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8/11/20

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Kroger Announces Major AP
Leadership Changes

Mike Lamb Announces Retirement as VP of Asset Protection for Kroger

Mike Lamb, VP of Asset Protection, has announced his plan to retire from Kroger, effective November 1. Mike joined Kroger in 2017, bringing a level of organization, standardization and streamlined way of working across the business that has consistently resulted in improvement in shrink results. He has developed a strong team of leaders who will continue to achieve great results thanks to his strategy and leadership.

Prior to joining Kroger, Mike spent more than four years with Walmart as VP of AP & Safety, and Senior Director Operations Support, Asset Protection. Earlier in his career, he spent more than 13 years with the Home Depot, serving as the company's VP of AP, Regulatory Compliance and Safety for nearly five years. He also served as LP Director for Federated Department Stores.

Mike is looking forward to spending more time traveling with his wife, Donna, and relaxing at his home in Florida where he enjoys boating and fishing. The D&D Daily wishes Mike a happy retirement!

Mark Stinde to Take Over as VP of Asset Protection for Kroger

Mark Stinde, an experienced leader in the Asset Protection industry, will be named as Mike's successor as VP of Asset Protection. Mike will be working with Mark through October during this transitional phase.

Mark joins Kroger with over thirty years of retail AP experience, most recently as Senior Vice President AP for an apparel retailer. Before that, he served as Vice President, Asset Protection for 7-Eleven, where he worked for nearly nine years. Earlier in his career, he held VP AP roles with Circuit City and Sears, as well as other LP positions with The Home Depot and Toys R Us. He's currently a member of RILA's AP Leadership Council and the LP Foundation's Board of Directors. He earned his MBA from Southern Methodist University - Cox School of Business. Congratulations, Mark!

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Keeping Kroger's Streak Alive
Kroger's 11 Quarter Shrink Improvement Streak

A Tough Act to Follow

For 11 straight quarters now, the Asset Protection team at Kroger has driven shrink improvement results and has been recognized in the Quarterly Earnings calls and transcripts by the senior management team.

With Q1 remarks on shrink improvement from Gary Millerchip - Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer:

Our associates continue to do an impressive job managing shrink, which saw a significant improvement in the first quarter compared to last year. The OG&A rate increased 51 basis points, excluding fuel and adjustment items. No adjustment was made to this number for COVID-19 related costs.

Q1 remarks by W. Rodney McMullen - Chairman and Chief Executive Officer:

When you look at the details behind the first quarter, almost basically all the gross margin improvement was driven by leverages and marketing expense from higher sales, warehouse and transportation and shrink, and our team had incredible strong quarter on shrink. So it's really those leverage and we would expect continue to have some of those leverage benefits at the higher sells that we're expecting.

The Daily has been documenting Kroger's incredible streak since September 2018 with articles appearing on at least three separate occasions.

December 2019 | June 2019 | September 2018

As Kroger's first Vice President of Asset Protection in the company's history and joining them twelve quarters ago, at a time when the entire grocery industry has been undergoing it's biggest challenge ever, Mike Lamb and the corporate Asset Protection team and effort has been successfully built, refined and integrated into the nation's #1 grocery retailer.

With only a few years of corporate Loss Prevention development previously at Kroger corporate, Mike was able to establish a strong identity and direction for the AP effort, merging the Loss Prevention functions and shrinkage improvement functions into one cohesive unit and effort, that immediately and has continuously driven results to the point of being recognized in all of the quarterly earnings calls. A feat that is indeed rare and, to this writer's knowledge, may have never been done before.

Supported by a strong corporate team and operationally driven and talent focused field team, Kroger's corporate AP team has been very successful at developing, expanding, and integrating the asset protection efforts throughout all of Kroger's divisions.

Focused on building a collaborative effort that ensures standardization and consistency, Kroger has been able to deliver results, improve performance, and create a 'One best way' culture that ultimately reduces loss and risk dramatically.

Mike joined Kroger in 2017 and has since then built a very successful AP model and the challenge was significant. Having to sell over twenty division presidents on a new centralized approach while developing and centralizing the program itself, merging two separate functions, redefining and remolding the perceptions of AP and ensuring the results spoke for themselves.

Well, after eleven quarters, the results indeed speak for themselves and now he retires at the top of his game and for Mark Stinde to continue. Good Luck, Mike, it's been great working with you and Good Luck to Mark. He's a tough act to follow.

Just some thoughts,
Gus Downing

Looting & Protests

Historical & Organized - Large-Scale Looting
200 Stores Looted & 100+ Arrested
More Than 200 Retailers Impacted in Chicago Looting, Losing 'Millions'

Chicago Luxury Stores ‘Hardest Hit’ by Looting, Added Security in the Works

Following early morning looting and violence Monday in downtown Chicago, area retailers spent the day assessing their financial losses and trying to safeguard their properties.

More than 200 stores were impacted in the city’s central business district and “millions” of dollars worth of damage resulted, with the Magnificent Mile and Oak Street among the hardest hit areas. Anchor stores like Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s were “hard hit,” according to Adam Skaf, a spokesman for the Magnificent Mile Association.

Gap Inc. reported damage to four of its stores and later Monday temporarily closed 15 units in the area as a precaution.

Having assessed the property damage in the city earlier Monday, Skaf said that Dior was “completely ransacked,” and Yves Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton and Coach were among the “hardest hit” boutiques.

“Millions of dollars” worth of damage was caused just in relation to the lost property, not to mention due to broken windows and damaged infrastructures, he said. Retailers of all sizes were affected, including mass chains like CVS Health.

On Aug, 3, Magnificent Mile representatives met with city officials to discuss the need for additional resources designated for greater safety and security. The following day the rapper known as FBG Duck was killed in a shooting that occurred on Oak Street near the luxury retailers, Skaf said. In late July, CPD announced the Critical Incident Response Team, a new auxiliary police force that will handle protests and large gatherings. Supporting that initiative was among the issues discussed, Skaf said. wwd.com

'Retail Hit Squads' Used Social Media to Plan Chicago Looting
Chicago cleans up after looting devastates Michigan Avenue, Loop, Gold Coast
Downtown Chicago looks very different Tuesday morning following the widespread property damage and looting that took place Monday. Streets in the Loop were quiet, with an increased police presence. City officials put restrictions in place to keep people out of the Loop and downtown business district from 8 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Thousands of people came into downtown Sunday night into Monday morning looting stores, breaking windows, clashing with police, and causing widespread damage all over the downtown area. Two people were shot, 13 police officers were injured and more than 100 arrests were made, Chicago police said.

Videos posted on social media showed large crowds rushing into stores on Michigan Avenue, State Street parts of the Gold Coast neighborhood, South Loop and Near North Sides. Retail hit squads crisscrossed the Magnificent Mile after midnight. Chicago's prized Gold Coast has been tarnished for the second time in less than three months.

The ABC7 I-Team obtained a social media post that Chicago police detectives said directed looters to converge on Gold Coast stores starting at 12 a.m. Monday. The post points looters away from the South, West and East sides, and instead tells them to target downtown and the North Side. Looters are encouraged to bring tools, ski masks and gloves.

Roving teams of quick strike retail thieves swept up Michigan Avenue and across Oak Street over to Rush and up to Division. 6abc.com

Chicago, IL: Magnificent Mile at risk for massive store closures, alderman says
Is Chicago’s Magnificent Mile at risk for massive store closures? Just two months ago it was the epicenter of unrest. Then this week there was a murder on Oak Street and Michigan Avenue. All of that is on top of a pandemic that has taken a toll on everyone. The Mag Mile businesses aren’t unique, but Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) said it is the recent violence and spike in burglaries that is causing real concern now. A Chicago icon, the Magnificent Mile’s 13 blocks are known across the world. It’s a draw for tourists and a serious boost to the city’s bottom line. What would the city look like without all of this? Hopkins says we could find out. “Some of the suburban retailers are starting to see some upticks in their activity,” he said. “On Michigan Avenue? We are not seeing that at all.” There are existing vacancies, some stores still boarded up, others dealing with plummeting sales, what Hopkins calls a spike in theft, and safety concerns keeping people away. erienewsnow.com

Chicago: Security Guard In Critical Condition After Shooting In The Loop

Police Chiefs Nationwide Throwing in the Towel
Seattle's Top Cop Resigns Amid Defunding Efforts
Seattle police chief retires after vote to trim up to 100 officers, $3M from force
Hours after the Seattle City Council voted to strip about $3 million from the police department and reduce its size by up to 100 officers as part of a push to fundamentally change policing in the city, Police Chief Carmen Best announced her retirement.

Best, the city’s first Black police chief, leaves after months of turmoil that made Seattle a focal point for national protests against police brutality and racial injustice. In a letter to Seattle police officers, the 55-year-old called the decision “difficult” but said “when it’s time, it’s time.”

Best is the latest high-profile police chief to leave her post amid the mass protests that have roiled the nation since George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis in May, joining at least a half dozen other leaders from cities including Louisville, Portland, Ore., Nashville and Atlanta. Unlike many of those other chiefs, she wasn’t forced out by her mayor or city council.

Instead, Best’s retirement came after the Seattle City Council took a cue from protesters who have made defunding the police a central tenet of their movement. The council’s final moves, though, were far more modest than the demands of Black Lives Matter activists to redistribute 50 percent of the police department’s funds toward community programs.

Instead, the council approved proposals to reduce the force’s 1,400 officers by up to 100 positions through layoffs and attrition, and to trim about $3 million from the force’s $409 million budget for 2020. A plan to significantly cut Best’s $285,000 annual salary was also scaled back. washingtonpost.com

As Gun Violence Spikes 11 Cities Cut Police Funding
Driving Retail Response Even Lower Ultimately

At Least 11 Cities Are Defunding Their Police Departments
At least U.S. 11 cities have cut funding from police department budgets or decreased officer numbers with several more in the process amid a national reckoning over systemic racism and police brutality, according to a Forbes tally.

The country’s two largest cities, New York and Los Angeles, approved budget cuts weeks after protests began—New York slashed $1 billion from its 2021 budget totaling $88.9 billion (reallocating $354 million to mental health, homelessness and education services) while Los Angeles approved a $150 million budget cut from its $1.86 billion proposed budget.

Also in California, San Francisco approved a $120 million cut to the police and sheriff’s department, promising investments in Black residents, and Oakland passed its own $14.6 million budget reduction.

A $15 million police budget cut also hit the nation’s capital, Washington D.C., in July,

Baltimore; Portland, Oregon; Philadelphia; Hartford, Conn.; Norman, Oklahoma; and Salt Lake City also all approved the collective elimination of hundreds of police jobs and tens of millions of dollars from their department budgets.

Several other cities, including Austin, Texas, are mulling the reallocation of funds within their own departments.

Though months of Black Lives Matter protests have brought the Defund the Police debate to the fore, the notion of slashing and re-allocating police funds is far from universally popular. According to an Axios-SurveyMonkey poll, just 34% of Americans have a favorable view of the movement, while 53% do not. Some are pointing to recent spikes in gun violence in cities nationwide, including New York and Chicago, as reasons why police funding should not be decreased. Several cities have moved to raise police spending, including Houston; San Diego; Durham, North Carolina; and Nashville, Tenn. forbes.com

Unrest in Chicago and Portland shows America’s summer of protest is far from over

COVID Update

US: Over 5.2M Cases - 166K Dead - 2.7M Recovered
Worldwide: Over 20.3M Cases - 741K Dead - 13.2M Recovered

Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 183 Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: 80
*Red indicates change in total deaths

Carts - Baskets - Terminals - Got Bugs
Retailers ‘must do more’ to convince shoppers they’re protected in-store
High touchpoint areas of stores such as trolleys, baskets, and payment terminals are the most feared for the spread of Covid-19, new research reveals.

The survey, ‘Consumer Attitudes to In-Store Safety During the Covid-19 Pandemic’ – commissioned by global retail solutions provider Cennox, found baskets and trolleys are considered by shoppers to be the most high-risk area of the store for the spread of infection, followed by payment terminals, in the aisles, and the storefront.

The data shows that just 38% of customers trust check-out staff to correctly disinfect payment terminals after every use. To solve this, the majority of shoppers (53%) believe the responsibility of disinfecting payment terminals should be taken away from shop assistants and they expect to see technology solutions put in place. talkingretail.com

Retailers Fined For Non-Compliance
Three Retailers Fined in Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas for COVID-19 Non Compliance
Saks Fifth Avenue, Shiekh Shoes and Forever 21 in Fashion Show Mall, located at 3200 S. Las Vegas Boulevard, were fined $8,501 apiece on Aug. 3. Nevada OSHA said the citations were issued after officials saw noncompliance on one or more directives during an initial and a follow-up visit.

Nevada OSHA didn't specify what violations took place at the stores. OSHA said a formal investigation was opened with the stores. If the stores continue noncompliance, they may be ordered to close by Nevada OSHA until they can follow COVID-19 safety procedures.

Overall, officials reported that 5,444 businesses have been visited by state officials, with 88% total compliance since observations started. Nevada OSHA said 15 businesses have received notice of citation and penalty from the state office, with eight in northern Nevada and seven in southern Nevada. fox5vegas.com

Coronavirus leads to more use of contactless credit cards and mobile payments despite cost and security concerns
With consumers worried about touching surfaces during the coronavirus pandemic, the use of mobile payments and contactless credit or debit cards has significantly increased in the past few months, according to research released today by the National Retail Federation and Forrester.

“Health experts say there is no clear evidence that COVID-19 is transmitted by cash or credit cards but retailers are putting health and safety first and have rolled out a variety of no-touch payment options in order to err on the side of caution,” NRF Vice President for Government Relations, Banking and Financial Services Leon Buck said. “While mobile payments and contactless cards have accounted for a minority of payments in the past, the pandemic has clearly driven consumers to change their behavior and retailers to accelerate their adoption of the technology.” nrf.com

Coronavirus surging among children, teenagers in California
Coronavirus cases among children and teenagers are surging in California, up 150% last month, a rate that outpaces COVID-19 cases overall and establishes minors as a small but growing share of the state’s COVID-19 cases. Nationally, children with COVID-19 represented about 8.8% of all U.S. cases at the end of July, compared to 9% in California, the analysis found. latimes.com

Thousands of Cases Backing Up
COVID-19 Has Further Strained the U.S. Judicial System
COVID-19 has resulted in widespread courthouse closings since March 2020. Prosecutors have continued to file charges based on criminal investigations, but for many victims who still wait for justice, that is where their cases come to a screeching halt. Most cases cannot be resolved due to the pandemic, and there is a backlog of cases that is already insurmountable in some circuit court systems.

The justice system in all states critically impacted by COVID-19 do not see any end in sight to the case backlog. For example, the Polk County Circuit Court in Bartow, Florida, filed 2,500 new felony cases between March and June of 2020. The circuit court already had a pending felony case load of over 4,000 before COVID-19 caused closures. To make matters worse, misdemeanor cases have already topped over 6,000 as of May of this year.

Trials and grand jury proceedings in New York are on hold, which has caused the backlog of criminal cases to increase by a third since February. As of June 2020, the number of criminal cases awaiting resolution had reached a shocking 39,200.

The judicial system cannot wait for COVID-19 to disappear before it gets back to work. Plans are already in the works to install plexiglass dividers between jurors as well as between podiums where lawyers make their case and defendants wait their fate. The use of facial masks as well as the vigilant sterilization of facilities will be ongoing, and attendance at trials will be limited. As courthouses cautiously reopen during this COVID-19 pandemic, we will learn valuable lessons for future challenges. inhomelandsecurity.com

It's a Growing Trend in Retail
Nordstrom Hires Safety Influencers

Hiring Influencers to gush about how safe they feel

Nordstrom teamed up with marketing company Captiv8 on a campaign that had influencers promoting the department store's safety measures.

"Everyone was wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and incredibly kind," one post read.

Captiv8 is in the early stages of similar campaigns with several other retailers. businessinsider.com

Nation's Largest Mall Operator - Simon Property - 91% of Retail Tenants Open

Weis Markets Still Experiencing COVID-19 Gains: Q2 comp's up 24%, E-Commerce up 243%

Fed's Operation Legend

Update On MN Twin Cities Violent Crime Task Force
Over the last 30 days a total of 94 illegal firearms have been taken off the streets and 15 individuals have been charged with federal firearms violations. justice.gov

Kansas City: Operation Legend Results in 59 More Arrests, Including Seven More Murder Suspects
U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison announced today that 59 additional arrests have been made in the past week by local and federal law enforcement officers in Operation LeGend, for a total of 156 arrests since the start of the operation. justice.gov

Organized Crime in Europe

Europol Bust Major Illegal Tobacco Factory Producing 9,000 Cigarettes Per Hour
On 22 July, Guardia Civil and customs officers raided in the Spanish town of Borjas Blancas an illegal tobacco factory producing 9,000 cigarettes per hour. 7 people were arrested in connection with these raids, including the criminal ringleader at his private residence in the town of Mataró, his accomplice and 2 factory workers arrested at the scene, all of them Lithuanian and Polish nationals. 3 drivers were also arrested. One million cigarettes and $75,000 approx seized. europa.eu

Europol Bust Counterfeit Ring Circulating Fake Banknotes at Retailers
From Italy to Spain
The investigation began in 2019 when the Spanish officers detected two women using fake banknotes in small shops in Madrid. The Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional), with support from Europol arrested seven individuals and dismantled a criminal network suspected of distributing counterfeit banknotes in Spain which were produced in Italy. It is estimated that the network distributed 30 000 euros in 20 and 50 euro counterfeit banknotes in Spain. europa.eu

Retail Security to Drive Growth in EAS Antennas Market
Technavio has been monitoring the EAS antennas market and it is poised to grow by USD 28.03 million during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of almost 2% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

Growth in the retail sector has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, high implementation costs might hamper market growth.

This study identifies the increasing investments on retail security systems as one of the prime reasons driving the EAS antennas market growth during the next few years. businesswire.com

World Mask Week Aims to Inspire Global Movement to
Wear Face Coverings in Public

Saks Fifth Avenue lays off store operations employees

Heat blankets Midwest, Northeast as threat of 'rapid wildfire' rises out West

Bend, OR: Last Remaining Blockbuster Converted Into Airbnb

Senior LP & AP Jobs Market

Dir. of AP job posted for Goodwill of South Central Wisconsin in Madison, WI
The Director of Asset Protection develops long- and short-term business strategies (3-5 years) and oversees implementation of safety and security initiatives across the organization. In addition, this role manages Goodwill's Corporate Compliance Plan to assure that there are policies, procedures, audits, prevention strategies, training and reporting systems in place designed to prevent and detect illegal or unethical activity, fraud, waste, and abuse. linkedin.com

All the News - One Place - One Source - One Time

Thanks to our sponsors/partners - Take the time to thank them as well please. If it wasn't for them The Daily wouldn't be here every day for you.

No Tags. No Keepers. No Locking Cabinets.

No ORC!

The way merchandising was meant to be.

Click above to watch Tally's "movie trailer."

Tally Solutions LLC, works with retailers and solution providers to discover and innovative technologies that reduce shrinkage and risk to increase profits. Tally’s leadership, has over 75 years of Loss Prevention technology development, sales, and marketing experience.

Loss Prevention
The patented Smart Shelf platform alerts to potential ORC activity by measuring the amount of product removed from the shelf. Once the predetermined amount of product is removed, a pre-recorded announcement is played over the store P/A, along with a text and email being sent. Subsequently a video is recorded and uploaded to the Tally secure portal. Upon hearing the audio alert, offenders oftentimes either put the product back on the shelf or abandon the product in a different aisle and leave to store. The Smart Shelf does not require any in-store labor to use, and does not affect the look of merchandising.

Inventory Control
Tally's Out of Stock monitoring applications allow store mangers, category managers and DSD brand specialists to see item-level movements at the shelf, judge customer behaviors, and eliminate out of stocks.

For more info, contact sean.ryan@tally.solutions

6,600 organizations bombarded with 100,000+ BEC attacks
Cybercriminals are increasingly registering accounts with legitimate services, such as Gmail and AOL, to use them in impersonation and BEC attacks, according to Barracuda Networks.

BEC attacks impact thousands of organizations
In their most recent threat spotlight report, Barracuda researchers observed that 6,170 malicious accounts that have used Gmail, AOL and other email services, have been responsible for over 100,000 BEC attacks which have impacted nearly 6,600 organizations. What’s more, since April 1, these ‘malicious accounts’ have been behind 45% of all BEC attacks detected.

Essentially, cybercriminals are using malicious accounts to impersonate an employee or trusted partner, and send highly personalized messages for the purpose of tricking other employees into leaking sensitive information, or sending over money.

Cybercriminals prefer Gmail
The preferred choice of email service for malicious accounts is Gmail, which accounts for 59% of all email domains used by cybercriminals. Yahoo! is the second most popular, accounting for just 6% of all observed malicious account attacks.

Researchers also observed that 29% of malicious accounts are used for less than 24-hour periods – most likely to avoid detection and suspensions from email providers. However, it’s not unusual for cybercriminals to return and re-use an email address for an attack after a long break.

E-mail attacks
Having analyzed attacks on 6,600 organizations, Barracuda researchers found that in many cases, cybercriminals used the same email addresses to attack different organizations. The number of organizations attacked by each malicious account ranged from one, to a single mass scale attack that impacted 256 organizations — 4% of all the organizations included in the research.

Similarly, the number of email attacks sent by a malicious account ranged from one to over 600 emails, with the average being only 19. helpnetsecurity.com

BEC Scam Targets Executives' Office 365 Accounts

Trend Micro: 'Water Nue' Payment Fraud Campaign Has Targeted 1,000 Companies Since March

A recently uncovered business email compromise scam has targeted the Office 365 accounts of business executives at over 1,000 companies worldwide, collecting more than 800 sets of credentials in an attempt to commit payment fraud, according to the security firm Trend Micro.

The group behind the campaign, which Trend Micro researchers call "Water Nue," is not technically sophisticated, but the fraudsters appear extremely proficient. Since March, the gang apparently has targeted companies worldwide with spear-phishing attacks, according to the Trend Micro report.

The goal of this scam is to capture the Office 365 credentials of executives, especially those working in finance, and then create phony documents and invoices that are sent to lower-level employees, according to the report. Payments made for the fake invoices are transferred to the fraudsters' accounts, the researchers say. govinfosecurity.com

The Tortoise vs. The Hare
Ransomware: These warning signs could mean you are already under attack

File-encrypting ransomware attacks can take months of planning by gangs.
Here's what to look out for.

There are as many as 100 claims to insurers over ransomware attacks every day, according to one estimate. And as the average ransomware attack can take anywhere from 60 to 120 days to move from the initial security breach to the delivery of the actual ransomware, that means hundreds of companies could have hackers hiding in their networks at any time, getting ready to trigger their network-encrypting malware.

So what are the early indicators for companies that are trying to spot a ransomware attack before they cause too much damage? Any what should they do if they discover an attack in progress?

Encryption of files by ransomware is the last thing that happens; before that, the crooks will spend weeks, or longer, investigating the network to discover weaknesses. One of the most common routes for ransomware gangs to make their way into corporate networks is via Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) links left open to the internet.

Coronavirus lockdown means that more staff are working from home, and so more companies have opened up RDP links to make remote access easier. This is giving ransomware gangs an opening, Phipps said, so scanning your internet-facing systems for open RDP ports is a first step.

Another warning sign could be unexpected software tools appearing on the network. Attackers may start with control of just one PC on a network – perhaps via a phishing email (indeed, a spate of phishing emails could be an indicator of an attack, and if staff are trained to spot them this could provide an early warning). With this toe-hold in the network, hackers will explore from there to see what else they can find to attack.

Another red flag is any detection of MimiKatz, which is one of the tools most regularly used by hackers, along with Microsoft Process Explorer, in their attempts to steal passwords and login details, Sophos said.

The whole project can take weeks, and maybe even months, for the ransomware gangs to execute. That's partly because the slower they move through the computer network, the harder they are to spot. zdnet.com

iPhone apps just as unsafe as Android apps, says security researcher

Google Android phones to assist with earthquake alerts and searches

As E-Commerce Booms, Robots Pick Up Human Slack

The Covid-19 pandemic and the explosion in demand for home-delivered goods means FedEx and other shippers are pushing the limits of what robotic arms can do

Manufactured by Waukegan, Ill.-based Yaskawa America, these robots are equipped with computer vision and artificial intelligence from San Antonio-based Plus One Robotics.

They work only about half as fast as skilled humans in the same roles, but they are quickly becoming an important part of the chain of machines and people that keep packages flowing through the world’s largest air freight facility, says Aaron Prather, senior advisor of the technology research and planning team at FedEx Express.

While companies such as FedEx Corp., Deutsche Post DHL Group, United Parcel Service Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. have long relied on billions of dollars worth of automation to get packages to customers quickly—from conveyors that divert packages down one path or another to guided vehicles that shuttle about entire shelves of goods—these robot arms are something different. They’re the first arms of their kind to ever appear in a FedEx facility, and among the earliest examples of the day-to-day use of this technology anywhere in the world.

The explosion of e-commerce means an explosion in the volume of packages shipped to homes. About 87 billion parcels were shipped worldwide in 2018—that’s 40 a year to every person in America—and this volume will more than double by 2025, according to Pitney Bowes, best known for its postage meters. The number has grown much faster than expected during the pandemic. UPS said in the quarter ending in June, the volume of packages shipped from businesses to homes surged by 65% from a year before. wsj.com

Coronavirus Hobbled Amazon:
How the Tech Giant Rebounded for Its Best Earnings Ever

Amazon’s share of online shopping fell, and rivals stepped in, yet it bounced back sharply

Amazon.com Inc. just reported its greatest quarter ever, but getting there wasn’t easy. The coronavirus pandemic brought enormous challenges to the tech giant early on, tripping it up in a way rarely seen in its history.

Delivery times and customer reviews slipped, essential items were unavailable in some areas, and worker absences created extended challenges. For the first time in years, the company’s share of e-commerce in the U.S. actually fell.

But as the virus raged on, Amazon AMZN spent billions of dollars on its response, hiring workers, increasing pay, improving delivery times, conducting medical tests for employees and stabilizing its supply chain. Its share of online sales has already begun to rebound. wsj.com

Kroger to launch digital marketplace this fall

Target Hits on Winning Formula Amid Covid Pandemic

Toledo, OH: 7 indicted for multi-state thefts; targeting Lowes, Kohl and others for over $20,000
Seven individuals have been indicted for a combined 45 charges related to multiple thefts in Michigan and Ohio. Angelica Faith Billings, was indicted for money laundering, a third-degree felony, and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a first-degree felony. David Lee Skrepenski, and Charles Robert Dickson Jr., each were indicted for money laundering, a third-degree felony; three counts of vandalism, all fifth-degree felonies; three counts of theft, all fifth-degree felonies; six counts of receiving stolen property, all fifth-degree felonies.

Richard Nye, 43 was indicted for money laundering, two counts receiving stolen property, and two counts possessing criminal tools and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, all felonies. Larry F. Keel, 45, Toledo, Charles E. Keel, 42, Oregon, and Daniel James Burgard, 25, Toledo, each were indicted for money laundering, Charles Keel and Burgard also were indicted for engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. The indictment lists 16 incidents. They were among the 29 individuals indicted Wednesday. sent-trib.com

Memphis, TN: 3 men arrested for Memphis gun shop break-in, accused of stealing $21,000 worth of guns
Around midnight Aug. 3, police responded to a business alarm at Shoot Point Blank near I-40 and Whitten Road. Officers found a door unlocked and heard glass breaking inside. When the building was secured, they found several empty cases inside with shattered glass. Police say surveillance video showed three suspects enter the business just before midnight with a large ax and several bags, smash the cases and take off with 31 guns valued at about $21,000. wmcactionnews5.com

Avon, OH: Man steals more than $5,000 in AirPods from Walmart
On 31 July, According to a security officer at the store, an unknown man took 33 Apple AirPods from a locked display case and fled the store. Police were reviewing security camera footage of the theft at the time of the report. cleveland.com

Exeter Township, PA: 2 Amity Township women charged with stealing $1,300 in groceries from Giant store
Deborah L. Menkins, 60, and Wendy L. Lamar, 45, were charged with felony counts of retail theft after the incident Saturday afternoon at the Giant on Perkiomen Ave. Both women have a history of shoplifting arrests, investigators said. One week earlier, the two women were seen on store security cameras leaving the store without for items valued at $548. Menkins, who had two prior retail theft convictions, and Lamar, who had four prior retail theft convictions. Police charged Lamar and Menkins with felony counts of retail theft. pottsmerc.com

Centralia, WA: Three Arrested on Suspicion of Organized Retail Theft

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Shootings & Deaths

Diamondale, MI: Man stabbed in Quality Dairy face mask dispute that led to police shooting has died
John Duncan III, 77, of Lansing was stabbed by Sean Ernest Ruis, 43, of Grand Ledge during the July 14 incident inside the Quality Dairy store in Dimondale. Ruis, who stabbed Duncan before fleeing the store, was later shot and killed by an Eaton County Sheriff’s deputy. Michigan State Police released video of the shooting. mlive.com

Spokane, WA: Mother executed near Grocery store while waiting to pick up her children
Loved ones say the woman found murdered near 2nd and Elm Saturday was a loving mother who was just trying to pick up her children after a visit with their father. Loved ones have identified the murder victim as Mary Schaffer. Nathan Beal, 36, was arrested near the scene and is facing a charge of first degree murder. Beal made his firs appearance in court on Monday afternoon. khq.com

Robbins, NC: Man dies in Robbins officer-involved shooting after reportedly firing shots around town
A Robbins police officer shot and killed a man who reportedly had and was firing a shotgun Monday evening. Investigators said it all began when they got a call around 8 p.m. about a man with a gun. The man was firing shots within city limits, according to police. The suspect would not cooperate with officers; he refused to put down the gun and ran away when officers tried to disarm him. An officer caught up with and shot the suspect at Robbins Mini Storage The man was pronounced dead at the scene. abc11.com

Lake Worth, FL: 'Heated argument' at Publix ends with shooting, deputies say
A 61-year-old Greenacres woman is facing an attempted-murder charge after she allegedly shot another woman in the foot outside a grocery store Sunday afternoon. Authorities say Renata Gloria Ray pulled out a gun on two separate occasions Sunday at the Lantana Plaza Shopping Center, threatening a younger woman the first time, then shooting another woman who had started to take photos of Ray confronting her. Ray, who also faces a charge of aggravated assault with a firearm, was taken into custody minutes after she drove away, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said. wptv.com

Two Philadelphia Men Indicted for Brazen Armed Robbery of Armored Truck and Shootout in University City

Robberies, Incidents & Thefts

Tampa, FL: Man forces himself through Wendy’s drive-thru window
Deputies in Hillsborough County are searching for a man accused of burglarizing a fast-food restaurant by forcing himself through the drive-thru window. The incident was captured on surveillance video that was released this week by the sheriff’s office. It happened Sunday, Aug. 2 at the Wendy’s on North 56th Street in Tampa. According to deputies, 26-year-old Kelvin Barnes pulled up to the drive-thru window at the restaurant around 11 p.m. with unknown passengers. Employees told deputies at some point while placing an order, the group started acting belligerent. Deputies say Barnes approached the front of the restaurant but was met by an employee who later told law enforcement that Barnes had threatened to start a physical fight. According to the sheriff’s office, Barnes then walked back to the drive-thru window and force his upper body through. Surveillance video from inside the restaurant shows Barnes grabbing cups and straws off the counter and throwing them onto the floor. Deputies say he then grabbed the cash drawer but dropped it when employees approached him. wfla.com

Abilene, TX: Woman accused of stabbing gas station clerk multiple times during robbery

Two Men Charged With Armed Robbery in Palm Beach County

Counterfeit

$4.3M in Fake Shoes Including Counterfeit Dior x Air Jordan 1s Seized in Texas
More than $4.3 million in counterfeit in sneakers, which included fake Dior x Air Jordan 1s, have been seized in Texas, U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed Monday. According to the agency, a shipment containing counterfeit sneakers that was heading to Mexico was found by officers working at the Dallas/Fort Worth port of entry. It included more than 1,800 pairs of fake Dior x Air Jordan 1 shoes, and the value of the entire shipment of counterfeit footwear eclipsed $4.3 million. The sneakers, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, were found in a shipment of 60 boxes from Hong Kong listed as “Ball Golf” on the manifest. footwearnews.com

Cargo Theft

Impact of Covid-19 on supply chains
When BSI published its annual Supply Chain Risk Insights Report at the beginning of March, the global business impact of COVID-19 was still in its initial stage. As BSI predicted, the outbreak has led to complex and varying responses by governments and businesses, wreaking havoc on supply chain continuity. BSI’s latest findings show that a rise in COVID-19 cases are leading global supply chain hubs such as Bangladesh and India to lock down, creating supply chain pinch points. This has resulted in delays to manufacturing and global shipping and could impact sectors such as agriculture. As virus outbreaks continue, a country-by-country approach to containing the virus is expected, which could increase temporary disruptions to supply chain movement, BSI says.

As for cargo theft, while there is an increase in theft of medical devices (such as PPE and ventilators; the items most associated with the COVID-19 pandemic), SCREEN also reported an increase in thefts of particular goods:

– Theft of consumer goods such as cleaning solutions have risen in Mexico;
– Alcohol and tobacco thefts have increased in South America
– Food and beverage thefts continue to lead in Asia; and
– Electronics remain a top target in Africa and across the Middle East. professionalsecurity.co.uk

• C-Store – Buxton, ME – Armed Robbery
• C-Store – Milford, DE – Burglary
• C-Store – Abilene, TX – Armed Robbery
• C-Store – New York, NY – Armed Robbery
• C-Store – Huntington, WV – Armed Robbery
• C-Store – Bradford County, FL – Armed Robbery
• Candy – Colorado Springs, CO – Burglary
• Dollar General – Decatur, IL - Burglary
• Gas Station – Arlington Heights, IL – Armed Robbery
• Jewelry – Tulsa, OK – Burglary
• Jewelry – Bethesda, MD – Robbery
• Jewelry – Locust Grove, GA – Robbery
• Restaurant – Lakeway, TX – Burglary
• Restaurant – Columbia, SC – Armed Robbery (Waffle House)
• Restaurant – Wichita, KS – Armed Robbery (Pizza Hut)
• Restaurant – Tampa, FL – Burglary
• Thrift – Abilene, TX – Burglary
• Tobacco – Decatur, IL - Burglary

Daily Totals:
• 10 robberies
• 8 burglaries
• 0 shootings
• 0 killed

Click to enlarge map

Michael Mirand, LPC named Loss Prevention Manager: Arizona, Nevada, Utah & Idaho for Loomis

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