Fight Retail Crime Day comes to Capitol Hill

Lawmakers show support for legislative solutions to fight retail crime

Retail crime is on the rise, threatening retailers, their customers and the communities they serve. That’s why the National Retail Federation named October 26 as Fight Retail Crime Day to highlight the need for swift and comprehensive action by Congress to address the growing incidence of these crimes.

On Fight Retail Crime Day, NRF activated our grassroots network to highlight 2 ways Congress can fight retail crime by acting on legislative measures including the INFORM Act to curb the sale of stolen goods online and the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act to increase federal coordination to fight crime. In just one day, retail advocates sent over 800 messages to 220 members of Congress.

NRF also recognized nearly 100 lawmakers as Retail Crime Fighters for their support of retail’s crime fighting priorities and encouraged them to share their commitment to fighting retail crime with their constituents on social media.

Curbing the sale of stolen goods online

Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., one of the lead sponsors of the INFORM Act, shared, “I’m proud to be leading efforts to protect consumers by pushing for passage of our INFORM Consumers Act.” The INFORM Act would curb the sale of counterfeit goods by requiring online marketplaces to verify the identity of high-volume third-party sellers. “This bipartisan bill will help safeguard online users & legit businesses from organized retail crime through increased verification & transparency,” he said.

Another INFORM Act cosponsor, Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., shared, “I’m proud to be recognized as a Retail Crime Fighter on Fight Retail Crime Day.” Garbarino noted incidents of retail crime in his district, saying, “recent smash and grab robberies have plagued businesses across Long Island and NYC.”

Improving coordinated response to retail crime

NRF also advocated for the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act on Fight Retail Crime Day. This bill 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. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., one of the bill’s lead sponsors in the House of Representatives, said the bill “will improve our federal response and establish new tools to recover goods and illicit proceeds, deterring future attacks on U.S. retailers.”

Additional legislative solutions to fight retail crime

Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., is another member of Congress shaping the debate on retail crime. NRF supports the Improving Federal Investigations of Organized Retail Crime Act introduced by Kim. “Retail crimes endanger entrepreneurs, employees and customers alike,” Kim said. “In my district, we see another business victimized nearly every week. People want safe communities to help address these crimes and I will keep working hard to support our entrepreneurs chasing their dream, creating jobs and strengthening our local economies.”

Fight Retail Crime Day may be over, but it’s not too late to take a stand against retail crime. Stay involved by participating in NRF’s grassroots campaign.

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Greeters, Barriers & Store Layouts: Simple Solutions to Retail Crime Surge
A simple 'hello' could help tackle retail crime, says new police unit
A simple ‘hello’ may stop thieves in their tracks, according to a retail crime prevention expert who says small businesses need to get creative about how they thwart thefts and ramraids.

“We know this from speaking to offenders, that if they’re greeted at the door it has a large deterrent effect on them,” says Matthew Tierney, manager of the police’s National Retail Investigation Support Unit. “There are several companies out there now who employ people solely to meet and greet with exactly that purpose in mind.”

This sort of out-of-the-box thinking is part of the overview approach taken by the unit, which was set up last November in response to pleas from the retail sector.

A major focus for retailers is preventing ramraids, where stolen cars are used to smash through shopfronts so burglaries can be carried out. It’s a violent trend that’s become popular amongst young offenders who post their criminal exploits on social media.

Bollards are one of the most effective deterrents, although they’re not always possible because of other services on the footpath. Another option for preventing ramraids is to design buildings so that shop floors are two or three steps above pavement level, which means “that you can’t get a car in, because it’s too high”.

Tierney says fog cannons also help, although they’re an expensive option, and CCTV is useful if would-be offenders can see that their movements are being caught on camera. “Store design can be a big thing as well, around black spots within stores, or areas that offenders can hide in.”

It’s also important, Tierney says, to make sure staff are engaged and feel safe. “Staff are scared, worried about situations and what could happen,” he says.

“So probably the key takeaway at this point in time would be to invest the time in your staff, and invest time in training them, running scenarios.” stuff.co.nz

In Case You Missed It

DHS Partners with Retail Industry to Wage War on ORC
CLEAR, NRF, RILA and others partner with the feds to battle ORC

Homeland Security Investigations launches Operation Boiling Point

Operations takes aim at organized theft groups through industry partnerships and consumer awareness

WASHINGTON - Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) announced today the launch of Operation Boiling Point focused on combating organized theft groups (OTG) through the targeting of domestic and transnational criminal organizations (TCO) profiting from organized retail crime (ORC). Partnering with federal, state, local law enforcement and prosecutors, as well as financial, retail, freight transportation, and other industries Operation Boiling Point provides a multi-faceted approach to disrupt and dismantle OTGs through partnerships, investigations, and consumer awareness.

Operation Boiling Point is Homeland Security Investigations' (HSI) response to OTGs profiting from ORC, cargo theft and other theft-related crimes that threaten the economy and security of the United States. HSI's strong partnership with private industry groups, such as the Coalition of Law Enforcement and Retail (CLEAR), the National Retail Federation (NRF), the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) and others, are critical to our efforts to combat OTGs who seek to disrupt interstate and foreign commerce.

Operation Boiling Point NRF Briefing

On Oct. 28, NRF hosted a member briefing by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) at the Department of Homeland Security on its new Operation Boiling Point initiative, which is focused on coordinating federal, state and local law enforcement and private-sector investigative activities to combat organized retail crime. For more information on how to engage with HSI on this initiative, retailers can reach out to them directly at CombatOTGs@hsi.dhs.gov. ice.gov

Click here to read the Daily's initial reporting on 'Operation Boiling Point'

Tops Worker Tensions Remain High Months After Buffalo Shooting
Buffalo grocery store president speaks out after massacre as tensions rise with some workers
In an interview with ABC News, Tops Friendly Markets president John Persons opened up about his company's response to the massacre and the challenges of opening the store targeted in one of the most underdeveloped neighborhoods in Buffalo, and reopening it in the aftermath of the rampage.

Tensions have arisen in particular over a compensation fund that gives different amounts of money to people depending on whether they are family of people who died or workers who were present at the time. And some loved ones of those killed say that the company has not done enough to help them.

Tensions arise in the aftermath of the Tops massacre

One way Tops attempted to help in the immediate aftermath of the attack, Persons said, was by seeding $500,000 to create the Buffalo 5/14 Survivors Fund. Persons said Tops donated an additional $250,000 to the fund, which grew to $6.4 million that is now being distributed to 169 individuals, including the families of those killed.

But the manner in which the fund is being dispersed has caused tension with some Tops employees. However, Persons said that after seeding the fund, Tops took a hands-off approach to how it was managed and distributed.

Tops employee Fragrance Harris said she believes workers who were present and survived the shooting should have gotten $50,000 each and that the $9,500 they received minimizes the psychological trauma. While Harris Stanfield has not returned to work and is receiving workman's compensation, she said some of her Tops colleagues had to resume their jobs out of financial necessity before they healed.

A 27-member steering committee of mostly community leaders -- including two Tops executives and a union representative for Tops workers -- dispersed payments from the fund after setting a list of protocols.

Tops' response to the rampage - Tragedy now 'part of Tops' history':  abcnews.go.com

500+ Mass Shootings So Far in 2022
Gun reform on the ballot after string of devastating mass shootings

Amid a disturbing uptick in gun violence across the country, the political power of gun reform will be put to the test this election cycle.

There have been more than 500 mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year, according to a tracker from the Gun Violence Archive. Two of those shootings -- one at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York and the other at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas -- sparked nationwide outrage and debate about gun violence.

In Oregon, voters will consider the country's most comprehensive gun reform measure on the ballot this November. "It's been called the Oregon model," Knutson said, adding, "I think it'll give a lot of courage to state legislatures, if they can see a major victory come out of Oregon."

The ballot measure, developed by a coalition of faith leaders, gun control advocates and others, would require permits to buy firearms and prohibit ammunition magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds. It would also require those applying for a firearm permit to pass a criminal background check, attend safety training and pay a fee.

Knutson's group started preparing for the ballot measure after the shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida, in 2018. But he said the shootings in Uvalde and Buffalo prompted a "wave" of new volunteers to help gather signatures for the measure to be included on the ballot. abcnews.go.com

83% of 100+ City Police Budgets Increased Compared to 2019
Despite 'defunding' claims, police funding has increased in many US cities

Of 109 budgets analyzed, 91 agencies have upped police funding by at least 2%.

In an analysis for ABC, reporters Grace Manthey, Frank Esposito, and Amanda Hernandez found that, despite ongoing national debate about the impact of policing reforms and budgeting following the wave of national activism after the murder of George Floyd, police funding has increased in cities across the United States.

Of the 109 budgets analyzed, only eight agencies cut police funds by more than 2%, while 91 agencies increased law enforcement funding by at least 2%. In 49 cities or counties, police funding has increased by more than 10%.

Police budget data shows that police funding increased in many of the cities “frequently cited” as having faced crime waves due to defunding local police, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and San Francisco, where collectively police budgets increased in the hundreds of millions.

ABC News and the Washington Post additionally could find no causal relationship between police spending and crime rates in analyses of 1985 to 2020 and 1960 to 2018, respectively. abcnews.go.com thecrimereport.org

In the News Now: Shoplifting on the rise
KGW investigates the rise in shoplifting, and why the punishment doesn't match the crime. A look at security footage and what is happening with the stolen goods.

York, SC: Law enforcement agencies dealing with staffing shortages

Mental health experts say society becoming numb to tragedy after mass shootings

US: 99.3M Cases - 1M Dead - 96.9M Recovered
Worldwide: 635.8M Cases - 6.5M Dead - 615.1M Recovered

Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 362  
Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: 812

America’s Covid Fraud Disaster

Third-Party Threat: Randstad Rogue Employee Removing Applicant Fraud Flags & Getting Kickbacks in Ohio
States Spent Millions On Deloitte’s ‘Anti-Fraud’ Covid Unemployment Systems. They Suffered $21.2 Billion In Fraud

The Big 4 accounting giant promised states AI-powered anti-fraud detection systems in return for hundreds of millions in Covid unemployment contracts. Fraudsters abusing those same systems likely earned more, Forbes finds.

In early 2021, the Deloitte subcontractor Randstad fired a teleservices representative who had been helping Ohioans access Covid-19 unemployment funds through Deloitte’s system, which was deployed in the early days of the pandemic. To her employer, she appeared to be simply tardy. But according to federal investigators, she was guilty of a far more serious, criminal activity: allegedly getting paid for an illicit side hustle in which she removed fraud flags on applications for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), the $150 billion pot of Covid-19 money for the self-employed. In return for removing fraud flags, she had allegedly received kickbacks from applicants. One $18,000 payment, for instance, resulted in a $2,000 backhander for the perpetrator, investigators claimed in a search warrant obtained by Forbes.

In a previously unreported oversight in the security of Ohio’s deployment of the Deloitte Unemployment Insurance Framework for Automated Claims and Tax Services (uFACTS), this suspect was allegedly able to unflag as many as 176 fraud issues for at least a month after she was sacked, investigators claimed. The ill-gotten gains were funneled through Cash App and Zelle accounts, one belonging to her daughter and another to her sister, according to law enforcement’s account. (Attempts to contact the suspect were unsuccessful. As neither the family nor the unemployment applicants have yet been charged, Forbes is not revealing their names. Deloitte, and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, which oversees PUA assistance declined to comment on the case. Randstad did not respond to a request for comment.)

In eight states, Deloitte secured multi-million dollar deals based on promises of powerful anti-fraud tech and secure, scalable telecoms infrastructure. According to local government data, in states where Deloitte was either asked to help prevent fraud or ran the benefits system, there was as much as $21.2 billion in fraud. uFACTS systems alone saw up to $3.2 billion.

No charges have been filed yet. forbes.com

COVID Knocked 3 Million Americans Out of the Workforce
3M Americans are still avoiding the workforce. They might be ‘long social distancing’
Amid all the talk about the cost of desk lunches, the hours of lost sleep, and the slog of commuting, many have forgotten the original reason to avoid returning to the office: fear of catching COVID.

Nearly three years since the pandemic gripped the globe, concern over evolving variants and superspreader events have kept about 3 million people out of the workforce, finds a new paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research by WFH Research heads Nicholas Bloom, Jose Maria Barrero, and Steven Davis. That gap in the workforce has slashed the U.S.’s economic output by a quarter of a trillion dollars in just the first half of this year alone.

Between February and July 2022, 55% of respondents to the researchers’ Survey of Working Arrangements and Attitudes (SWAA) said they wouldn’t be returning to pre-COVID activities such as dining indoors or taking a crowded bus or train—and therefore would be staying out of the workforce. The researchers characterize that behavior as “long social distancing,” an extension of early-pandemic habits. fortune.com

Locked Inside Shanghai Disney
Shanghai Disney shuts over COVID, visitors unable to leave
Shanghai's Disney Resort abruptly suspended operations on Monday to comply with COVID-19 prevention measures, with all visitors at the time of the announcement directed to stay in the park until they return a negative test for the virus.

The resort said at 11:39 a.m. local time (03:39 GMT) it would immediately shut the main theme park and surrounding areas including its shopping street until further notice to comply with virus curbs.

The Shanghai government said on its official WeChat account the park was barring people from entering or exiting and that all visitors inside the site would need to await the results of their tests before they could leave. reuters.com

How Republicans Claimed COVID as a Winning Campaign Issue
The backlash against pandemic restrictions has become a more potent talking point than the public-health crisis itself.

Covid impact on UK retail and transport worse than thought, says ONS

China locks down millions as COVID cases rise before winter

With Over 2 Million Immigrants Entering in 2022 & All Needing Jobs - Retail Jobs Are An Obvious Answer
Managing the hiring processes & potential investigative processes require review & revision?

Justice Department Secures Settlement with Giant Food to Resolve Immigration-Related Discrimination Claims
The Justice Department announced today that it has reached a settlement agreement with the Giant Company LLC d/b/a Giant Food (Giant), a Pennsylvania-based grocery store chain with locations in various states. The settlement resolves the department’s determination that Giant discriminated against non-U.S. citizen workers when checking their permission to work in the United States, in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

“Employers cannot discriminate against employees because of their citizenship, immigration status or national origin when verifying their permission to work,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

The department’s investigation began after a non-U.S. citizen complained that Giant refused to accept valid documentation proving her permission to work and demanded a different document from her. The department’s investigation determined that Giant routinely required specific documents from newly-hired non-U.S. citizens to prove they had permission to work in the United States. Specifically, the department found that Giant required lawful permanent residents to show their permanent resident cards (sometimes known as “green cards”) to prove their permission to work, even when they had presented other valid documentation. The investigation also revealed that Giant refused to allow the worker who complained to begin working because she did not present a green card as demanded. At the same time, Giant allowed U.S. citizens to choose from among various acceptable document types.

Under the terms of the settlement, Giant will pay a civil penalty to the United States, train staff on the INA’s anti-discrimination provision, review and revise their employment policies and be subject to departmental monitoring for a three-year period. After the department’s investigation began, Giant provided the worker who complained with the pay she missed due to the alleged discrimination.

The INA’s anti-discrimination provision prohibits employers from asking for specific documents because of a worker’s citizenship, immigration status or national origin. justice.gov

CVS Murder Arrest
CVS Pharmacy Technician Arrested for 2017 Killings of Teen Girls in Delphi, Ind.
Authorities on Monday announced an arrest in the unsolved murders of two teenage girls — a drugstore worker who has been living in the same small northern Indiana community where their bodies were found after they went on a hike nearly six years ago. Richard Matthew Allen, 50, was arrested Friday.

The evidence against Allen, a licensed pharmacy technician who worked at a local CVS store, has been temporarily sealed to avoid jeopardizing the “integrity” of their investigation, authorities said. “While I know you were all expecting final details today concerning this arrest, today is not that day,” Carter said.

A statement from CVS said the company is “shocked and saddened to learn that one of our store employees was arrested as a suspect in these crimes. We stand ready to cooperate with the police investigation in any way we can.”

“We remain devastated by these murders and our hearts go out to the German and Williams families,” the statement said. seattletimes.com

ECR Retail Loss: The Voice of Retail LP Across the Pond

Invite: The Voice of the Self-Checkout Supervisor!
What do 5,000+ Self-Checkout Supervisors Think About...
Their job, the training they received, their ability and confidence to do their role well, handling abuse from shoppers, the ways that the machines go wrong, the extent of losses, the scams they see, and the extent of losses they see on their shifts, and then what ideas they have to improve the shopping experience at self-checkouts and reduce losses.

On November 23rd, Professor Adrian Beck is going to share these results with the working group and will explore the relationship of these findings to the length of time in the role, the rating of their training, the number of machines they are required to supervise and shift lengths. Do those with shorter shifts feel more confident in their ability to perform the role, do those who have served longer in the role view the problem of loss differently, etc?

This is possibly our most important research to date, delivering insights that can lead to action and changes in the way your business thinks about the Self-Checkout Supervisor role.

This session is for retailers, CPG's and academics only | Click here to register  

About the ECR Retail Loss Group

Working on behalf of the Retail Sector, the ECR Retail Loss Group is focused upon developing imaginative thinking, new approaches and genuine innovation in the management of retail losses. With membership open to any retailer or product manufacturer, and promoting a collaborative approach, the Group ensures that the results of its extensive and wide-ranging work is made freely available to the industry. ecrloss.com

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