Join the NRF in Pushing for Congressional Action on ORC & Theft

As a reminder, Wednesday, October 26 is Fight Retail Crime Day in Washington, D.C.! Join with the National Retail Federation (NRF) in pushing for congressional action this fall on the retail industry's top two priorities to address organized retail crime and theft.

Taking action only takes one minute - add your voice along with thousands of retail professionals, and tell Congress to act on our top two priorities. Click here to take action.

NRF's priorities include:

• INFORM Consumers Act (S.936/H.R. 5502): Requires online marketplaces to verify the identity of high-volume third-party sellers to help curb the sale of stolen and counterfeit merchandise. NRF supports inclusion of the INFORM Act in the pending Senate National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) manager's amendment.

• Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act (S.5046/H.R. 9177): Establishes a new Organized Retail Crime Coordination Center that will help federal, state and local law enforcements agencies better coordinate to effectively combat criminal activities. Recently introduced in both chambers of Congress, NRF is advocating for additional cosponsors.

We invite you to share this information widely with your colleagues and networks. Every voice counts.

Click here to contact your member of congress independently
 

ORC Legislation Gaining Momentum in Congress
'Cracking Down': Lawmakers Unveil Bills To Combat Organized Retail Theft
Members of Congress have introduced legislation to combat organized retail theft as sophisticated criminal enterprises resell items and increase costs for businesses.

Lawmakers are advancing the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act and the INFORM Consumers Act.

The former bill would establish the Organized Retail Crime Coordination Center at Homeland Security Investigations, thereby launching a joint effort among law enforcement agencies and retail industry representatives to "create a cohesive national strategy and curb organized retail crime," according to a statement from Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO).

The latter bill would target the reselling of stolen goods by requiring verification of "high-volume third-party sellers in online retail marketplaces" such as eBay and Facebook Marketplace, according to a press release from Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL).

National Retail Federation Vice President of Government Relations Jason Straczweski said during an interview with The Daily Wire that criminal enterprises "are able to recruit individuals to steal very specific items in large quantities from multiple locations throughout a time period, including across state lines" before the items are resold online, at flea markets, or at street corner stores. The introduction of face masks and rapid growth of e-commerce since the spring of 2020 have facilitated retail theft.

The thefts correspond with efforts from many progressive city officials to decrease prosecution of minor crimes. In Philadelphia, where convenience chain Wawa recently announced the closure of two stores after dozens of young people ransacked a location in the northeastern portion of the city, District Attorney Larry Krasner has prioritized relaxing bail policies.

Some states have explicitly decriminalized shoplifting in recent years. California, for instance, passed a ballot measure in 2014 that prescribed misdemeanor penalties to nonviolent property crimes where the value in question does not exceed $950. dailywire.com
 
Wawa Considering Ditching Philadelphia Altogether Over Crime
Wawa Closing 9 Philadelphia-Area Stores Due To Robberies, Rising Crime

Wawa announced it is closing several stores overnight in suburban Philadelphia because of skyrocketing crime in the city.

The gas station and convenience store chain plans to close overnight at a total of nine stores in Northeast Philadelphia and the Bucks County suburbs, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. The stores will be closed from midnight to 5 a.m. until further notice. The decision to close the stores comes after two stores were robbed earlier this week, and as Wawa reportedly mulls pulling out of Philadelphia altogether because of the crime problem.

Two of the stores that will begin shutting their doors are in Northeast Philadelphia. The others are all located in the Bucks County suburbs: two of them are in Bensalem, which directly borders the city; four are located in the town of Feasterville-Trevose, and one is located in nearby Holland.

Wawa has a presence on much of the East Coast, with locations in seven states, but it is headquartered in Pennsylvania, and is a cultural cornerstone in the Philadelphia area. But the chain is reportedly considering moving out of the area altogether as crime continues to soar in the city. Last month, a mob of more than 100 teenagers ransacked a store in Northeast Philadelphia; a video of the incident went viral, showing the teens milling through the store and taking merchandise while a customer asks the staff, "Are y'all gonna make any sandwiches? Or are y'all just going to keep recording?"

That incident, combined with an uptick in crime across the city, forced the chain to close two of its stores in Center City, the central neighborhood and business district of Philadelphia. "Despite reducing hours and investing in additional operational measures, continued safety and security challenges and business factors have made it increasingly difficult to remain open in these two locations," Wawa spokeswoman Lori Bruce told the Philadelphia Inquirer. dailywire.com

Walmart Throws the Book at Shoplifters
'I'm a criminal defense lawyer - Walmart over-zealously pursues shoplifters and it's easier than you think to go to jail'
Some dishonest Walmart shoppers may try to cheat the store's security by stealing from self checkout or brazenly shoplifting. But one lawyer has warned that the company takes theft incredibly seriously - and the punishment could be severe.

Criminal Defense Attorney Ralph Manginello has given details on what to do in this instance, and it may surprise you how easy it is to get caught: "If you're caught shoplifting from Walmart in Texas, you may face criminal theft charges," the lawyer said in a video on the Attorney 911 law site.

Manginello says states like Texas roll shoplifting, embezzlement, extortion, and the receipt of stolen property all into the same theft prosecution.

Does Walmart Call Authorities on Shoplifters?

Shoplifting procedures can vary from Walmart to Walmart, the store will "often call the cops for shoplifting offenses," Manginello said. "If you're caught shoplifting from Walmart, a loss prevention officer may reasonably detain you at the store, until the police arrive."

When the police arrive, the attorney said it is common for the shoplifter to be placed under arrest.

Will Walmart Rollback Theft Charges?

Criminal Defense Attorney Manginello pressed that while it is possible the big-box giant can drop theft charges, "you shouldn't count on it," as "some Walmarts are notorious for over-zealously pursuing even minor shoplifting charges."

Should You Lawyer-Up After Shoplifting?  the-sun.com

Another California City Overwhelmed by Retail Crime
Retail, commercial crime 'totally gotten out of control': Calif. city mulls options to curb offenses

Proposed changes include adding some detectives focused on retail and commercial crimes to a unit focused on quality-of-life problems

Lower-level crimes aren't classified as serious felonies - such as murders and sex crimes - but their effects are no less detrimental on a business's bottom line.

Local retail and commercial establishments have been flooded with those repeatedly committing various crimes, which led the Bakersfield City Council to ponder solutions to stop offenders. Discussions during the meeting included creating a specialized team in the Bakersfield Police Department targeting retail and commercial crimes and creating a court program for lower-level offenders to get help.

A SPECIALIZED GROUP

Proposed changes in the BPD include adding some detectives focused on retail and commercial crimes to a unit focused on quality-of-life problems. Terry said 13 officers across three teams, called the impact team, focus on homelessness and crimes such as vandalism and loitering.

Experienced detectives could be housed within the impact team, Terry said. An organized retail theft group currently exists, but an impact team funnels more resources to stem these kinds of crimes, he added.

Terry added partnerships and increased resources will deter criminals targeting retailers, small businesses, construction sites and residential developers. Crimes affecting these places include illegal dumping, burglaries and theft. police1.com

UK Retail & Law Enforcement Team Up to Fight Violence & Theft
Pioneering scheme launched in Portsmouth to curb shoplifting, violence and abuse in shops by working with prolific offenders

A unique scheme that is the first of its type in the country has been launched to curb shoplifting, violence and abuse in shops by working with prolific offenders.

The new approach is being tested in Portsmouth after The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Portsmouth City Council, Southern Co-op, the Society of St James and Hampshire Constabulary joined forces.

Together they hope to drive down retail crime through intervention as part of the £67,000 scheme that will run for two years. The pioneering approach will have a post holder, called a Navigator, who works with the police, probation, council and prison service to identify the most notorious offenders.

These people are known for offences often including assault, shoplifting, anti-social behaviour, begging and criminal damage. The Navigator will build a relationship with offenders ready to break free from their criminal cycle. They will then receive access to intensive and targeted intervention to stop their offending behaviour.

Help with addiction, housing, poverty or diversion from crime through therapeutic sports programmes or paid work are ways offenders will be supported. Southern Co-op originally pitched the idea. Gareth Lewis, security manager at Southern Co-op which runs retail, coffee and funeral care in the city, said the project was 'unique with there no other scheme like it in the country'. portsmouth.co.uk

Downtown Minneapolis Target Fights ORC
Target locks toiletries in cases at downtown store to prevent organized crime
If you're shopping for toiletries at the Minneapolis downtown Target, you might need to find an attendant to help you.

"We take a multi-layered approach to combatting theft, which includes in-store technology, training for store leaders and security team members, and partnerships with law enforcement agencies as well as retail trade associations. On a limited basis, we also employ theft-deterrent merchandising strategies, such as locking cases, for categories that are prone to theft," Target said in a statement to WCCO.

The retail industry is battling what's being called organized retail crime - thieves running off with everything on the shelf, then turning around and selling the products online.

Target and many other retailers are now asking Congress to get involved to add those checks and balances. According to Minneapolis Police, off-duty officers working for Target have called on-duty police 96 times this year to report thefts. cbsnews.com

Disgruntled Ex-Security Worker Kills Company Owner
Security Company Owner Murdered by Fired Employee
The Arapahoe County Coroner's office confirmed with FOX31 the death of 52-year-old Marvin Johnson, who they say died by homicide Thursday night. Johnson, who owned a security company in the area, loved his family, his community, and his country.

The shooting happened near the Raytheon complex on Thursday night in Aurora. Officials with the Aurora Police Department said they got a call for someone trespassing at 7 p.m. Thursday. As they got on the scene, another call came in about a shooting at the same location.

Police said 35-year-old Lloyd Love was the alleged gunman. Alongside SWAT officers, police arrested him after a traffic stop not long after the shooting. Love worked for Johnson at American Eagle Protective Services. Police say Love was terminated but do not know why.

Love already had three open criminal cases in Colorado. This includes one where a judge issued him a personal recognizance bond. They are basically signature bonds that do not involve money or property, so long as a defendant appears in court.  privateofficerbreakingnews.blogspot.com

UNC expert discusses long-term mental health impacts of mass shooting

5 shot, 3 killed in mass shooting during 100 car caravan on Chicago's Southwest Side

US: 99M Cases - 1M Dead - 96.5M Recovered
Worldwide: 632.9M Cases - 6.5M Dead - 611.9M Recovered

Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 362  
Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: 813

The California's Bay Area COVID Exodus
Bay Area exodus: Median income drops as wealthy residents move out
New census data is shining more light on the Bay Area's pandemic exodus: The region saw the largest drop in median income of any big U.S. metro area as wealthy people moved away - and current residents of all incomes are more likely to relocate soon than in any other major population center.

Steve Levy, director of the Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy in Palo Alto, said the decline was likely in large part due to the trend toward remote work and high-paid Bay Area tech industry workers - picking up and moving out, often to less-expensive areas offering a different lifestyle, like hotspots Sacramento and Boise, Idaho.

Silicon Valley tech giants also closed local offices, and some such as Oracle, Hewlett Packard and Tesla, moved their headquarters out of state. All three companies relocated to Texas during the pandemic.

In 2021, the San Francisco metro area lost more than 116,000 residents, or 2.5% of its population, according to census data. The San Jose area also lost tens of thousands of residents. More people moved away, but a decrease in births, an increase in deaths and fewer people migrating to the region during COVID-19 were also factors.

The biggest losers after San Francisco were: New York (-4.2% to $84,409), Houston (-3.3% to $70,893) and Chicago (-2.2% to $78,166). mercurynews.com

Long COVID: The Latest Workplace Concern
Millions of workers are dealing with long COVID
Sixteen million people of working age in the U.S. suffer with long COVID and of those, from 2 to 4 million people were unemployed in June and July, according to an August 2022 Brookings Institution report, which analyzes Census Bureau survey information. It's one of numerous papers, surveys, and studies attempting to assess the effect of long COVID on workers, businesses and the overall economy.

The unemployment of so many Americans with long COVID, a lack of a social safety net for many of them, and a labor market that is beginning to turn in favor of employers could collide to create wider economic problems, some economic experts say.

The cost in lost wages has already been great. The Brookings Institution report puts the amount between $170 billion to $230 billion a year. And a National Bureau of Economic Research paper published in September found that workers with COVID-19 absences could see their earnings fall by about $9,000 in the 14 months afterward. newjerseymonitor.com

China Imposes Covid Curbs in Center of Factory Hub Guangzhou
China suspended in-person schooling and dining-in at restaurants in a district at the center of Guangzhou, stoking concerns about the potential for disruption in the southern Chinese manufacturing hub that's home to about 19 million people.

All primary and middle schools in Haizhu district, where about 10% of the city's total population lives, will halt in-person lessons from Monday. The restrictions come more than a week after Huadu district shut entertainment venues and schools and, while a small number of neighborhoods were allowed to ease curbs on Sunday, most of the area remains subject to control measures. Guangzhou reported 69 new infections for Sunday. bloomberg.com

Office workers embrace hybrid working as post-pandemic norm

Former NY Gov. Cuomo says remote work is hurting big cities

Facial Recognition's Global Expansion - Regulators Attempt to Catch Up
Australia: Business racing to use facial recognition technology, raising concerns the law is too slow to catch up
The rollout of facial recognition technology in all New South Wales pubs and clubs shows how business is forging ahead collecting biometric information before the law has had a chance to catch up, experts warn.

The NSW government this week introduced new laws allowing the use of facial recognition throughout pubs and clubs, despite not yet developing rules to guide the rollout.

A spokesperson said the scheme would be "compliant" with the Privacy Act and the Australian privacy principles, and "contain strict safeguards for the use and disclosure of biometric data".

While the federal Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) enforces the Privacy Act, experts say that the expanding use of facial recognition technology in Australia is "deeply concerning", and that current laws weren't designed to deal with it.

Earlier this year retailers Bunnings and Kmart announced they would halt the use of facial recognition technology in stores after an investigation by Choice found the firms were using the technology for "security and theft prevention".

Despite Clubs saying the technology in this case was being employed as a harm-reduction measure, Bower said the lack of transparency around its use meant it was impossible to know what safeguards were in place.

Under the model law, companies or government agencies which use facial recognition technology would need to assess the human rights risk, and show why the technology was necessary.  theguardian.com
 
First Home Depot, Now Lowe's Faces Union Push
Lowe's faces organization effort as US unionization movement spreads

Workers at Lowe's and the chain's top rival, Home Depot, push to unionize their companies' first US stores despite challenges

Lowe's, the American big box home improvement chain, is facing an effort to form the company's first US union in New Orleans, Louisiana, where 172 workers, under the banner of Lowe's Workers United, recently filed a petition for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

Lowe's operates or services about 2,000 stores in the US and Canada with more than 300,000 full and part-time employees, and has aggressively opposed unionization efforts. The company has staffed union avoidance investigators, developed anti-union training videos for employees, and lost a case in 2021 at the NLRB over a company policy that prohibited employees from discussing wages.

The union talk started earlier this year with co-workers. They've been galvanized by similar campaigns at Starbucks and Amazon, which have come to symbolize a rejuvenated US labor movement.

Allen said grievances include heat stress, not being able to take adequate water breaks, scheduling issues, lagging wages, as well as understaffing and aggressive customers as a result. theguardian.com

   RELATED: Amazon & Starbucks Votes Show Workers Are Ambivalent About Unions

Is the Union Effort Finally Tapering Off?
Starbucks Showdown in Boston Points to New Phase of Union Campaign

The company moved to contain the labor push after it took off nationally. Now, with strikes and other tactics, organizers seek to regain momentum.

When workers at three Buffalo-area locations filed for union elections in August 2021, it appeared to catch the company off guard. The campaign spread rapidly, unionizing roughly 250 stores.

But election filings dropped from about 70 in March to under 10 in August, ushering in a second phase of the campaign: an uneasy stalemate in which organizers struggled to sign up new stores even as the company was hard-pressed to reverse their gains.

That has led to a third phase of the campaign, in which the union, Workers United, has stepped up efforts to win concessions from the company through collective bargaining, which is scheduled for the coming weeks.

Some of the concessions sought by the union, like a commitment by the company to stay neutral in future elections, could make it easier for workers to unionize. Others, like paid leave tied to a pandemic, which the company has discontinued, could encourage more workers to join the union by showing it can deliver concrete benefits.

But to win such concessions and greatly expand the union's reach, labor experts say, supporters will almost certainly have to increase pressure on the company, through strikes or other means. nytimes.com

Big retailers like Macy's are cutting back hiring plans amid inflation & recession fears
People looking for an extra holiday paycheck are ready lining up for seasonal work. This year, companies are hesitant to bring on more workers amid inflation and recession fears.

Phillips 66 deploys autonomous cleaning robots

The death of the American shopping mall - in pictures


Last week's #1 article --

FedEx Shooting-Security Lawsuit
Judge dismisses families' lawsuit against FedEx over deadly mass shooting

The judge did not dismiss the part of the lawsuit against the security company, Securitas Security Services, USA.

A judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by the families of five victims of the FedEx mass shooting in Indianapolis against the company. The judge did not dismiss the part of the lawsuit against the security company, Securitas Security Services, USA.

Securitas filed a response to the lawsuit on June 13, 2022. It said it did provide guard services at the facility, but basically denies responsibility for the deaths and shootings.

The mass shooting happened April 15, 2021, at a FedEx Ground facility. Eight people were shot and killed. The families that filed the lawsuit were all of victims who were not clocked in and working at the time of the shooting. wthr.com