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10/14/20

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Interface Security Systems Promotes Brent Duncan to President and COO

Interface Security Systems, a leading managed service provider delivering business security, managed network, UCaaS and business intelligence solutions to distributed enterprises, today announced the promotion of Brent Duncan to President and COO. Interface Security Systems is a portfolio company of SunTx Capital Partners and Prudential Capital Partners.

Since joining Interface in April 2019 as Chief Revenue Officer, Duncan has been instrumental in transforming the company’s go-to-market strategy. Under Duncan’s leadership, Interface expanded its service offerings to a wider range of verticals, launched new products and adapted existing products for new applications, formed new strategic partnerships, and increased their new customer acquisition by 165%, in spite of the global pandemic. Read more in today's Vendor Spotlight below.

See All the Executives 'Moving Up' Here

Submit Your New Corporate Hires/Promotions or New Position

"100 People You Don't Know But Should"
- Meet Zak Nelson of ADT

Zak Nelson, Director, Marketing & Strategic Business Initiatives for ADT Cybersecurity, was recently mentioned in CRN's "100 People You Don't Know But Should" list for his efforts to improve ADT's customer experience. Zak's role involves working on new product launches and ensuring that sales and support teams are equipped and prepared to help customers. Zak is proud to have the opportunity to truly make an impact on customers by helping protect their families and livelihoods.

How Supplier Acucote Helps ALL-TAG with Security Labeling

ALL-TAG is a Boca Raton, FL, USA-based manufacturer of Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) products and services designed to help retailers protect their merchandise from shoplifting. ALL-TAG source tags hard goods and apparel, and manufactures custom EAS products tailor-made to help loss prevention professionals reach their specific goals. Known as the “Source Tagging Experts," ALL-TAG works directly with stores to develop their specifications and then produces and sells the tags directly to manufacturers.

In this article, Joe Sirak, director of finance for ALL-TAG, explains how the company's partnership with Acucote Inc. has been a key contributor to its future growth. With Acucote as a supplier, ALL-TAG has been able to explore new applications that come in daily on their website and put to ease potential supply issues by replacing an off-shore manufacturer. labelandnarrowweb.com

COVID Update

US: Over 8.1M Cases - 221K Dead - 5.2M Recovered
Worldwide: Over 38.6M Cases - 1M Dead - 29M Recovered

Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 200+
Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: 121
*Red indicates change in total deaths

The Economic Devastation of COVID Mapped
America’s $2 Trillion Economic Drop, by State and Sector

Plexiglass shields are everywhere, but it's not clear how much they help

Retail groups call for layered approach that includes mask wearing and social distancing

Plexiglass shields have become ubiquitous at offices, grocery stores and restaurants across the country in the coronavirus age. Given that they're just about everywhere, you may wonder how effective they actually are.

Businesses and workplaces have pointed to plexiglass dividers as one tool they are using to keep people safe against the spread of the virus. But it's important to know there's little data to support their effectiveness, and even if there were, the barriers have their limits, according to epidemiologists and aerosol scientists, who study airborne transmission of the virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has offered guidance to workplaces to "install physical barriers, such as clear plastic sneeze guards, where feasible" as a way to "reduce exposure to hazards," and the Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued similar guidance. That's because the plexiglass shields can in theory protect workers against large respiratory droplets that spread if someone sneezes or coughs next to them.

However, that's not the only way that the coronavirus spreads. Last week, the CDC released new guidelines saying that the coronavirus can spread through aerosols — tiny particles containing the virus that float in the air and can travel beyond six feet — that are released when people breathe, talk or sneeze. Most droplets people release when they talk or breathe are in a "size range that will flow past the barrier," said Pratim Biswas, an aerosol scientist at Washington University in St. Louis.

There's also another problem in some cases: the size of the barriers. Marissa Baker, an assistant professor at the University of Washington, has been conducting a separate study of coronavirus safety measures at nine grocery stores in Seattle and seven in Portland, Oregon, each month since May. She has observed that plexiglass shields at cash registers and self-checkout stations are often too small to even prevent droplet transmission between customers and workers. cnn.com

It's All About Safety
Walmart's COVID Black Friday Plan
Walmart said Wednesday that it will have in-store Black Friday sales, but it’s breaking them up into three different sales events.

The big-box retailer is taking safety precautions, such as having employees distribute sanitized shopping carts and limiting the number of customers inside the store.

Holiday sales days will come with pandemic-related precautions. Stores will open at 5 a.m. local time. Customers must line up single-file before they enter. Stores will limit the number of people inside. Employees will distribute sanitized shopping carts. And some, dubbed health ambassadors, will greet shoppers and remind them to put on a mask.

Walmart is planning to take steps to discourage crowds and nudge some bargain hunters online, too. The company said it will split up Black Friday into three different holiday sales events, staggered throughout the month of November. Each will begin on its website and hit stores a few days later.

"We expect the Black Friday experience in our stores will be safer and more manageable for both our customers and our associates.” cnbc.com

Pandemic reshapes seasonal hiring
Holiday shopping is kicking off earlier than ever amid the pandemic, and retailers are shifting their approach to seasonal hiring to keep up with changing demand. Companies are looking for more warehouse and call center workers to meet growing demand from online shoppers opting for home delivery or curbside pickup, while new roles have emerged in stores to manage consumer traffic, sanitize shelves and check temperatures at the door. Some retailers are boosting pay and offering perks such as flexible hours and child care to attract virus-wary workers. linkedin.com

● The holiday shopping season began Tuesday with Amazon Prime Day.
● Target is starting online holiday deals this week and plans to double the number of employees dedicated to curbside pickup.
● Walmart is curbing the number of customers inside its stores on Black Friday to just 20% of usual capacity.

"Take Your Mask Off For Two Seconds"
Schenectady, NY: Businesses take steps to counter possible thefts by mask-wearing criminals
CBS 6 continues to investigate - how the mask mandate may be helping criminals conceal their identities. A week after a mask-wearing thief sprinted out with a gold necklace and bracelet, the Glennpeter Jewelry Store in Colonie will soon have a new system to identify anyone coming in. "Just because of one person." You'll still need a mask to get in, but now there's some extra steps. To get on to the main sales floor you'll first have to hit a buzzer and then lower you mask to show your face. After that, someone will buzz you in. Chief operating officer Tracy Lewis says they'll see the person at the door on an app before letting them in. She says this was their best bet to keep the people inside safe.

Star Liquor in Schenectady requires customers to lower their mask briefly to see if the photo ID matches the face under the mask, before selling them any alcohol.

Rivers Casino has the same policy for anyone trying to get on the gaming floor. "May I see your ID? Take you mask off for two seconds?" Their director of security says this helps get every guest into their system of more than a thousand cameras. He says this has been their policy ever since reopening. cbs6albany.com

Op/Ed: Retail and restaurant jobs are becoming increasingly stressful
Since stores and restaurants have reopened, being a waiter or sales associate has become increasingly stressful. This is in part due to customers not adhering to the social distancing and mask regulations.

According to the Washington Post, retail workers are being pulled into a culture war by people who aren’t willing to wear masks. Not only do retail workers have to remind customers that they are required to wear a mask in their store, they also have to constantly remind people how to wear them correctly. They also get yelled at if the customer believes they have the right to not wear a mask in the store.

Additionally, some customers will intentionally show up without a mask and expect the store to provide one for them. While it is nice that some places do that, it is absolutely not anyone’s job to provide you with a mask. cwuobserver.com

Retailers Extending Corporate WFH Policies to Summer 2021
July Is the New January: More Companies Delay Return to the Office
When the coronavirus pandemic shuttered offices around the United States in March, many companies told their employees that it would be only a short hiatus away from headquarters. Workers, they said, would be back in their cubicles within a matter of weeks. Weeks turned into September. Then September turned into January. And now, with the virus still surging in some parts of the country, a growing number of employers are delaying return-to-office dates once again, to the summer of 2021 at the earliest.

When Target announced its decision to let some employees continue to work at home through June 2021 in a letter to staff last week, it said it would apply just to employees at its headquarters in Minneapolis. The company said a small number of employees who rely on the headquarters facilities would continue to work on-site. In-store employees will work in retail stores as usual.

Many more companies are expected to delay their return-to-office dates to keep workers safe. And workers said they were in no rush to go back, with 73 percent of U.S. employees fearing that being in their workplace could pose a risk to their personal health and safety, according to a study by Wakefield Research commissioned by Envoy, a workplace technology company. nytimes.com

We Could Be Headed for a Face Mask Glut
Just a few short months ago, face masks were so hard to come by that companies were sending employees to safeguard shipments from government seizure or mysterious bandits. Now, the world is so awash in face coverings and shields that some of distributors are having a hard time getting full price. washingtonpost.com

Facing Your Face Mask Duties – Updated List of Statewide Orders

Little Rock, AR: Argument over mask leads to fight, arrest at Dollar General

Visual Artificial Intelligence on the Edge of Revolutionizing Retail

By Tony D'Onofrio, Global Retail Influencer

“We are laser-focused on continuous improvements to customers’ experience across our stores. By leveraging Everseen’s Visual AI and machine-learning technology, we’re not only able to remove friction for the customer, but we can also remove controllable costs from the business and redirect those resources to improving the customer experience even more.” - Mike Lamb, Kroger's VP of Asset Protection

This post was inspired by a recent Kroger article announcing the deployment of visual artificial intelligence (AI) in 2,500 stores and new IHL Group edge computing research. Multiple technological trends have been converging for some time and their combination is leading to transformative store operations improving solutions.

By 2021, one billion video cameras will be deployed around the world. Endless possibilities in creating immersive consumer experiences emerge when artificial intelligence and machine learning are coupled with these visual data gathering devices.

COVID-19 has become a disruptive accelerator of digital transformation trends that were already underway. It takes 66 days or approximately two months to form a new permanent habit. New shopping journey habits have emerged during the pandemic that will require intensified analysis of millions of data inputs to both protect transactions and remove negative experience friction.

What are some of the leading Visual AI or computer vision applications today? In retail, what's the Return on Investment (ROI)? What makes these technologies critical to the future of retail? Read More Here

Tulsa, OK: Sentencing reform body says it can't act until voters decide on State Question 805
A state body charged with sentencing reform said Tuesday it will take no action until voters decide on State Question 805 in the Nov. 3 general election. “Whether you’re for or against (SQ 805), it puts us in a difficult position,” said state Attorney General Mike Hunter, chairman of the Criminal Justice Reclassification Coordination Council. “I don’t see how we can responsibly have a discussion until after the election,” he said.

Particularly aggrieved was Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler, who said SQ 805 is “gutting” years of hard work by the committee. SQ 805 is a proposed state constitutional amendment that would ban what are known as sentence enhancements for certain crimes and would allow those serving enhanced sentences to apply for reductions. Sentence enhancements use prior convictions to add prison time to usual maximum sentences. SQ 805 would not apply to persons previously convicted of crimes designated violent felonies. Opponents of the question say violent felonies are too narrowly defined and excludes potentially escalating offenses such as driving while intoxicated, domestic abuse and theft.

The panel was, in part, a response to passage of SQ 780, which reclassified several non-violent offenses as misdemeanors and raised the felony threshold from $500 to $1,000 for property theft crimes. The membership includes Kunzweiler, Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado and Tulsa Police Department Deputy Chief Dennis Larsen.

Oklahoma Retail Crime Association President's Comments

Norm Smaligo said the number of retail thefts and the value of the items stolen has risen dramatically since passage of SQ 780, particularly in the two major metro areas. Smaligo said the average of thefts under $200 has stayed about the same, but the average for thefts more than $200 has more than tripled to about $6,600. When it was pointed out later than such crimes are still a felony under SQ 780, Smaligo said habitual thieves seem to think the measure gives them virtual carte blanche. Smaligo also criticized some long-standing sentencing laws that he said makes immediate revocation of suspended sentences difficult. “The law has lost its deterrent value,” Smaligo said. “It’s lost its protective value.” tulsaworld.com

Editor’s Note: Norm Smaligo currently serves as the President of the Oklahoma Retail Crime Association (OKRCA).

The Power of Signifyd’s Decision Center Now Extends to Thwart Promotion Abuse and Unauthorized Resellers
Signifyd today announced an enhanced version of its Decision Center module that allows retail enterprises to customize their efforts to stop revenue leakage caused by promotion abuse and to protect their brand reputations and relationships by thwarting third-parties that buy in bulk and resell without formal agreements to do so.

Decision Center’s new self-service capabilities for promotion abuse and unauthorized reseller management mark the latest upgrade to Signifyd’s Commerce Protection Platform and recognizes the variety of unique business conditions retailers face today.

Signifyd launched Decision Center as a key module in its Commerce Protection Platform solution set aimed at curbing the rapidly growing problem of consumer abuse. While risk management leaders have long been focused on the threat of fraud, consumer abuse has been growing at a faster rate and will cost retailers $50 billion this year, according to Mercator Advisory Group. businesswire.com

Rock Island, IL: Black workers at McD’s restaurant file civil rights suit
Three former workers at a McDonald’s in Rock Island, IL, have filed a civil rights suit against the fast-food giant and the franchisee of the restaurant, claiming that the general manager at the location treated “Black employees less favorably than non-Black employees, including by discriminatorily cutting their hours, leaving them with less income to support their families.” It further claimed that the GM and other managers made disparaging remarks about Blacks, calling them “lazy” and unable to “do simple tasks.” qctimes.com

Smoked Out: Massive Overseas Illegal Cigarette Factory Dismantled
13 suspects arrested in $7M raid: 3.6M cigarettes, 32K kilos of tobacco seized
On 7 October, the investigation service of the Dutch tax authorities, FIOD (Fiscale Inlichtingen en OpsporingsDienst), raided an illegal tobacco factory in West-Betuwe, south of Utrecht. It is one of the largest illegal cigarette factories uncovered in the Netherlands. The factory was in full operation when law enforcement entered the premises. Thirteen suspects were arrested comprising mostly of nationals from Eastern Europe. Investigators seized 3.6 million cigarettes and 32,000 kilos of tobacco along with packaging material, cigarette paper, filters and glue. The tax loss prevented to the Dutch state revenue for the illegal production is estimated at over $7 million. europol.eu

ICSC sees 1.9% rise in holiday sales
The main trade group for shopping centers has added its holiday forecasts to the pool, projecting a 1.9% rise in spending to $862.2 billion. The average adult plans to spend $655 on holiday items, higher than 2019's spending, and 73% expect to spend the same or more this season, according to the annual survey from the International Council of Shopping Centers. ICSC also estimates that e-commerce sales will jump 25% this year. Additionally, the survey found 53% of consumers plan to use services like curbside pickup and click-and-collect. retaildive.com

Is the white-collar recession over?
The employment rate among Americans earning more than $60,000 a year had rebounded by September to within 1% of where it stood when the pandemic hit, according to tracktherecovery.org. But, in an illustration of the outsize impact the virus has had on low-wage earners, employment among those with annual incomes of less than $27,000 was still 17.5% lower by last month — and is almost 20% lower now. The key differentiator, according to The Washington Post, has been the ability to work from home, with just 18% of those from households earning less than $50,000 able to do so as of the spring. linkedin.com

LPF Announces Microsoft as Newest Doctorate Level Partner
The Loss Prevention Foundation (LPF) announced today that Microsoft has committed to joining the LPF as a Doctorate level partner. The Doctorate level partnership secures numerous certification course scholarships as well as, LPF memberships for Microsoft to distribute to LP/AP professionals.

“We’re pleased about working with the Loss Prevention Foundation. Educating Loss Prevention professionals on the most up to date tools available is at the forefront of the Microsoft fraud strategy. We feel invigorated that we can both participate in educating the industry as well as meet and network with amazing professionals.” said Sondra Feinberg, Global Fraud Lead at Microsoft Corp. yourlpf.org

Army: No requests made for use of troops around election

Ascena Is Selling the Justice Brand as Hundreds of Its Stores Shutter for Good

Bed Bath & Beyond to sell Christmas Tree Shops banner

LVMH to win EU antitrust approval for Tiffany deal: sources

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Interface Security Systems Promotes Brent Duncan to President and COO

Company sees 165% increase in new customer acquisitions under Duncan’s leadership as Chief Revenue Officer

Earth City, MO (October 14, 2020) - Interface Security Systems, a leading managed service provider delivering business security, managed network, UCaaS and business intelligence solutions to distributed enterprises, today announced the promotion of Brent Duncan to President and COO. Interface Security Systems is a portfolio company of SunTx Capital Partners and Prudential Capital Partners.

Since joining Interface in April 2019 as Chief Revenue Officer, Duncan has been instrumental in transforming the company’s go-to-market strategy. Under Duncan’s leadership, Interface expanded its service offerings to a wider range of verticals, launched new products and adapted existing products for new applications, formed new strategic partnerships, and increased their new customer acquisition by 165%, in spite of the global pandemic.

Brent will continue to lead the revenue organization while taking on the additional responsibility for the company’s operations functions, thus creating a structure where the entire sales process, services deployment, customer lifecycle support, governance and customer experience are all part of one unified team.

Interface is also in the process of making substantial investments in new product innovation, IT infrastructure and people

Michael Shaw, Chief Executive Officer of Interface, said, "This is a well-deserved promotion for Brent. He has demonstrated strong leadership skills and delivered outstanding results in the Chief Revenue Officer position over the past 18 months. Expanding Brent’s leadership role in the company achieves my vision for an executive team structure that will optimize the future success of the business. I am excited to be working with Brent and firmly believe that our best years are yet to come.”

"We believe Interface is uniquely positioned to help businesses integrate the management of their security, managed networks, and business intelligence. Doing this has always been important, but with the global health crisis it is even more important,” said Robert Derrick, Managing Director of Prudential Capital Partners. “We look forward to supporting Brent in his new role, and the entire Interface management team as they continue to focus on delivering the highest quality products and service to their customers.”

"Interface is unique in its ability to offer managed services that combine physical security and network infrastructure. We feel confident that Brent is the right leader to take Interface through this next phase of growth," said Ned Fleming, Founding Partner of SunTx Capital Partners.

“I’m honored to assume these additional responsibilities and am energized by the opportunities for us to grow our business. Working as true partners to our customers, we will continue to differentiate ourselves with our innovative technology, customized services and our philosophy of relentless customer support," added Brent Duncan, President and COO.

About Interface Security Systems
Interface Security Systems is a leading managed services provider delivering business security managed network, UCaaS and business intelligence solutions to distributed enterprises. We improve security, streamline connectivity, optimize operations, and reduce IT costs, maximizing ROI for the nation’s top brands. Learn more and follow us on our blog Making IT Happen and on LinkedIn.

RH-ISAC Offering 90-Day Complimentary Membership: Deadline is Oct. 31
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and in support of this global movement to encourage everyone to #BeCyberSmart, the RH-ISAC is excited to offer a 90-day complimentary membership for retail, travel, and hospitality companies to join our highly active intelligence and information sharing community.

This exclusive offer ends on October 31, so make sure to contact us today at membership@rhisac.org.

THANK YOU RH-ISAC Summit Attendees!
As the metaphorical dust settles from our first-ever virtual RH-ISAC Cyber Intelligence Summit, we want to thank each and every one of our members, staff, and sponsors! The RH-ISAC Summit was SOLD OUT this year, bringing in over 500 cybersecurity experts, 60+ speakers, 7 impactful keynotes, incredible breakout sessions, and the unique means of networking with peers!

If you weren't able to attend the 2020 RH-ISAC Summit, make sure to save the date for next years' RH-ISAC Cyber Intelligence Summit at the Lansdowne Resort & Spa in Leesburg, VA on September 28 - 29, 2021.

Employee Surveillance Gone Wrong:
A GDPR Case Study for Retailers Operating in Europe
Employee-Monitoring in Europe Comes Under Spotlight After H&M's $41M Fine

Companies have been using tech to watch their workers for a while, sometimes illegally. Some remote workers now report being tracked at home.

Hennes & Mauritz AB’s fashion retailer H&M faces a $41 million fine for having recorded personal details of the lives of employees at a German service center for several years, violating the European Union’s privacy rules. Managers at H&M’s service center in Nuremberg had access to troves of data about employees’ personal lives - their religion, health information and details about their families, the data protection regulator in Hamburg said this month after analyzing 60 gigabytes of stored data from the center.

Employee data can be a risk for companies because they might collect sensitive data about workers’ health situations, ethnicity or families, said Ann Bevitt, a partner in the London office of law firm Cooley LLP. Because some employees work for a company for several years, HR managers might keep that data for a long time, and destroying so much information could be a lot of work, she said.

Employee-monitoring appears to be up in recent years, Hamburg data protection regulator Johannes Caspar said, and his office has seen cases of data taken from car GPS systems and phones, or of screening workers’ emails. “In many cases, complainants do not wish us to open a formal investigation because they are in fear of losing their position.”

Employees working remotely during lockdowns have been reporting more incidents of being monitored over the last few months, she said. A call center employee working from home in Poland reported having her bathroom breaks timed, while contract workers for large technology companies in Europe said they were required to use webcams to show they were following rules on how to set up their home workspaces. wsj.com

Regulators Bring Down the Hammer on Citibank
Heads are going to roll & There will be blood

Risk Management Shortfalls Lead to $400 Million Citibank Fine
Federal Reserve Requires Bank's Board to Take Action

The Treasury Department's Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has hit Citibank with a $400 million fine for deficiencies in enterprisewide risk management, compliance risk management, data governance and internal controls.

OCC is also requiring Citibank to obtain its approval "before making significant new acquisitions." And it says it may "implement additional business restrictions or require changes in senior management and the bank's board should the bank not make timely, sufficient progress in complying with the order."

Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve Board is requiring Citigroup Inc. of New York City, which owns Citicorp, the holding company for Citibank, to submit within three months a plan to address deficiencies in the implementation and execution of "areas of risk management and internal controls, including for data quality management and regulatory reporting, compliance risk management, capital planning and liquidity risk management."

The Fed says Citigroup's plan to address deficiencies must cover actions the board will take to ensure senior management:

● Is held accountable for executing effective and sustainable remediation plans;

● Improves and maintains effective and independent enterprisewide risk management and makes sure that internal audit findings are effectively remediated;

● Earns incentive compensation that's consistent with risk management objectives and measurement standards; govinfosecurity.com

Editor's Note: While we don't usually include the banking industry, this case is such that we felt it important to share and show the extent regulators are going to rein in risk management and set an example of how serious and costly this has become.

Hey Investigators, Find Out How Europol is Training e-Commerce Cases
Take some advice from one of the world's best investigative teams

‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ But For Terror Attacks:
Game Trains Police To Get Facebook Data Fast

When a terrorist strikes, getting information fast from a tech giant can make the difference between police catching the suspects, or another attack taking place. That’s the premise of a new game created by Europol, the European body responsible for connecting the continent’s myriad policing agencies and helping them investigate major crimes.

Right now, police officers are often confused by the process. What data can they request from which provider? Can they retrieve any encrypted content from the likes of Apple or WhatsApp? What legal mechanisms should they be using? What’s the best language to use to ensure they get the information they want quickly?

The game, exclusively shown to Forbes ahead of its release to law enforcement partners and their 4,500 officers on Wednesday, hopes to make sure police know the answers to those when an emergency happens. It looks much like Who Wants To Be A Millionaire but crossed with a create your own adventure game and without the options of phoning a friend or asking the audience. forbes.com

Cybercrime: 12 Top Tactics and Trends

25% of BEC Cybercriminals Based in the US

Ransomware Gangs Turn to Outsourcers for Network Access

Join us for the Retail Loss Prevention Forum to find out the latest insights and strategies for retailers in a COVID world. Register now

COVID Update

More than 10 grocery stores, including Loblaws, No Frills & Sobeys, report COVID cases around Toronto
More employees working at grocery stores in the Toronto area have tested positive for COVID-19 over the Thanksgiving long weekend, adding to the increase of reported cases in the city.

Loblaws is reporting positive COVID-19 cases among employees across 14 of their GTA stores. Carlo’s No Frills has also reported more positive cases after having more than four in the last few weeks. Two more team members have tested positive, having last worked on October 3 and 6.

The grocer Sobeys has also reported a COVID-19 case at one of their locations near Toronto over the weekend. A few days before the Thanksgiving weekend, Metro also reported several more employee-related cases on October 7 and 8.

In an effort for transparency, Loblaws regularly updates their coronavirus cases in stores by province within the last 15 days, as well as Sobey’s within 14 days. dailyhive.com 680news.com

Retail Workers Call in Sick as COVID Fears Rise Again
Rising COVID-19 numbers in Canada prompt calls to bring back hazard pay
for retail workers
Calls for the return of hazard pay are growing as workers on the front lines of Canada's retail industry grow increasingly anxious amid rising COVID-19 cases. While some companies offered so-called hero pay to essential workers at the outset of the pandemic, most wage premiums ended as the first wave ebbed.

Yet retail workers say morale is lagging as COVID-19 cases spike across much of the country. Without a pay bump that recognizes the risk of working during a pandemic, they say workers are increasingly calling in sick — leaving fewer staff to enforce rules around mask-wearing and physical distancing.

Some companies have preemptively addressed the issue. Lowe's Canada said this week it plans to pay a discretionary bonus to all eligible Lowe's, Rona and Reno-Depot workers. The Home Depot Canada said it has implemented paid sick leave benefits and is providing workers with an ongoing weekly bonus — $100 for full-time workers and $50 for part-time workers.

Meanwhile, Chapman's Ice Cream in Markdale, Ont., recently made its $2 an hour pandemic pay raise permanent. cbc.ca

Online Orders Triple in Some Regions During Pandemic
Walmart Canada is hiring 10,000 workers immediately in e-commerce retail boom
Since the pandemic, Walmart Canada has doubled or tripled its online orders in some regions. Walmart has seen the same trend in the United States, reporting in May a 74 per cent increase in e-commerce business. financialpost.com

Pop-Up Retail in Canada Grows Significantly Amid COVID-19: Experts
“Rising consumer real estate vacancy levels in the age of COVID-19 are providing opportunities for retailers and foodservice professionals to test-drive new product and menu offerings on a short-term basis in a low-risk commercial environment." retail-insider.com

Luxury Apparel Retail in Canada Expected to Slow Amid Pandemic: Expert

Amazon Canada Under Scrutiny

Amazon Canada Under Investigation
OPINION: The Canadian Competition Bureau’s investigation of Amazon is long overdue — and the online retailer is still growing at a blistering pace
Long overdue, Canada’s Competition Bureau has launched an investigation of Amazon, looking at potential “abuse of dominance” in the Canadian marketplace.

The Competition Bureau highlighted three areas of interest for its inquiry. The first two are related to third-party sellers’ who use Amazon’s platform. Specifically, the regulator investigates whether Amazon had policies in place that would assure that third-party sellers aren’t selling their products at a lower price elsewhere, including on their own websites or other online marketplaces.

The second area is an examination of the ability of third-party sellers to succeed on Amazon’s marketplace without using its “Fulfilment by Amazon” service or advertising on Amazon.ca.

The third area which the Competition Bureau is investigating is more general and considers “any efforts or strategies by Amazon that may influence consumers to purchase products it offers for sale over those offered by competing sellers.” thestar.com

Some Amazon Canada Returns Destroyed or Sent to Landfills
Hidden cameras and secret trackers reveal where Amazon returns end up
A Marketplace investigation into Amazon Canada has found that perfectly good items are being liquidated by the truckload — and even destroyed or sent to landfill. Experts say hundreds of thousands of returns don't end up back on the e-commerce giant's website for resale, as customers might think.

Marketplace journalists posing as potential new clients went undercover for a tour at a Toronto e-waste recycling and product destruction facility with hidden cameras. During that meeting, a representative revealed they get "tons and tons of Amazon returns," and that every week their facility breaks apart and shreds at least one tractor-trailer load of Amazon returns, sometimes even up to three to five truckloads.

"Some of it will go into landfill," said the operations manager. "Like, nothing 100 per cent goes into recycling. It just is not possible." cbc.ca

Head of private security firm pleads guilty to submitting forged $25K IOU to court
Robin St. Martin, the president of a large Ottawa-based private security firm, has pleaded guilty to knowingly passing on a forged document after he submitted a fake IOU for almost $25,000 as part of a small claims lawsuit against a former employee.

Yates said St. Martin also sent her abusive emails, including one suggesting she make pornographic films in order to pay off her debt to him.

Iron Horse Security employs more than 1,800 people and lists security guards and private investigators among its services. It currently has contracts to provide protection services to Parliament Hill. cbc.ca

Hudson's Bay Evicted from Malls, Banana Republic Shutters on Bloor

(Update) Toronto, ON: 2 men charged in connection with fatal shooting in Walmart parking lot
Two men have been arrested in connection with a shooting death that took place in The Junction neighbourhood last month, Toronto police said Friday night. The shooting occurred on Sept. 10 in the area of St. Clair Avenue West and Mould Avenue shortly before 2 p.m. Officers found a man suffering from gunshot wounds in the parking lot of a Walmart. Walmart confirmed to CBC News last month that the shooting did occur in the parking lot of the company's Stockyards store. cbc.ca

Thief Sets Fire to Walmart to Distract from Electronics Theft
Campbell River, BC: Man arrested after fire heist causes 'millions of dollars' in damage to Campbell River Walmart
A 27-year-old man is in custody following an allegedly intentionally set fire and heist at a Walmart in Campbell River last week. Campbell River RCMP say that thousands of dollars worth of electronics, including phones and iPads, were stolen as the store was being evacuated due to the fire. Police are warning islanders to be wary of buying any electronics online if a deal seems “too good to be true,” as items like phones and tablets can be disabled by manufacturers if they are reported stolen. ctvnews.ca

Video captures firework attack on worker at Peel gas station

Canadian Bitcoin ATM Thieves Damage Deli in Poorly-Executed Operation

Airdrie RCMP investigating liquor store theft

Robberies & Burglaries

● C-Store - Halifax, NS - Robbery
● C-Store - Windsor, ON - Armed Robbery
● C-Store - Oshawa, ON - Armed Robbery
● Shoppers Drug Mart - Oshawa, ON - Robbery
● Unnamed Store - Regina, SK - Armed Robberies

How are we doing? We need your input & suggestions. Send to lpnews@d-ddaily.net

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Prime Day Spurs COVID Fears in Amazon Warehouses
COVID-19 a concern as Amazon warehouses prepare for Prime Day, holidays
Amazon’s massive Shakopee warehouse is gearing up for Prime Day on Tuesday and Wednesday, which will lead into what most predict will be a busier-than-normal holiday season for online retailers.

But as business picks up, Amazon and other distribution operations will also have the added responsibility of trying to keep their employees safe from contracting the coronavirus. Deemed essential operations, most of these centers have been open throughout the pandemic, putting in place measures meant to stem the spread of the virus.

Already, more than 200 of its employees in Shakopee, where it has a fulfillment center with more than 1,500 full-time employees and a smaller nearby sorting center, have tested positive. Some staff members recently walked off the job after a worker, who said she tested positive for COVID-19 during the summer, was reportedly fired for “time off task” violations.

Amazon has decided to self-report positive cases across its operations. Earlier this month, the company said nearly 32 out of every 1,000 Amazon workers in Minnesota, which includes its Whole Foods Market front-line employees, have tested positive or been presumed positive for COVID-19, the highest rate out of any state.

The case rate for Amazon workers across the country is lower than the case rate for the general population, according to Amazon’s data. However, in Minnesota the Amazon case rate is double the state case rate for the general population. startribune.com

Amazon Prime Day 2020: Beware of these online shopping scams
Here are some warnings of online shopping scams that can help on Amazon Prime Day — which runs Tuesday and Wednesday — and through the holidays.

Don't believe it's necessarily your bank, Amazon or FedEx that's reaching out to you
While some departments at Amazon will call customers, the company said they're never going to ask you to disclose sensitive personal information or offer you a refund that you do not expect.

Ask yourself: Does this make sense?
Why, really, would Amazon be requesting your bank account number or your Tax ID? Yet that's just what scammers might request here.

Be careful how you pay when you shop online
Red flags of a scam include requests that you send money via wire transfer; CashApp; PayPal; prepaid debit cards, such as MoneyPak; or gift cards, like Best Buy and others.

Know who you're really dealing with - Do not rush freep.com

The Surge in E-Commerce Is Stressing Warehouses. That Is Promising for Honeywell.

CA Prop 20: Crime crackdown

Proposition 20 offers a mix of policies meant to make state laws tougher on crime. If passed, there are three main things it would amend in the state constitution:

1. Increase penalties for some kinds of stealing

2. Make it harder for people to get out of prison on supervised release

3. Require the government to collect DNA samples in more criminal cases

Just six years ago, Californians voted to reduce punishments for some types of stealing. Voters set the bar at $950. If the crime is under the $950 level, the charges are usually petty theft and a misdemeanor. If the crime is more than $950, it could mean felony charges.

That distinction can mean the difference between a few months in the county jail or a few years in state prison. The approval of Proposition 20 would allow felony punishment for stealing as little as $250 dollars or property. Specifically, this proposition creates two new theft-related crimes:

● Serial Theft - which is stealing after you already have two prior thefts involving property worth more than $250.

● Organized Retail Theft - which is repeat group shoplifting where more than $250 in property is stolen within 180 days.

Courts have the option to punish these cases as felonies or misdemeanors. It would add several more crimes to the state’s list of “violent crimes” that disqualify inmates for early release. Proposition 20’s list includes things like date rape, types of assault, and domestic violence.

Inmates who apply and are rejected for early release would also have to wait two years to reapply under Proposition 20, instead of the current one year. The DNA samples would be collected from people convicted of specified misdemeanors for the state database. Find more background about this proposition as well as opinions from both sides on the California Voter Guide or on your local voter guide.

What does a YES vote on Prop 20 mean?

A yes vote enacts the whole slate of changes to toughen California’s criminal laws.

What does a NO vote on Prop 20 mean?

A no vote rejects any changes to the existing laws. cbs8.com

Edinboro, PA: 2 Arrested After Shoplifting Incident Leads to Mobile Meth Lab Bust in Edinboro
Pennsylvania State Police say three people were involved in a shoplifting incident that led to the discovery of an inactive methamphetamine lab Sunday at the Walmart. in Washington Township. According to State Police, Troopers responded to the Edinboro Walmart for a report of a retail theft in progress. The report provided a description of the vehicle the suspects were driving. The vehicle and the three suspects were found a short time later across from Walmart. Police questioned the suspects and determined that the female 24, was the main suspect in the shoplifting incident. The two males involved were identified and during questioning, police observed a clear plastic bag containing white residue sticking out of his pocket. He admitted the substance was methamphetamine. Police then conducted a search of the vehicle which led to the discovery of an inactive meth lab in a backpack in the rear of the vehicle. erienewsnow.com

Chicago, IL: Police seeking male suspect in $1200 CVS theft

Hamden, CT: Man tried to steal $700 worth of items from Home Depot, attacked security officer

Davidson County, TN: Man uses ID at Cash America Pawn to sell nearly $500 of stolen items from Home Depot

Chicago, IL: Couple charged in $500 Theft from Walgreens

Joliet, IL: Female Shoplifter/ Refund Fraud suspect busted at Jewel-Osco; prior thefts at Menard’s, Meijer and Walmart

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Shootings & Deaths

Lauderhill, FL: One dead in overnight shooting at a Broward County strip mall
A man was found shot to death in the parking lot of the Inverness Plaza just before 3 a.m. Tuesday, Lauderhill police say. A security guard told police he called 911 after hearing gunshots at the strip mall in the 5500 block of West Oakland Park Boulevard. So far, police haven’t located witnesses or possible shooters. miamiherald.com

Update: Nashville, TN: $100K bond set for teen charged with attempted murder
in Opry Mills Mall shooting
The case against the Lebanon teenager accused of shooting and critically wounding a man inside Opry Mills Mall last month has been bound over to the grand jury. Juwan Gaines, 19, appeared before Davidson County General Sessions Judge Lynda Jones Tuesday morning for a preliminary hearing. During the hearing, the judge set bond for Gaines at $100,000 on his attempted murder charge. His bond was already $30,000 on the other two charges he faces — reckless endangerment and using a gun in the commission of a dangerous felony. Metro police said Gaines opened fire inside Opry Mills Mall on the night of Sept. 30, striking a 19-year-old man in the upper chest. The victim was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition. wkrn.com

Sao Paulo, Brazil: Shop owner shoots dead THREE robbers after fearlessly facing down gun-wielding crook as the gang tried to rob his clothes store

Richardson, TX: Texas Gun Store Owner Fakes Heart Trouble To Access Gun, Shoots Robber

Robberies, Incidents & Thefts

Augusta, GA: Suspect sought in Armed Robberies at 4 local convenience stores
Four convenience store robberies in Aiken and Richmond counties were apparently masterminded by the same man, the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office says. According to officials, deputies continue to investigate a Sept. 24 and Oct. 8 armed robbery at two Circle K stores in Aiken. In both instances, the masked suspect entered the store armed with a handgun, demanded money, and also asked the employees to open the store safes. Two other incidents on Barton Chapel Road and Wrightsboro Road are believed to be connected to this same suspect. wrdw.com

Katy, TX: Police officer accused of stealing from Walmart 14 times while on duty
Investigators said Billy Allen Hammack was on duty and in uniform when he stole from the store at least 14 times in a one-month period. Investigators say Billy Hammack stole everything from Hot Pockets to hand sanitizer to cheap men’s cologne while he was in uniform. Hammack is charged with theft by a public servant and has been fired from his job with the Katy Police Department. thv11.com

Columbia, SC: Deputies arrest man for stealing a car battery from Walmart, threatening store employee with a Knife

	Brian Morff named Loss Prevention Manager for Amazon
	Earnest Stewart, CFI promoted to Loss Prevention Site Lead for Amazon

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Surveys show that happiness at work significantly improves performance and productivity. It translates into higher energy levels, better reviews, faster promotions, higher wages, better health and overall a better environment. While it shouldn't be surprising it often times needs to be remembered. When fellow executives are unhappy for long periods or with their co-workers it needs to be addressed because productivity and overall team health will suffer. Attitudes are contagious and happier teams produce more and have better results. Is your team happy?

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