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8/18/23

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Andy Leonard promoted to Senior Manager, Remote Operations & Investigations for Kohl's

Andy has been with Kohl's for nearly eight years, starting with the company in 2015 as Loss Prevention Supervisor. Before his promotion to Senior Manager, Remote Operations & Investigations, he served as Manager, Remote Operations & Investigations for three years and District LP Manager for three years. Earlier in his career, he held roles with Target and Meijer Stores. Congratulations, Andy!

See All the Executives 'Moving Up' Here

Submit Your New Corporate Hires/Promotions or New Position

2023 MNORCA Annual Conference sponsored by Axis Communications

Wednesday, September 27

The annual MNORCA conference is back with a content filled 2 day Conference sponsored by Axis Communications. The conference will be kicked off with Keynote Speaker George Piro, former FBI Agent, most notable for his interrogation of Saddam Hussein. We will also have speakers from the FBI, HSI, Local Law Enforcement and Retail. We look forward to bringing the private and public sectors together to discuss major issues impacting our businesses and communities. Full Agenda will be posted closer to event.

Click here to get tickets and learn more

Retailer's fast action leads to armed robber arrest, prosecution

How proactive face matching makes your stores safer

The warning’s crystal clear when FaceFirst sends a real-time notification: “Do not approach—call 9-1-1.” It’s critical information when someone with a history of violence or threats against your store has returned.

Here’s a win from a FaceFirst client that led to an armed robber’s arrest and prosecution. It started when a masked man entered a store, approached the in-store coffee shop employee, and robbed her at gunpoint. After the man left, the AP team ran a FaceFirst visitor search for all their stores. They found an image of the man without a mask. He was wearing the same distinctive shoes and a unique shirt, which helped them confirm the match.

The investigators enrolled the man as a known offender in the retailer’s database. A week later, the man entered a different location. FaceFirst sent an immediate notification: “Do not approach—call 9-1-1.” Officers responded quickly. They arrested the man as he left the store, having committed another armed robbery. The man faces charges of felony armed robbery with a deadly weapon.

The proactive match notifications help ensure prompt law enforcement response when seconds count. FaceFirst gives retailers tools to investigate incidents more effectively and efficiently, which helps prosecutors keep dangerous individuals out of your stores and off the streets.

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

FaceFirst’s solution is fast, accurate, and scalable—take action today at facefirst.com.

The U.S. Crime Surge
The Retail Impact

Retail CEOs Sound the Alarm Over Theft
Video: Retail executives address string of retail thefts in earnings calls
Retail crime is on the rise. Target and Home Depot are among the names struggling with a big jump that we've seen in organized theft. And just a few days ago, a Nordstrom store in Los Angeles was the target of a smash-and-grab robbery. And according to the LAPD, more than $300,000 worth of merchandise was stolen within minutes.

Retail theft, shrinkage, smash and grab robberies — the different names of the phenomenon overtaking big-box retail stores. Retailers like Home Depot and Nordstrom are falling victim to a wave of retail thefts that are making off with hundreds of thousands of dollars in a single day. Target previously forecasted expected losses of $500 million of merchandise through cases of retail shrinkage. Yahoo Finance Reporter Brooke DiPalma details how retail executives and experts are addressing the economic and community impacts of these crimes as part of the weekly series "Retail Evolution: The New Era." finance.yahoo.com

California Retailers Association Pushes For Statewide Vote to Fix Prop 47
Previous efforts have failed, but voters appear open to changes as theft surges

Memo on California's Proposed Ballot Initiative to Address retail Theft
There is a proposed California ballot initiative to amend Proposition 47 (passed by voters in November 2014) to increase penalties and accountability measures to curb the rampant “smash and grab” retail theft.

Background of Proposition 47

The measure was initially co-authored by then-San Francisco — now Los Angeles — progressive Dist. Atty. George Gascón. Proposition 47 was approved by a landslide vote of roughly 60% to 40%. It made retail theft of items totaling less than $950 a misdemeanor and allowed that only felons can be sent to state prison. It also eliminated the felony sentence enhancement for serial thieves.

Since a felony is no longer on the table and the county jails are overcrowded, a person convicted of stealing has no incentive to accept drug treatment because they won’t serve any or very little time in county jail. Over the past decade, many reports and media stories have linked Prop 47 as one of the contributing factors to the increase in crime and specifically retail theft.

Efforts to Amend Proposition 47

There have been many efforts in the Legislature to amend Proposition 47, but due to the supermajority of Democrats in both the State Assembly and State Senate, it has not mustered enough votes to pass.

There was also Proposition 20 in 2020 that was rejected by voters. However, the initiative was broad, as it also attempted to amend Governor Brown-backed initiative Proposition 57. It was placed on the ballot just as the Black Lives Matter movement was drawing new attention to demands for change in the criminal justice system. The measure would have increased penalties for repeat shoplifters and members of organized theft rings.

Proposed Ballot Initiative for the 2024 Ballot

A group of district attorneys and deputy district attorneys have come together and drafted a narrowly focused ballot measure that would amend Proposition 47 by statewide initiative to make serial retail thieves subject to felony prosecution and reintroduce the incentive for eligible thieves to agree to drug treatment.

The key for retailers is that the district attorneys drafted this measure focused on what they believe they need for enforcement. Enforcement is one of the essential missing ingredients in the fight to curb retail theft right now. The DAs have crafted this on what they believe will make the difference.

An internal poll testing the ballot measure language found that 81% of voters supported the changes to Prop 47 with 66% as a strong support. files.constantcontact.com

   Read the full background memo on the issue HERE.

   Read the updated initiative language HERE.

   Access slides providing additional context HERE.

California's Task Force: National Model for Fighting ORC?
Data-sharing in action: Close collaboration is a proven model for investigative effectiveness against retail crime

A statewide task force initiated by the California Highway Patrol has assembled cross-jurisdictional teams in areas most impacted by retail crime

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES TO A COORDINATED RESPONSE

With over 400 full-time criminal investigators, the CHP had the resources to address the investigative workload, but the challenge was how to enlist allied partners to embrace the task force resource as a means of working together to effectively battle organized retail crime.

OPEN COMMUNICATION IS KEY

As law enforcement professionals we all know that communication is key; in fact, it is a tenet of nearly all forms of evaluation ranging from that of individual employees to public opinion reviews. Unfortunately, law enforcement is plagued with a complex subculture when it comes to open communication that can be chalked up to disagreements, misunderstandings, directives, egos, or the ever-present standard of “that’s just the way it is.”

PROACTIVE CAMPAIGN TO BUILD CONNECTIONS

To address this concern, the CHP initiated a proactive campaign to connect with key representatives from allied agencies whose geographical responsibilities were adversely impacted by the sudden spike in organized retail crime. In addition, the CHP stepped outside of traditional law enforcement lanes and began working closely with retailers and retail crime associations to establish new means of best practices while redefining industry standards. This was unique in that law enforcement rarely if ever, relies directly on the private sector as a means of essential force multiplication.

STRATEGIES TO MITIGATE, THEN ELIMINATE RETAIL CRIME

Ultimately, it became widely accepted that the most effective approach to combatting organized retail crime is to use a three-pronged approach consisting of law enforcement, retailers and effective prosecution. Within these three prongs are supporting elements, such as retail crime associations like California Organized Retail Crime Association (Cal ORCA) and industry advocacies like the National Retail Federation (NRF).

Law enforcement has turned to technology for solutions in managing data repositories (stolen/suspicious property indexes), enhanced criminal databases, electronic surveillance capabilities, and most recently artificial intelligence offering features such as facial recognition.

UNFORTUNATELY, CRIME DOES PAY - CONCLUSION: police1.com

LA Forms New ORC Task Force
Los Angeles now has its own task force to combat retail thefts
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass along with local law enforcement officials on Thursday announced the formation of a new task force to crack down on retail thefts amid a recent spate of smash-and-grab robberies across the Los Angeles area. During a press conference, local leaders revealed the task force went into effect Wednesday night.

The task force includes 22 assigned full-time investigators from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Glendale Police Department Burbank Police Department, Beverly Hills Police Department, Santa Monica Police Department, and California Highway Patrol, as well as federal partners.

There will also be prosecutors embedded into this task force from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, LA City Attorney's Office, and the California Attorney General's Office. The task force will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and will respond to all incidents and follow up on leads with a full scope of investigative resources, officials said.

It is currently based in the San Fernando Valley, where authorities said the majority of crimes have taken place, in addition to the west region of Los Angeles.

On Wednesday, CHP officials said Gov. Gavin Newsom had allocated more funds to the agency to establish retail theft task forces across California. foxla.com

Fighting ORC & Shrink with Data Analytics
Appraisal Firms Can Help Retailers Fight 'The Growth of Shrink'

Data analytics and old-fashioned sleuthing can reduce losses from shoplifting, vendor fraud, supply-chain theft and the like, advises Tiger Group's William J. 'Bill' Mayer

Appraisal firms should play a bigger role in retailers' fight against the growing problem of shrink, advises a veteran Tiger Group executive.

In an Aug. 1 opinion piece for ABL Advisor (ABL Sector Must Stay Vigilant Amid 'Growth of Shrink'), Executive Managing Director William J. "Bill" Mayer notes that shoplifting, organized retail crime, employee theft and other forms of shrink are eating into the profits of American retailers.

In addition to shoplifting and employee theft, sources of shrink can include everything from innocent cashier mistakes, to misplaced merchandise, accidental product damage and vendor fraud.

But appraisers with the right analytics and field examination capabilities can ferret out disparities between the inventory subledger and the physical count of goods, Mayer asserts. The ABL executive, who is active in Tiger's valuation, disposition and finance practices, has generated billions of dollars in growth over the course of his 30-year career.

Many smaller and mid-sized retail chains, he observes, are hamstrung by a lack of transparency into their inventory, running physical counts on an annual basis only. "They are often unable to compare the number of in-possession sweaters, say, with the totals on the books," the executive explains. "This can lead to large book-to-physical (aka shrink) adjustments at year end."

Appraisers need to determine whether the smaller or midsized retailer has fallen behind on its regularly scheduled counts of physical goods within individual stores and distribution centers. "How frequently does the company conduct chainwide physical counts of inventory?" Mayer asks. "How accurate are the retailer's assessments of shrink likely to be given its overall operational efficiency (or lack thereof) and approach to inventory data and systems?"

Increasingly, thieves are targeting warehouses and distribution centers, along with the trucks and trains that transport goods. "Appraisal firms need to understand what's happening with shrink throughout the borrower's supply chain," Mayer cautions, "starting when the goods have been received from the manufacturer." finance.yahoo.com

NYC Businesses Wage War Against Repeat Theft Offenders
Op-Ed: Wage war on shoplifting
At last, our resourceful city and borough police and prosecutors appear to have found an end run around the awful laws enacted by Albany that have helped turn our stores into some kind of cross between “Mad Max” and “Supermarket Sweep.”

This page could rant for the hundredth time about the insane bail “reforms” of 2019 that set the stage for our recent crime spike, but we’d much rather give credit this week to the Police Department and District Attorney Melinda Katz for the Merchants Business Improvement Program. Perhaps you can tell it’s a program of substance because it’s got such a lame acronym. It’s hard to say “Em-bip” with swagger.

It’s also hard to have swagger if you’re one of the repeat shoplifters who gets caught up in MBIP. Under the program, which started small and is now going boroughwide, individual merchants can sign up to get trespass notices issued against repeat offenders. That means they are subject to arrest if they even just walk back into a store they’ve hit before. As Deputy Inspector John Portalatin, commander of the 110th Precinct in Elmhurst, said, the key is the greater potential punishment that comes with that. Both merchants and the public approve.

By now it seems we’ve all seen some miscreant load up a duffle bag or more and just walk out of a store. We’ve had enough. It’s time to say the heck with Albany and lock ’em up. We’re down with MBIP. qchron.com

CA's Gun-Homicide Rate 33% Below Rest of America
California report credits gun laws for drop in killings; rates differ sharply across Bay Area counties
Firearm deaths have fallen sharply in California over the last 30 years compared with the rest of the country, a new state Department of Justice study has found, but rates vary dramatically across counties in the Bay Area and throughout the state.

The Golden State had the third-highest firearm-homicide rate in the country 30 years ago, 50% above the national average, but now has a rate 33% below the rest of the country, according to the first report of DOJ’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention, released Tuesday.

“While California is not immune to this disease, thanks to our nation-leading, commonsense gun laws and prevention policies, we’ve made substantial progress,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta in the report by the office he established in September. mercurynews.com

D.C. officials say they will enforce youth curfew in certain areas
D.C. officials announced Thursday they will enforce the city’s juvenile curfew law in particular areas where crime is concentrated or where disruptive youths are known to hang out.

Organized retail crime: Everything consumers need to know

Retail crime will get worse, says a former NYPD detective

Why San Francisco's Doom Loop tour is sold out (and may be coming to NYC)

Survivors of Buffalo shooting file lawsuits against shooter’s parents, gun companies and social media companies

10% of Retail Returns Are Fraudulent
Expert Viewpoints: How to stop return fraud
To mitigate return fraud and abuse, retailers must develop a stronger understanding of the many ways that bad actors commit fraud at the point-of-return.

Common types of return fraud

Return fraud can take a variety of forms from shoplifted returns and returns with counterfeit receipts to false order claims, wardrobing and organized retail crime. And return abuse can come in the form of “bracketing,” when someone buys multiple sizes to try the items on at home, or when they return an item that can no longer be resold.

With so many opportunities to fall victim to return fraud and abuse, it’s important that retailers know how to effectively mitigate even the rarest scenarios.

The negative impact of restrictive return policies

Today, many retailers combat return fraud and abuse by instituting restrictive policies that aim to catch all fraudulent activities. This can include requiring receipts, shortening return windows, or issuing a maximum number of returns per customer. These approaches ostracize loyal customers who do not frequently misuse returns by limiting the retailer’s chance to make amends for a poor shopping experience.

Restrictive policies risk profit losses, negative reputations and a decrease in customer loyalty and satisfaction. Luckily, retailers can rely on artificial intelligence to understand the unique needs of each customer at the point of return and provide dynamic policies and targeted incentives to combat return fraud and abuse effectively while protecting long-term customer loyalty.

The best way to deter return fraud

Regardless of how and where the fraud occurs, retailers can leverage AI and data analytics to detect returns anomalies and suspicious activity that may indicate fraud. Then, once the bad actors have been identified, the AI can recommend a resolution that protects the retailer from unnecessary loss.

This individualized approach to return fraud and abuse prevention protects loyal shoppers from restrictive policies. It also provides opportunities to personalize the returns experience in a positive way by automatically granting loyal shoppers longer returns windows or coupons for their next purchase. chainstoreage.com

87% of Police Officers Work in Departments Not Fully Staffed
Lexipol survey uncovers alarming staffing shortages and stress levels reported by first responders
DALLAS - First responders are facing significant staffing and mental health challenges that pose a serious threat to their wellbeing and the communities they serve, according to Lexipol’s new Stressed & Short-Staffed: Challenges Facing First Responders and the Impact on Community Safety report. The findings, which come from Lexipol Media Group’s annual “What Cops/Firefighters/Paramedics Want” surveys of 9,400 first responders, expose the degree to which a large number of first responders today are under heightened stress.

First responders are facing severe staffing shortages, leading to recruitment and retention challenges that directly impact their ability to serve communities effectively. The survey found staffing challenges are increasing the stress levels and affecting the wellbeing of first responders, who must deal with an increased workload, more overtime shifts, and denied time off requests. One alarming finding: 87% of police officers work in departments that are not fully staffed based on authorized staffing numbers. police1.com

Click here to read the report

Safeguarding Companies Against Misconduct
5 Steps CFOs Should Take to Mitigate Workplace Misconduct

Fostering a culture of respect and hiring the right people helps safeguard companies against misconduct — and ultimately protects their bottom line.

For the first time, a court ruling in Delaware acknowledged that C-suite executives can be held personally liable and have a fiduciary responsibility to address workplace misconduct. The suit, brought by McDonald’s shareholders against a former executive, reinforces the role and responsibility of the C-suite in addressing workplace misconduct or escalating the issue to the board or CEO.

Just as in the 1996 Caremark decision that mandated board oversight accountability, executives, too, can now be held personally liable for misconduct at the company.

The CFO’s role now encompasses additional risk mitigation and the heightened responsibility to emphasize what personal responsibility can cost the company — both for the bottom line and the company’s image.

Avoiding bad hires who engage in misconduct can help companies avoid costly lawsuits — and stock market declines for publicly traded companies — and ensure employees are the best representatives of your company and its values. Given this context, here are five actionable steps CFOs can take to fortify their organizations, safeguard against misconduct, and ultimately protect their bottom line. cfo.com

7 States Seek to Block Kroger, Albertsons Merger
Secretaries of states want FTC to block Kroger, Albertsons merger

Group says the deal would allow the two grocers to control large share of food retail market

The proposed $24.6 billion Kroger, Albertsons merger is facing another blockade, this one from a group of state officials, reports Reuters.

The secretaries of states from Colorado, Arizona, Maine, Minnesota, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Vermont wrote Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan asking the agency to stop the merger. The group said the deal would allow Kroger and Albertsons to control a quarter of the U.S. food retail market.

"We are strongly opposed to this merger and urge you to stop this corporate consolidation that is draining Americans of their hard-earned wages and livelihoods," the letter said. A Kroger spokesperson said the merger would be beneficial for both store employees and consumers, and that if it is blocked only Walmart and Amazon would benefit. supermarketnews.com

Ranking OSHA Complaints by State
Pa. tops states with most OSHA complaints against Amazon, FedEx, UPS
A recent report has determined the amount of OSHA-reported injuries in each state, specifically at Amazon, FedEx, and UPS locations. And Pennsylvania was among the top three states with the most such complaints in the country.

The resulting study revealed how Pennsylvania had the third most OSHA complaints regarding both Amazon and UPS, and second most with regards to FedEx.

As for what injuries occurred, No. 1 was “exposure to environmental heat” followed by falls; getting hit by or against something; compressed or pinched by shifting items; and animal bites. The No. 1 state with the most complaints across the board was Texas. pennlive.com

Public Service Announcement – Is Your Team Vaccinated?
New vaccines this fall could curb covid variant, respiratory viruses
Health officials are unveiling a new arsenal of vaccines to protect vulnerable Americans and exhausted health-care workers from an expected wave of covid, flu and RSV as the fall respiratory virus season begins.

An updated covid booster should be available by late September. Flu shots are arriving at doctors’ offices. And for the first time, infants and seniors could be immunized against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a persistent foe that public health officials had few ways to prevent. washingtonpost.com

(Update) Judge adds $2.7M to jury award in Starbucks race discrimination case
The White plaintiff, a former regional director, alleged her race played a role in her firing after the company sought to mitigate damage following a 2018 racial profiling incident.

Shop Rite rolls out inventory robots to more stores

Will Retail End Up Paying for UPS Drivers’ Fatter Salaries?

Here’s how Hurricane Hilary could begin to impact the Bay Area this weekend

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Secure Your Business With Video Alarms

RH-ISAC Cyber Intelligence Summit

Retail & Hospitality ISAC Announces Agenda for Cyber Intelligence Summit

The 2023 agenda is packed with insights, innovation, and collaboration.

Vienna, VA, (August 17, 2022) — The Retail & Hospitality Information Sharing and Analysis Center (RH-ISAC) has announced the agenda for the upcoming RH-ISAC Cyber Intelligence Summit. The conference, scheduled to take place on October 2-4 in Dallas, Texas, brings together industry leaders, cybersecurity practitioners, and thought influencers for a three-day event that explores the latest trends, challenges, and solutions in the ever-evolving landscape of cyber intelligence.

The member-driven agenda features a diverse array of sessions, workshops, and presentations designed to empower participants with actionable insights to safeguard their organizations against modern cyber threats.

Key highlights of the RH-ISAC Cyber Intelligence Summit agenda include:

• Keynote Addresses: Five keynote presentations and panel discussions throughout the Summit, each offering an inspiring and thought-provoking perspectives that set the stage for a dynamic event focused on the future of cyber intelligence.

• Breakout Sessions: More than 20 practitioner and sponsor-led breakout sessions addressing critical areas such as threat intelligence, security operations, incident response, emerging technologies, risk management, and more.

• Interactive Workshops: Engaging and hands-on programs, including a tactical capture-the-flag and strategic tabletop exercise, providing attendees with practical strategies, tools, and techniques to enhance their cybersecurity practices and led by industry experts.

• Panel Discussions: Thought-provoking panel discussions bringing together experts from diverse sectors to explore pressing issues in cybersecurity and share best practices.

• Vendor Showcase: A dedicated space for cutting-edge solution providers to showcase their latest technologies and innovations, offering attendees opportunities to explore new products and services.

• Networking Opportunities: Ample opportunities for attendees to connect with peers, experts, and potential collaborators, fostering a community of information sharing and mutual support.

“We are thrilled to unveil the agenda for the RH-ISAC Cyber Intelligence Summit, which promises to be a valuable event for the retail and hospitality industry,” said Suzie Squier, president of RH-ISAC. “In today’s rapidly changing cybersecurity landscape, the RH-ISAC Summit provides a unique platform for professionals to deepen their knowledge, strengthen their networks, and collectively enhance our industry’s cyber resilience.”

Registration for the RH-ISAC Cyber Intelligence Summit is now open. For more information about the summit, including registration details and the full agenda, please visit summit.rhisac.org.

Discounted registration rates are available for attendees from retail and hospitality companies. Contact membership@rhisac.org for further information.

Account Hacks Surging on LinkedIn
LinkedIn Suffers 'Significant' Wave of Account Hacks

Users report losing access to their accounts, with some being pressured into paying a ransom to get back in or else face permanent account deletion.

Hackers are on a spree of hijacking LinkedIn accounts, in some cases monetizing the attacks by demanding a small ransom from users to regain access and threatening permanent deletion.

Though LinkedIn, a subsidiary of Microsoft, has not yet commented publicly about the campaign, it has affected people worldwide over the last few weeks. Conversations on social media and Google searches indicate a "significant surge in the past 90 days" of account hacks on the professional-oriented social media platform, according to a recent report published by Cyberint.

LinkedIn support response time for users has lengthened under the high volume of support requests, indicating that something is amiss, Coral Tayar, a security researcher at Cyberint, wrote in the report.

"[Google] search queries such as 'LinkedIn account hacked' or 'LinkedIn account recovery' have experienced a substantial upward trend … while the term 'breakout' in place of percentage indicates that the search term grew by over 5,000%," she wrote.

However, in reports of account hacks posted online, two scenarios have emerged, one in which LinkedIn already has taken some action on the part of users. The second scenario is more unfortunate in that victims’ LinkedIn accounts are fully hacked in such a way that it's impossible for them to recover their accounts independently. darkreading.com

New Cybersecurity Disclosure Rules Spark Mixed Reactions
SEC cyber rules ignite tension between reputation and security risk

The rules, which take effect Sept. 5, encountered mixed reactions. Some champion board-level cyber accountability. Others say the rules are too big of a lift.

Weeks after the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted new cybersecurity disclosure rules, publicly traded companies across the U.S. and abroad are reassessing internal security practices and governance to prepare for heightened levels of accountability.

Following a combative open hearing, the SEC voted 3-2 for new rules that require companies to disclose material cyber incidents to the agency. Companies will have four business days to report the incident to the SEC once they determine it is material to the business.

The rules, which will go into effect Sept. 5, are designed to ensure investors and other members of the public are informed about these events in a much more timely and consistent manner.

SEC Chair Gary Gensler said if a company lost a factory in a fire that would be considered material to the business, and the loss of millions of files to a cyberattack needs to be treated with the same level of materiality.

“Whether it’s a material factory [incident] or a material cybersecurity incident, it may be important to those investment decisions that we oversee the disclosure for,” Gensler said during the July 26 open meeting.

Over many years, the agency’s disclosure requirements have “evolved to meet investors needs in changing times,” he said. cybersecuritydive.com

Tracking Down AI Vulnerabilities
When Hackers Descended to Test A.I., They Found Flaws Aplenty

The hackers had the blessing of the White House and leading A.I. companies, which want to learn about vulnerabilities before those with nefarious intentions do.

The hackers tried to break through the safeguards of various A.I. programs in an effort to identify their vulnerabilities — to find the problems before actual criminals and misinformation peddlers did — in a practice known as red-teaming. Each competitor had 50 minutes to tackle up to 21 challenges — getting an A.I. model to “hallucinate” inaccurate information, for example.

They found political misinformation, demographic stereotypes, instructions on how to carry out surveillance and more.

The exercise had the blessing of the Biden administration, which is increasingly nervous about the technology’s fast-growing power. Google (maker of the Bard chatbot), OpenAI (ChatGPT), Meta (which released its LLaMA code into the wild) and several other companies offered anonymized versions of their models for scrutiny.

Dr. Ghosh, a lecturer at Northeastern University who specializes in artificial intelligence ethics, was a volunteer at the event. The contest, he said, allowed a head-to-head comparison of several A.I. models and demonstrated how some companies were further along in ensuring that their technology was performing responsibly and consistently.

He will help write a report analyzing the hackers’ findings in the coming months. The goal, he said: “an easy-to-access resource for everybody to see what problems exist and how we can combat them.” nytimes.com

'Cybersecurity has never been more visible in businesses'
Boards Don't Want Security Promises — They Want Action

CISOs must demonstrate that security processes and updates reduce risk in measurable ways. Put emphasis on action, get the basics right, and improve processes.

Cybersecurity has never been more visible in businesses. The sheer number of stories around hacks affecting companies has pushed this up the agenda, while the Securities and Exchange Commission requirements on cybersecurity reporting will force others to improve their position, too. The impact here means that management boards are now more likely than ever to include the CISO or equivalent.

According to Heidrick and Struggles' 2022 Chief Information Security Officer Survey, CISOs already have the ear of the board — 88% present monthly on their activities to the full board or to a cybersecurity board committee.

So, as cybersecurity professionals, we should have reached that promised land where our influence is felt and we can achieve the goals that we want to achieve, right? Wrong. Like a dog that chased a car, we have now caught it and must work out exactly what we are going to achieve with the resulting responsibility. The truth is, the hard work is only beginning. darkreading.com

Researchers Trick an iPhone Into Faking Airplane Mode

White House Orders Federal Agencies to Bolster Cyber Safeguards

Amazon's Return to Work Push Faces More Backlash
Amazon relies on ‘serendipity’ for office return; employees want data
Adam Selipsky, head of Amazon’s cloud computing business, wouldn’t give employees any data to back up the decision to require workers to come back to the office. But he did have some stories to share, according to an Amazon Web Services employee who attended the all-hands meeting.

“Serendipity” seemed to be the crux of Selipsky’s argument for a return-to-office mandate. “Actual data … it’s very hard to come by,” he said, especially “any data that I think would stand scrutiny.”

For some Amazon employees, “serendipity” isn’t enough. Workers who have asked the company to share data have been provided anecdotes and a consistent trope that innovation is more likely to happen in person.

That has left some workers feeling demoralized, distracted and undervalued as they struggle to stay focused and motivated, according to interviews and internal communications shared with The Times.

An Amazon manager, who is based on the East Coast and asked to speak anonymously to protect their job, said it is “dehumanizing,” and feels as if leadership doesn’t trust its employees to understand their reasoning. In Slack messages, employees anonymously posted that Amazon’s decisions were “dystopian” and creating “just a horrible situation.”

About 30,000 people signed a petition in March asking the company to reconsider its mandate. A group of workers sent two more letters to Beth Galetti, Amazon’s head of human resources, asking for information, specifically what metrics Amazon used to inform its decision. Some workers walked off the job in protest. seattletimes.com

Amazon Punishing Merchants Who Ship Their Own Packages
Amazon adds a new fee for sellers who ship their own packages

Beginning Oct. 1, members of the program will need to pay Amazon a 2% fee on each sale.

Amazon is adding a new charge for third-party sellers who ship their own products instead of paying for the company’s fulfillment services.

Beginning Oct. 1, members of Amazon’s Seller Fulfilled Prime program will pay the company a 2% fee on each product sold, according to a notice sent to merchants last week, which was viewed by CNBC. Previously, there was no such fee for sellers.

The SFP program, launched in 2015, allows third-party merchants to sell their products with the Prime badge without paying for Amazon’s fulfillment services, known as Fulfillment By Amazon. The SFP program hasn’t attracted as many users as FBA has, given that sellers are expected to meet the company’s Prime delivery standards, such as speedy shipping and weekend service. In June, Amazon reopened sign-ups for the invite-only program, after it suspended enrollment in SFP in 2019.

The e-commerce giant also charges sellers a referral fee between 8% and 15% on each sale. Sellers may also pay for things like warehouse storage, packing and shipping, as well as advertising fees. cnbc.com

Amazon Pharmacy Deal Shows the Company Is a Lot More Than E-Commerce & AWS

How fast-growing e-commerce app Temu makes money from $10 smartwatches

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Shootings & Deaths

Houston, TX: Business owner fatally shoots 2 robbery suspects who followed him from bank
Two robbery suspects accused of following a business owner from a bank were shot and killed in Texas on Wednesday morning, according to police. Houston police were called to a shooting in progress at 11:11 a.m. at Ruiz Cash & Carry Co. in Greater East End. At the scene, they found two men dead with gunshot wounds. The business owner told HPD he had just left the bank when he arrived at his business, parked, and was walking into the shop. That's when he was hit in the back of the head with an unknown object, HPD said. After he was hit, the business owner turned around and saw two masked men wearing gloves, police said. The owner immediately discharged his firearm. An employee inside the store heard what was happening, came outside, and also fired shots, HPD said. The two suspects were pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators said when shots were fired, a third suspect fled the location in a black Lincoln Navigator with Texas license plate number RTS-3919. abc7chicago.com

Milwaukee, WI: Gas Station fatal shooting; Homicide victim killed over snack cakes
Relatives of a 29-year-old man shot to death early Wednesday at a Milwaukee gas station claim he was shot by a security guard for stealing snack cakes. Family and friends of Isaiah Allen blockaded the pumps and the store entrance at the Clark station at Teutonia and Roosevelt Wednesday in protest. Family members, including Allen’s parents, say they know the gunman worked as a security guard, at least unofficially. Allen lived just a block from the gas station where he was shot to death around 6:20 a.m. “He was funny, loving, he'd do anything to help somebody,” said his mom Natalie Easter. She said he went to the store with some friends, who told her they saw Allen get shot in the head after he shoplifted some snack cakes. “He's got two beautiful kids, 9 and 3, and now they gotta grow up without their daddy,” Easter said. “Over a box of 25-cent cakes. I still can't wrap my head around that.” Allen’s uncle Shawn Moore said he was shot when he was already outside the store. “Allegedly over some cupcakes, this is what the witnesses stated. Shot him outside the store,” Moore said. WISN 12 News reached out to the store's owner for comment, who didn't respond, but an employee denied the gunman worked for them. Milwaukee police said the suspect remains at large, but they said they have identified him. They would not confirm that he works at the gas station. They said the incident remains under investigation. wisn.com

Brooklyn, NY: 9-year-old boy dies after vanishing, falling into water outside IKEA store
A young boy was found dead hours after he was reported missing from an IKEA store in Brooklyn, New York. The 9-year-old boy who had autism and was nonverbal was pronounced dead at around 1 a.m. Thursday after his family reported him missing late Wednesday at an IKEA store in Red Hook, Brooklyn, according to WCBS. The boy has not been identified by investigators, WNBC said. After the boy was reported missing, surveillance video showed him leaving the IKEA store through a back door. After a three-hour search involving drones, divers, police officers and dogs, the boy was found unresponsive on the edge of the water. He was taken to the hospital where he later died. according to WABC. The IKEA store is located by the Eric Basin and Gowanus Bay, WCBS reported. The boy went missing just as the store was getting ready to close, according to WABC. He was inside the store originally with his family when he wandered off. Investigators believed that the boy left the store by himself. It is unclear how he got into the water, WCBS reported. whio.com

San Francisco, CA: San Francisco police find 1 dead in U-Haul; investigation leads to Northern California homicide at illegal cannabis grow
Dead Body Inside U-Haul Dropped at San Francisco Police Station. San Francisco police made an unwelcome discovery earlier this month when someone dropped off a dead body inside a U-Haul at the city’s police station in the Bayview. The body turned out to be the remains of a man who was shot dead during a robbery at an illegal marijuana grow in Butte County, some four hours north of San Francisco, according to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office. The events that led to the discovery on Aug. 4 began when the man, identified by authorities as 21-year-old Alexander Licona-Romero of Oakland, and at least two others traveled from the Bay Area to the area of Berry Creek, a mountain town not far from Lake Oroville. There, authorities say Licona-Romero was shot dead as he and his accomplices carried out the armed robbery. The surviving suspects then returned his body back to the Bay Area, where one of them later dropped off his remains at Bayview Police Station inside the U-Haul. The San Francisco Police Department declined to comment on the case, deferring to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office, which is investigating the homicide. Asked who shot Licona-Romero and whether his alleged accomplices would be arrested, a spokesperson for the Butte County Sheriff’s Office said only that “detectives are actively investigating” the matter. chicoer.com

Dallas, TX: Murder charge dropped against Dallas man who helped Family Dollar employees fighting off an accused thief
A man accused of murder after intervening in an alleged theft and assault at a Dallas-area Family Dollar store in November 2022 was cleared by a grand jury last month. Kevin Jackson was arrested and charged with murder after police said he fatally shot 26-year-old Phillp Betts inside a discount store on Lancaster Road in Southern Dallas on Nov. 29, 2022. An arrest affidavit obtained by NBC 5 last fall said Betts got into a fight with an employee of the store who took his backpack after accusing him of shoplifting. Betts denied stealing any property and reportedly punched the woman several times before another employee sprayed him with mace. As the two female employees struggled with Betts, Jackson walked into the store and saw the confrontation. In the arrest document, Jackson is said to have waived his rights and told investigators he shot Betts because he became concerned for the safety of the two women being attacked and because he was fearful they’d be seriously hurt. He said he told the women to move away from the man and then fired at the man's leg one time. After the shooting, Betts ran out of the store, collapsed and later died. Jackson picked up his fired cartridge casing and a live round and placed his gun in his car while he waited for the police to arrive. Police said surveillance video showed Betts assaulting the women and being hit by both of them as he ran toward the door. Police said the women then moved away from him moments before Jackson fired his gun. Police said Betts was not armed and that he didn't present a deadly threat when he was shot. Dallas Police arrested Jackson and charged him with murder. Detectives looked at all of the evidence. And at the time of the shooting, there was no imminent danger of a deadly force confrontation,” said Sgt. Warren Mitchell with the Dallas Police Department in November 2022. A Dallas County grand jury disagreed and "no billed" Jackson in July, meaning they didn't believe there was enough evidence to support a criminal charge. nbcdfw.com

Ridgeland, MS: Mall Shooting Update: Four arrested for Northpark Mall shooting
Ridgeland police said four people have been arrested in connection to the weekend shooting at Northpark Mall. Police Chief Brian Myers said the suspects, who are in custody, were identified as Jamari Brown, James Cole, Jr., Kyandre Harris, and Jalen Carter. According to Myers, Cole was the shooting victim in the incident. Cole allegedly shot himself in the hip as he pulled a handgun from his waistband. Brown, Harris, and Carter were both charged with carrying a concealed weapon, disorderly conduct and trespassing. Their bonds were set at $8,500 each. Cole was charged with discharging a firearm within the city, carrying a concealed weapon, disorderly conduct and trespassing. His bond was set at $11,000. wjtv.com

Tallahassee, FL: Bystander shot outside C-store may be paralyzed
Newly filed court documents say a woman shot outside a store on Lake Bradford Road early Wednesday morning may be paralyzed. The documents were filed as Jonathan Vance, 25, made his first court appearance Thursday morning. Vance, whose nickname is “Lil Murray” according to arrest papers, is now accused of attempted murder. Witnesses say he fired 10 or 11 shots after a heated argument with another man over a gun in a parking lot at the corner of Lake Bradford Road and Levy Avenue Court documents say the woman was shot in the arm as she sat in a car nearby. The bullet then pierced her chest, court records say, and “stopped near her spinal cord, causing her to be paralyzed.” wctv.tv

Robberies, Incidents & Thefts

Eastlake, OH: Man arrested for Walmart stabbing in Eastlake
Police arrested a man accused of stabbing another customer at a Walmart in Eastlake Thursday afternoon. Officers were called to the Walmart on Vine Street around 1:12 p.m. for reports of a stabbing inside the store. According to investigators, the suspect allegedly stabbed another man who came in with him. The suspect, a 21-year-old Cuyahoga County resident, was taken into custody. The victim was taken to Hillcrest Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The stabbing remains under investigation at this time. fox8.com

Baltimore, MD: Update: “MOST WANTED” Man walks into Baltimore grocery store, attacks Guard with machete
On May 30, 2023, in north Baltimore, a man, now identified as Dwight Carter, 42, walked into a Giant grocery store, and according to investigators quickly caught the attention of an on-duty security guard. “Mr. Carter started pulling items off the shelf and putting them into his backpack,” said Mat Silverman, Deputy Chief with the US Marshals Service. A case of shoplifting quickly escalated when the guard confronted Carter. “When he was confronted he attempted to walk out of the store. The security guard stops him,” said Silverman. “Mr. Carter pulls out and displays a machete.” Investigators say Carter began striking the guard with the machete. The guard suddenly found himself in a fight for his life. “A struggle ensues,” said Silverman. “Mr. Carter struck the security guard several times with the machete in his legs.” Employees frantically called 911, but the guard miraculously was okay. Investigators say a set of keys in his pants pocket stopped the machete from going through his leg.“If it wasn’t for the fact that he had keys there is a good chance that he would have bled out and died from this,” said Silverman. Carter, who has a criminal history that spans the past two decades was already wanted at the time of the attack. Court records show he’s a convicted sex offender, and back in 2020 had a warrant issued for his arrest in Baltimore City for failing to properly register as such. A violation, the records also show, he’s had a history of repeating. Other past arrests include drug possession and assault. Carter has now been on the run for the past three months, and is believed to likely still be armed with the machete. Investigators believe Carter is likely still in the greater Baltimore region. foxbaltimore.com

Baltimore, MD: DOJ: Man Sentenced to 26 Years in Federal Prison for 3 Gunpoint Robberies; Armed Robbery at Security Square Mall, Jewelry store & Pawn shop

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Director of Retail Solutions - North America
Denver, CO - posted April 5

This role will be focused on selling our SaaS retail crime intelligence platform by developing new prospects, and progressing Enterprise level prospects through our sales process. You will report directly to the VP of Retail Solutions - North America, and work alongside our Marketing, Partnerships and Customer Success team to grow our customer base...

Regional Manager, Asset Protection - Southeast
Georgia or Louisiana - posted August 7

In this role, you will embody Do The Right Thing by protecting People, Assets, and Brands. You will work in an energized, fast paced environment focused on creating a safe environment for our employees, teams, and customers; this is critical to driving our Brand Power, Enduring Customer Relationships, and exuding our commitment to Team and Values...

Corporate & Supply Chain Asset Protection Leader
Quincy, MA - posted August 3

The primary purpose of this position is to manage the Corporate Asset Protection function for all US Support Offices and Supply Chain. Direct team in the design, implementation and management of physical security processes and equipment to ensure facilities are considered a safe and secure environment for all associates and external parties...

Occupational Health & Safety Manager
Mount Horeb, WI - posted July 27

This role is responsible for examining the workplace for environmental or physical factors that could affect employee or guest health, safety, comfort, and performance. This role is also responsible for reducing the frequency and severity of accidents. To be successful in the role, you will need to work closely with management, employees, and relevant regulatory bodies...

Field Loss Prevention Manager
Nashville, TN - posted July 26

As a Field Loss Prevention Manager (FLPM) you will coordinates Loss Prevention and Safety Programs intended to protect Staples assets and ensure a safe work environment within Staples Retail locations. FLPM’s are depended on to be an expert in auditing, investigating, and training...

Loss Prevention Auditor and Fraud Detection Analyst
Boston, MA - posted July 7

As a LP Auditor and Fraud Detection Analyst for Staples, you will conduct LP operational field audits remote, virtual and in person, within a base of 60 retail stores to ensure compliance to operational standards to drive operational excellence and preserve profitability. You will also train store managers on Key-Holder responsibilities, Inventory Control standards, Cash Office procedures, Protection Standards, Safety and Fraud trends...

Manager, Physical Security
Jacksonville, FL - posted July 7

Responsible for overseeing all aspects of the company’s physical security strategy for retail stores, warehouses, and store support center and field offices. This includes responsibility for the capital expense and repair budgets, developing written specifications, layout and design for all systems and to ensure all installations and repairs are made to SEG standards...

Regional AP Mgr – South FL Market – Bilingual required
Miami, FL - posted August 8

Responsible for managing asset protection programs designed to minimize shrink, associate and customer liability accidents, bad check and cash loss, and safety incidents for stores within assigned region. This position will develop the framework for the groups’ response to critical incidents, investigative needs, safety concerns and regulatory agency visits...

Regional Manager, Loss Prevention (Western Territory)
Remote - posted June 28

The Regional Loss Prevention Manager is responsible for the control and reduction of shrinkage at the stores in their Territory. Investigate and resolves all matters that jeopardize or cause a loss to the company’s assets. Has ownership for all company related shrinkage programs in their assigned stores.

Regional Manager, Loss Prevention (Central Territory)
Remote - posted June 28

Regional Director, LP & Safety (Midwest)
MN, MO, IL, KS, WI, MI, IN, or WA - posted June 27

We are looking for a Regional Director of Loss Prevention to join us in MN, MO, IL, KS, WI, MI, IN, or WA. You will develop, execute, and maintain shrink and shrink compliance initiatives. You will also conduct internal and external field investigations, loss control auditing, store safety programs, and compliance programs and audits...

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Being engaged in the business of your retailer is a critical element for every Loss Prevention executive. For decades, our industry has often been accused of being silo'ed and separate from the operators and the merchants. This separateness in many cases ultimately leads to a disconnect, a sense that we aren't part of the team. Which in actuality, regardless of your performance, it can lead to your job being eliminated or just you being replaced with someone new. So the real question is: How do you become engaged in the business and truly add value to the company's success beyond reducing shrink? And then having the courage to go make it happen. We all tend to stay in our comfort zones and remain safe. At least that's what we think. But at the end of the day, it's that comfort zone that can actually increase your risk. So the next time you're in a corporate meeting or traveling stores with your operators or merchants, go beyond with your comments and opinions - take a risk - add some value - help them run the business - you might be surprised.

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