D&D Daily Mobile Edition

The D&D Daily Mobile Edition
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7/24/24

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March Networks CloudSight: The Industry's First Camera-to-Cloud Solution with Real-Time AI Analytics and Business Intelligence

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The U.S. Crime Surge
The Retail Impact

RILA, NDAA Store Walk Initiative in the News
Retailers & Law Enforcement Build Upon Anti-Theft Collaboration

More than 100 district attorneys participated in store walkthroughs last year in order to find better ways to tackle retail crime.

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA) launched the 2024 Store Walk Initiative to tackle organized retail crime, habitual theft and its impact on communities.

The initiative is in its second year and allows the organizations to connect retailers with local prosecutors to facilitate a better understanding of shared challenges, exchange insights and identify ways both parties can collaborate to reduce retail crime and recidivism.

"Organized retail crime is such a complex challenge; while there is no overnight or one-size-fits-all solution, we know collaboration is essential to combatting the problem. A unified response is an effective one, and that's what the Store Walk Initiative is designed to enable," said Lisa LaBruno, RILA senior executive vice president of retail operations. "DA offices and retailers, through newfound relationships, are building stronger, more effective cases that lead to successful prosecutions. Together, we're making meaningful progress toward restoring vibrancy to communities across the U.S."

According to RILA, last year's inaugural Store Walk Initiative led to more than 100 district attorney offices representing cities large and small across the United States to participate in store walks with leading retail asset protection leaders and store management teams. The Initiative has enabled more effective communication and strategic coordination around ORC cases, which have ultimately led to successful prosecutions and crime deterrence.

The Store Walk Initiative is just one aspect of the organizations' ongoing collaborative efforts. The Vibrant Communities Initiative, also launched in 2023, brings together district attorneys, police departments, social service organizations and other stakeholders to increase information sharing, test new technology solutions, and address the underlying social issues driving crime.

Retailers interested in participating in the Store Walk Initiative can learn more about it and register here. csnews.com

The Fate of Prop 47 is on the Ballot in November
Frustrated Californians May Be Ready for a Tougher Approach to Crime

Shoplifting and fentanyl use have tested the patience of California voters, who will decide in November whether to impose stricter laws that would lead to more incarceration.

Deodorant, shampoo and underwear are all under lock and key in many stores in California. Retail clerks are often told to ignore shoplifters, after a handful of store employees who confronted thieves were assaulted or killed. Video clips of smash-and-grab crews snatching armloads of merchandise have gone viral.

Californians of all political stripes have become fed up with the problems plaguing supermarkets and retail stores, not to mention car break-ins and open-air drug use. Some top Democrats, including Mayor London Breed of San Francisco, have joined conservatives in denouncing a cascade of smaller crimes that have contributed to a sense of lawlessness in major cities.

Now the state’s lawmakers and voters are weighing what to do.

With public sentiment in the state shifting toward stiffer punishment, California finds itself debating whether to roll back decade-old changes that sharply reduced the state’s inmate count and made it a leader in reducing mass incarceration.

A coalition of law enforcement figures, business owners and relatives of fentanyl addicts want to reverse the 2014 ballot measure known as Proposition 47, which reduced penalties for shoplifting and drug possession. That measure has been blamed so often for the state’s crime woes that it is among the few past initiatives that residents can identify by number — right up there with Proposition 13, the state’s landmark property tax limitation, and Proposition 209, the state’s prohibition of affirmative action.

With financial help from the giant retailers Target, Home Depot and Walmart, the coalition has gotten a ballot measure qualified for the November election that would impose harsher punishments for crimes that result in lighter charges or no prosecution today.

The fate of Proposition 47 will be decided by California’s nearly 27 million eligible voters in November. Nearly a million people signed a petition to amend Proposition 47 by imposing tougher sentences for shoplifting and drug possession. nytimes.com

Retailers Across the Pond Demand Protection for Shopworkers
Ireland retailers & shopworkers call for greater protection against violence

Retailers and staff in Northern Ireland have joined growing calls for a standalone protection of shopworkers law.

The call comes after the latest recorded crime statistics from the Police Service of Northern Ireland showed shoplifting had more than doubled since the pandemic.

Retail trade union Usdaw and the employers’ organisation the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium (NIRC) have jointly written to minister of justice Naomi Long MLA urging action to protect retail workers from violence and abuse amid a huge increase in incidents in recent years.

Usdaw and the NIRC are seeking Stormont support for a Scottish-style protection of shopworkers’ law, which the new Labour government in Westminster included in last week’s King’s Speech, although that will only apply in England and Wales.

Paddy Lillis, Usdaw general secretary, said: “It is deeply disturbing for our members to see a doubling in theft from shops. Shoplifting has long been a major flashpoint for violence and abuse against shopworkers.

“A separate criminal offence will ensure greater visibility and awareness of the scale of the problem, prioritisation and resourcing from the police, certainty from courts, and will send a clear message to members of the public that abuse and attacks against retail workers are wholly unacceptable." talkingretail.com

Is Oakland Fudging Their Crime Data?
Oakland police refute claims it is distorting massive crime figure drop

Oakland police reported a 33% drop in crime, but not everyone is buying it

The Oakland Police Department (OPD) has shot back against claims that it has been underreporting its crime data, which shows dramatic falls in crime this year compared to 2023.

A report by the San Francisco Chronicle and the Oakland Report claims that OPD is not comparing like with like when reporting its crime figures for Oakland, California, and thus its perceived dip in crime is misleading.

Data released by the OPD in May reported that violent crime rates were down in the first part of the year, with crime down 33% overall. Burglary had dropped 50%, while homicides had fallen by 17%, assaults were down 7% and rapes are down 21%.

The figures were touted by embattled progressive Mayor Sheng Thao, who faces a recall ballot in November due to public safety and economic vitality concerns, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Oakland has faced mounting issues such as housing costs, homelessness and crime in recent years. Last week, dozens of people ransacked a gas station mini-mart near the San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport, leaving the store destroyed. foxnews.com

Juveniles Fueling Crime?
Charlotte saw a 300% increase in homicides committed by young people
An updated look at Charlotte's crime trend data on Monday shows the city is still facing an increased number of crimes committed by juveniles. In 2023, there was a historic spike in crimes involving juveniles, according to the police department. That trend continued into 2024.

Among juvenile crimes, 61% of those crimes were committed by repeat juvenile offenders, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said Monday as they released crime trends for the first six months of the year.

Among the city's young people, there has been a 300% increase in homicides committed by juvenile suspects. CMPD said 12 young people have been arrested and charged in homicides. Additionally, there has been a 75% increase in homicides with a young person as a victim.

Across all age groups, the total number of homicides was up 36% thus far in 2024, according to CMPD. The police department is investigating 61 homicides compared to 45 in the same period last year. wcnc.com

Report explores violent crime statistics and underlying causes in Ohio

New push for AR-15 ban at Secret Service hearing

Dollar Tree's 'Lengthy History' of Safety Violations
Inspectors found infractions in 59% of Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores

Virginia-based Dollar Tree faces new pressures over its history of violations
The problems recorded in one Virginia store were hardly new or unusual for Dollar Tree, whose stores have drawn sanctions from safety inspectors nationwide. The Manassas store was just one of nearly 600 Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores and warehouses cited for unsafe and hazardous conditions between 2014 and 2024, according to inspection data from across the country.

The hazards regulators have found at Dollar Tree stores have “become a recurring theme,” said Eric S. Harbin, a U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration regional administrator in Dallas, in a June 2023 statement about violations at Texas stores. “The safety conditions that exist at some of these stores create the potential for tragic consequences in an emergency.”

Advocates say the overstacked storage rooms, blocked safety exits and rodent and insect infestations create unsafe and unhealthy environments for many of the chain’s roughly 200,000 workers.

Federal and state records show that Dollar Tree has a higher percentage of safety inspections that flag violations than retailers of similar size. Inspectors found infractions in 59% of Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores they inspected between 2019 and 2023, according to an analysis of federal inspection records by VCIJ. By comparison, among stores inspected in the same five years, regulators cited violations at 49% of Dollar General stores, 42% of Kroger supermarkets and 28% of Walmart stores, according to the analysis.

In announcements of citations against the company, federal regulators have admonished Dollar Tree for its “lengthy history” of failed safety inspections. insidenova.com

Companies Using AI to Charge Different Customers Different Prices?
FTC launches probe into ‘surveillance pricing’ that it says links cost to customer data
The Federal Trade Commission is launching an investigation into so-called surveillance pricing, seeking more information about how artificial intelligence is used to change pricing rapidly based on data about customer behavior and characteristics.

The FTC says the practice allows companies to charge different customers, different prices.

The agency is serving eight companies with a mandatory request for information — all companies it says advertise their AI and other tech tools along with a trove of customer information to target prices to individual customers.

The list includes Mastercard, JPMorgan Chase, Accenture and consulting giant McKinsey. It also includes software firm Task, which counts McDonald’s and Starbucks as clients; Revionics, which works with Home Depot,Tractor Supply and grocery chain Hannaford; Bloomreach, which services FreshDirect, Total Wine and Puma; and Pros, which was named Microsoft’s internet service vendor of the year this year.

“Firms that harvest Americans’ personal data can put people’s privacy at risk,” FTC Chair Lina Khan said in a news release. “Now firms could be exploiting this vast trove of personal information to charge people higher prices.”

Kahn describes surveillance pricing as a “shadowy ecosystem of pricing middlemen.” cnbc.com

650+ Store Closures
Rite Aid store closures top 650; 67% of Ohio stores now closed, Michigan 63%; top 3 states still 20% to 24%
Rite Aid’s latest 40 planned store closures, revealed in court filings Friday and Monday, bring the chain’s total closures to more than 650 — beyond the top of the range most analysts expected when the chain filed in October 2023 for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection — and indicate a continued withdrawal from what were previously its fourth and fifth biggest state markets.

The closures bring the total nationwide to 654 — according to an abc27 News analysis on the new filings and Scrapehero data — or 32% of the stores it operated before filing for bankruptcy. Two out of every three Ohio stores will soon have closed. In Pennsylvania, where Rite Aid is headquartered — formerly in Camp Hill, now in Philadelphia — that figure is just one out of five.

In Rite Aid’s previous top five markets, it will soon have closed 98 of its 449 (or 22%) of its California stores; 89 of 440 (20%) of its Pennsylvania stores; 58 of 240 (24%) of its New York stores; 147 of 232 (63%) of its Michigan stores; and 123 of 184 (67%) of its Ohio stores. finance.yahoo.com

List of Big Lots Store Closures Expands

Study identifies major retail concerns for holiday 2024

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Face matching reveals violent repeat offender's pattern: 133 thefts across dozens of stores with $250K+ identified losses

FaceFirst’s powerful investigation tools help retailers identify repeated thefts enterprise-wide to build better cases faster

When a man stealing merchandise worth $1,900 assaulted a store employee, the retailer’s AP team added the individual’s face to their FaceFirst database. Using FaceFirst’s powerful visitor search feature, they discovered the man had recently stolen from 10 other stores. They started building a robust case profile for law enforcement and prosecutors. During the investigation, FaceFirst notified the retailer every time the individual entered any of their stores. After the initial event, the retailer used FaceFirst proactively for months to build a case on 133 thefts and more than $250,000 in identified losses across dozens of locations.

With FaceFirst's powerful search tools, you can see immediately when, where, and how often that individual has visited your locations. Investigators can review these prior visits to document loss events, identify accomplices, and find visitation patterns.

The Maps function provides a clear visual representation of all your store locations the enrolled individual has visited within a certain time frame. These visits are displayed on a top-down view map, which allows you to better understand where and how often known offenders are in your venues. The map icons are color-coded and can show any real-time events as they occur.

The map will display a FaceFirst blue icon (see image above) if the enrolled individual has visited one location. A yellow icon appears for locations visited more than 10 times. A red icon marks any locations visited more than 100 times.

With FaceFirst, retailers can provide vital life safety situational awareness for employees and build detailed cases for prosecution and restitution. Get in touch with us at facefirst.com to help prevent workplace violence, save investigative time, and build more successful cases faster.

RH-ISAC Joins National Task Force for Fraud & Scam Prevention

Led by the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program, this trailblazing multi-sector initiative will launch in the fall to combat fraud and build trust in our financial system.

Washington, D.C. – The Aspen Institute Financial Security Program (Aspen FSP) is announcing the formation of a National Task Force for Fraud & Scam Prevention, an initiative that will bring together leading stakeholders from government, law enforcement, private industry, and civil society to develop a nation-wide strategy aimed at helping prevent fraud and scams.

Financial frauds and scams are an increasing threat against Americans’ public safety and financial health, with implications for our economy, the U.S. financial system, and national security. Criminals carry out their crimes in multiple venues–over social media, dating sites, job boards, marketplaces, and telephone calls–breaking down trust in our institutions and putting Americans’ personal savings at risk. The task force formalizes a network of stakeholders who have a vested interest in making sure that consumers are protected and can restore trust in our financial system.

“The National Task Force for Fraud & Scam Prevention developed out of Aspen FSP’s work convening and supporting leaders and institutions committed to building a safe, fair, and inclusive financial system,” said Ida Rademacher, vice president at the Aspen Institute and co-executive director of Aspen FSP. “We are excited to work with our partners to increase trust in our financial systems, equip individuals and families with better information and tools, and continue to safely expand services to underserved communities. Together, our work can help keep money in the pockets of hardworking Americans and strengthen households’ financial security.”

The Task Force will address different aspects of the fraud and scam lifecycle, with a primary focus on prevention. rhisac.org

Change is the Only Constant in Today's Cyber Threat Landscape
The changes in the cyber threat landscape in the last 12 months
When it comes to the cyber threat landscape, change is the only constant: the inevitable interplay between cybercriminals and law enforcement agencies makes it inevitable.

Europol’s recently released Internet Organised Crime Threat Assessment (IOCTA) 2024 report covers events – law enforcement actions – that happened in the last 12 months (or so) and how the cyber threat landscape shifted because of them.

These actions include the Hive, LockBit and ALPHV/BlackCat takedowns, the takedowns and disruptions of cybercriminal forums, marketplaces and ransomware-delivery botnets, the arrests of dark web vendors, crackdowns on fraudulent investment platforms, and so on.

What changes have these and other events wrought?

According to Europol:

• Ransomware groups have disbanded and reorganised, and it’s harder to tell which threat actors are involved with which groups

• Ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) providers are competing for affiliates and developers

• Ransomware groups are increasingly going after small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), as less money to invest in cybersecurity makes for easier targets

• Dark web marketplaces have a shorter life span and others – or mirrors – are being set up soon after takeovers by law enforcement and exit scams

• Double extortion models are increasingly common (and even criminals aren’t safe from extortion attempts) helpnetsecurity.com

Fallout Continues Following Global IT Outage
CrowdStrike says flawed update was live for 78 minutes

Though CrowdStrike pulled the update, companies across sectors were already dealing with the cascading consequences that required manual remediations.

CrowdStrike’s ill-fated update was live for 78 minutes, the company said in new details shared Monday in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The defective software update it deployed Friday quickly rendered global IT networks non-operational.

The company reiterated the outages it caused for customers using certain Windows systems was not the result of a cyberattack, and it pointed to remediation information and updates published on its blog. Systems running Falcon on Windows version 7.11 and above that downloaded the updated configuration during those 78 minutes were “susceptible to a system crash,” CrowdStrike said. cybersecuritydive.com

CrowdStrike CEO’s quick apology stands out in an industry rife with deflection

Google Talks to Acquire Cybersecurity Startup Wiz Fall Apart

Webinar Sponsored by Genetec

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July 25, 2024 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm ET

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Canadian Retailers Continue to Fight ORC
Loblaw rolls out self-checkout receipt scanner at 4 Ontario locations
Customers using the self-checkout at a handful of Loblaw-owned stores in Ontario are being asked to scan their receipts to exit the store, a new pilot project aimed at curbing grocery theft, the company says.

In a statement to CP24.com, a Loblaw spokesperson confirmed that the receipt scanners were installed at four stores in the province in Windsor, Woodstock, Oakville, and Georgetown.

“Organized retail crime across the entire industry is a very serious issue, and has only gotten worse. It’s having an impact on prices and safety. To protect customers and colleagues, we’re always looking at different ways to stop this theft. This pilot is a part of these efforts,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

The pilot, they said, is a “small trial” that aims to determine the “effectiveness” of such anti-theft measures.

While receipt checks are common at some retailers, including Costco, Loblaw faced significant backlash when the grocer implemented the practice at some Loblaw-owned stores last summer. toronto.ctvnews.ca

AI's Retail Impact
Canadian Businesses Urged To Adapt With AI And Data-Driven Strategies Amid Rising Insolvencies
While Canadian businesses should be focused on shifting from survival mode to growth mode, many still find themselves working against tough economic times, and, largely due to their inability to adapt to modern ways of shopping, are faced with a wave of increased insolvencies. Regardless of the industry, modern solutions like artificial intelligence and automation have become increasingly important in an organization’s operations. To maintain a healthy and successful business, leaders must adapt their business to the latest landscape and ultimately, provide consumers with the seamless shopping experience they seek.

Coming out of the pandemic and faced with inflation, consumers changed their shopping habits and their expectations. While there were shifts in buying behavior as a result, expectations have remained high for a frictionless experience. Historically, customers prioritized quality service and fair pricing above all. Now, they expect more out of their shopping experience – personalized interactions, seamless shopping, proactive service and consistency across digital channels have become the norm for the modern consumer, with many considering the experience just as important as the product or service they’re paying for.

In a survey conducted by Pivotree and Canam Research, only 39% of commerce business leaders said that their commerce strategy and tactics were “definitely keeping pace” with changes in customer behaviour. How can the remaining 61% increase their chances of surviving and thriving, both now and in the future? retail-insider.com

Canada News: Retail Decline and Grocery Code of Conduct
In May, Canada’s retail sales fell by 0.8%, reversing a previous increase and surpassing expectations of a 0.6% drop. This decline was driven largely by reduced spending at supermarkets and grocery stores amid high food inflation and interest rates. Sales at food and beverage retailers decreased by 1.9%, with a 2.1% drop in grocery sales.

Furthermore, according to Canadacode.org, “Securing Canada’s essential food and grocery supply chains has never been more important. That’s why Canada needs a Grocery Code of Conduct — to promote predictability, transparency, and fair dealing as ingredients and products make their way from suppliers to stores to Canadians’ homes. Leaders across government, grocery retail, and food and consumer product manufacturing have worked together over the last two years to jointly develop solutions that will ensure a better deal in store for everyone.” retailwire.com

Canadian Retail Sales Saw Essential Gains Amid Discretionary Spend Drop In May

Vitamins sold at Canadian Costco and Walmart stores recalled due to 'metal fibres'

Off-Duty Officer Stabbed During Best Buy Robbery
Police ID two more suspects in robbery, stabbing of off-duty cop at Best Buy in Toronto
Police have identified two more suspects and released their images in connection with a theft and stabbing that injured an off-duty officer in Toronto. The incident took place on Wednesday, just before noon, at a Best Buy in the area of McCowan Road and Progress Avenue. Officers allege three men and a woman went into a Best Buy store and attempted to leave without paying for an item. An off-duty Toronto police officer in the store tried to prevent the four people from fleeing and was allegedly stabbed. The officer sustained serious injuries to the wrist and was transported to a hospital. Police say the suspects then loaded the item into a blue Toyota Sienna minivan, which was captured by dashcam footage that police released shortly after the incident. On Friday, police issued arrest warrants to a 38-year-old man and 47-year-old Jim Dimce Kaluzovski from Keswick. toronto.ctvnews.ca

B.C. teen arrested for attempted murder after liquor store robbery
A 16-year-old boy was arrested for attempted murder and robbery Sunday after a stabbing at a liquor store in Port Alberni, B.C. Mounties were called to the store around 10 p.m. Saturday, where they discovered a woman had been stabbed by a shoplifter, the Port Alberni RCMP said in a news release. The victim was transported to hospital for treatment. The attending officers collected evidence and reviewed surveillance video, which showed the suspect "brutally attacking the unsuspecting victim before stealing liquor from the store and then fleeing the area," police said. Hours later, police say they located the suspect on the south side of the city and arrested him for attempted murder and robbery. The suspect's name has not been released because he is a minor. bc.ctvnews.ca

Off-duty officer stops grocery store attack, suspect linked to other crimes: WPS
Winnipeg police say an off-duty officer intervened after witnessing an attack at a grocery store, later discovering the suspect was linked to other crimes in the city. On Monday at 5 p.m., police say the officer was at a grocery store in the 1100 block of Grant Ave when he saw an altercation between a man and store security. Police say the man began acting aggressively towards the employee and was chasing him through the store. The officer present got involved and ended up arresting the man and securing him while waiting for backup. The man was turned over to a general patrol unit and was found to have a knife, police say. He was later identified and linked to three previous incidents currently under investigation. globalnews.ca

Mississauga teen charged after 3 suspects armed with hammer rob Toronto jewelry store

Police investigating after armed robbery at Saskatoon store

Man arrested following string of grocery store robberies in Brampton, Vaughan

Suspect arrested in attempted robbery, sexual assault at Toronto business

Burnaby businesses evacuated after armed robbery: RCMP

One injured in Cambridge store robbery with knife

View Canadian Connections Archives

Consumers Scammed Online
Scammers impersonate Best Buy, Amazon, PayPal most

Most lucrative for thieves: Posing as Microsoft or Publishers Clearing House, FTC says

Best Buy (and its affiliated Geek Squad) and Amazon were the two most impersonated companies, by a significant margin. Amazon was impersonated three times more than the next highest volume company, PayPal.

With Best Buy/Geek Squad, consumers usually receive emails claiming a computer service they never purchased is renewing for hundreds of dollars.

Total loss

Scams using the Microsoft and Publishers Clearing House (PCH) names were by far the most lucrative; they caused $60 million and $49 million in losses respectively. Next came Amazon, at $19 million.

Loss per scam

The lucrative nature of Microsoft and PCH impersonation scams becomes more apparent when looking at loss per scam. Here’s a look at the losses suffered by victims (rounded to the nearest hundred):

• Microsoft impersonators: $8,600 lost per scam.
• PCH impersonators: $7,000 lost per scam.
• Amazon impersonators: $600 lost per scam.
• Best Buy impersonators: $300 lost per scam.

The amount lost in a scam also correlates to the payment method. Investment scams are the most costly and they usually involve payments via wire transfers and cryptocurrency exchanges. Another typical payment method is through payment apps. Of the person-to-person apps reportedly used in scams, PayPal, Cash App and Zelle were the most popular, with about 70% of reported scams via these three.

Gift cards were reported as the most common payment method that thieves pushed for various scams, including “romance scams, tech support scams, government impersonation scams and scams that impersonate people you know, like your boss or a grandchild,” the FTC said. Apple was the company whose gift card was most commonly used in scams, involving 30% of scams, followed by Target, eBay, Walmart and Amazon. pirg.org

Amazon's 'Carrot & Stick Approach' to Fighting Unions
Amazon beat striking workers by a whisker. Next time, it may not be so lucky

The razor-thin margin of defeat at a Coventry warehouse shows the global pressure for recognition is gaining ground

The margin of defeat was razor-thin: only 0.5%. Amazon’s anti-union stance in the UK has been maintained by a handful of votes. The company had to use every trick in its extensive union-busting playbook to secure the result.

Its anti-union efforts followed a carrot-and-stick approach. The carrot side of the equation saw Amazon hire a significant number of extra staff, swamping the electorate with unorganised workers. Union members suggest that management used this extra labour to reduce the pace of work dramatically, abandoning their usual target-led performance management regime. The duration of the election campaign was one of the very rare periods that Amazon took its foot off the gas. When I put these allegations to Amazon, a spokesperson responded: “We regularly hire new team members across the country and throughout the year to meet customer demand.”

The stick side of the equation saw allegations from the GMB of a sustained campaign of union busting, from targeting key organisers by cutting their hours to holding anti-union meetings and distributing leaflets with QR codes that auto-generated resignation emails from the union. Referring to the QR codes, the Amazon spokesperson said: “Employees were telling us they wanted to cancel their membership but could not find a way to do so, so we provided information to help.” theguardian.com

Better Business Bureau: Stay alert while shopping online

Taylor, MI: Over $100,000 in Harley Davidson bikes stolen as thieves crash through Taylor store
It took only two minutes for five thieves to break into a Taylor Harley Davidson dealer and make off with their intended target. As they crashed through a service door, security cameras were rolling at Motown Harley Davidson in Taylor off Telegraph just after midnight Thursday. "They’ve been here, they knew where they were on the floor and knew where they were going," said Jon Gale, the general manager. "In less than two minutes they were in and out." The thieves got their hands on top of the line bikes. "Two of them were Harleys off their new platform, they are all 2024s," Gale said. "Two were off road glide CVO Road Glide ST limited production models. The cream of the crop for Harley's bikes." fox2detroit.com

Albuquerque, NM: Over $50K in items stolen from ABQ businesses, man arrested
Police are tying an Albuquerque man to a commercial burglary operation that’s resulted in more than $50,000 in merchandise being stolen from area stores in the last two months. Cody Montoya, 40, is facing more than 20 charges, including 10 counts each of criminal damage and conspiracy, and seven counts of non-residential burglary. He is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center, with a detention hearing set for Thursday. In the latest case, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court, Montoya — who was accompanied by another man and a woman — would use a car to pull down security gates, then use crowbars to break into the businesses. About $60,000 in items were stolen. The complaint states that the commercial burglaries happened at Boot Barn, Target and numerous hair salons and beauty supply stores. Items that were stolen include boots, workwear, headphones, vacuums and hair products. abqjournal.com

Mount Dora, FL: Police search for 4 suspects in jewelry store robbery
Police in Lake County are searching for four people who stole thousands of dollars in stolen jewelry. Mount Dora police said the suspects were captured on security footage at the Gold Exchange. Investigators said the owner was distracted, and the people stole 11 rings worth $27,000. It happened on July 14. “These people are professionals,” said Detective Gary Hutcheson with the Mount Dora Police Department. “They knew what they were doing. They knew the store was closing, and I am sure the owner was the only person in the store, giving the opportunity to do a distraction theft. I believe they have done this before.” wftv.com

Montgomery Township, PA: Three men charged with racketeering, forgery, ID theft in thousand-dollar credit card fraud at Lowe's
Three Philadelphia men face more than a total of 30 felonies, including racketeering, identity theft, and forgery charges, after being accused of fraudulently using a home improvement company’s credit information to purchase more than $4,500 in electrical wire from Lowe’s in Montgomeryville. Yeuri Luis Rosa, 24, Jomar Maria-Lopez, 18 and Emmanuel Rondon-Herrera, 24, are charged with the following felonies: Racketeering, two counts of forgery and associated conspiracy charges, access device fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud, use of an access device to obtain property without authorization from the owner and an associated conspiracy charge, identity theft and conspiracy to commit identity theft, and theft by deception and conspiracy to commit theft, according to court records. northpennnow.com

Orangevale, CA: Stolen car smashes into Orangevale gun store; 25 firearms taken
Dozens of guns have been stolen after a smash and grab at a Sacramento County gun store early Tuesday morning, authorities say. According to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, they were alerted around 3:45 a.m. about a burglary at the gun store on Greenback Lane, near Walnut Avenue. The owner reported seeing someone running around inside the store from a live video feed. The owner also reported seeing that the front window had been broken out. Once at the scene, deputies discovered that someone had actually backed a stolen SUV into the storefront – allowing them to get inside. At least 25 guns were stolen, the sheriff's office says. cbsnews.com

Irvine, CA: Two suspects from Latin America arrested for shoplifting at the Irvine Sephora
Monday, two more people found out that Irvine is not the place to commit organized retail theft. The duo entered Sephora with an Apple shopping bag and an empty MacBook box inside, according to the Irvine Police Department. The computer box had a hidden opening, allowing them to conceal $1,400 in beauty products. The Irvine Police Department calls that a good old-fashioned booster bag or what Harry Houdini would call “magic.” Even a little trickery couldn’t conceal this blemish… In partnership with loss prevention, Spectrum police officers quickly took the couple into custody after they exited the store with the stolen loot. Rafael Eduardo Ruiz Diaz, 48, of Colombia, and Kattia Centeno Carvajal, 48, of Costa Rica, were arrested and booked at Orange County Jail on suspicion of burglary and conspiracy. newsantaana.com

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Shootings & Deaths

Daytona Beach, FL: Update: Customer, 83, Charged with Fatal Shooting of Jewelry Boss
John Craiger, reported to have been a customer at the store, pulled a gun after an altercation at Volusia Gold and Diamonds, in Daytona Beach, according to a media release by local police. He approached the victim, named as Ghazi Osta, who was working behind a counter, and fired a fatal shot at 12.52pm on Friday 19 July. Another employee responded by shooting Craiger, and a witness struck him on the back of the head with a blunt object. Both the Osta and Craiger, were taken to nearby Halifax Medical Center. The victim was pronounced dead. Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said Craiger was shot a number of times and suffered a laceration to the head. Nobody else in the store was injured. Craiger has been charged with one count of first degree murder and one of attempted first degree murder. idexonline.com

Oklahoma City, OK: Police release identity shooting victim whose body was found in Walgreens drive-thru
Police have released the identity of a woman whose body was found in a southeast Oklahoma City store's drive-thru after being shot to death last week. Shortly before 3:20 p.m. on July 18, police responded to a shooting outside the Walgreens along South Shields Boulevard near Southeast 44th Street. When officers arrived, they found the body of a woman who appeared to have been shot to death. On Tuesday, the Oklahoma City Police Department identified the victim as Sabrina Johnson, 53. "She was beyond help, and we saw some evidence of a homicide," Capt. Michelle Henderson, with the Oklahoma City Police Department, said on July 18. "We found some trauma and some blood around that led us to believe that it was not just an accidental situation." koco.com

Davenport, IA: Mall Shooting: NorthPark Mall store owner speaks out following shooting
Davenport police said they have arrested a teenager in connection to a shooting at NorthPark Mall Monday afternoon that left the teen and another person wounded. The shooting sent mall-goers running for safety just before 4:30 p.m. on Monday, July 22. Police say the teenager and a second person exchanged shots inside the mall. 16-year-old male from Rock Island was transported by a private vehicle to a local hospital with a non-life-threatening injury. The second person also sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the shooting. Following the shooting at the NorthPark Mall in Davenport on Monday, July 22, one store owner is speaking out about his concerns. Bradley Riedell has owned The Geeked Gear Toys store in the mall since April. During his time at the mall, he said he hasn’t experienced violence like what the community saw on Monday, but he has seen enough otherwise to know something needs to change. Bradley said that as an owner, he felt it was his responsibility to open up the conversation to the community and asked them what they want to see. “A lot of people have security on their minds, so I would say 90% of the replies were 'Let’s see more uniformed officers, better security.' Some people are going as far as age limits.” Davenport Police said that business owners or the mall itself can hire officers independently and encouraged them to do so if that makes them feel safer. However, it is up to the mall or store in the mall to call on the officers for help. wqad.com

Las Vegas, NV: Man charged for shooting two during convenience store robbery
Las Vegas police responded to a robbery at the Love’s Travel Stop on North Grand Avenue around 3 a.m. Monday and found two employees bleeding from gunshot wounds. Following an hourslong manhunt, officers with the Las Vegas Police Department arrested 35-year-old Roy E. Clements on charges related to the violent robbery. The two employees, a man and a woman, were in the process of opening a cash register when a masked man entered the store, according to an arrest affidavit filed in San Miguel Magistrate Court .The masked man shot the male employee in the upper left leg. The woman then jumped on the shooter’s back, and after a brief struggle, he shot her in the right thigh. However, she was able to remove the shooter’s mask and get a look at his face. Clements was on supervised probation at the time of his arrest and has multiple criminal convictions in New Mexico, according to court records, including battery upon a peace officer, aggravated battery, motor vehicle theft, burglary and being a felon in possession of a firearm. lasvegasoptic.com

Robberies, Incidents & Thefts

Murfreesboro, TN: $1 million lottery ticket back with rightful owner after gas station clerk allegedly steals it
A Tennessee father was close to losing out on a $1 million lottery ticket after a store clerk allegedly stole the ticket and tried to collect the prize. The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office says the victim bought two winning tickets at a Shell gas station in Murfreesboro and gave them to the store clerk, 23-year-old Meer Patel, WSMV reports. Detectives say Patel paid the man for the lesser-winning ticket and put the $1 million ticket in the trash. He was allegedly spotted on camera celebrating in the store after scratching off the front of the ticket and confirming it was a $1 million winner. “Store video obtained by Investigators Vic Donoho and Greg Heiman of the Tennessee Lottery showed the clerk allegedly taking out the trash, removing the winning ticket and placing it in his pocket,” the sheriff’s office said. Later, Patel allegedly tried to claim the prize from the Tennessee Lottery, but the employees were immediately suspicious, according to the sheriff’s office. wtap.com

Albany, NY: 359 arrested in New York 4-month retail theft crackdown, police say
More than 350 people have been arrested for organized retail theft since Mar. 15, 2024, according to state police. Steven G. James, superintendent of New York State Police, stated on Thursday that state police have arrested 359 people and recovered $101,000 in stolen property in accordance with Gov. Hochul's initiative of multi-agency retail theft crackdown announced earlier this year. Other than the state police, the NYS Attorney General’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the NYPD, have been in partnership with loss prevention and security teams from large retailers in all regions of the state, sharing information and coordinating enforcement activities, according to James. James said each state police troop contacted businesses in their area and identified retail locations most affected by theft. According to the superintendent, during the first 16 weeks of the multi-agency initiative, troopers: Contacted 482 retail businesses. Investigated 412 retail larceny complaints. Conducted 237 dedicated retail theft enforcement details. Arrested 359 people on 571 separate charges. cbs6albany.com

Q2 Cargo Theft Down slightly from Record Q1 Levels, but Up Strong versus 2023
US cargo thefts continue to grow, down just a bit in Q2 a bit from record Q1 levels, but up big from the second quarter of 2023. That data and more from the regularly recent quarterly “Risk Trends Analysis” report from CargoNet, a freight security company. It found there were 771 cargo theft incidents in the just completed Q2. That was down 10% from the previous quarter, but up by one third from the 2023. The report notes a “slight behavioral shifts in the country's most prolific organized cargo theft groups operating in Southern California. Across the board, these groups evolved to be more discriminating in their shipment targets, stealing high-value freight like motor oil and computer electronics less frequently.”

The average shipment value in the quarter was $150,711, and CargoNet estimates that $68.5 million in freight was stolen during this period. Compared to the first quarter of 2024, CargoNet saw significant growth in targeting of vitamins and supplements, alcoholic beverage shipments (primarily liquor), and over-the-counter skincare products. In contrast, theft of vehicle accessories like tires and motor oils, footwear, and consumer electronics such as televisions and computers decreased notably. The activity varies dramatically by state. Just three states – California, Texas and Illinois – accounted for 577% of total theft incidents in the quarter, the CargoNet data finds. CargoNet expects cargo theft activity in the third quarter of 2024 to remain elevated. scdigest.com

St Louis County, MO: Homeless woman with $16K in counterfeit bills accused of St. Charles county shopping spree

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Corporate Risk Manager
Memphis, TN or New Orleans, LA - Posted June 27

Summary of Role and Responsibilities: Proactive approach to preventing losses/injuries, whether they are to our employees, third parties, or customers' valuables. They include cash in transit, auto losses, or injuries; Report all incidents, claims, and losses that may expose the company to financial losses, whether they are covered by insurance or not...

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The Loss Prevention Specialist identifies various types of losses and thefts, works cross-functionally in a fast-paced environment providing critical guidance to Operations on asset protection and profit improvement initiatives. At The Fikes Companies, our Mission is to build a highly successful company which our employees are proud of, our customers value, and the communities we serve can count on...

Multi-Store Detective (Pittsburgh Operating Market)
Pittsburgh, PA - Posted April 9

Job Summary: Store Detectives are key players in serving their assigned locations in the detection and apprehension of shoplifters. Job Responsibilities: Detect and apprehend shoplifters with the use of standard visual practice and CCTV in multi-store environment; Utilize CCTV to create video records of incidents requested by law enforcement and internal departments...

Multi-Store Detective (Cleveland Operating Market)
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