Using AI & Facial Recognition to Fight Shoplifting Rings & Other Criminals
Artificial Intelligence Use in Criminal Investigations Gains Traction
In the United Kingdom, police departments are testing out an artificial intelligence (AI) tool to analyze evidence in cold cases—including the unsolved stabbing murder of a 30-year-old man in 1994—in the hopes of catching any missed clues. The software can sift through video footage, financial transactions, social media, emails and other documents simultaneously. Authorities claim the tool was able to review evidentiary material in 27 cases in just 30 hours.

The UK police aren’t alone. They are among the fast-growing cohort of law enforcement agencies employing new artificial intelligence technologies to help solve crimes.

In the summer of 2024, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department brought in a team of AI researchers to go over their work on a 20-year-old unsolved murder. The group used an AI tool to create a timeline of events by analyzing 3,000 pages in the investigative file, including handwritten notes, the Indianapolis Star reported.

And in January 2024, a Miami Police Department official told lawmakers in a U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing that facial recognition technology and AI tools helped dramatically reduce homicide and violent crime rates in his city in recent years.

In addition to facial recognition software, police are using AI to pinpoint the location of gunshots in real time, narrow down areas populated with violent offenders with outstanding warrants and identify stores targeted by shoplifting rings, experts told A&E True Crime.

But as law enforcement agencies ramp up use of artificial intelligence to help solve crimes, experts warn the technology is still in its infancy and should only be used to augment traditional investigative methods. aetv.com


Drug Stores Still Grappling with Theft 'Headache'
Rite Aid’s All-Item Lockup Underscores Big Drugstore Industry Headache
Rite Aid is grabbing headlines for locking up nearly all items in a southern California store, putting everything from baby formula and paper towels to makeup and potato chips behind plexiglass.

The drugstore chain, which emerged from federal bankruptcy protection earlier this month, took measures at its store in Compton that go beyond locking up higher-value items that require a drugstore employee to unlock a case. Rite Aid’s Compton store this summer began requiring customers to “ring for help” by pressing a button that alerts an employee to come unlock the encased products throughout the store.

Rite Aid wouldn’t say whether the near all-item lockup would be replicated at stores outside of southern California, but said it’s part of a strategy to test “a range of product protection solutions across (the company’s) footprint to ensure merchandise is available to our customers.”

Some see Rite Aid’s theft control effort as “extreme,” but drugstore chains, including rivals CVS Health and Walgreens, are facing tough decisions to close underperforming stores and theft and its costs to the companies are figuring into those moves.

Walgreens, for example, in June disclosed it was finalizing a “footprint optimization program” to close certain underperforming stores of the company’s more than 8,600 U.S. locations. Manmohan Mahajan, Walgreens executive vice president and global chief financial officer, said “25% is the overall footprint” that executives are evaluating for potential closure. While there are many reasons Walgreens stores are underperforming, company insiders and analysts who follow the company say store theft definitely figures in store underperformance.

“Retail crime continues to be one of the top challenges facing our industry today. We are focused on the safety of our patients, customers and team members, and have taken a number of steps to help reduce organized retail theft in our stores,” Walgreens said in a statement. “We also continue to partner with others across the retail industry, as well as law enforcement, elected officials and community leaders to improve shrink trends.”  forbes.com


Is the U.S. Theft Wave Fueled By Terrorists - Or Have Stores Overreacted?
OPINION: America's absurd war on 'organized retail crime'

Target and CVS call them criminal masterminds. Most are homeless or mentally ill.

Even though retailers nationwide reported little, if any, overall increase in lost inventory, it became common in major cities to hear reports of people brazenly stuffing merchandise into bags and walking out in full view of shoppers and employees. Many chains, including CVS and Target, began locking their wares behind plastic shields, requiring shoppers to search understaffed stores for an employee to help them purchase items as simple as razors or Tide Pods.

Retailers and prosecutors responded to the thefts with the kind of coordinated crackdown usually reserved for terrorists and drug cartels. Arguing that the epidemic of thefts is being orchestrated by high-level crime rings, the retail industry successfully lobbied 9 states in 2023 to up the penalties for what it calls "organized retail crime" and to prosecute it aggressively. Last fall, Sen. Chuck Grassley stood outside the Capitol flanked by leaders of the National Retail Federation to introduce a bill that would make organized retail theft a federal crime. Some lawmakers and industry lobbyists have gone so far as to claim that retail theft has direct links to human trafficking and domestic terrorism.

To be sure, there have been a handful of cases where people have been convicted of organizing multi-million dollar thefts and recruiting others to steal for them. But after thousands of arrests, prosecutors have shown no evidence that the nationwide wave of shoplifting is being secretly coordinated by mobsters or terrorists.

The crackdown by industry and law enforcement has effectively criminalized poverty. Attorneys, defendants, and experts familiar with the surge of prosecutions report that retail theft is overwhelmingly committed by people in serious need, especially those lacking housing or suffering from drug addiction or mental illness. The result, as with the government's long-running "wars" on drugs and terrorism, has been a dragnet that ensnares a lot of small fish who are then presented to the world as big catches. Several others facing felony charges for what the San Francisco police describe as "prolific Organized Retail Crime" are minors, including a 14-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy. businessinsider.com


Will Prop 36 End California's Theft Crisis?
It’s time to end Calif.’s retail theft epidemic

“Proposition 36 offers a comprehensive approach to tackling the root causes of crime while also protecting businesses and communities,” writes Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce CEO Timm Quinn.

In November, Californians will have the opportunity to vote on Proposition 36, the Homeless, Drug Addiction, and Retail Theft initiative which offers a sensible approach by addressing some of the unintended consequences of Proposition 47, particularly regarding repeat retail theft. It holds repeat offenders accountable, potentially leading to jail time for shoplifters with multiple convictions. Most importantly, the initiative encourages thieves to participate in rehabilitation programs as an alternative to incarceration, while also addressing homelessness and issues related to fentanyl abuse.

By addressing issues related to homelessness and drug addiction, Proposition 36 offers a comprehensive approach to tackling the root causes of crime while also protecting businesses and communities.

Stockton is doing its part to address retail theft. However, without changes to state law, thieves are not held accountable. That’s why we need Proposition 36.

The epidemic of retail theft in California shows no signs of slowing down, but with collaborative efforts such as "Stockton Takes Action Against Retail Theft" (STAART) and the potential passing of Proposition 36, there is hope for a safer and more secure environment for businesses and communities. It is crucial that the state takes action to address these issues and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions. By voting in favor of Proposition 36, Californians can help combat the scourge of retail theft and work towards a safer future for all.  sjvsun.com


Property Crime Remains A Problem, Despite Violent Crime Progress
As Colorado struggles with widespread retail theft, Wheat Ridge police takes proactive approach
FBI crime stats show Colorado is doing better than it has in the past when it comes to levels of violent crime. But the news isn't so good when it comes to property crime. Despite some improvement, Colorado remains far above the national average.

Wheat Ridge police are trying a new approach to stop retail theft. Their new approach involves partnering with stores that are being targeted to track thieves in real time.

The challenge is that theft below a certain dollar amount is often considered a low-level crime despite the widespread impact to businesses. "It makes everyone's prices go up. We are already dealing with inflation, and more prices have to go up because the margins have to make it up somewhere," LeBeau said.

While the crime is all but ignored in some parts of the Denver metro area, Wheat Ridge Police hope going after every case will send a stronger message.

"We are going to work with these loss prevention teams and we are going to be waiting by the front door," Rose said. cbsnews.com


Police, Shop Owners & Residents Team Up
UK: Shop scheme 'makes me feel safe and in touch'
Users of a scheme to tackle shop theft, violence and antisocial behaviour in a Kent town say it helps them "feel safe". Gravesend Safe and Free Environment (G Safe) is made up of shop owners, volunteers and residents who are determined to stop their town centre being targeted by prospective thieves.

The scheme, which works closely with Kent Police, uses a shop radio system and an app to keep tabs on the identity and movements of potential offenders. Traci Savill, who works at the Toxic Angel boutique in the Heritage Quarter, said: "The shop radio system makes me feel safe and in touch.”

Organisers of the scheme say they have trained up 50 staff in more than 20 shops to provide a "safe space to someone in need of assistance". Between April 2023-24, there were 1,352 incidents in Gravesend at a total cost of £103,000, according to G Safe. Goods recovered were valued at £61,000.

Sophie Jordan, G Safe's co-ordinator, told Local Democracy Reporting Service “this is truly just the tip of the iceberg". She says: “Shops have cut back on floor staff, so there is less of a deterrent." bbc.com


Another State Rolls Out Bill to Increase Theft Penalties
Utah bill would stiffen penalties for retail theft by groups or across state lines
Lawmakers are considering ramping up penalties for retail theft, in particular what they call illegal, out-of-state “businesses” that target Utah stores and resell the merchandise on the black market.

The bill, called Criminal Offense Modifications, also addresses a number of issues related to gang activity and organized crime in the state, including increased penalties for adults who recruit or intimidate minors into a gang.

It would enhance the penalty for people who come to Utah intent on stealing from retail stores, a crime that, as long as there isn’t more than $500 of goods stolen, is usually a class B misdemeanor.

Under the bill, if the person was convicted of a similar, class A misdemeanor offense in another state, they could now be charged with a third-degree felony.  heraldextra.com


Kansas AG files first case after Kris Kobach pushed for new laws on retail crime

Opinion: Proposition 36 wants to return to a failed past. Vote no.
 

Retail's Response to Hurricane Helene

Retailers Help with Disaster Relief Efforts
Grocers Kick Into Disaster Relief Mode After Hurricane Helene

Food retailers are supplying food and water and organizing donation efforts

As communities grapple with the aftermath of historic flooding in western North Carolina, grocers are playing their part in providing critical supplies. The economic impact from Hurricane Helene, which came ashore in Florida’s Big Bend and tore up through Georgia and the Carolinas, is estimated between $95 billion to $110 billion, according to projections from AccuWeather.

On Sept. 29, North Carolina-based Harris Teeter announced that it has launched a register campaign supporting the American Red Cross and its disaster relief efforts. From now through Oct. 28, shoppers can round up at checkout at all location, and 100% of funds donated will go directly to the American Red Cross, the retailer confirmed in an email to Progressive Grocer.

Food retailers are also joining efforts to get food and water to the region, especially to the city of Asheville, N.C., and surrounding mountain communities that have been essentially cut off over the past several days. Community social media pages that have been set up in the wake of the storm reported that local stores, including Harris Teeter and Ingles Markets, are providing water.

Hy-Vee, which operates a disaster fleet that is often dispatched to areas devastated by storms and other events, is providing support to residents in Florida and other communities hit by Hurricane Helene. “For this disaster, we are supporting our partner Operation BBQ Relief in their efforts to feed those impacted by providing them with two supply trailers and a generator,” SVP of communications Tina Potthoff told Progressive Grocer.

The Asheville Citizen-Times reports that several stores are open and serving customers in that city, including a Food Lion in Clyde, a Trader Joe’s in Asheville, Ingles (cash only) in Asheville, Walmart in Asheville, and Publix in nearby Weaverville.  progressivegrocer.com


Some C-Stores Closed Amid Hurricane Aftermath
Convenience Stores Grapple With Hurricane Helene

Enmarket, Pilot Flying J, Circle K post updates on c-store locations affected by storm

Convenience stores across the southeast are grappling with the effects of Hurricane Helene, which on Thursday hit the Florida Gulf Coast. Since then, several states have declared emergencies including Florida, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Kentucky, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

Enmarket, a c-store chain based in Savannah, Georgia, on Friday posted to Facebook that many of its locations were still open, although some did not have fuel.

“To our neighbors, customers, team members and friends, we understand the devastating impact last night had on the communities we serve across the southeast. Several of our locations are currently closed due to power outages, but we are working diligently to resume essential services as soon as possible,” the post said. “In the meantime, please take care of yourselves, your families, and your neighbors as we all work toward recovery.”

Pilot Flying J, Knoxville, Tennessee, temporarily closed some locations in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Virginia, it said Thursday, while others were open on generators.

Hurricane Helene was a category 4 hurricane that made landfall Thursday night along the Florida Gulf Coat, according to the National Weather Service. Helene brought damaging winds across Georgia and the western Carolinas, along with unprecedented rainfall and flooding, the service said. It has since been downgraded to a tropical storm. cspdailynews.com


Another Supply Chain Threat?
The Busiest Port on the East Coast Comes to a Stop

The strike by longshoremen has halted commerce at Newark and other ports on the East and Gulf Coasts, affecting an ecosystem of supply-chain workers.

As 45,000 dockworkers began a strike, shutting most of Newark and three dozen other shipping terminals along the Gulf and East Coasts, Mr. Murphy was confronted with the spectacle of a busy industrial hub now largely devoid of activity.

Here was a visual encapsulation of the challenge confronting the global economy: cargo marooned, commerce frozen and no clarity on when normalcy will return.

Beyond the atmospherics, the effective shutdown of Newark and other major ports threatens the livelihoods of millions of people who work near the affected docks — and businesses that depend on the flow of exports and imports. nytimes.com


2,900 Layoffs
CVS to lay off 2,900 employees amid reports of strategic review

CVS is cutting 1% of its workforce as the healthcare behemoth pursues a massive cost-cutting plan — including a potential breakup of its businesses.

CVS plans to lay off 2,900 workers amid swirling reports that the healthcare behemoth is undergoing a strategic review, including a potential breakup of its businesses.

The layoffs, which were confirmed by a CVS spokesperson, will affect about 1% of CVS’ 300,000 employees.

CVS unveiled a plan to cut $2 billion in costs this summer in a bid to bolster flagging operational performance amid rising costs for its health insurance arm Aetna and shaky reimbursement at its pharmacies. retaildive.com


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