Summer 2024 Weekend Shooting Analysis
Crime & Violence in America's Big Cities

Tracking Big City Shootings, Killings & Injuries Throughout Summer 2024

771 Shootings - 229 Killed - 803 Injured in 15 Cities Over Last 8 Weekends
Shootings (down 17%), deaths (down 6%) & injuries (down 18%) so far from 2023

The D&D Daily's Big City Weekend Violence Study - Memorial Day to Labor Day

The Daily's annual study analyzes weekend shooting data in 15 major U.S. cities from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend 2024

Starting Memorial Day Weekend, the D&D Daily began compiling and analyzing data from 15 major U.S. cities to get a snapshot of summer gun violence.

Over this past extended holiday weekend, from July 12th through July 14th, there were 69 shootings recorded in these 15 big cities, resulting in 21 deaths and 77 injuries.

In total, over the past eight weekends combined, these cities have recorded 771 shootings, resulting in 229 deaths and 803 injuries.

Compared to last summer at this time in the study, total shootings in these cities are down 17%, deaths are down 6%, and injuries are down 18%.

The D&D Daily will continue tracking this data throughout the summer to capture the weekend violence trend in our nation's big cities as warm weather typically brings about more crime and violence.

Click here to see the list of incidents per city throughout the summer. docs.google.com

Read more coverage about America's crime and violence surge in the section directly below
 

Shoplifting Surges 39% in California
Assaults, robberies, shoplifting skyrocket in California as crime surge continues
California continued its rapid increase in assaults, robberies, car thefts, and shoplifting, with the latest statewide data finding shoplifting increased 39% in 2023.

Violent crimes overall rose from 193,019 in 2022 to 199,838, with most of the increase from jumps in assaults and robberies. Aggravated assaults, or attacks with the “purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury,” jumped from 128,798 in 2022 to 135,046 in 2023. Robberies, which involve the threat or use of force to take property, increased from 47,669 in 2022 to 49,177 in 2023.

The largest increase was in shoplifting, which rose 39%, from 81,955 in 2022 to 113,916 in 2023. Shoplifting reports have increased 78% since 2020, when there were 64,105 shoplifting reports. However, with an average of 96,000 shoplifting reports from 2015 to 2019, 2020 and 2021 shoplifting figures in the 60 thousand range are highly anomalous. Compared to the aforementioned post-Prop. 47 (a 2014 proposition that turned potential felonies into misdemeanors for many crimes) five-year average, shoplifting still remains 19% above historical levels.

At a more local level, there are significant disparities in shoplifting. In San Francisco County, for example, reported shoplifting declined 21% in 2023 compared to 2022, while in Los Angeles County shoplifting increased 62%.

Since George Gascon — who authored Prop. 47 — became Los Angeles District Attorney, shoplifting has increased 133%. Using that same post-Prop. 47 historical average as before, shoplifting is still up 49% over the average.

Gascon is up for re-election in November, but polls suggest voters are equating his policies of relaxed sentencing and reduced prosecution with increases in crime.

California voters also will be able to vote on Proposition 36 in November, which would reform the state’s reduced prosecution of drug dealing and theft to more strongly prosecute serial criminals. It also would create a “treatment-mandated felony” crime class that allows individuals to get treatment for mental health or behavioral issues and receive shelter instead of going to prison. nypost.com


30,000-Foot View of ORC
‘What is organized retail crime?’

Organized retail crime (ORC). A new global threat for retailers.

Retailers worldwide face a growing and sophisticated threat known as organized retail crime. It involves the large-scale theft of goods from retailers by organized crime rings, who then sell these stolen items for profit. This type of crime is not just a series of isolated incidents but a coordinated effort by groups who are deeply entrenched in criminal networks.

Is shoplifting the same thing?: Shoplifting and organized retail crime (ORC) are both forms of retail theft but differ significantly in their execution, scale, and impact.  In contrast, shoplifting is typically an act committed by individuals acting alone without premeditation. It usually involves the opportunistic theft of merchandise and is often spontaneous.

The evolution and impact of ORC:  Organized retail crime (ORC) has existed for decades, but its scope and impact have intensified significantly in recent years.  In the 1980s, police identified groups of shoplifters who were stealing goods not for personal use but to resell them in large quantities on the black market. Today, the problem has escalated into a multi-billion-dollar issue that affects not only the profitability of businesses but also the global retail landscape.

The challenges in combating ORC: In the retail industry, one significant challenge in tackling ORC is the underreporting of incidents. Approximately 50% of ORC incidents are not reported to the police, primarily because retailers believe that the police will not respond, investigate, or arrest the perpetrators. Other reasons include the overwhelming volume of crime and the lack of time and resources among workers to file reports. Moreover, the ORC has also seen a rise in violence and aggression.

Technological and legislative responses: Retailers and law enforcement agencies increasingly use advanced tools such as real-time data access, license plate reader technology, fraud detection platforms, and visual recognition systems to identify and prevent ORC.

Legislatively, several states have passed laws to stiffen penalties for those involved in organized retail crime. The federal government has also taken steps to curb the resale of stolen goods online, bypassing the INFORM Consumers Act, which mandates online marketplaces to verify the identity of high-volume third-party sellers.  legal.thomsonreuters.com


'Retail Theft Epidemic Gripping Britain'
The theft epidemic and ‘terrifying’ violence plaguing Britain’s shopkeepers

Record-high shoplifting and police austerity turn shopkeepers into reluctant vigilantes

Shoreham-by-Sea is at the forefront of a retail theft epidemic gripping Britain, as shoplifting soars to a record high. The number of reported cases in England and Wales hit 430,104 last year, according to the Office for National Statistics, the highest since records began in 2003.

Outside Westminster, the district of Adur that is home to Shoreham-by-Sea had the joint-highest rate relative to the population, at 22 offences for every 1,000 people. Neighbouring Worthing, and Mansfield further afield in Nottinghamshire, shared the unwanted crown.

Many businesses all across the country will know these issues all too well. As theft rates have soared, rates of those being solved have plummeted.

Only one in seven incidents of shoplifting in England and Wales were solved last year, according to Home Office figures. The figure has halved since comparable records were first published in 2016 and is now at its lowest.

It is not just shoplifting that is on the rise. Robberies of businesses have also risen to the highest level since 2005.

A creaking justice system, large cuts to policing and prisons on the verge of having to turn guilty people away have laid the foundations for this crisis. The cost of living, rising levels of addiction and organised criminals seizing the opportunity to steal with impunity have made it worse. telegraph.co.uk


Gadsden PD use Flock cameras to arrest ORC suspects

Ending gun violence requires more than changing permits
 

NYPD Surges Officers to Sites Across 5 NYC Boroughs
NYPD securing key NYC locations following Trump assassination attempt
The city is redeploying police to secure key locations throughout NYC after former President Donald Trump was grazed by gunfire and an audience member killed at a rally in Pennsylvania Saturday, according to Mayor Eric Adams.

“Out of an abundance of caution, the NYPD is surging officers to certain sites across the five boroughs,” Adams announced in a post on X. Adams condemned the apparent assassination attempt and offered his best wishes to the 2024 Republican presidential candidate and his family.

In addition to securing Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan — where police officers sporting bullet-proof vests and assault rifles were spotted shortly following the assassination attempt — the Financial District’s Trump Building at 40 Wall St., Foley Square and City Hall were selected to benefit from the NYPD surge, Dep. Mayor of Communications Fabien Levy tweeted.

Levy noted in his post that there is currently no evidence of a threat targeting NYC. “While we are surging these resources, we want to be very clear that we see no nexus to NYC at this time,” Levy posted.

A spokesman for NYPD said the department would not comment regarding its security plans in response to Trump’s assassination. nydailynews.com


LA on High Alert Following Assassination Attempt
SoCal law enforcement on heightened alert after Trump assassination attempt
Los Angeles-area law enforcement officials remain on heightened alert Sunday following an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, although there were no known threats locally.

"The LAPD is monitoring the shooting that occurred (Saturday) in Pennsylvania involving Former President Trump, and there is no known threat or connection to the City of Los Angeles," LAPD Interim Chief Dominic Choi said in a statement posted on the social platform X.

"We will continue to work with our federal partners to ensure Los Angeles remains safe."

The L.A. County Sheriff's Department, meanwhile, issued a similar statement.

"We are closely monitoring the recent assassination attempt of former President Trump and working with our federal and regional partners to ensure the safety of our communities in LA County," the agency said on X.

"The Department will continue to monitor this evolving incident and will be increasing patrol checks as a precaution. Currently, there are no specific or credible threats to LA County."  abc7.com


Palm Beach, FL: Local law enforcement on high alert after Trump assassination attempt shakes nation

Guns allowed within walking distance from RNC, but tennis balls banned
 

Dollar General Pays $12M Fine & Agrees to Workplace Safety Improvements
From Jan. 1, 2017 through July 7, 2024, OSHA assessed the company over $26 million in proposed safety-related penalties

Dollar General agrees to settle OSHA safety violations for $12M

The agreement requires the company to change its backroom practices to avoid hazards like blocked emergency exits and access to fire extinguishers.

Dollar General has agreed to pay a $12 million fine and to implement workplace safety improvements at its stores to settle violations brought by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the U.S. Department of Labor announced Thursday.

OSHA said the settlement resolves investigations involving repeated unsafe storage practices that blocked access to emergency exits, electrical panels and fire extinguishers. OSHA had also cited Dollar General for storing merchandise in a haphazard way, which risked injuries from falling items.

Going forward, the retailer must resolve these types of hazards within 48 hours or face fines of $100,000 per day of violation — up to $500,000 maximum. As part of the settlement, Dollar General must also significantly reduce in-store inventory and improve stock efficiency to prevent unsafe conditions from recurring.

Dollar General’s settlement with OSHA appears to signal an about-face for the company.

The retailer has faced repeated federal and state safety violations in recent years and the company’s reticence to address the safety concerns led OSHA to place Dollar General in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program. Companies assigned to the program “have demonstrated indifference” through repeated or willful violations of OSHA policies, according to the agency.

From Jan. 1, 2017 through July 7, 2024, OSHA assessed the company over $26 million in proposed safety-related penalties, an agency spokesperson told Retail Dive in a Friday email. “Dollar General has also paid separate penalty amounts for earlier cases not covered by this agreement,” OSHA said. The settlement requires payment of $12 million 60 days from Thursday, which is the date OSHA and Dollar General signed the settlement agreement. retaildive.com


2023 Was 'Record' Year for Self-Checkout - Despite the Controversy
Self checkout boasts ‘record’ year: report

The U.S. is the world’s largest self-checkout market, driven in part by supermarket chains and convenience stores, even as some retailers pull back on the tech.

The self-checkout market experienced a “new record year” in 2023, according to a recent report from research firm RBR Data Services, a division of Datos Insights. About 217,000 terminals were delivered globally, up 12% over 2022.

The U.S. is the largest self-checkout market, a trend driven in part by supermarket chains and convenience stores. Self-checkout shipments to the Americas rose by 5% in 2023, over the prior year, per the report.

Global installations of self-checkout terminals are predicted to reach two million by 2029, with growth in all regions, the report said.

“Activity was up in the USA, the world’s largest self-checkout market, with rollouts continuing at supermarket chains including discounter Aldi and regional fuel convenience operators such as Refuel and Kwik Trip,” the report said. Locations with existing self-checkout operations are installing additional terminals or refreshing older hardware, according to the report.

Retailers are reshaping their self-checkout options amid shifting consumer habits. paymentsdive.com


DOJ: Gibsonia Resident Pleads Guilty to Insider Trading of Dick’s Sporting Goods Securities
Frank T. Poerio, Jr., 62, pleaded guilty to four counts Poerio used sensitive, material non-public information (MNPI) obtained from a Dick’s Sporting Goods (Dick’s) employee to engage in 160 trades of the company’s securities on the New York Stock Exchange. These transactions included the purchase of individual shares and call option contracts and occurred between August 2019 and May 2021, when the insider worked in a data analytics role at the company’s corporate offices in Moon Township, Pennsylvania. The trades netted approximately $823,000 in profits for Poerio, who often spoke with the employee about finances and investing. Several of the trading incidents occurred in the days immediately preceding Dick's earnings releases. justice.gov


NRF: June sees moderate rise in retail sales
Core retail sales (excluding restaurants, automobiles and gasoline) rose 0.3% month-over-month in June and were up 3.07% year-over-year, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, powered by Affinity Solutions. That compared with increases of 1.2% month over month and 2.88% year over year in May.

Total retail sales (excluding automobiles and gasoline but including restaurants) were up 0.47% month over month and up 3.42% unadjusted year over year in June. That compared with increases of 1.35% month over month and 3.03% year over year in May.

Total sales were up 2.39% year over year for the first six months of the year and core sales were up 2.62%. The year-over-year gain for total sales was the largest since 4.24% last November and the year-over-year gain for core sales was the largest since 3.24% this January."  chainstoreage.com


Stop & Shop is shuttering these 32 underperforming stores

Walmart adding new trendy fast food shop to 92 stores

Last week's #1 article --

Walmart Expands Next-Gen Tech to Maintain Dominance
Walmart transforms grocery operations with high-tech fulfillment
Walmart Inc. is building, expanding and retrofitting fulfillment centers with next-gen technology capabilities to enhance its grocery supply chain and maintain its grocery dominance.

The discount giant and nation's largest grocer, previously said more than half of its fulfillment centers could be automated by 2026. is outlining a three-pronged strategy to invest in data, intelligent software and automation in an effort to create a more connected and responsive grocery supply chain.

The initiative is focused on the areas of new builds, expansions and retrofits of grocery distribution centers chainstoreage.com