What’s New In Perimeter Security Systems?

As the first line of defense against unauthorized access to business premises, perimeter security can alert an enterprise of potential security threats while delaying or preventing any loss or damage due to criminal acts. Combining hardware and software, perimeter security addresses the outermost ring of a facility’s concentric circles of protection. Obviously, any threat addressed at the outermost edge of defense does not become a more immediate and urgent threat closer to a facility. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What’s new in perimeter security systems?

Joe Morgan - Segment Development Mgr - Critical Infrastructure-Americas, Axis Communications

Perimeter security has long involved a combination of multiple strategies and devices all added together to make a hopefully impenetrable “wall.” Organizations are now looking to extend the buffer zones that lead up to the perimeter security to properly reinforce that perimeter. In addition, the idea of combining several sensors for a turnkey approach is gaining traction. This approach would likely involve combining a short-range radar, a camera, and a speaker system that could be used to warn a potential trespasser that they are in a restricted area. Analytics also play into this approach as an additional layer of detection and help contribute back into that buffer zone.

David Lenot - Critical Infrastructure Practice Lead, Genetec, Inc.

Perimeter security systems have evolved significantly in recent years and are now moving away from intrusion detection to perimeter surveillance: Traditional Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems (PIDS) are effective at detecting when someone is attempting to breach a fence, but they may not provide early warning of potential threats. That's why organizations are now looking for systems that can detect qualified activities such as movement or sound before intruders reach the fence. Radars and lidars can detect when objects cross lines, and track intruders outside and inside fence lines. Cameras otherwise used for monitoring or video verification can be turned into tracking systems with edge- or server-based algorithms. With a unified security system that can correlate data from a variety of sources (cameras, lasers, lidars, radars, etc.) operators are able to accurately identify the nature and location of the intrusion and are better equipped to respond faster.

Read more here
 

Retailer foils skimmer scam using AI

Retail deters skimmer crew, builds strong case in less than six hours

Here's how it started: A store manager saw through a skimmer crew's distractions at the checkout stand. As the manager approached, the three individuals abandoned the installation of the skimmer hardware and bolted.

With the immediate threat deterred, the client's AP team used FaceFirst's powerful visitor search feature. With this "look back," they quickly identified the subjects' criminal pattern by date, time, and store locations. In just hours, they built a strong case against a ring of 10 well-organized thieves.

You've seen some variation of this before. In this case, three individuals entered the grocery checkout together. They blocked views of the card swipe terminal with a bulk package of paper towels. One person distracted the cashier by asking for cigarettes from a locked case. Another said, "Oh, I'll bag" and stepped into position. The goal, of course, is to overlay an illegal skimmer device on the card swipe, intercept credit/debit card data, and steal money from the card accounts.

The sharp-eyed manager addressed the trio. They fled, leaving the partially installed skimmer behind. The manager called in his AP team right away. Their FaceFirst search of the three individuals' images revealed similar incidents in the client's other stores and more accomplices. Less than six hours after the manager's report, the AP team had identified 10 individuals casing 28 stores and installing six skimmers successfully. Overnight, the chain audited all checkout devices and added security measures.

Consider the benefit of taking an individual's image, running a search, and identifying that individual's past visits to any of your stores-all within minutes. FaceFirst's investigative features turn a nearly impossible manual task for humans into instant, actionable intelligence. FaceFirst helps AP investigators build strong, detailed cases faster for coordination with law enforcement agencies and prosecutors.

FaceFirst's face matching technology alerts retailers instantly when known threats enter their stores, providing both life safety and loss prevention advantages. Calculate the risks of being caught unaware when a known offender enters your store. If you knew there was a proven solution to keep your valued customers and associates safer from violent offenders and prevent loss, would you implement it? The real risk is answering no. FaceFirst's solution is fast, accurate, and scalable-take action today at facefirst.com.
 

Police Across the Nation Are Preparing for the Worst

Bracing for a Violent Fourth of July
US shootings, gun violence rates at historic highs ahead of July 4th

The United States has witnessed five mass shootings each Independence Day on average over the past decade — more than on any other day of the year.

In that time, there have been more than 50 shootings in which four or more people were hit by gunfire on July Fourth, according to an analysis of Gun Violence Archive data by researcher James Alan Fox of Northeastern University in Boston.

The holiday this year comes as the nation is grappling with historically elevated levels of gun violence, which surged during the coronavirus pandemic. Seven out of 10 Americans say crime is "out of control" in the United States, according to a June USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll of 1,000 residents.

While early data suggests overall firearm homicides may finally be starting to decline again, researchers are documenting an alarming acceleration of mass shootings and mass killings, frequent episodes of gunfire on school grounds and increasing incidents of armed robberies, carjackings and road rage in many cities.

In 2020, there was a rapid increase in fatal gun violence, said Daniel Webster, director of the Center for Gun Violence Prevention and Policy at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. He noted the hostile political environment at the time and widespread societal disruptions of the pandemic and high-profile acts of police violence, which heightened distrust in law enforcement officers and sparked nationwide racial justice protests.

In 2021, for the second straight year, gun deaths reached the highest number ever recorded – nearly 49,000, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Gun violence was the leading cause of death for children and teens and accounted for more than half of all deaths of Black teens.

Newer information suggests shootings may be decreasing: Partial, provisional CDC data shows gun homicide rates fell in 2022. So far this year, the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive has documented a 5% decrease in gun violence deaths and injuries, said Mark Bryant, executive director. usatoday.com

Related July 4th Violence Coverage

• Chicago Police Canceling Days Off Over Fourth of July Weekend

• The Most Disturbing Summer Holiday Crimes Turn July 4 Celebrations into Nightmares

• After a shooting scare a year ago, Fourth of July 2023 in Harrisburg will have plenty of police


Retailer Forms 'Security Partnership' With Law Enforcement to Curb Crime
Fred Meyer forms security partnership with Portland, Oregon, to quell crime

Kroger Co. chain plans range of measures with the city and law enforcement to augment interior/exterior store security and prevent theft.

Fred Meyer has formed a public-private partnership with the city of Portland, Oregon, to help fight crime at its stores in the area.

The Kroger Co. multi-department store chain said Thursday that it’s working closely with Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler’s office, Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell and local law enforcement to provide a safer shopping experience.

The move comes amid elevated levels of crime—including shoplifting, break-ins and robberies—in the city that have prompted a stream of retailers and other businesses to shut locations, notably Walmart (which earlier this year closed its last two Portland stores) but also merchants like Starbucks, REI and Cracker Barrel. In announcing the safety initiative, Fred Meyer noted that “Portland has experienced an influx of business departures.”

Measures planned under the partnership with Portland include an increased security presence at stores; heightened safety protocols for store interiors, parking lots and doorways; advanced receipt verification; and “significant investments” in innovative security technology, Fred Meyer reported. Overall, the chain has about 10 stores in the Portland area.

The retailer added that it has “long invested in crime deterrents and safety technologies.” Efforts include the deployment of third-party security guards, rollout of public view monitors for increased visibility, installation of locking cases for high-value items, use of security tags on products, locking of shopping carts to prevent theft, installation of exit alarms to detect unauthorized departures and use of security cables to secure products.

“Portland is proud to partner with Fred Meyer in this crucial initiative,” Wheeler stated. “We recognize the critical role Fred Meyer plays to our residents, and this partnership exemplifies our joint effort to combat crime, increase safety and serve the needs of our diverse community.” winsightgrocerybusiness.com


Walmart & Amazon Already Complying with the INFORM Act
The two retailers have begun asking online shoppers to report suspected stolen goods

Explainer: 'Organized' retail crime: a 'multi-billion dollar problem'
Top executives and major law enforcement agencies in the U.S. are fretting about organized crime rings targeting retailers' stores and trucks for goods they can resell online. Gangs of thieves coordinate to steal many millions of dollars of merchandise - often perfume, cosmetics, toiletries or power drills.

They then resell the goods on the black market, generally at online auction sites, flea markets, to other retailers or even to third-party merchants on major e-commerce marketplaces such as Amazon.com and Walmart.com.

The crime ring generally has two parts - those individuals who steal large quantities of merchandise from a number of stores, and those who convert the stolen goods into cash.

Walmart and Amazon have started posting messages on their websites asking shoppers to report suspected stolen goods offered for sale, in line with a new law that went into effect on June 27.

WHY IS IT GROWING?

Once concentrated in pawn shops and bodegas, today organized retail crime is a "multi-billion-dollar problem", said Jason Brewer, senior vice president of communications and marketing at the Retail Industry Leaders Association.

"Goods can be sold through an online marketplace anywhere in the world," he said. Organized gangs have also taken advantage of store policies that bar employees from engaging during a robbery or theft.

WHO FOOTS THE BILL FOR IT?

When retailers face high costs, their profit margins take a hit and they typically look to raise prices for shoppers. That means that, in the end, shoppers may bear the cost of retailers' losses to organized retail crime, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said in December.

WHAT ARE RETAILERS DOING ABOUT IT?

In addition to working with law enforcement agencies, retailers are putting up plexiglass cases and steel cables to lock down merchandise, and adding security and large alarm systems to their stores. reuters.com


Las Vegas Police ORC Unit Making Progress in Curbing Crime? 
'Reports of larceny, robbery and burglary are all down compared with this time last year.'

‘They’re just very brazen’: Police crack down on organized retail theft
Police and politicians are working to crack down on organized retail theft, with 11 Metropolitan Police Department employees recently assigned to investigate such crimes, and a proposed federal law that would create a national center studying the suspects.

Metro moved all detectives out of its organized retail crime detail when businesses shut down during the pandemic in 2020, and the unit was restarted at the beginning of May, spearheaded by Sgt. Patrick Flynn, with eight detectives and two administrators under him.

“These subjects we see, they’re just very brazen,” Flynn said in an interview. “They’re walking out with trash bags or shopping carts full of product from retailers.”

From national chain stores to small businesses, even pharmacies are becoming victims of thieves who steal large amounts of one item to resell it in other places.

Metro statistics updated weekly on their website show that reports of larceny, robbery and burglary are all down compared with this time last year. Arrests in all three categories were up compared to the same time period.

“One of the biggest concerns we have as an agency, we don’t want see employees or citizens get involved,” Flynn said. “If somebody is walking out with a cart full of stuff, normally for the most part, (the business) will provide video surveillance, information, if they’re able to get a suspect description or vehicle description. We just don’t necessarily want them to interfere because we don’t want an escalation of violence.”

Flynn said Metro meets with about 50 to 75 retailers every other month to discuss crime trends and their concerns. All business are welcome, and Flynn encouraged business to reach out to Metro for information. reviewjournal.com


West Coast Liberal Cities 'Cracking Down' Hard on Drug Crimes & Calif. Gov is Including Theft

San Jose Mayor's Plan - To Enforce 'Zero Tolerance Policy for Public Drug Crimes'
Hoping the Ca. Gov. Comes to Your Aid Like SF? Only one catch: Newsom wants to crack down on theft too!

San Jose’s mayor wants to rid the city of open-air drug markets. It won’t be easy.

Mayor Matt Mahan said city must enforce a ‘zero tolerance policy” for public drug crimes, despite thin resources

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan is the Bay Area’s latest elected official to take a harder line against open-air drug use and dealing, urging city police to ramp up arrests and more seriously tackle a vexing problem that has exasperated residents and businesses.

Following calls for more enforcement around blight, homeless encampments and RV dwellers, Mahan held a recent impromptu press conference to stress San Jose’s “zero tolerance policy” for public drug crimes, saying “some people will need to be arrested and some people need treatment.”

“We will respond appropriately and we will respond immediately to prevent any congregation of drug use and sales,” Mahan said in front of a 7-Eleven in downtown (Editor's Note: great place to pick to have a press conference).. “We’re going to send a message that if you’re coming to San Jose to deal drugs, you will be arrested. If you are using drugs on the street, we will do everything in our power to get you into treatment.”

The mayor’s law-and-order-oriented proclamation comes amid a nationwide reckoning over how to respond to open-air drug markets.

Over in Oakland, while Mayor Sheng Thao hasn’t made curbing open-air drug markets one of her top priorities, the city has devoted resources to a non-law enforcement intervention unit to help those in crisis on the streets.

Mahan was flanked by San Jose Police Department’s Anthony Mata and Santa Clara County Undersheriff Ken Binder when he made the remarks Saturday in response to an NBC Bay Area report the night before showing open-air drug use at the convenience store on South Third Street. mercurynews.com

NBC Bay Area Related article:

‘It's absolutely horrible': Residents fed up with open-air drug use in downtown San Jose

A clerk at 7-Eleven said he is tired of fighting with people who hang out in his store and outside of it. Neighbors also said they feel like downtown San Jose is turning into San Francisco.

Seattle Mayor's Plan To Boost Downtown:
Commits to Upping Public Safety - Police Presence & Drug Distribution Arrests

Seattle's Mayor’s plan to boost downtown Seattle hinges on foot traffic, tourism
In the plan, Harrell commits to upping public safety and cleanup efforts downtown while also tweaking the city’s permitting and zoning laws to encourage the development and retention of businesses, child care and housing.

Harrell detailed his plan in Westlake Park, about one block northeast of the infamous stretch of Third Avenue that displays some of the most public-facing consequences of Seattle’s housing and drug use crises, and has become a battlefield of sorts for the biggest divides in city politics.

The city has increased police presence, emphasized drug distribution arrests and cleared many encampments along Third Avenue after a string of shootings in early 2022, garnering praise from some business owners and residents concerned with public safety. At the same time, critics have accused the city of disproportionately focusing on arrests rather than providing adequate treatment and housing resources to those in need.  seattletimes.com


SPD's Community Violence Task Force
Seattle police say new task force may have prevented mass shooting
The Seattle Police Department (SPD) said its newest task force is already getting guns off the streets and may have prevented a mass shooting.

The SPD's Community Violence Task Force was pulled together just over a week ago after Eina Kwon, a pregnant Seattle restaurant owner, was shot and killed sitting in her car in Belltown midday traffic. Her husband Sung Kwon, who was also shot, was injured and eventually released from the hospital.

Now, the task force is the SPD's top priority, Chief of Police Adrian Diaz said. About 50 officers are being pulled from other duties to be on the task force, and Diaz admits that may slow response times for lower-priority calls.

On Friday, officers from the task force recovered several weapons after they say a 17-year-old boy in Tacoma threatened to shoot up a nightclub in Pioneer Square.

That arrest "may have prevented a mass shooting at a public event," SPD Assistant Chief Eric Barden said, adding the suspect said that was his intention. komonews.com


Video: Retail crime hits all-time high

Mass shooting victim’s family wants KC, Missouri to crack down on guns

AI Will Transform Retail - Just Not Yet
How artificial intelligence will change retail

The technology has the potential to transform retail marketing, merchandising and business operations

Artificial intelligence has the power to change retail — intelligently. And for those who might be considering the worst-case scenario, the reality is going to be far different.

It’s undeniable that AI is already reshaping retail. Levi Strauss & Co. recently announced it would be working with customized AI-generated models. American Eagle said it’s using AI for inventory tracking, and Puma is using AI for personalized customer styling.

Targeting customers

Levi Strauss & Co. told NRF that, later in the year, the company will experiment with a “small, controlled” project on Levi.com using AI-generated models “with the objective of learning more and determining whether we can enhance the overall consumer experience.”

More efficient business operations

Von Kutzleben says the executives can imagine a day not too far out in the future in which the restaurant uses AI software to collect broad data that could help run day-to-day operations. “Key insights such as predicting order traffic, staffing, assisting with more accurate product ordering and menu pricing suggestions are all possible when AI works in tandem with an in-store POS system,” she says.

Optimized pricing, forecasting and marketing

He envisions a retailer with 100,000 SKUs, and an AI program keeping track of all of that, changing prices whenever it makes sense and ordering inventory based on its demand forecasting.

What needs to happen first

Simply put, time needs to pass. Companies are in a wait-and-see mode, at least judging from von Kutzleben’s perspective. Christian Beckner, vice president of retail technology and cybersecurity at NRF says being ready for AI and developing best practices for managing it is why NRF recently started its AI Working Group. nrf.com


The AI Disruptive Future of Retail

By Tony D'Onofrio, Global Retail Influencer

The past two weeks have been truly inspirational in activities of continuous learning and sharing knowledge that helps us all have a brighter retail future. The first week was the keynote delivery of my latest edition on ‘The Disruptive Future of Retail’ presentation. The venue was the beautiful PGA National Resort in Florida were 200+ IT professionals attended the Retail Technology Solutions Summit. Impressed by both the format and the engagement of the audience during, after my presentation, and throughout the conference.

This article summarizes just a few of the charts included in the keynote at PGA National. If you would like a copy of the full presentation, reach out either on LinkedIn or through my personal website Contact Page.

The full presentation covers the latest global economic headwinds, the challenges facing retail, insights on why retail will continue to be resilient, the pace of technology innovation, the critical future retail technologies, the smarter store of the future, and as title implies, a review of the AI revolution that is underway, including its impact on the retail industry.

The Pace of Innovation Continues to Accelerate

As I explained in one of the charts in the presentation, post-World War II, retail has transitioned through three megatrends, each driven by technology disruption. As an industry, retail flourishes as part of an ecosystem of long waves innovation that are accelerating and each getting shorter over time.

The Retail AI Revolution

Interesting that in 2023, according to the latest RIS Retail Technology Study, 63% of retailers have no plans to invest in AI (63%) or machine learning (61%). As I pointed out to the audience, industry leaders, including many in retail, are no longer relying on solution providers to develop AI solutions. According to MIT, nearly 70% of AI PhDs are now hired by industries.

According to new research from the IHL Group, the worldwide retail AI economic impact through 2029 is a jaw-dropping $9.2 trillion.

Read the full article here


Tiffany & Co. Flagship Evacuated Due to Fire
2 months after the 10-story shop reopened following a $500M revamp

Smoke pours out of Tiffany & Co. flagship 5th Ave. New York store two months after reopening
A fire near Tiffany & Co.’s newly renovated flagship store in New York City sent smoke pouring out of the building on Thursday.

Firefighters responded to a transformer fire that began in an electrical vault next to the jewelry store’s 5th Avenue location in Manhattan. The New York Fire Department later declared the fire under control and was contained to the vault.

Approximately 100 people were evacuated from the building and two were taken to the hospital for minor injuries, the FDNY said.

The fire comes just over two months after Tiffany officially reopened the doors of its 10-floor limestone flagship shop. The store had been closed since 2019 for a costly renovation. The price tag for the store’s revamp was approximately $500 million, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. cnn.com


Engaging Your Teams & Sharing Your Vision is Critical
Strategies for Reducing Record-Level Employee Stress
Employees around the world are as stressed as they've ever been, according to a recent survey of more than 122,000 workers in 160 countries. Workplace experts say leaders who engage with their workforce can help rectify this growing issue.

Gallup's 2023 "State of the Global Workplace" poll found that 44 percent of workers said they experienced "a lot of stress" the previous day—matching the recorded high in 2021. While the survey did not ask about specific stressors, the report noted that external factors such as inflation and family health contribute to daily stress. A more significant factor, though, could be an employees' supervisor.

"Many factors influence stress," the report read, "but Gallup finds that managers play an outsized role in the stress workers feel on the job, which influences their daily stress overall."

The report indicated that managers can influence stress levels for the better among employees simply by engaging more with them: The percentage of workers who felt a lot of stress the previous day was higher among employees who were "actively disengaged" (56 percent) than those who were engaged (30 percent).

Gallup defined engaged employees as those who "found their work meaningful and felt connected to their team, manager and employer."

Research shows that high levels of employee stress are bad for business. Multiple studies, including a 2021 report published in Kansas Journal of Medicine, have found that high stress is strongly associated with lower workplace productivity. shrm.org


ISCPO Announces Citadel Fleet Safety as a Preferred Vendor Partner

Driver Safety Doesn’t Mean Anything Unless You Achieve It

Dallas, TX –The International Supply Chain Protection Organization (ISCPO) announced that Citadel Fleet Safety has joined as the organization’s preferred vendor partner as ISCPO continues to support its members and the supply chain security community. The speed of business has exponentially accelerated the supply chain, and ISCPO members rely on a variety of vendors for innovative tools, technology, and services to help them make their departments and flow of goods run effectively. ISCPO remains dedicated to continuously enhancing its variety of vendor solutions, leveraging emerging technologies, and staying at the forefront of industry best practices. By adding Citadel Fleet Safety as a preferred vendor, our members will have access to innovative, wearable mobile technology that drivers and employees utilize to ensure their personal safety. iscpo.org


Consumer Spending Stalled Last Month
U.S. consumers spent just 0.1 percent more in May than the month before, the Commerce Department said Friday. That was down from 0.6 percent growth in April, which was revised down from an earlier estimate of 0.8 percent. Adjusted for inflation, spending in May was flat.

Bed Bath & Beyond shuttered stores: These companies are moving in

NJ baby retailer tentatively wins rights to Buy Buy Baby’s IP


Quarterly Results

H&M Group Q2 net sales up 6%, First half-year net sales up 9%