with manslaughter; he was originally arrested on a charge of battery on a person older than 65. What they're saying: "The victim’s use of racial slurs was highly inflammatory. Inflammatory speech alone, however, does not justify violence," the SAO said in a statement. "Although the victim’s speech was reprehensible, it was legal. While we find the victim’s words repulsive, public safety requires holding Pujols accountable for his actions." news.yahoo.com

Houston, TX: Brink’s Armored Truck Guard shot in face during armed ATM robbery
An armored truck security officer was shot in the face by a person trying to rob him at a northeast Houston bank branch, leading to a dangerous shootout involving another security guard. Houston police said the shots were fired Friday afternoon at a Wells Fargo branch in the area of Eastex Freeway and Tidwell. According to police, a two-person Brinks armored truck crew was servicing an ATM. One security officer was inside the vehicle while the other was working with the machine. At some point, the security officer inside the truck noticed his colleague down on the ground and someone taking money, police said. It was then that the security guard got out of the truck and exchanged gunfire with the suspect. The suspect was able to escape the scene with the cash. He took off in a getaway vehicle. abc13.com

NYPD identifies suspect who exchanged gunfire with officers during Crotona Park Boost Mobile store robbery
Authorities have identified the suspect who they say started a shootout with police after an armed robbery at a store in Crotona Park last Wednesday. Officials say 39-year-old Calvin Peterkin, exchanged gunfire with officers while they responded to an armed robbery inside a Boost mobile store near the corner of East 174th Street and Bryant Avenue just before 6:30 p.m. Police say that Peterkin took out a gun on the officers, and they told him to drop it. They say that it seemed that he looked like he was going to at first, but at the last second, he shot at them instead, causing two officers to return fire. The officers chased after Peterkin for a couple blocks up East 174th Street toward Hoe Avenue, but he got away. While neither of the officers were hit by the shots, both had to go to the hospital for ringing in their ears. On Monday, police said they retrieved a semiautomatic handgun from under a parked car near the crime scene. bronx.news12.com

Bridgewater Township, NJ: Man Found Shot in Bridgewater Commons Parking Lot
Police are reporting one person was found shot outside a shopping center in Bridgewater Sunday evening. According to a preliminary investigation, police responded to reports of a person shot in the parking lot of Chipotle’s restaurant Bridgewater Commons Way around 7 p.m. When officers arrived, they found a male victim suffering a non-life threatening bullet wound. rlsmedia.com

Birmingham, AL: Man dead after shooting at west Birmingham local Grocery store

Youngstown, OH: 3 dead, 3 wounded in shooting outside Ohio bar

Warner Robins, GA: Convenience store clerk shot, injured in armed robbery

Baton Rouge, LA: Fight between former friends in Walmart parking lot leads to shooting injury, arrest

Robberies, Incidents & Thefts

Albuquerque, NM: Pair accused of stealing from Walmart while armed to appear in court
Two people accused of stealing from local stores while armed are set to appear in court. Mary Gonzales and Nathan Tapia are accused of stealing from a South Valley Walmart back in February. When a loss prevention officer approached them, Tapia allegedly threatened to shoot people and the pair got away. In April, the criminal complaint states Gonzales shot toward store workers trying to stop her and Tapia from taking items from the westside Sam’s Club. No one was hit and both were arrested earlier this month. krqe.com

San Antonio, TX: Two arrested after a dozen stores damaged in North Star Mall burglary

Gardner, KS: Police looking for man who battered Loss Prevention officer at Walmart

Red Deer, AB, CN: Loss prevention officer stabbed at Red Deer Walmart

Oklahoma City, OK: Suspects in string of dispensary robberies arrested and charged

Tusculum, TN: Man Gets 16 Year Sentence For Intimate Treasures Robbery

Flagstaff, AZ: Man who attempted to burglarize jewelry store found guilty on multiple charges

Memphis, TN: Police looking for 3 men wanted for C-Store Burglary spree

Tylyn Reeves promoted to Regional Loss Prevention Manager for Amazon

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Featured Job Spotlights

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Sometimes it's not what you say that's important as much as it's what they feel six months after the conversation. Being a good wordsmith is a skill, but ensuring that what you say leaves the right impression long term is a true art and one that is only reached by reflection and intention.

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