Pictured (left to right): Bryan Lee, Tykieska Clifton, (Kevin Morris-EVP and GC), Corey Damon, Greg Knox, Francis Florio, Dave Calhoun, Tim Erb, Robert Figueroa, Kevin Kent, Isaac Fabrega, Matt Egnot, John Gregg, Ryan Berkey, Cody Masten, Shawn Rynerson, Van Carney

Thanks to Van Carney, National Director - Safety & LP at Domino's, for submitting this GLPS.

Sears laying off nearly 300 corporate employees after announcing 96 store closings

Subway requiring operators fill out questionnaire, answer to a committee before closing stores


Quarterly Results
JC Penney Q3 comp's down 9.3%, net sales down 10.1%

IntSights Finds Organized Retail Crime Costs Retailers $30 Billion Each Year
The retail industry is experiencing more breaches than any other industry in 2019 as criminals consistently deploy new advanced hacking methods to target the vast assets and data retailers control. As digital commerce becomes increasingly popular around the world, retailers have invested heavily in state-of-the-art platforms to fuel their e-commerce engines, while neglecting to invest in adequate security protocols.

A new report by IntSights, Cyber(attack) Monday: Hackers Target the Retail Industry as E-Commerce Thrives, breaks down retail's external threat landscape.

“The retail sector is in a high-pressure state with revolving employees, both online and in-store locations, and increasing regulations guiding the sector toward advanced security protocols to protect consumer information,” said Charity Wright, Cyber Threat Intelligence Advisor, IntSights. “As the retail attack surface continues to spread, the industry needs to build a solid foundation of security and monitor external threats to prevent full-blown attacks from coming to fruition.”

Top Challenges and Threats to the Retail Industry in 2019:

● Organized Retail Crime (ORC), including fraud operations, card-not-present (CNP) transactions, and a growing dark web community. Emerging dark web underground communities target retailers.

● Point-of-sale (POS) malware, web application compromise, ransomware, and other common attack methods plaguing the industry. Retailers often lack advanced security protocols to ward off these attacks.

● Inventory shrinkage and store-based theft, as loss prevention employees hope to start coordinating with cybersecurity teams to prevent theft, fraud, and physical attacks.

● The costs of compliance and the challenges retailers face when slapped with additional regulations and crippling fines. intsights.com

U.S. Investors Focus on Cybersecurity as Data Concerns Deepen
A company’s security is being considered at all levels of the investment process

How good a company is at cybersecurity is joining factors such as greenhouse-gas emissions and directors’ pay when it comes to investors evaluating whether or not to buy in. Private-equity firms, asset managers and hedge funds in the U.S. are increasingly looking at companies’ cybersecurity arrangements, and how they protect data, before deciding to invest.

Cybersecurity risks have been included for some time in due diligence questionnaires that insurers send to covered companies and reports that private-equity firms compile about targets. Such questionnaires typically analyze everything from corporate governance to how recently a penetration test occurred.

The high-profile nature of recent data breaches has enhanced investors’ focus on data and cybersecurity.

“Cybersecurity is an area where you can have immediate financial and reputational harm to a company, so investors would be very concerned about it.” wsj.com

How to Increase Collaboration Between IT and Executive Leadership Teams
The IT department is a key division within any organization, and IT is a crucial resource for pushing the future direction of the business. The C-Suite and IT teams need to work closely to coordinate and deliver a wide range of as-a-service technical offerings. How can you increase the relationship between the board and tech teams and help to develop a prosperous, collaborative partnership?

Read more: Be a Leader, Not a Boss! - Technical Leadership - C-Suite Leadership - The Conversation Works Both Ways - Choosing When to Meet - Challenge Decisions securitymagazine.com

8 Holiday Security Tips for Retailers
Here's how retailers can protect their businesses from attackers and scammers hoping to wreak havoc during the most wonderful time of the year.

1. Secure Your Cloud
2. Segment the Network
3. Protect Against Digital Skimmers
4. Harden Your Mobile Apps
5. Protect the Company's In-Store Wi-Fi
6. Prepare Your Staff Properly
7. Be on the Lookout for Seasonal Scams
8. Partner with Industry Groups darkreading.com

Download: Internal compliance assessment templates
The Comprehensive Security Guide provides security executives with a single document that gathers standardized and easy to use templates of all main compliance frameworks: PCI-DSS, HIPAA, NIST Cyber Security Framework and GDPR. helpnetsecurity.com

Walmart Canada manages freight with blockchain
Leveraging the DLT Asset Track supply chain platform from enterprise blockchain solutions provider DLT Labs, Walmart Canada is using distributed ledger technology to track deliveries, verify transactions, and automate payments and reconciliation among its third-party carriers delivering inventory to over 400 retail stores across Canada. The new blockchain-based freight and payment network manages, integrates and synchronizes supply chain and logistics data in real-time, aggregating the data between Walmart Canada and its fleet of third-party trucks on a shared ledger. chainstoreage.com

McDonald’s Leaving Unbanked Behind?
New Self-Ordering Kiosks Do Not Accept Cash
McDonald’s Corp. has pitched self-ordering kiosks as a key part of its plans to boost sales by improving technology and renovating restaurants. But it turns out the kiosks aren’t much use for a significant slice of McDonald’s customers: cash payers.

The Big Mac seller is leaning hard into digital ordering and technology improvements to attract on-the-go customers, but a recent test shows the kiosks may need to be replaced or retrofitted to accommodate cash transactions. About 6.5% -- or 8.4 million -- of U.S. households don’t have a bank account or a debit or credit card, preventing them from paying at McDonald’s kiosks that are in about 9,000 domestic locations.

That’s problematic for the company because franchisees have been bearing much of the cost for renovations that include the kiosks and creating a more modern look. Many restaurant owners have already paid as much as $750,000 per store for the kiosks and other improvements. bloomberg.com

International Workshop on Biometrics and Forensics seeks papers for conference presentation

Apple warns of security risks from German law to open up mobile payments

Should customers just be paid for their data?

Chicago, IL: Teams of shoplifters target Chicago stores near downtown, North Side
Chicago police confirm there have been nine separate shoplifting cases recently, involving teams of criminals with anywhere between two and seven suspects working together to swipe merchandise. The shoplifting cases have occurred in Lincoln Park, the Magnificent Mile, Loop and South Loop between Nov. 6 and Nov. 10. In three of the cases, employees have been injured.

The number of cases and increasing violence involved have alarmed at least one Chicago alderman who represents part of Michigan Avenue. "We're also seeing an increasing amount of violence associated with this, where security guards are being pepper-sprayed, they're being Maced, they're being physically assaulted when they try to intervene," said Ald. Brian Hopkins, who represents Ward 2, which includes part of Michigan Avenue.

Chicago police haven't indicated the nine cases are connected. However, there is concern from city and business leaders that shoplifters are no longer worried about being prosecuted. "People can steal with impunity because they know they are not going to be arrested or prosecuted," said Michael Edwards, CEO and president of the Chicago Loop Alliance. "And that has been a big problem for us." Ald. Hopkins echoed that statement, adding a political twist as well. He said since Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx was elected, shoplifting has increased 30% on the Magnificent Mile. "The shoplifters have gotten so bold. They have no fear of prosecution. We need to change that," Alderman Hopkins said. "

MICHIGAN AVENUE - TWO CASES REPORTED
Chicago Police report that a man and woman were charged after swiping merchandise from a store in the 400 block of North Michigan Avenue. It happened on Wednesday, November 6, around 8:20 p.m. Three days later, five shoplifters working together targeted the H & M store on the 800 block of North Michigan Avenue. Three females caused a distraction, while two males swiped merchandise, according to police. No one was arrested.

THE LOOP - TWO CASES REPORTED
Seven males entered a business, grabbed merchandise, and left the store without paying, police reported. It happened Wednesday, November 6, on the 0-100 block of South State Street at about 4:45 p.m. A man who tried to stop the seven suspects was injured after one of the suspects punched him in, police said. He declined medical treatment.

On Saturday, November 9, another shoplifting case is reported on the same block of South Street. Two females and a male were swiping items from a store. When two people, a 24-year old woman and 30 year-old-man, tried to stop the three suspects in the store's entrance, one of the shoplifters sprayed the male victim in the face with an aerosol. Police do not describe what type of chemical was used, but the male was transported to Mercy Hospital.

SOUTH LOOP - THREE CASES REPORTED
Chicago Police report three business have been targeted in the same shopping district on the 1000 block of South Canal. The cases were reported on November 8th and 9th. They happened at Marshall's, Burlington, and DSW. Police report that two of the cases ended with arrests.

LINCOLN PARK CASES - TWO CASES REPORTED
Shoplifters targeted the Patagonia store twice during the last week. On Saturday, November 9, five juveniles swiped merchandise and left the store, police reported. Police said all five were arrested and charged with felonies. They range in age from 11-15. Shoplifters targeted the same store a day later, on Sunday, November 10. Two suspects stole merchandise. No arrests have been made in this case. abc7chicago.com

Chicago, IL: Official says shoplifters ‘acting with impunity,’ blames limits on felony charges


Glendale, WI: Prosecutors say 17-year-old was involved in theft of 41 iPhones worth $33K from Apple Bayshore
Apple Bayshore was hit by thieves not once, not twice, but three times, and prosecutors said the suspect got away with $33,318.95 worth of products. A felony charge of retail theft -- intentionally taking greater than $10,000 was filed on Oct. 10 against Terrance Beeks, 17, of Chicago. Prosecutors said the three incidents happened on Sept. 11, Sept. 15, and Sept. 28. In the first incident, investigators said two males grabbed 12 display phones and ran -- getting away in a red/maroon Kia Optima with Illinois plates -- registered to an Illinois man. The total amount of merchandise taken was $11,383.

In the second incident, two males entered the store and each selected five phones from the display table -- getting away with $4,699.95 worth of merchandise -- fleeing in an Optima. Prosecutors said the phones from these two incidents were recovered from multiple EcoATM locations in Illinois. In the third incident, three males entered the store, and an employee noted he believed he recognized them from previous thefts. They took 19 display phones and ran -- getting away with $16,781.

The criminal complaint noted none of these phones were recovered. Beeks and three others were arrested on Oct. 5, when police stopped an Optima near Bayshore. Beeks was a passenger in that vehicle, according to prosecutors, and admitted to being involved in the thefts. He said the person who was driving the Optima that day would pay him $150 for iPhone 10s, and $250 for iPhone 11s. Beeks was wearing the same clothing he was wearing during the Sept. 28 crime when he was arrested, and a sweatshirt he wore was found in the Kia, according to prosecutors. Beeks pleaded not guilty on Oct. 23, when he waived his preliminary hearing. A scheduling conference was set for Nov. 21. fox6now.com

Eau Claire, WI: Woman charged after Minnesota, Wisconsin Ulta Beauty stores report $35,000 of stolen items
A Minneapolis woman has been charged in Eau Claire County after various Ulta Beauty stores in Minnesota and Wisconsin reported stolen merchandise. Court documents show 32-year-old Miranda Roberts has been charged with identity theft- avoidance, identity theft- financial gain, misdemeanor retail theft- intentionally take (< $500), felony retail theft- intentionally take (> $500- $5,000) and felony retail theft- intentionally take (> $500- $5,000). Minnesota court documents show Roberts has also been charged with Thef- take/use/transfer movable property in the state of Minnesota. Store workers told officials they had received a company-wide email warning them of Miranda Roberts, who had been stealing from Ulta Beauty stores in Minnesota and Wisconsin. weau.com

Doral, FL: $10,000 Sephora Store robbery causes panic at Miami International Mall
Some shoppers suffered minor injuries after a theft at a store inside Miami International Mall in Doral caused a panic. Doral Police could be seen surrounding the shopping center along Northwest 107th Avenue, Thursday afternoon. Police said the crooks went into Sephora, grabbed around $10,000 worth of merchandise and took off running through the mall. Shoppers unsure of exactly what was happening scrambled to get away from the area, causing a few to suffer minor injuries. The store shut down for the rest of the day. wsvn.com

South Euclid, OH: Smash & Grab Burglars steal $24,000 worth of hair from beauty Supply store

Suffolk County, NY: Women Wanted For Stealing $1,700 of UGG Boots from Long Island Store

UPDATE: Charlotte, NC: Group of five women facing charges for Organized Retail Crime at Northlake Mall