'16 Times More Retail Theft Happens at Self-Checkouts'
Is self-checkout the biggest driver of store theft?

A California bill would limit self-checkout lanes. What's it really about?
For more than a year, California businesses' concerns about retail theft have taken top billing in the Capitol, spurring more than a dozen new laws. But the grocery and drug store workers who deal with thefts and other crimes every day have their own ideas about how to address those threats.

Some of those ideas make up a controversial bill that would limit self-checkout lanes, the latest measure pitting new technology against workers to stir up controversy in the California Capitol.

The legislation, SB1446, would require stores to have each worker manage no more than two self-checkout kiosks at once and be relieved of other responsibilities. Businesses must also issue a notice of new technologies that could impact workers at least 60 days before implementation under the bill.

A store in violation of the bill would be fined $100 per day, with a maximum of $10,000 in aggregate.

Its author, state Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, D-Los Angeles, said the bill is meant to address the collision of three issues: retail theft, automation and labor concerns. But the businesses and groups most vocal about combating retail theft oppose the measure.

"We want to make sure we have enough workers at these self-checkout kiosks so that they are safe, and consumers are safe and have the support they need," Smallwood-Cuevas said.

The legislation also requires that products with extra protection - like those in locked cases or with surveillance tags - cannot be purchased through self-checkout lanes.

Smallwood-Cuevas claims that 16 times more retail theft happens at self-checkouts than manned registers, which she believes can be tamped down by having more workers nearby, watching the kiosks.  sfchronicle.com


More States Provide Funding for ORC Training & Violence Prevention
Deschutes Co., Oregon DA Plans For Organized Retail Theft Training
Deschutes County's District Attorney is optimistic new state funds will help curb organized retail theft. D.A. Steve Gunnels says groups of thieves enter stores, load up carts with merchandise and walk out without paying.

But the incidents are more than just a blight on the retailer's bottom line, "There are a lot of situations where if the store tries to intervene, there could be violence with people who just want to get away with their stolen property and people can get hurt."

As KBND News first reported last week, Gunnels' office was awarded a nearly $18,000 grant from Oregon's Criminal Justice Commission to provide training and resources for local businesses through the end of the year. "It's a small grant, but it's important to get some funding to help with the time and some of the materials that we'll be distributing to the local retailers," says Gunnels. "It's basically for flyers, for materials that we would hand out to stores to kind of identify ways to reduce this threat to their wellbeing, their bottom line." Gunnels had asked for $50,000. The Criminal Justice Commission says he can apply for the remainder in January.

Gunnels tells KBND News local businesses look forward to receiving help, "Retailers are receptive. I've spoken to Loss Prevention about the issue and they're all over it. They really want to get on top of it, because when they see it happen, sometimes they see it happening in hindsight, when they're reviewing surveillance footage from inside their store. And once people get away, there sometimes isn't a lot that they or police can do about it."

He urges shoppers not to attempt to intervene, if they see a person or a group of people shoplifting, "Reach out to store employees, who can get in touch with their risk management or their loss prevention, and then contact the police."  kbnd.com

 
Theft Epidemic Forcing 7-Eleven Stores to Close in Canada
Expert, city councillor speak out after Winnipeg 7-Eleven robbed 6 times in 1 day
A 7-Eleven in Winnipeg’s West End had to call police for six separate theft incidents on Saturday. The spate of thefts comes as the convenience giant told two Winnipeg city councillors it may shutter 10 locations due to persistent retail theft.

Coun. Ross Eadie said this kind of crime contributes to the neighbourhood degradation: “Eventually you’re going to create a neighbourhood that you’re not going to like very much. It’s already dangerous on the street. Wait and see what happens when there’s further decay,” Eadie said.

While 7-Eleven didn’t respond to Global News’ request for comment, it’s no secret that theft has been a frustrating issue for Winnipeg retailers for years. In response, the Manitoba government invested in the Winnipeg police’s retail theft initiative, creating more patrols in key areas.

John Graham, the prairie director for government relations with the Retail Council of Canada, said the increased officer presence has been a helpful deterrent, and wants to see the program renewed at the end of summer.

“Without that funding, the police support may slip, and that would be devastating to retailers. What we don’t want, though, are short-term solutions that just result in the problem coming back,” Graham said.

In addition to foot patrols, Graham wants to see certain officers dedicated to the retail theft beat, plus cracking down on the market for stolen goods. “We think focusing on things like fencing, where a product that has been stolen is being resold. Let’s identify those sources and close those down,” he said.

Graham also wants broader solutions, like heavier consequences for repeat offenders. globalnews.ca
 

'Troubling' Surge in Theft & Safety Concerns Force Seattle Closures
Goodwill to close 2 Seattle locations due to rising safety, theft concerns
Evergreen Goodwill of Northwest Washington has announced that it will close two of its Seattle thrift stores, citing safety concerns, escalating theft and rising rent as key factors in its decision. The two locations — South Lake Union and University District — will officially close on Sept. 22.

"The decision to close these stores was not made lightly," said Derieontay Sparks, senior vice president of customer experience, retail and revenue growth at Evergreen Goodwill. "Both locations have experienced a troubling rise in property damage, break-ins and safety concerns for our employees. These challenges, coupled with rising rent and operational costs, have made it unsustainable to continue operating in these areas."

The South Lake Union store at 411 Westlake Ave. N. first opened in 2012, while the University District store at 4552 University Way N.E., known as "The Ave," has been a fixture in the community since 2008. fox13seattle.com


Organized Cargo Theft is Surging in North America
Cargo thefts jumped 49% in the first half of 2024

“Red zone” of Southern California had as many cargo thefts as Texas, Tennessee, Illinois, Georgia, and Arizona combined, Overhaul report says.

Freight hubs and major cities across North America are witnessing a surge in cargo theft, with incidents jumping 49% in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year, according to a report from the Texas-based supply chain visibility and security firm Overhaul.

The bump in theft incidents has been accompanied by an even bigger rise in their financial impact. The average loss per incident leapt to $115,230, marking an 83% increase from the same period last year. This trend underscores the growing sophistication and ambition of cargo thieves, who are systematically targeting high-value shipments, Overhaul said in its “United States and Canada H1 2024 Cargo Theft Report.”

California remains the epicenter of this crisis, accounting for 45% of all reported cargo thefts, followed by Texas at 14%. Particularly concerning is the Southern California Red Zone, defined as the first 200 miles of travel for shipments departing from this area, which alone concentrated an alarming 36% of all cargo thefts in the country, averaging 58.6 thefts per month, nearly two each day. Remarkably, this region experiences as many cargo thefts as Texas, Tennessee, Illinois, Georgia, and Arizona combined.  dcvelocity.com


Is America on the Verge of Erasing the COVID Crime Spike?
Crime Is Down. Will It Become Part of the 2024 Campaign?
In the first half of 2023, Boston had 18 homicides. In the first half of 2024, it had four—a 77 percent drop. Mesa, Arizona, saw a drop of more than 70 percent, from 21 to six. Homicides in New Orleans fell by almost 40 percent. In Baltimore City, Cleveland, Dallas, Philadelphia, and Phoenix, homicides declined by around 30 percent.

These dramatic numbers come from a midyear crime report published by the Major Cities Chiefs Association, which takes data from 69 police and sheriffs’ departments. In aggregate, the study documented a 17 percent drop in homicides. If the trend persists in the latter half of the year and holds true for the whole country, the total number of homicides will end up where it was in 2015, at around 15,500, and will represent the largest single-year decline in at least 65 years, exceeding the previous record decline—of 12 percent, set just last year—by almost a third. Meaning: The entire Covid-19 homicide spike will have vanished.

It may seem risky to extrapolate the midyear data from just 69 departments to the year-end results from 18,000 local departments, but historically, midyear data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association and national year-end data track each other surprisingly well.

That the media is not covering a decline in violence as much as an increase is perhaps unsurprising: “If it bleeds it leads” has been an adage for a long time. It is somewhat more surprising that the Harris-Walz campaign is not pushing these numbers more aggressively, because there are good reasons to do so. newrepublic.com


Man Charged in Arkansas Grocery Store Shooting Sued by Woman Who Was Injured

Arlington Co. police make crime data more visible with new online hub
 

Retailers Lean Into GenAI
Target exec says GenAI tool is boosting worker efficiency

The chatbot, which helps Target’s team members resolve on-the-job challenges, is making it easier and faster to assist customers, COO and CFO Michael Fiddelke said.

Target has completed a full chain roll out of a new artificial intelligence tool designed to help store employees quickly resolve on-the-job challenges, COO and CFO Michael Fiddelke said during a Wednesday earnings call.

The technology, which has been integrated into handheld devices in Target stores, has been leveraged more than 50,000 times by team members since the roll out, which began earlier this year, according to Fiddelke. He said the tool can provide “straightforward responses” in under a minute on average when asked about issues such as how to sign up a guest up for a Target Circle Card or how to restart a cash register after a power outage.

“We’ll continue to refine this tool over time based on feedback from our team, but many are already telling us that it’s enhanced their everyday work experience, making it easier and faster for them to help our guests,” Fiddelke said.  retaildive.com


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