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

Tracking Big City Shootings, Killings & Injuries Throughout Summer 2024

917 Shootings - 266 Killed - 960 Injured in 15 Cities Over Last 10 Weekends
Shootings (down 19%), deaths (down 11%) & injuries (down 20%) 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 the past weekend, from July 26th through July 28th, there were 68 shootings recorded in these 15 big cities, resulting in 14 deaths and 73 injuries.

In total, over the past 10 weekends combined, these cities have recorded 917 shootings, resulting in 266 deaths and 960 injuries.

Compared to last summer at this time in the study, total shootings in these cities are down 19%, deaths are down 11%, and injuries are down 20%.

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 24% in 1st Half of 2024
Shoplifting is on the rise even as reports of other types of crime fall
All but one type of crime decreased in the first six months in 2024, according to a July report from the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ).

Shoplifting rose 24% in the first half of the year, while every other type of crime dropped, according to the study, which analyzed crime statistics in 23 cities. The data shows shoplifting is up across the country, reflecting what retailers have described as a growing problem.

As businesses invest in anti-theft technology to deter criminals, meanwhile, consumers express frustration at the many products, from toiletries to snacks, that they now find locked up on store shelves.

By comparison, reports of residential burglaries were 14% lower in the first half of 2024 compared with the first half of 2023, according to CCJ. Nonresidential burglaries were down 10%. Larcenies and drug offenses also decreased by 6% and 2%, respectively, in the first half of 2024.

Did shoplifting really skyrocket during pandemic?

Although the shoplifting rate across the U.S is up 24% compared with last year, it has risen only 10% compared with 2019. That figure contradicts the narrative, often pushed by retailers, that store thefts skyrocketed during the pandemic. Rather, data shows that rates of theft spiked in some cities, such as New York, while declining in other parts of the country.

The study's authors also note that shoplifting statistics tend to be less accurate than reports of other crimes, like homicides, for example.

According to Adam Gelb, president and CEO of CCJ, retailers sometimes neglect to report shoplifting incidents to the police because they don't think law enforcement will take appropriate action, or for other reasons "that relate to their lack of confidence that the criminal justice system will respond appropriately."

On the flip side, video footage of dramatic shoplifting incidents that goes viral on social media can suggest the issue is more pervasive than it is in reality.  cbsnews.com

   RELATED: Shoplifting is up 24% from 2023: Report


Clear Link Between Crime & CVS Store Closures
CVS finally admits crime sparked store closures across US city after eerie pics of shelves completely cleared by theft

CVS has said publically for the first time that theft has been a major reason it has had to shut down stores in a major US city.

After yet another creepy video of empty aisles and barren shelves went viral recently, CVS admitted the impact theft has had on closures.

The nationwide convenience store and pharmacy has shut down hundreds of locations in recent years, but they have cited other causes for the decisions — such as low profitability and strategic changes. Videos showing basic products locked behind security glass or simply unavailable have added to the rumors.

Now, the arrest of a serial shoplifter in Washington DC has pushed the retailer to reveal the true cause. The US Attorney's Office in DC recently sentenced a repeat offender to 18 months in jail for stealing from a single store, according to local Fox affiliate WTTG.

In a victim statement for the case, CVS cited the crime and similar acts of repeated theft as a direct reason for the closures in the District. It marks the first time that the retailer has publicly and directly drawn a causal link between growing crime and the shutdown of their stores.

CVS first shocked customers in 2021 when it announced that it would gradually close over 1,000 locations in the coming years. About 600 stores shuttered their doors for the last time by the end of 2023, with an additional 300 or so scheduled for closure in 2024. the-sun.com


Avery Dennison 'Theft Crisis' Report Makes More Headlines
Many Retailers in ‘Theft Crisis’ Mode, Survey Finds

Execs say resources for detecting and reducing shrink are in short supply.

New research has found that almost two-thirds (64%) of large retailers in the U.K. and U.S. believe the impact of theft has reached a crisis point. In addition, over four-in-ten (42%) believe that theft is more of a concern today than it was 12 months ago.

The survey and resulting analysis, commissioned by Avery Dennison, collated the views of 300 senior retail leaders in the two regions representing brands with 200-plus stores. Theft was found to be the leading business concern. When asked to list their top five business challenges, the most cited responses were addressing the impact of theft (36%), optimizing omnichannel (27%), increased operating costs (27%), improving staff efficiencies (26%), and retaining customers (24%).

Retailers have been deploying a myriad of high-tech and low-tech measures to tackle an increase in theft, in addition to security guards. From RFID tags to body-worn cameras to facial recognition technology, retailers are using a combination of solutions for a holistic approach. Respondents listed security guards (27%) as the most effective measure deployed to date followed by facial recognition technology (23%), and RFID tags (21%).

Retailers also shared their future plans, with 76% stating they are using RFID or plan to begin doing so within the next 24 months. Over a third (38%) plan to deploy AI enabled cameras, while 37% will introduce facial recognition technology within the same period. instoremag.com


Retail Crime 'Epidemic' Across the Pond
UK: Shop stops selling luxury items as thefts rise
Tying down products and stopping selling high-end items are among the measures one shop owner has taken amid a rise in shoplifting. Official figures show shoplifting in Wales has increased by 34% over the past year, with one trade union saying Wales faces an "epidemic" of retail crime.

Julie and her colleagues have put measures in place to protect items from being stolen, including tying certain items to the counter and not selling high-end products.

The largest increase in shoplifting was in south Wales, which nearly doubled with a 45% increase in the past year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The ONS added that figures were now at a 20-year high across England and Wales.

Under the law, any goods stolen worth less than £200 is a "summary only offence", meaning these cases are unlikely to be tried in crown court. Ms Keeley said: "We absolutely need tough regulation. People shoplift thinking they can get away with it."

In the King’s Speech, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer unveiled a new crime bill to target people who steal goods worth less than £200. Paddy Lillis of trade union Usdaw welcomed the bill. ca.news.yahoo.com


Summer Consistently Sees More Violent Crime
Times of day, months when violent crime is most rampant
Crime happens year round, but violent crime tends to spike during the summer months.

According to a 2014 report by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), there were seasonal trends found in violent crime that happened over close to two decades, with more people falling victim to violent acts during June, July and August.

Rates of violence that involve weapons and serious injury were up in the summer compared to the winter and spring, according to the DOJ.

Another study on the impact of heat on crime was done in 2019 by the University of Southern California, where it was discovered that, on average, overall crime increased by 2.2% and violent crime rose by 5.7% on days when high temperatures were above 85 degrees Fahrenheit, compared to days below that temperature.

More than one-third of all violent crimes (murder, violent sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, simple assault and kidnapping) committed by those under 18 happen between noon and 5 p.m., according to the organization. For adults 18 and older, 30% of all violent crimes occur between 6-11 p.m. foxnews.com


Police Departments Still Recovering from 'Defund' Push
Shortage of new officers, wave of retirements leave police departments vulnerable
Law enforcement agencies have struggled in recent years to fill positions that earlier would have seen a flood of candidates.

Nationally there is a shortage of new police officers, a problem that many attribute to fallout from the pandemic and the worsening public perception of law enforcement after the 2020 murder of George Floyd and other widely publicized incidents of police brutality.

“After the summer of 2020, when we had the protests and calls to defund the police, large cities across the country started to see this difficulty in hiring,” said Brian Higgins, a professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan and a former chief of the Bergen County Police Department. “Now we’re seeing that same trend in northern New Jersey.”

This drop in candidates comes as many departments are also experiencing a wave of retirements of veteran officers. In law enforcement, it directly affects departments’ ability to fight crime and results in overworked officers, fatigue and burnout, Guidetti said. northjersey.com


Retail Shrink and ORC: Theft and Fraud Remain Top Challenges for Food Retailers

1 year later: No Safeway mass shooting suspects identified or arrested
 

New Tech to Cut Waste at Walmart
Walmart brings food waste reduction tech to 1.4K stores

The retailer partnered with organics recycler Denali to install technology that separates food from packaging in the back of Walmart and Sam’s Club locations.

Walmart and organics recycler Denali have installed technology for “depackaging” food waste in the back of more than 1,400 Walmart stores and Sam’’s Clubs, Walmart U.S. Vice President of Facility Services RJ Zanes wrote in a company post on Monday.

With the solution, workers toss expired items into a receptacle and then Denali’s technology separates the food from the packaging material.

Called Zero Depack, Walmart said the “depackaging” program is boosting workers’ efficiency while supporting the retailer’s long-term sustainability objectives.

Zero Depack is helping to keep expired food out of the waste stream and instead repurpose the food, such as turning it into a nutrient-rich product for farmers, Walmart said. retaildive.com


Big Lots' 'Project Springboard'
Is Big Lots’ transformation plan enough to save it?

Analysts say the retailer may face an uphill battle in a crowded sector with strong rivals.

The retailer’s turnaround plan, which the company has dubbed Project Springboard, “is entirely contingent on getting the value prop of what we call the extreme bargain initiative,” said Seth Marks, Big Lots’ senior vice president of extreme value sourcing. “If our pricing isn’t competitive and the lowest price on the street, that project is compromised from being optimized.” retaildive.com


Fast-Food Restaurants Continue Price Wars
McDonald’s is extending its $5 Meal Deal, initially set for one month, to nearly all U.S. locations through August due to strong customer response and rising food costs. Restaurants like Applebee’s, Red Lobster, and Outback Steakhouse are also rolling out value-driven meal deals to compete with rising fast-food prices.

Ted Baker plans to shut all UK stores within weeks

Pizza Hut Franchisee Files for Chapter 11 After Closing 15 Locations

Last week's #1 article --

The Shocking Story of an ORC 'Queenpin'
How a California Momfluencer Became a Shoplifting Queenpin

Michelle Mack seemed to be living the dream life, until it all came crashing down. Authorities say the alleged mastermind of a multimillion-dollar crime ring delivered a simple order: Steal all the luxury makeup in sight.

Late last summer, Kimora Gooding and Serena Reyes arrived on the East Coast. For the two women in their early twenties, it was a business trip of sorts, or maybe a mission. Their flights, rental car, and hotel rooms had been paid for, and they carried a list of beauty stores to visit and specific items to steal. The plan was to get in and get out, ship the goods to the boss in California, and head home, hopefully without a trace. Gooding and Reyes were pros-they had each hit dozens of stores, according to an affidavit for a federal search warrant, and could scan for merchandise like they had eyes in the backs of their heads.

But what Gooding and Reyes didn't know is that they were being watched-and had been for a while. Since August 2023, the California Highway Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations had been looking into a series of thefts at Ulta Beauty stores, with assistance from corporate investigators employed by Ulta. The suspects scooped up in the related busts were almost always young women, typically with previous theft arrests. Soon the authorities zeroed in on a group who appeared to be working in concert. Between September 2021 and fall 2023, the group committed over 230 thefts from Ulta Beauty retail stores across the country, stealing thousands of products. According to a complaint filed by California's attorney general, Rob Bonta, their ground zero appeared to be California, where thefts had occurred in 21 counties, in cities from Sacramento to San Diego, and not just at Ulta, but also at Sephora, Sunglass Hut, and others.   elle.com