D&D Daily Mobile Edition

The D&D Daily Mobile Edition
LP, AP & IT Security's #1 News Source

12/3/18

Spotlight on Leadership

The Unsung Hero and "Best Kept Secret" of the LP Industry

Professor Robert Hanson and Northern Michigan University's
Loss Prevention Management Program

With the merging of cybersecurity, loss prevention and security industries, there comes a greater need for an expansion of knowledge and education in these fields. While many organizations routinely promote certificate programs and Loss Prevention/Security related events, little is said or published about degree programs for these industries. One of the most renowned, but possibly undervalued educational programs is Northern Michigan University's Loss Prevention Management Program run by Professor Robert Hanson. NMU's formal program in loss prevention management is offered completely online (as well as on campus), a perfect choice for traditional and non-traditional students alike and is a tremendous asset for those already in the field who are looking to expand upon their skill sets or those just starting out in the industry.

"At any given time, there can be 35 to 40 students taking one or more of the courses offered in a given semester. Some of the LP professionals transfer in enough credits to make it more efficient and less costly to pursue a Loss Prevention Minor with a Criminal Justice or other major. We provide personalized advising by faculty members to our students. Northern offers a liberal transfer policy and up to 94 credits from accredited institutions can be applied to our Bachelor of Science degree. We have partnered with retailers such as Target whose associates have been through a rigorous certification through Assets Protection that allow us to waive the introductory class requirement for the major or minor," explained Professor Hanson.

"Just as loss prevention professionals need to anticipate a variety of potential threats and cope with rapidly changing business conditions, our academic content must stay current. We accomplish this in 3 ways:

First, our instructors have extensive professional fulltime paid experience in the field and they are content experts in their specialty. While a course title such as retail investigation or legal issues in loss prevention doesn't change, the some of the course content changes to include current threats and trends.

Secondly, we regularly review and revise an entire course to take advantage of technical enhancements to our course management software. For example, students can now leave audio comments on the discussion boards and upload their PowerPoint presentations for the class to view.

Lastly, we look for new course topics based on feedback from graduates or emerging topics of interest as reflected in conference themes at NRF Protect or RILA. We are currently looking into a course or certificate in cybercrime and cybersecurity. The State of Michigan recently designated NMU as a regional cyber hub with enhanced access to a cyber range, which is a secure internet separate from normal public access internet.

I strongly believe in the importance of recruiting talented traditional students to seek a challenging and rewarding career in loss prevention as their first choice after graduation. We promote internships and offer loss prevention as a minor. We have agreements with four community colleges in two states to facilitate the transition from an Associate degree there to a Baccalaureate from us. I am working on a plan that would bring a few college students to the June 2019 NRF Protect conference."

Read about a few of the industry senior LP executives who are Adjunct Professors and their individual stories.

Moving Up
Sponsored by Agilence

Matt Connor, CFI named Director of Asset Protection for Salvatore Ferragamo
Prior to taking this position, Matt spent nearly four years as a Regional Loss Prevention Manager for Henri Bendel. Before that, he served in various positions at Macy's, including District Director - Loss Prevention and Regional Loss Prevention Training Manager. He earned his BSBA, Operations Management from the Ohio State University Fisher College of Business. Congratulations, Matt!

Tony Davis named VP, Senior Manager | Program Management | Global Security & Investigations for TD Bank
Prior to taking this VP position with TD, Tony spent nearly three decades with Nordstrom, where he held various positions, including: Director, International Operations; Director, Operations Eastcoast; Corporate Security Director, Nordstrom Rack Division and Corporate Security, Operations Director. Congratulations, Tony!

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Top Industry News

The Role of a Corporate Spouse - Marvin & Sharyn Ellison - CEO Lowe's
Sounding board or more? At Lowe's, the Ellisons walk a fine line
Starting His Career in Retail LP This Exec. Reached the Pinnacle
Soon after Marvin Ellison took over as chief executive of Lowe's Cos., his wife, Sharyn, peppered him with questions on why the home-improvement retailer didn't carry certain types of tiles or doors that she wanted for their new Charlotte, N.C., home.

It's a familiar pattern for the couple, who have been married for 26 years and have worked closely together as Mr. Ellison has risen to the top of corporate America.

At J.C. Penney Co. , where he served as CEO until he left in May to join Lowe's, Mrs. Ellison gave him her opinion on store layouts and provided a sounding board for ideas. She was the guest of honor at an employee event and redecorated the CEO's office, leading some staffers to call her the "First Lady."

In recent interviews, Mr. Ellison, 53 years old, said he leans on his wife's judgment, adding that his career "really is both our careers." "There is no one that I count on more for candid, blunt advice and opinions," he said.

The Ellisons are walking a fine line. On the one hand there is a desire for CEOs to display a softer side, and for society at large to acknowledge the behind-the-scenes role of spouses in the success of business leaders. But problems can arise when executives fail to maintain clear boundaries between their personal and professional lives or appear to prioritize the advice of family members over professional managers. wsj.com

This Could Be The Breach That Brings Privacy Laws
Senators call for data breach penalties, tougher privacy laws after Marriott hack
A slew of Democratic senators are calling for tougher privacy laws - and even steep fines for companies that fail to protect their customers' data from data breaches - in the wake of Marriott's admission that hackers compromised the personal information of up to 500 million of its customers.

"We must set clear customer data protection standards for all companies - whether they're hotel chains, online retailers, or big tech - and severe penalties for those who fall short," Sen. Richard Blumenthal (Conn.) tweeted.

Sens. Mark Warner (Va.) and Ed Markey (Mass.) also pressed for tougher data security laws, and said Congress needs to set limits on how much customer data U.S. companies are allowed to store. Sen. Ron Wyden (Ore.) went even further - he said senior executives who ignore customer data privacy should face jail time.

After potentially one of the largest breaches of consumer data in history, lawmakers appear ready to take a page out of Europe's playbook to ensure it does not happen again: Their calls for aggressive penalties for companies that have poor data security are reminiscent of the General Data Protection

Wyden outlined on Twitter specific legislation that would impose "harsh fines and prison terms" for companies that misuse consumer data. The bill, which a spokesman said he is preparing to introduce early next year, would set up a new office with the Federal Trade Commission called the Bureau of Technology, give it sweeping powers to punish businesses for lax data security practices, and require it to hire 175 staffers to "police the largely unregulated market for private data."

The bill would also introduce a new set of data security requirements, set up a "do not track" list for individual consumers to opt out of data collection online, and outlines "steep fines (up to 4 percent of annual revenue), on the first offense for companies and 10-20 year criminal penalties for senior executives," according to a release from Wyden's office.

Marriott, for its part, seemed to admit a degree of culpability for the breach of its Starwood reservation system containing addresses, travel locations, credit card numbers, phone numbers, passport numbers. The breach could possibly leave droves of customers vulnerable to espionage or identity theft. washingtonpost.com

Law Enforcement's View of Cyber Crime
Should LP Take the Same Position?
Cyber crime most significant harm in UK, says top cyber cop
Cyber crime is the biggest evolving crime type in the UK and beyond in terms of volume and complexity, according to detective chief superintendent Pete O'Doherty, lead of cyber and head of economic crime at the City of London Police.

"But it is difficult to police, because unlike other crimes where there is an offender, victim and location, cyber crime tends to be multi-national. If you look at the globalisation of goods, people and services, and an epic evolution in technology, it is without doubt the most significant harm in the UK," he told the information security track of the International Security Expo 2018 in London.

"I have been a detective my whole career and the training I have been given has not equipped me with the skills and techniques that I need to investigate cyber crimes involving multiple actors in multiple countries," said O' Doherty

Capability to investigate cyber crime is one of the top challenges, he said, particularly when it comes to cyber dependent crime involving botnets, distributed denial of service (DDoS) and malware, as opposed to the more traditional types of crime that are cyber enabled.

The third major challenge, said O'Doherty, is that while law enforcement and locking people up is important, it is not going to solve the problem of cyber crime.

"There needs to be a massive focus on intervention, disruption, security by design and intelligence sharing if we are ever going to make a difference, and we need to start looking for digital skills in our recruitment and selection processes," he said.

Another necessary change, said O'Doherty, is to increase the use intelligence to find links between cyber criminals and more traditional crimes "to leverage the politics" to get local policing to treat it as a priority. "Al Capone was not put in prison for homicide, but for fraud," he said. computerweekly.com

Editor's Note: The convergence of the two fields is already happening in the public arena. How long will it be before the private industry converges? The inevitable need to monitor, identify and respond in real-time both online and in the store merged together as one will lead to this ultimate convergence. Regardless of the forces working against it. Just a thought. -Gus Downing

Hollywood, CA: Suspected Shoplifter shot to death at Hollywood Walgreens
A suspected shoplifter was shot to death by a security guard at a Hollywood Walgreens drug store, authorities said Monday. The shooting was reported about 8:10 p.m. Sunday at the Walgreens at Sunset Boulevard and Vine Street, Officer D. Orris of the LAPD Operations Center said.

The man became involved in a fight with the security guard, who fired on him, Orris said. The man was believed to have been shoplifting when he encountered the security guard, police told reporters at the scene. He was shot in the upper body, police said. ktla.com

Washington Trying to Pass New Concealment Bill
Seattle, Wash. - Shoplifting & ORC Cost Washington Families $400 a Year
Great TV Coverage on ORC - Supported By Washington Retail Association
News coverage like this is pretty typical especially around the holidays and it certainly increases public awareness and helps hopefully with public support of legislation.

Prices are raised to cover the losses, costing the average family in Washington State an additional $400 a year, according to Mark Johnson with the Washington Retail Association.

"We're seeing a big increase" in organized retail theft, Johnson told KIRO 7 on Friday. "The groups are becoming more and more sophisticated." In Washington state alone, he said $940 million in merchandise was shoplifted last year, leading to $80 million in lost tax revenue.

Seth Tyler of the Bellevue Police Department told KIRO 7 "they hit multiple cities. They don't discriminate. Bellevue, Seattle, Northgate, they will hit retail centers, often several in a day."

The Washington Retail Association is also hoping state lawmakers will pass a concealment bill during the next legislative session.

As Washington State law now stands, store employees and security guards are not allowed to ask patrons whether they've hidden merchandise while in the store. Store visitors can only be asked that question once they leave, which would indicate a possible intent to shoplift. Johnson said, by that time it's too late.

Meanwhile, criminals are becoming so sophisticated, ring leaders send shoplifters into the stores with lists of merchandise to steal and strict instructions to keep the loss below $750-dollars to avoid felony charges if caught. kiro7.com

Apple Investigated Possible Business Misconduct in Its Supply Chain
Company says it found no evidence of bribery or kickbacks
Apple conducted an investigation earlier this year into possible business misconduct within its supply chain-including possible kickbacks and bribes-rattling some of the tech giant's suppliers and staff in China.

The company in May inquired with at least one supplier about possible kickbacks to Apple employees, according to people familiar with the probe.

The probe has been a source of concern for some Apple staff and suppliers amid this year's iPhone cycle, primarily in the segment tied to nonelectrical components, the people said. wsj.com

Was it a Cannibal, a Scam Victim or Both That Forced Mattress Firm into Ch. 11
Real Estate Bribery, Kickback & Fraud Scheme
If True - Probably the Biggest Such Scheme in Retail History
Mattress Firm has three stores in Austin, Texas, within half a mile of one another. In Winston-Salem, North Carolina, it has two stores with identical hours at about the same distance. Schererville, Indiana (population 28,701), once had five shops less than a block apart.

While retailers across the U.S. were shuttering outlets and more commerce was moving online, the mattress company was bucking the trend, going from about 700 locations to 3,500 in five years before filing for protection from creditors last month.

Was it the breakneck growth alone that landed Mattress Firm Inc. in bankruptcy court? Or, as the company claims in a lawsuit filed last year, did a pair of greedy executives -- taking advantage of the strategy to skim money off its real estate deals and enrich an outside accomplice -- help it get there?

But the company says in its suit it isn't entirely to blame: Two executives allegedly conspired with a real estate broker in a "bribery, kickback and fraud scheme" to push the Houston-based retailer into expensive locations -- it declined to say how many -- based on phony sales forecasts.

According to the suit, Bruce Levy, the former head of real estate, and Ryan Vinson, a former vice president, let the broker, Alexander Deitch, oversee deals in a half-dozen states and "front-run" some of them, tipping him off to the next outlet's location so he could secretly buy it himself while reaping millions in fees.

In return, Mattress Firm claims, Levy and Vinson got diamonds, a Roger Dubuis watch, European vacations and stakes in other real estate deals. One Florida property allegedly came complete with a yacht.

The lawsuit also names Colliers International, where Deitch was a broker. Colliers denies the allegations and is "vigorously defending" itself against the suit, spokesman Matthew Hawkins said. bloomberg.com

What's In Your Cellar? Counterfeit Wines Are A Multi-Billion Dollar Problem
From Maureen Downey- World's Foremost Expert - "The Sherlock Holmes of Wines"
If we only consider the amount of wine that's in professional wine storage all over the world, we can account for billions of dollars. Add in all the wines in private collections, and currently in sales channels in vendor warehouses, and you have billions more.

Selling empty bottles of expensive wine is a huge business on eBay. Sadly, many restaurants and hotels that sell very high-end wine do not ensure the bottles are physically destroyed once consumed. Without this happening, disreputable staff can make a considerable side income selling the empties.

Bigger Amazon Go stores would represent another threat to traditional grocers disrupted by the online retail giant's rapid advance into food retail. forbes.com

Talk About Grocery Disruption
Amazon Tests Its Cashierless Technology for Bigger Stores - Think Whole Foods
Online giant tries to overcome challenges caused by retail spaces with higher ceilings, more products

If successful, the strategy would further challenge brick-and-mortar retailers racing to make their businesses more convenient.

It is unclear whether Amazon intends to use the technology for Whole Foods, although that is the most likely application if executives can make it work, according to the people. Amazon has previously said it has no plans to add the technology to Whole Foods. wsj.com

Seven-Eleven Japan to Open "Cashierless" C-Store With Facial Recognition
Amid a deepening labor shortage, Nikkei Asian Review reports. The store will serve preregistered NEC employees.

The pilot store is expected to open in December in a Tokyo building containing NEC group offices, with just over 10 percent of the floor space of a typical Seven-Eleven location. Registered NEC employees will by authenticated by scanning company ID cards or facial recognition to enter the store, and then again after scanning item barcodes for purchase. Payments are automatically deducted from the employee's salary, according to the report.

The Nikkei Asian Review reports that there are 1,000 unstaffed stores already operating in China, run by about 70 companies, including some online retailers. biometricupdate.com

Major News Outlets Picking Up This Story
And It Isn't Going Away Till Lambert Does Something & This Guy May Not
WSJ Friday: Sears Workers Copy Toys 'R' Us Severance Playbook
Sears Holdings Corp. employees urged Chairman Edward Lampert and other creditors to pay severance and save as many jobs as possible as the retailer goes through bankruptcy, echoing laid-off Toys "R" Us Inc. workers who persuaded its former owners to establish a $20 million hardship fund.

Dozens of current and former Sears employees asked Mr. Lampert in a letter on Thursday to commit to protecting jobs, keeping stores open and guaranteeing severance pay and other benefits.

Ms. Brewer said she hoped Sears and Kmart workers could receive severance payments similar to those that Toys "R" Us workers collected out of a $20 million severance fund set up by the toy retailer's former owners, Bain Capital and KKR & Co. wsj.com

Editor's Note: There's a few more retailers out there struggling because of huge debt left over from all the leverage buy outs over the last ten to fifteen years sitting in similar positions. So, does the self-funded hardship funds become the norm and does it prevent class-action lawsuits long term? Now that KKR and Bain have set the standard they just might end up being a new expense line for those groups. Just a thought. -Gus Downing

Possible Positive Note For Solution Providers?
CFOs Face a Tough Task: Freeing Cash Trapped on Their Balance Sheets
Do They Spend More Capital in 2019?
Businesses struggle to reduce working capital, resulting in about $1.5 trillion stuck on corporate balance sheets world-wide

Finance executives are struggling to reduce the amount of excess working capital at companies around the world, resulting in about $1.5 trillion trapped on balance sheets-funds that could be spent on expanding these businesses.

The current scenario comes as capital spending by companies dropped last year and central banks are tightening policies, resulting in higher financing costs for businesses. As a result, some companies may need more cash on hand to fund or finance certain transactions. wsj.com

Only 16 Retailers Make WSJ's
Top 250 Best-Run U.S. Companies of 2018
Explore the Management Top 250
There are companies that do one thing well. There are companies that do a few things well. Then there are the companies that do everything well.

Of the five categories that go into the Management Top 250, a ranking compiled by the Drucker Institute of the most effectively run major U.S. companies, only 16 pure-play retailers make the list. wsj.com

Special Note: WSJ lists Apple and Amazon in the Technology sector and both lead the whole group of 250, ranking #1 and #2 respectively.

In every state, the minimum wage is lower than what residents want, study says
The United States has one of the lowest minimum wages of the world's wealthy nations. It may come as no surprise, then, that minimum wage increases are popular with voters.

"On average, state minimum wages are set at a level approximately two dollars per hour lower than the wage state residents would prefer," the researchers found. In 2018 alone, minimum wage increases went into effect in at least 18 states. washingtonpost.com

Robots to Clean 360 Walmart Floors By 1/30 - Night crews just got smaller

Consumer Spending Hits Largest Gain in 7 Months in October - Does it translate into Strong Q4

Canadian Retailer "Showcase" Plans 1,000 U.S. Stores Over 5 to 7 Yrs.

McDonald's Accepts RFID Payments in Brazil

Securing High-End Retail Stores

Quarterly Results
Game Stop Q3 comp's up 2.1%, sales up 4.8%
Citi Trends Q3 comp's up 0.6%, sales down 0.9%

Last week's #1 article --

GNC Wipes Out Vice President of Loss Prevention
Plans to close 700 to 900 stores over next three years of its 4,300 store base in North America. post-gazette.com

All the News - One Place - One Source - One Time
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and doesn't filter retail's reality

Spotlight on Agilence

Holiday Season Cyberattacks On Pace to Escalate 60%
States Carbon Black's Threat Analysis Unit (TAU) in this year's "Holiday Threat Report." Analysts considered the 2017 season for comparison: After Thanksgiving, notable security alerts spiked on Black Friday/Cyber Monday and continued at elevated levels through year's end.

Most criminals aim to capitalize on the shopping frenzy that is the holiday season, and methods vary from victim to victim. Consumers are hit with fake delivery notices in phishing emails and credit card fraud; brands are targeted with malvertising campaigns and watering-hole attacks.

Think you're safe after Christmas? Think again. The high point for seasonal crime happens in the days following Dec. 25, when people are taking advantage of post-holiday deals.

Here, cybercrime experts describe the threats that are top of mind for them during this year's holiday season. Read on to learn more about what you and your employees should watch for. "Holiday Threat Report" darkreading.com

GDPR Implementation Costs Enterprises More than Expected
Six months after the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) went into effect, enterprises are finding that privacy regulation is costing more than anticipated. Forty-one percent of respondents to a Verasec survey said that their companies are paying more than anticipated to comply.

Even when costs were accurately estimated, compliance is still challenging; 59 percent of respondents said their companies were not in compliance with GDPR, even six months after the May 25, 2018 deadline.

Respondents’ biggest concern with GDPR in general has been ensuring all employees comply with the rules (41 percent); 24 percent are worried about being assessed fines for non-compliance, and 19 percent are concerned about educating non-EU employees on the regulation. Just 16 percent feared losing revenues or customers due to GDPR.

Nearly one in four respondents not currently under GDPR control feel that adopting the regulations will prepare them for expansion into Europe. securitymagazine.com

Retailers Make Big Strides In Offering Clear Unsubscribe Links & Honoring the Requests
A survey of North America's top 200 retailers released this week by the Internet Society's Online Trust Alliance found they have made great progress in managing emails on their websites. In fact, 84% of retailers have clear and conspicuous unsubscribe links on their websites, says Jeff Wilbur, the OTA's technical director.

Now in its fifth year, the "2018 Email Marketing & Unsubscribe Audit" also found 100% of the retailers use authentication tools like SPF and DKIM, 71% have DMARC records, and another 35% use DMARC enforcement. All of these tools have become generally accepted in the security industry for tracking and stopping email spoofing.

Another good number, according to Wilbur, is that 89% of retailers said they stop sending messages right after an unsubscribe request was submitted, as opposed to the permitted 10-day period. darkreading.com

3 ways Mastercard uses AI to fight fraud
Mastercard leans on cutting-edge AI tools to combat cybersecurity threats at a time when the world is moving toward digital payments facilitated by contextual commerce.

Credit card giant Mastercard envisions a future where consumers make purchases not only from smartphones, but via virtual assistants, cars and other connected machines. But with hackers trolling the dark corners of the web to grab financial gain with minimal effort, Mastercard must also be able to vet and secure purchases in mere milliseconds.

To facilitate its vision for a veritable Cambrian explosion in digital payments, Mastercard is using sophisticated fraud analytics systems and software, which is being increasingly augmented with artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, Ed McLaughlin, president of operations and technology at Mastercard, tells CIO.com. AI can help software and connected systems facilitate more secure payments than a human checking out at a kiosk using the traditional plastic card — even one with a chip embedded in it. cio.com

Microsoft: New breakthroughs in combating tech support scams
India Raids 16 Call-Centers Arrests 39 so far - Tech Support Scam Targeting U.S. & Canada
On Nov. 27 and 28, over 100 local India law enforcement officials from Gurgaon and Noida raided 16 call center locations identified as engaged in tech support fraud by Microsoft, resulting in 39 arrests so far. These call center operations fraudulently represented themselves as affiliated with a number of respected companies including Microsoft, Apple, Google, Dell and HP. The New York Times reports that Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Pal Sharma stated “the scammers had extracted money from thousands of victims, most of whom were American or Canadian.” Microsoft alone has received over 7,000 victim reports associated with these 16 locations from over 15 countries.

In addition to making referrals to law enforcement based on this data, we are building what we learn about cybercriminals’ behavior into improved products and services for consumers. Microsoft has built-in protection in Windows 10 which includes more security features, safer authentication and ongoing updates delivered for the supported lifetime of a device. microsoft.com

Pennsylvania High Court Finds Duty to Safeguard Employee Information
Use of adequate security measures including proper encryption, adequate firewalls, & authentication protocols
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court handed the state’s employees a major legal victory last week when it decided that employers have an affirmative legal responsibility to protect the confidential information of its employees.

In reversing two lower courts, the justices ruled that, by collecting and storing employee’s personal information as a pre-condition to employment, employers had the legal duty to take reasonable steps to protect that information from a cyber-attack. “[A]n employer has a legal duty to exercise reasonable care to safeguard its employees’ sensitive personal information stored by the employer on an internet-accessible computer system,”

Whether the ruling is viewed narrowly as confined to its facts, or more broadly as establishing a general legal duty to safeguard confidential information, there is little question that the decision marks an important development in tort law governing data breach cases. jdsupra.com

Top 5 Ways to Identify and Address Insider Threats

Espionage, ID theft? Myriad risks from stolen Marriott data

'Live in Dallas' 2018 at NRF Protect
#5 Most Watched

Loss Prevention Leadership in a Digital Age

Becoming a subject matter expert in your field is an important first step at each position you reach in your career. After that, it all boils down to developing your leadership skills, which is critical in reaching the senior level and staying there.

Shannon Hunter, VP, Loss Prevention & Sustainability, Office Depot has been recognized and promoted over the years by focusing not only on his technical skills but on his leadership skills as well. Here, he shares the leadership traits that have helped him the most throughout his career.

Note: At the time of this filming, Shannon was Sr. Director of LP & Safety for Office Depot, prior to his promotion to VP of LP & Sustainability.

Episode Sponsored By:

Watch the full 'Live in Dallas' video series here.

e-commerce
Sponsored by The Zellman Group

Amazon may want to identify burglars with facial recognition tech
An Amazon patent application sheds light on a way to monitor neighborhoods with a doorbell camera that could alert homeowners and police of suspicious activities and people.

The patent application, which was made public on the United States Patent and Trademark Office website Thursday, describes how a network of cameras could work together with facial recognition technology to identify people, and respond accordingly.

Amazon's application says the process leads to safer, more connected neighborhoods, as well as better informed homeowners and law enforcement.

The application describes creating a database of suspicious persons. Unwanted visitors would be added to the list when a homeowner tags them as not authorized. Other people could be added to the database because they are a convicted felon or registered sex offender, according to the application. Residents may also alert neighbors of a suspicious person's presence.

But some people, such as a mail courier, could be placed on an authorized persons list. Postal service logos could be used to help identify them.

The patent describes the neighborhood surveillance system as an opt-in service. cnn.com

Amazon Eyes Blockchain
An announcement Wednesday (November 28) said AWS is launching Amazon Quantum Ledger Database, as well as Amazon Managed Blockchain – solutions that Amazon Web Services CEO Andy Jassy said are “something that a lot of companies need.”

AWS’s Amazon QLDB solution is described as “a transparent, immutable and cryptographically verifiable ledger” for applications that need a way to secure transaction records. The solution is designed to strengthen the security and transparency of corporate transactions as they relate to finances, insurance, HR, supply chain or manufacturing, the company explained, pointing to the ability for a company to trace items as it moves through a supply chain as one potential application of the tool. The solution allows one entity to own the ledger, but allow other organizations to access the data on it. pymnts.com

3 tips for increasing e‑commerce security during the holidays
To step up security efforts for the holidays, merchants should begin by considering the following three tips:

● Ask vendors the right questions. Sellers should investigate whether their e-commerce and fulfillment platforms are Level 1 PCI compliant across touchpoints, including for mobile. The depth of third-party security integrations also deserves a close look. Available upgrades or updates should also be undertaken now to ensure any and all security patches are in place.

● Adopt best practices for customer-facing security features. Merchants should message data safety across all touchpoints with third-party certifications and links to privacy statements. Implementation of alternative payment methods enables shoppers to skip entry of credit card information. Sellers should also test their mobile presentations to ensure messaging remains prominent on smaller screens. A good example of this would be a company whose mobile site highlights “secure checkout” and prominently promotes alternative payments from the cart onwards.

● Proactively establish customer service channels for fraud claims. Merchants should incorporate language on the customer service section of their site that explains how to dispute charges and purchases. They should also have plans on standby for reaching customers proactively in the event of a data breach. digitalcommerce360.com

How keeping Bonobos separate helps Walmart build online-only brands

"Fraud is not a person - it is a dynamic grouping of statistics that deviate from the norm."
Stuart B. Levine, CFI, CFCI
CEO, The Zellman Group & Zelligent

ORC News
Sponsored by Auror

Dearborn, MI: Police bust major retail fraud ring allegedly responsible for years of crime
Police have taken down a major retail fraud ring allegedly responsible for years of committing crimes throughout metro Detroit. Beverly Jo Sassin, 70, 38-year-old Amanda Lynn Mosed and 49-year-old Jodie Beth Welbes have each been charged with eight felony counts by the Wayne Co. Prosecutors Office. Christopher Bucannion, 45, is also charged with the same eight felonies plus two additional firearms charges. According to police, evidence recovered includes guns, cash, liquor, coffee, video game machines, Red Bull energy drinks and other items. The retail fraud happened at several major stores. wxyz.com

Bethlehem, PA: Two allegedly try to steal $3,300 worth of products from Northampton County Walmart
Police were called for a report of a retail theft around 11:30 p.m. Friday. A witness told police she saw a man and woman loading a car with multiple items. When officers arrived they saw a man trying to tie down a small refrigerator and a sound bar to the roof of his Saturn. The inside of the car was filled with multiple TV's, electronic items, clothing, jewelry, shoes and toys. Officers saw three security cameras showing Boniela and Atkinson in the store for several hours making several trips out of the store with the stolen merchandise. mcall.com

Lafayette, LA: Four arrested in $13,000 ORC Grab & Dash
On November 20, 2018 Detectives with the Lafayette Police Department Criminal Investigations Division arrested four suspects who have been linked to on-going investigations within the recent months valued at over $13,000. The group traveled to retail stores around the Lafayette area conducting “grab and dash” thefts. After the thefts, the suspects would post their stolen items on-line or on their social media accounts for sale. During a recent incident, one of the suspects produced pepper spray to use against store employee who tried to prevent the theft. kadn.com

Fairview Heights, IL: $3,000 of Victoria’s Secret merchandise recovered; 2 women arrested for Robbery
The manager of the Victoria’s Secret Pink store told officers that two women walked around the store, picked up several pieces of clothing and attempted to conceal the items. When a store employee approached, the women threatened the clerk with pepper spray and fled with the merchandise. fox2now.com

Cherokee County, GA: ATF offers reward in Gun Store Burglary; 127 weapons and silencers stolen

Elmhurst, IL: $4,000 of Apple iPhones stolen in early morning Burglary

Millburn, NJ: 3 Arrested for Thefts at Short Hills, over $2,000 of merchandise recovered from Macy’s and Sephora

Newark, DE: Police going Undercover to Stop Shoplifting

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Shootings, Stabbings & Deaths

McKeesport, PA: Auto Shop Owner shop and killed by irate customer
Officials have identified a McKeesport auto business owner who was fatally shot Friday afternoon by an upset customer, and police have charged the suspected gunman. John Benedek, 41, of Elizabeth, was pronounced dead at 3:40 p.m. at UPMC McKeesport hospital. Eben Brown, 46, of McKeesport, surrendered at the McKeesport Police station, claiming he shot Benedek, officials said. triblive.com

Hartford, CT: Armed robbery suspect fatally shot by customer
Police said Torrance Battle, 44, was fatally wounded by a customer who was carrying a licensed gun when Torrance and another masked man allegedly began beating employees during an the attempted armed robbery Friday evening at Route 69 Auto Sales and Service. courant.com

Memphis, TN: Victim identified after deadly shooting outside C-store
Police have identified the man who was shot and killed outside a Memphis grocery store. Michael Norfleet, 40, was found dead in the parking lot of 2-Star Grocery in Frayser around 9 p.m. Friday. Officers ruled it a homicide, but they are still searching for the person responsible. fox13memphis.com

Washington, DC: Whole Foods Cashier shot during attempted Robbery; suspect in custody
Police say one person was shot after an attempted robbery inside a Whole Foods along the busy H Street Corridor on Sunday morning. D.C. police said 28-year-old Michael Whatley, Jr. was arrested Sunday and charged with assault with intent to rob while armed. Police say the suspect entered the location and approached a cashier, demanding money. He then brandished a handgun and a struggle ensued. During the struggle, the handgun went off, striking the cashier. The suspect then fled. The victim, an adult male, sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to the hospital. wusa9.com

Memphis, TN: O’Reilly Auto Parts employee shot during Armed Robbery
According to Memphis Police, the shooting happened after 7:00 a.m. Sunday at the O’Reilly Auto Parts store on Summer Avenue. Memphis Police has released surveillance video. The victim is expected to be okay. localmemphis.com

Commack, NY: Gun Scare at Long Island Walmart Sends Customers Running For Exits
The Commack Walmart was evacuated Sunday afternoon after a five men staged a fight, sparking fears of a shooting. Initial reports of an active shooter at the store sent customers running for the exits. According to Suffolk County Police, multiple Suffolk County Police officers and New York State Police responded to the Walmart after receiving 911 calls regarding an active shooter inside the store at 12:50 p.m. Sunday. Upon arrival, officers determined there were no shots fired or weapons involved. patch.com

Harrison Township, OH: 2 Men shot, one killed inside Beverage Store

Miami, FL: 5 Men injured in Liquor Store Drive-by shooting

Robberies, Incidents & Thefts

Stanislaus County, CA: He kept Robbing Home Depot stores in Stanislaus County
He’s going to prison. A 31-year-old Modesto man has been sentenced to four years in prison for stealing from Home Depot stores in Stanislaus County this past summer. Authorities say Corey Wayne Smith is suspected of committing other thefts at Home Depot stores. But he pleaded no contest to only two counts of robbery in connection with thefts at Home Depot stores in Riverbank and Ceres. After Smith entered his no-contest plea Tuesday, Stanislaus Superior Court Judge Thomas Zeff sentenced Smith to four years in prison. modbee.com

Durham, NC: Police searching for man who drove into Streets at Southpoint mall, robbed Jewelry store
Authorities said around 5:30 a.m., the suspect drove a stolen white and red pickup truck into the mall and through the entry of Fink’s Jewelers. It is unknown how much jewelry was taken. abc11.com

Memphis, TN: Protest at Wolfchase Galleria over Hoodie Policy; no charges will be filed against 3 men arrested last month

Wheeling, WV: 3 Arrested in Knifepoint Armed Robbery at Domino’s

Harris County, TX: Smash-and-grab robbers target 3 ATMs in one night

Nashville, TN: Suspect in multiple armed robberies of Cellphone and C-Stores arrested

Plainfield Township, MI: Two 17-year-olds have been arrested in connection to a string of cellphone store robberies

Los Angeles, CA: 2 Men Wanted: Armed Robbers Hitting Shopping Center Parking Lots In LA, Culver City

Durham, NC: String of Armed Robberies; 13 possibly linked robberies in past 2 weeks

Bakersfield, CA: IKEA Distribution Center Employees seriously injured in fire sparked by electrical panel

Lexington, KY: Kroger Open Again After Bomb Scare

Kay Jewelers in the Hillsdale Mall, San Mateo, CA reported a Grab & Run on 11/30, item valued at $6,498

Kays Outlet in the Ellenton Premium Outlets, Ellenton, FL reported a Burglary on 12/2, items value TBD

Kay Jewelers in the Towne West Mall, Wichita, KS reported a Grab & Run on 11/29, items valued at $2,918

Piercing Pagoda in the Cottonwood Mall, Albuquerque, NM reported an Attempted Burglary on 11/30, no loss reported

Piercing Pagoda in the Topanga Canyon Mall, Canoga Park, CA reported a Grab & Run on 11/26, items valued at $1,968

Piercing Pagoda in the Westfield San Francisco Centre, San Francisco, CA reported a Grab & Run on 11/30, item valued at $649

Piercing Pagoda in the Natick Mall, Natick, MA reported a Distraction Theft on 11/29, item valued at $599

Zales in the Mall of America, Bloomington, MN reported a Grab & Run on 11/29, item valued at $450

Sentencings & Charges

6th Member of Armenian Gas Station Skimming Crew Gets 4.5 Yrs

Two Hungarian's Sentenced - Stolen Debit Card's at ATM's in New Orleans - Get 2 Yrs each

San Jose, CA: Norteno gang member sentenced to prison for serial robbery; including $800,000 Armed Robbery from Zales

Fall River, MA: Former jail guard gets 4 years for committing 2 robberies

San Francisco, CA: Armed Robber who hit 6 San Francisco CVS and Walgreens stores sentenced to 14 years in prison

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AP District Leader - Rite Aid - Dayton, OH
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Manager of District LP - Dick's Sporting Goods - Atlanta, GA
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