D&D Daily Mobile Edition

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

12/7/23

D-Ddaily.net

Genetec shares guidance for retailers on protecting against organized retail crime this holiday season

Technology advances focus on prevention and evidence-gathering

MONTRÉAL, November 16, 2023— The U.S. National Retail Foundation (NRF) reports that its members have once again cited organized retail crime (ORC) as one of the biggest threats to their business. Genetec Inc. (“Genetec”), a leading technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence solutions, today shared guidance with retailers on protecting their customers, staff, and business as they head into the holiday shopping season.

Bolder tactics lead to new mitigation approaches

Retailers are modernizing their security stance. The NRF study notes that in addition to bringing ORC teams on board, 44% of retailers surveyed have increased their use of technology to make it more difficult for criminals to steal items and to gather evidence that helps law enforcement catch and prosecute perpetrators.

Balancing item lockdowns with customer experience

While retailers continue to move items from open shelves to traditional lock-and-key cases, they’re also experimenting with new technologies. One solution retailers are exploring is securing cases with wireless access control locks connected to their unified Genetec™ Security Center system. This deployment lets customers press a button to alert a store associate via the Genetec Mobile app that they’d like to open a case. Video confirms the request, and the store employee can unlock the case remotely. It is then automatically re-locked after the customer has removed the item.

Gathering evidence to apprehend and prosecute

Retailers are taking steps to gather evidence and increasing their collaboration with law enforcement and prosecutors to help lead to the arrest and conviction of ORC gangs. Technology, including predictive analytics, automatic license plate readers (ALPR), body-worn cameras, and video evidence sharing platforms, can help coordinate efforts and lead to successful prosecution of these perpetrators. Deploying a unified security platform like Genetec Security Center to tie these technologies together helps retailers streamline monitoring and response.

A unified platform also enables tools like Genetec Transaction Finder, which can help retailers quickly identify suspicious transactions by combining point-of-sale systems with corresponding video captured by surveillance cameras and offering exception-based reporting tools.

Read more here

Everon acquires Kentucky-based Newtech Systems

Acquisition marks the first M&A activity for Everon since launching as a standalone company, deepening presence across four states

Boca Raton, Fla., Dec. 6, 2023 – Everon, also known as ADT Commercial ("ADT Commercial" or the “Company”), a leading security integrator and premier provider of commercial security, fire and life safety in the U.S., announced today the purchase of Newtech Systems, based out of Ashland, KY. This marks the first M&A activity for Everon since its establishment as a standalone organization with GTCR’s acquisition in October, and makes steps towards delivering on the company’s objectives for growth and geographic expansion.

Read more in today's Vendor Spotlight column below

The U.S. Crime Surge
The Retail Impact

Philly Police Predict 20% Surge in Retail Crime This Holiday Season
Macy's deadly stabbing has city officials focusing on holiday retail crime

Philadelphia dealing with retail crime during "high holdup" season
Macy's reopened Wednesday, two days after a stabbing inside the iconic Center City store killed a security guard and critically injured a colleague.

Why it matters: Officials say violent crime and homicides are overall down this year. But Philadelphia has seen a steady rise in retail theft in recent years, an Axios analysis shows.

Driving the news: The suspect in the stabbing faces multiple charges, including murder, attempted murder and retail theft, prosecutors said at a news conference Tuesday.

The big picture: The stabbing comes as Philadelphia law enforcement officials look to combat an overall increase in retail crime — and a projected 20% uptick in these crimes during the 2023 holiday season, per an analysis of police data.

By the numbers: Citywide retail thefts rose more than 50% in 2022, up to 14,255 from 9,371 in 2021, per police data. The number of overall reported retail thefts in 2023 is up about 29% from the same time last year.

Between the lines: Fewer people are being arrested and prosecuted for retail crimes under the progressive Krasner. Only 409 people have been arrested for retail theft in 2023 compared to more than 1,700 in 2013, per the Inquirer.

Zoom in: Philadelphia has already had more than 1,760 reported retail thefts during this year's holiday season (Oct. 30-Dec. 3), an average of 353 per week. If that keeps pace over the next three weeks, the city will eclipse 2,800 retail thefts by Christmas compared with more than 2,300 by the same time in 2022, per our analysis.

What we're watching: Krasner said his office has asked City Council for additional funding to create a task force to target "prolific" retail thieves and fencers. axios.com

RELATED: Philly leaders announce focus on shoplifters in wake of Macy's stabbing

Another City Fighting Surging ORC
Organized retail theft rings appearing more aggressive
Organized retail theft is on the rise as the holiday season gets underway, and we've learned it’s a felony being prosecuted more than ever in Maricopa County. The number of organized retail theft cases submitted to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) has already surpassed last year’s total.

"Other states have chosen not to prosecute below a certain amount. We have not done that here, so not only will we prosecute, but we will put the amounts together, ask for a bond, and require prison time if appropriate," Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said.

Her office has received 324 cases of organized retail theft from law enforcement agencies this year, and the holiday season is not over. In 2022, MCAO received 301 cases. In November 2023 alone, there were 22 cases sentenced for retail theft.

Mike Huckins is the senior VP of the Greater Phoenix Chamber, which represents 2,400 businesses. "Organized retail theft is definitely on their minds, especially as more and more shoppers frequent stores at this busy time of year for holiday shoppers," he said.

Retired Arizona DPS Capt. Stephen Enteman is a security specialist. He says retail theft suspects are becoming more aggressive.

"Retail organizations are trying to employ off-duty police. They obviously turn to the private security world, too. But there are still shortages when it comes to that. So, when you have this increased demand for services, you're also having a hard time meeting those services," Enteman said. fox10phoenix.com

Some Parts of the Country See Progress on Crime - But Not Everywhere
Back to normal? Not for WA when it comes to crime
Other states and cities are heading in the right direction, with major drops in homicide and other violent crimes. In fact in 2023 so far, the biggest cities are seeing “one of the largest homicide declines ever recorded nationally,” a drop of more than 12%, said Jeff Asher, of AH Datalytics, a crime analysis firm.

But conspicuously, not here. “Seattle has had a sizable increase in murders,” he said — up 19% so far compared with last year, which itself was the worst for homicides in 25 years. Shootings are on roughly the same pace as in 2022 — though that year was the worst by far since Seattle began tracking shots fired in 2012.

Compared with before the pandemic, Washington is now a different world crimewise, suggested Marshall Clement of the Council of State Governments. He presented a new report showing that since 2019, the violent crime rate has risen more here, 26%, than in any state except Colorado.

Homicide statewide is up 89% since pre-pandemic, one shocking slide showed.

“You can see that Washington is unlike a lot of states,” he understated as he showed a map of crime changes, with Washington standing out as a dark purple blotch (lighter was better).

Most of the theories related back to 2020, to the dislocations of both the pandemic and the anti-police movement following the killing of George Floyd. Police staffing dropped, the social safety net unraveled, gun sales soared, schools and other community institutions were shuttered, and so on.

Two of the experts fixated on a much simpler issue: Police aren’t solving as many crimes as they used to. seattletimes.com

LPRs Continue to Be Used as Crime-Fighting Tool
License plate readers to be installed in South Baltimore to help curb crime
Carjackings are plaguing the city at an alarming rate, so the South Baltimore Peninsula is getting ready to crack down on crime. The peninsula is trying a different tactic to crack down on crime. Several neighborhood associations partnered with local and state leaders to install license plate readers, which neighbors in the community think could keep them safe.

License plate readers will be installed from Hanover Street to Locust Point, including the Riverside community in-between. He tells us in the South Baltimore Peninsula area they have a lot of transient crimes where people will come to the area, commit a crime, and then leave.

According to an interactive map our media partner the Baltimore Banner created, Riverside experienced about 294 auto thefts per 10,000 residents in the past three years. The hope is to have the reader capture vehicle information that could help police form more leads, to tackle cases of car theft and carjackings.

"This is a big win in the community and it has been many years in the making," Dewberry said. "And if it wasn't for community associations throughout South Baltimore coming together to create a comprehensive plan this wouldn't be possible."

This effort is being fueled by a grant from the state's Housing and Community Department. cbsnews.com

Regional Sting Operations Continue to Derail Theft Crews Across Calif.
Sacramento Sheriff’s Office combats retail theft through Operation Bad Elf
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office recovered stolen merchandise worth tens of thousands of dollars and made 285 felony and misdemeanor arrests through an undercover sting operation known as Operation Bad Elf.

“The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office has recently concluded a highly successful week-long operation to combat retail theft across the region,” the sheriff’s office said in a press release. “Focusing on popular retail establishments such as Target, Walgreens, and Walmart, the operation was a strategic effort to address the rising concerns surrounding theft and its impact on local businesses and communities.”

Deputies and detectives from the Sheriff’s Centralized Investigations Bureau said they collaborated to identify, track, and apprehend individuals involved in retail theft. The operation, which took place over the course of a week, utilized both uniformed and plain clothes officers “strategically positioned within targeted retail locations.”

Sacramento Sheriff Jim Cooper emphasized the importance of safeguarding businesses and ensuring the safety of community members.

“Retail theft not only affects the businesses directly but also has a ripple effect on our communities,” Cooper said. “By addressing this issue head-on, we are sending a clear message that criminal activities will not be tolerated, and our community’s safety remains our top priority.” fox40.com

Prosecutors Taking Tougher Approach to Retail Crime
Jackson County prosecutor targets retail theft on Country Club Plaza with new approach
This winter, every business on the Country Club Plaza received a letter from Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Jean Peters Baker.

The letter explained her approach and offered to help stop retail theft, detailing they must improve solving and prosecuting property crimes. Their new strategy targets retail theft and will begin with addressing the problem on the County Club Plaza.

Her goal is to boost clearance and prosecution success. Peters Baker said the new approach is proactive. Her office is reviewing surveillance videos — looking into potential cases before they are even cases. kshb.com

Organized ID Theft Gangs Continuing Their rampage
Bay Area postal workers are being robbed of essential keys. Thousands are now at risk
It’s the latest example of what officials called a growing threat to mail carriers that continues to jeopardize mail and package deliveries across the region.

Grand Rapids police to use virtual reality to recreate crime scenes for training

There have been more mass shootings than days in 2023, database shows

Dallas event addresses fentanyl crisis in North Texas

The Rise of 'Partial Shrink' - Driven By Self-Checkout?
Self-checkout theft is a bigger problem than you may have thought

An earlier survey found nearly one in seven shoppers have intentionally stolen from self-checkout.

There are several reasons retailers are fans of self-checkout, chief among them — higher sales. The additional revenue, however, comes with a particular cost: higher rates of missing inventory, or shrink, in industry parlance.

Traditionally, there have been just two types of people carrying products out of a store — shoppers who paid for all of their stuff, and shoplifters who paid for none of it. Self-checkout has given rise to a hybrid of the two: shoppers who pay for some or most of their purchase, but not all of it.

Partial shrink, as it's called, is now the most common — and costly — type of shoplifting, according to Grabango, a startup that provides checkout-free tech for retailers.

In a recent analysis, the company tracked nearly 5,000 transactions with computer vision to see what shoppers ultimately ended up paying for. Unsurprisingly, the study found that shoplifters are more likely to get goods past a machine than a human. What is surprising is that they were 21 times more likely.

In some cases, this means simply not scanning an item, but it also includes keying in the code for a cheaper item instead of the proper one. The data show that just 0.3% of staffed check-lane transactions had instances of partial shrink, while that rate soared to 6.7% at the self-checkout kiosks.

In fact, one in five shoppers say they've accidentally taken an item from self-checkout without paying for it, according to an earlier survey from LendingTree. Less than a third of those respondents said they brought the item back to the store.

Remarkably, nearly one in seven shoppers admitted to having purposely stolen items at self-checkout, and nearly half of those said they would do it again, LendingTree found. businessinsider.com

More Retailers Embrace Facial Recognition as Consumer Interest Spikes
Consumers Embrace Facial Biometrics Despite Privacy Concerns
As biometric authentication, and notably facial recognition technology, continues its rapid advancement, heightened concerns about privacy and ethical implications have reignited global discourse.

Despite these concerns, a significant number of U.S. consumers continue to embrace biometric authentication tools. According to a study conducted by PYMNTS Intelligence and AWS, more than half of consumers who completed online purchases used biometric authentication to validate their transactions.

These include facial recognition and fingerprint scans, the two most popular biometric methods adopted by 28% and 49% of consumers, respectively. The study also revealed that nearly 60% of facial recognition users use the method more than once weekly.

This consumer interest in biometrics has led to more retailers embracing facial recognition technology. Last month, Mastercard and NEC announced they were joining forces to bring biometric checkout to the Asia Pacific region, where 82% of consumers use at least one form of biometrics already, with the average consumer reporting they use three types, per Mastercard data.

The partnership, announced Nov. 14, combines NEC’s facial recognition and liveness verification technology with Mastercard’s payment operations to help consumers speed through in-store checkout, PYMNTS reported.

“As retailing environments continue to evolve and choices in ways to pay rapidly expand, biometric solutions offer a seamless, quick and secure checkout, without needing to unlock a phone or insert a PIN,” Ajay Bhalla, president, Cyber and Intelligence Solutions, Mastercard, said in a news release.

“Face verification will make it easier and more convenient for our customers to check out efficiently — without having to reach for their wallets,” Bernardo Perloiro, chief operating officer, GCC at Majid Futtaim Retail, said at the time. pymnts.com

Retailers Continue to Grapple With Return Policies
Should Retailers Embrace ‘Keep It’ Return Policies?
According to the “Returns Report: 2023 Holiday Predictions” report from returns services firm goTRG, 59% of surveyed retailers are offering “keep it” policies for returns that aren’t financially viable to ship back this holiday season, up from 26% a year ago.

The survey of over 500 U.S.-based retailers found that the tactic is especially common for low-cost items as the expenses of shipping and processing often surpass their worth. Of the retailers surveyed, 27% deem items priced up to $20 as suitable for “keep it” — also called “returnless” — policies.

GoTRG added in the study, “This strategy not only curtails logistical expenses but also bolsters customer loyalty and trust.”

The increased use of “keep it” policies comes as retailers have been increasingly charging fees for returns, incentivizing in-store returns, and taking other steps to reduce the escalating costs tied to online returns.

The “keep it” practice gained attention in 2017 when Amazon.com introduced “returnless refunds” as an option for marketplace sellers. At the time, Amazon said the feature was “highly requested” by sellers wanting to avoid the time and cost of managing returns shipping and processing for items that would be hard to resell. Processing returns can often range between 20% and 65% of the cost of goods sold, according to UPS.

A survey from returns technology provider Narvar found that 75% of customers have been offered a “keep the item” return at least once in their shopping lifetime, and “most frequently cite Amazon, Walmart, Target, Wayfair, Chewy, Kohl’s, and SHEIN as common benefactors.” retailwire.com

Ongoing Macy's Negotiations Demanding Raises & Crime Solutions
Macy’s Workers Get Ready for a Pre-Christmas Contract Negotiation
Retail workers across the state of Washington are getting ready to go to the bargaining table with Macy’s just before Christmas and a raise isn’t all they’re asking for.

During Black Friday, hundreds of Macy’s workers from stores at Westfield’s Southcenter mall, Alderwood Mall in Lynwood, and Bellis Fair mall in Bellingham went on strike for three days. The strike was voted on by workers in early October with a 96% approval vote if Macy’s didn’t offer substantial improvements during their November bargaining sessions.

Aside from dollar raises, workers are asking for Macy’s to do more when it comes to crime. “The one sentence we want to see is that we are able to call the police without retribution from our employer,” said Liisa Luick, a union shop steward who will be at the bargaining table alongside her union, UFCW 3000, representing the interest of Macy’s workers.

UFCW 3000 represents more than 50,000 workers in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho in industries that include retail, cannabis, health care, and grocery stores. southseattleemerald.com

Panera Bread facing a 2nd wrongful death lawsuit after a man had a cardiac arrest following drinking its caffeinated 'charged' lemonade
Panera Bread has been hit with a second wrongful death lawsuit related to its caffeinated "charged" lemonade. "Based on our investigation we believe his unfortunate passing was not caused by one of the company's products," Panera said in a media statement, per Nation's Restaurant News. "We view this lawsuit, which was filed by the same law firm as a previous claim, to be equally without merit. Panera stands firmly by the safety of our products." businessinsider.com

McDonald’s aims to open 9,000 restaurants, add 100M loyalty members by 2027

Yum! Brands’ KFC to acquire 218 restaurants

All the News - One Place - One Source - One Time

Thanks to our sponsors/partners - Take the time to thank them as well please. If it wasn't for them The Daily wouldn't be here every day for you.

Everon™ acquires Kentucky-based Newtech Systems

Acquisition marks the first M&A activity for Everon since launching as a standalone company, deepening presence across four states

Boca Raton, Fla., Dec. 6, 2023 – Everon, also known as ADT Commercial ("ADT Commercial" or the “Company”), a leading security integrator and premier provider of commercial security, fire and life safety in the U.S., announced today the purchase of Newtech Systems, based out of Ashland, KY. This marks the first M&A activity for Everon since its establishment as a standalone organization with GTCR’s acquisition in October, and makes steps towards delivering on the company’s objectives for growth and geographic expansion.

“This is a huge moment for Everon, and we’re so excited that we get to share it with the very talented employees and leaders at Newtech Systems as we welcome them to our organization,” said Dan Bresingham, Chief Executive Officer. “We’ve said that Everon will be about growth – growth in our capabilities, in our people, and in our service area – all with the goal of serving our commercial customers better and more completely. And today’s news proves that. For nearly half a century, the leaders at Newtech have proven to have the same appetite for excellence that we do, and we’re looking forward to continued success alongside them across the region and market.”

A family owned and operated business established in 2006 with a history that dates back to 1954, Newtech Systems has solidified its reputation as one of the leading and most respected systems integrators in the region. Its headquarters is located in Ashland, KY, with additional offices in Lexington, KY; Columbus, OH; Pittsburgh, PA; and Dunbar, WV. With hundreds of years of combined team experience, Newtech Systems offers a comprehensive portfolio of services and solutions to commercial environments, including expertise in video surveillance, access control, intrusion detection, healthcare communications, and fire alarm systems.

“At Newtech, our commitment to our customers is what drives us, and we recognize that same drive in Everon,” said Tom Kibler, Vice President and General Manager, Newtech Systems. “We’re excited to grow our expertise and reach in the region as part of Everon, and continue building on that culture of trust that we’ve been developing over decades.”

Everon was built over the last decade by some of the most trusted names in commercial security. In that time, teams remained focused on providing comprehensive, scalable solutions to address the unique needs of mid-market, national and large-scale organizations, and established a new industry standard for customer-driven service excellence and delivery. With GTCR’s acquisition of ADT Commercial in October 2023, Everon has emerged as an innovator and service excellence champion protecting commercial people, property, and assets across industries.

Payments Vendor Under Attack?
Payments Giant Tipalti: No Ransomware Breach, No Threat to Roblox

BlackCat/ALPHV claims it has had access to the payments technology vendor's systems since September, and threatens follow-on attacks on its customer Roblox.

Contrary to reported claims from notorious ransomware group BlackCat/ALPH, financial technology vendor Tipalti said its investigation has turned up no evidence of a breach so far.

Dark Web Informer shared a screenshot of a purported Dark Web post from BlackCat/ALPHV on social media, which claimed the gang has maintained persistent access to Tipalti's systems since Sept. 8. Further, it bragged it has exfiltrated mass amounts of data and threatened to go after Tipalti's customer Roblox. The post said it was a Tipalti insider that helped the ransomware group gain access.

To add a bit of intellectual heft to the extortion, the post quotes a piece of research from 2022 by Josiah Dykstra, arguing the benefits of paying a ransom demand, citing the "opportunity cost of action bias in cybersecurity incident response."

It's safe to say the publication didn't persuade Tipalti to rush into negotiations. Instead, the payment-processing vendor said that it hasn't seen any proof of the ransomware group's claims.

"Tipalti takes the security of our systems and data very seriously and has strong security protocols and tools in place," a company spokesperson tells Dark Reading. darkreading.com

Online Advertisements Infecting Victims
Microsoft warns of Cactus ransomware actors using malvertising to infect victims
Hackers are using malware distributed through online advertisements to infect victims with Cactus ransomware, according to new research.

In a warning published on Friday, researchers at Microsoft said that the ransomware actor behind the campaign — which Microsoft calls Storm-0216 but others refer to as Twisted Spider and UNC2198 — had “received handoffs from Qakbot operators” before that group’s infrastructure was taken down in August by law enforcement. As a result, Storm-0216 has pivoted to using Danabot malware for initial access to victims.

“The current Danabot campaign, first observed in November, appears to be using a private version of the info-stealing malware instead of the malware-as-a-service offering,” Microsoft said.

“Danabot collects user credentials and other info that it sends to command and control, followed by lateral movement via Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) sign-in attempts, eventually leading to a handoff to Storm-0216.” therecord.media

Malicious App Stealing Users' Info & Blackmailing Them
SpyLoan Malicious App Downloaded 12M+ Times in Google Play

The fake financial app tricks users into signing up for high-interest payments, only to steal their information and blackmail them.

A variety of malicious loan apps, under the name SpyLoan, have been downloaded more than 12 million times in 2023 from Google Play, the official app store for Android.

That's according to ESET researchers, who said that the apps' overall download tally is likely much higher, as the apps are also available on third-party app stores and other websites.

SpyLoan falsely presents itself as a legitimate financial service for personal loans, promising easy access to funds, only to trick its users into signing up for high-interest payments. While doing this, the threat actors also collect the personal and financial information of the victim to blackmail them. Victims of these apps, most of which are vulnerable individuals, have stated that the annual cost of the loans offered on the app are much higher than stated, and the loan tenure is shorter. darkreading.com

Ransomware attack on vendor causes outages at 60 credit unions

Dozens of US credit unions have been hit by outages following a ransomware attack on a cloud computing vendor.

Ongoing Operations, a unit of Trellance, says it was hit by an "isolated cyber security incident" on 26 November that has affected the operations of around 60 of the firm's credit union clients.

In a 4 December message to members, one of the affected credit unions, Mountain Valley Federal, says: "As of today, MVFCU’s data processing system remains non-operational."

The National Credit Union Administration says it is “coordinating with affected credit unions” and that many have "alternative services" in place. finextra.com

Microsoft will offer extended security updates for Windows 10

21 high-risk vulnerabilities in OT/IoT routers found

How much do you know about
cannabis security?

Get your cannabis security education through My Sapphire Training or check out some of our FREE resources to learn more!

Crafted by our expert team, this FREE guide will introduce you to the three phases of opening a cannabis business - providing you with everything you need to know about cannabis security!

Starting with the application, through construction, and into operation, security remains a crucial component of a successful cannabis business.

Best Practices for Security Floor Plan Design

Failing to work with a professional security consultant regarding cannabis floor planning negatively impacts a cannabis business

By Tony Gallo - Managing Partner, Sapphire Risk Advisory Group Security

Security floor plans are an essential component for many cannabis business applications prior to build-out. For cannabis retail, processing, and cultivation facilities, a well-designed cannabis floor plan communicates that the applicant has reviewed every angle for which a business must protect itself from threats.

Utilizing a cannabis floor plan allows cannabis businesses to identify elements that may benefit or hinder security. Doing so creates a multi-faceted approach to security by not only considering necessary equipment but also the importance of having a proper building layout.

Best Practices

Consider the layout of these permanent building components along with rooms required of a cannabis facility, considering any local and state regulations. Position public restrooms near entrances and away from cannabis areas. Flower rooms in cultivation facilities and other areas where cannabis is stored or handled should be free of windows to ensure that cannabis is not visible from the outside. Each room should be thoughtfully planned out to coincide with the existing layout, levels of access, and required security.

Think about using concentric circles of protection, wherein the first circle, or layer, of protection, is the building perimeter and additional layers are in place as you move inward through the building toward high-value assets. For example, separate vaults from other areas by using walls to create multiple barriers. Store dry goods and non-cannabis products, which hold less value than cash and cannabis, separately. Employing concentric circles of protection requires an intruder to penetrate a series of layers to reach their goal, providing better security for the cash, cannabis, and valuables on-site.

Common Errors

Keeping in mind the principle of concentric circles of protection, placing secure storage areas on exterior walls is a common error when crafting a cannabis floor plan. Placing a vault near a receiving door or along an exterior wall leaves high-value assets more susceptible to theft and/or diversion. The same principle should be applied to sensitive areas, including cannabis packing areas and areas where sensitive data may be stored. Indicating levels of access on a cannabis floor plan based on public, restricted, and limited access helps identify areas that require additional protections.

Lastly, failing to work with a professional security consultant regarding cannabis floor planning negatively impacts a cannabis business, as well as not hiring an architect with experience in the cannabis industry. securityinfowatch.com

States Call on Biden to Reclassify Marijuana
Governors Urge Biden To Reschedule Marijuana By The End Of This Year
The letter, signed by the governors of Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York, emphasizes that rescheduling marijuana, as outlined in the document published on December 5 and initially reported by Marijuana Moment, would bring economic and tax advantages for marijuana businesses. Additionally, it highlights the potential to safeguard public health and bring government policy into closer alignment with public opinion.

Currently classified under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, marijuana is labeled as a dangerous substance, sharing the same categorization as heroin. However, rescheduling it to Schedule III, designating it as a lower-risk drug would offer increased protection for the already established state-level marijuana industry and its consumers in terms of both the economy and public health.

In October of the previous year, Biden asked the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Attorney General to start a review of marijuana’s schedule, with the possibility of reclassifying it away from Schedule I. cannabisbusinessexecutive.com

Spree of Cannabis Robberies in Canada
Calgary police investigate streak of cannabis store armed robberies
Calgary police are investigating a series of armed robberies targeting cannabis stores that investigators believe are connected.

On Nov. 15 at around 12 a.m., police were called to the 420 Cannabis store at 2008 33 Avenue S.W. for reports of an armed robbery, but the suspects fled before police arrived.

On Nov. 22, also around midnight, police were called to an armed robbery at Dank Cannabis Weed Dispensary at 3412 Third Avenue N.W. Again, the suspects fled before officers arrived and police believe they were using a stolen vehicle.

And later the same day, police received reports of another armed robbery at 420 Cannabis at 3011 26 Avenue S.W., where officers believe three unknown suspects walked into the store brandishing a gun and a knife.

Police believe the same suspects are responsible for all three robberies, fleeing each with an undisclosed amount of cash and cannabis products. globalnews.ca

Canada Cannabis Sales Down 5% in September

What Cannabis Companies Can Expect When Borrowing Money

Nearly Half of Online Shoppers Using Biometrics
Non-Retail Firms Launch Biometric Tools Amid Consumer Interest
Biometric authentication methods have expanded into multiple applications in recent years, from online payments to mobile devices to banking transactions or facial identification for security.

Nearly half of online shoppers in the United States already use biometric authentication methods for purchasing online, and around 15% said they are interested in doing so in the future, PYMNTS Intelligence found. With this level of adoption, many companies have identified biometric systems as a business opportunity and are embracing it to foster eCommerce sales beyond retail products or financial transactions.

PYMNTS Intelligence’s latest research study in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), “Tracking the Digital Payments Takeover: Biometric Authentication in the Age of Mobile,” explores what consumers expect from biometrics and what drives them to use this technology in their shopping.

Entersekt Chief Strategy Officer Dewald Nolte shared his view on the broader adoption of biometric systems in an interview with PYMNTS posted this month.

“People are getting used to logging into their favorite apps on their smartphones using biometrics daily, … and those [kinds] of wallets using biometrics to activate that payment [are] fairly well adopted in the market,” he said.

Nolte explained that as biometric authentication adoption enters the mainstream and scales across use cases, eCommerce payments are prime candidates for widespread biometric adoption.

“There are a number of solutions in the market, and they are working sufficiently well that they’re mainstream,” he said. pymnts.com

Amazon Pilots Preparing to Strike
The Pilots Delivering Your Amazon Packages Are Ready to Strike

Pilots for Amazon’s largest air freight provider voted to strike, complaining of low pay and high turnover. If a strike happens in the new year, Amazon deliveries could be impacted.

Amazon deliveries could be headed for some turbulence in the new year. Pilots for US-based Air Transport International, a cargo airline that ferries Amazon packages from its fulfillment centers to airports nearer to its customers, voted to authorize a strike last month. During the three and a half years the union has been negotiating with ATI, wages in the industry have soared, and ATI’s pilots complain that their pay has fallen behind. Meanwhile, they say ATI is facing record attrition as pilots jump ship to better-paying carriers.

A strike could throw a wrench in Amazon’s logistics network. ATI, owned by holding company ATSG, operates half of the 80 US aircraft currently in service for Amazon, according to an estimate by Planespotters. But the pilots, who are represented by the Air Line Pilots Association union, can’t walk out until at least next year.

Federal law requires airline labor disputes to be mediated by the US government’s National Mediation Board, which will implement a 30-day cooling-off period if it determines the parties have reached an impasse and they refuse arbitration. If a resolution isn’t reached during that time, the pilots can walk off the job or the airline can lock them out. Some 98 percent of ATI’s 640 pilots participated in the vote and only one didn’t vote to authorize the strike. wired.com

Best Buy increases reliance on distribution centers for customer delivery

After Indonesian Curbs on TikTok Shop, ByteDance Pursues E-Commerce Ambitions With New Local Partnership

The Rise of Temu’s Chinese Parent Will Reshape E-Commerce

Thieves broke into a GameStop in Cordova Wednesday morning, and police are connecting them to other game store burglaries
The Memphis Police Department arrived at the scene Dec. 6 around 4:30 a.m. in the 400 block of North Germantown Parkway, where they saw eight suspects escaping in four vehicles, driving south on Germantown Parkway. Officers then saw them heading west on Walnut Grove. Officers later found an abandoned car on Farm Road and Walnut Grove, containing video games and consoles. Police said the car matched the description of one of the four vehicles. It also matched the description of a car used in a past GameStop burglary on Park Avenue. Police said video footage captured the eight men forcing their way into the building at 4:26 a.m. and stealing video games, consoles, and controllers. localmemphis.com

Memphis, TN: Update: DA drops 16 of 21 theft cases against alleged serial shoplifter
A man charged with theft of merchandise 21 times over the last year had all but five cases dismissed by the Shelby County District Attorney’s office. Memphis police are currently looking for Jeremy Horton, 37, for an alleged shoplifting at a T-Mobile store on Summer Avenue last week. Employees said Horton took about $600 in electronics and threatened to shoot up the business. According to court records, Horton also made threats of violence in some of the other cases that were thrown out of court. Horton’s criminal record goes back to 2008, and over the last fourteen years, he has been charged nearly 40 times with theft of property. The longest sentence he has received is six months behind bars. All of the cases were misdemeanors and involved thefts of less than $1,000, but in 2023 alone, Horton is accused of stealing a total of $6,000 in merchandise from area stores. We asked the DA’s office why the 16 cases against Horton were thrown out this year but have not received a response. wreg.com

Springfield, MO: 6 accused of vandalism, burglary of Springfield C-store
Five juveniles and one adult have been accused in a recent string of burglaries and vandalism at the Eagle Stop Convenience Store on North Grant Avenue in Springfield. According to the Springfield Police Department, detectives began investigating the property crimes in August and the latest incident happened in November. ozarksfirst.com

Loranger, LA: Deputies search for alleged shoplifter who attacked store employee with pepper spray
Deputies are searching for an alleged shoplifter who they say assaulted an employee with pepper spray. The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office said the suspect is one of three men who allegedly stole from the Dollar General on LA 40 in Loranger on Sunday, Nov. 26. In the store, the group stole “a large amount of laundry detergent” that they hid in trash cans. When the group was leaving the store with the stolen items, an employee followed them outside and took a photo of one of the suspects and their vehicle, a black Honda. The suspect then tried to spray the employee with pepper spray, deputies said. wafb.com

Bergen County, NJ: Shoplift Ring Thwarted After 5 Steal 94 Items From Nordstrom
The Paramus police arrested five suspects — including a man who showed up at police headquarters to inquire about another suspect — after a "hit and run" type shoplifting attempt at Nordstrom on Friday, they say. The five were charged for their involvement with an "organized retail theft group" after they allegedly worked together to shoplift 94 items with a total retail value of $10,000, police said. patch.com

Hidden Air Tags Help Catch Alleged California Plant Store Thief; recovered goods amount to $8,000
An alleged thief repeatedly stole plants, expensive pots, and a 150-pound garden fountain from a California plant nursery, police say. Manager Michael Sullivan tells Inside Edition he got so fed up with the robber’s repeated thefts at Roger’s Gardens Nursery in Corona Del Mar that he decided to take matters into his own hands. After the third theft, Sullivan hid Apple Air Tags in his pots and plants and then used them to track down and foil the thief's plans. “I was able to stick it in there, I numbered each one,” Sullivan says. Not long after planting the trackers, the thief struck again and took home one of the pots hiding the tag. Police were then able to track the stolen greenery to a house that was decorated with many of the previously stolen items. insideedition.com

Los Angeles, CA: Police Return $3,000 Worth of Stolen Sneakers to WSS Store

Indianapolis, IN: Man sentenced to 12 years after grocery store robbery of $500, Advil using BB gun

View ORC Archives

Case Goes Public?
Share it with the industry

Submit your ORC Association News

Visit ORC
Resource Center

Shootings & Deaths

Houston, TX: 1 dead after Houston police responded to Smoke Shop Robbery
Houston police are investigating after one person was found dead on Mesa Drive Wednesday morning. Around 4:20 a.m., police received a call about a robbery that just happened in the 8700 block of Mesa Drive near Oak Knoll Lane. According to HPD Sergeant David Riggs, when officers arrived they found a man inside a smoke shop suffering a gunshot wound. Houston Fire pronounced the man dead at the scene. Houston Homicide Unit is investigating the shooting. At this time, Houston Police have no suspects. fox26houston.com

San Antonio, TX: 2 men shot dead outside far West Side convenience store
San Antonio police and Crime Stoppers issued a call for the public’s assistance in locating and identifying a suspect who shot and killed two men at a far West Side convenience store early Wednesday. Police identified one of the victims as Raymond Ancira, 34. The second victim, a teenage male, has not yet been identified. ksat.com

Gardendale, AL: Jewelry store owner shoots woman in robbery attempt, suspect at large
A manhunt is underway shots were fired during attempted holdup at a popular Gardendale jewelry store, police said Wednesday. The robbery attempt happened just before 5 p.m. at Jeff Dennis Jewelers on Fieldstown Road. Gardendale Police Chief Scott Banks said the suspect – a female – entered the business in a robbery attempt. She was armed, Banks said. The store owner shot at the suspect. At that point, she fled the scene without taking anything. Banks said they believe the suspect was wounded. No one else was injured. Gardendale police and the Jefferson County sheriff’s office are searching for the woman. al.com

New York, NY: Man robs Washington Heights restaurant, shoots patron
A man is recovering in the hospital after police say he was shot in the head inside a restaurant during an early Wednesday morning robbery in Washington Heights. Police said a 37-year-old man is in critical-but-stable condition. Officers said he was shot in the cheek inside Seafood King Fish Market at 2 a.m. Investigators were in and out of the restaurant at West 163rd Street and Broadway all morning. They said the suspect walked into the restaurant and used the bathroom, and then came out, pointed a gun at the cashier, and took her money and cellphone. He then walked up to a man sitting at a table, took his phone and shot him. cbsnews.com

Robberies, Incidents & Thefts

Toronto, Canada: Off-duty cop stabbed after trying to prevent theft from Scarborough Best Buy
An off-duty Toronto police officer was stabbed after he attempted to stop three suspects allegedly involved in a theft from an electronics store in Scarborough on Wednesday morning. The incident happened at a Best Buy on Progress Avenue near McCowan Road at around 11:45 a.m. Police said the suspects were attempting to take items from the store when the officer “intervened.” The officer was then stabbed by one of the suspects just outside the main entrance to the store, police said. The suspects proceeded to flee the scene and were last seen headed westbound along Highway 401 in a grey Toyota Sienna minivan. “The officer was stabbed in the wrist. Fortunately paramedics responded very quickly and were able to apply a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. The officer is currently in stable condition but is going to require surgery at a later time,” Insp. Chris McCann told reporters at the scene. “This was an off-duty police officer and I can only imagine that he felt compelled to assist when he saw what was happening but the message, which is really important to the general public, is their safety is paramount so please don’t get involved.” McCann said that it is not clear at this point if the suspects were successful in getting away with any stolen goods. He said that police are continuing to investigate and are interested in speaking with anyone who may have witnessed what transpired or who are in possession of any dash camera footage. toronto.ctvnews.ca

Wheaton, MD: Man with knife ends barricade inside JC Penney dressing room at Wheaton Mall after police use pepper ball
An hourslong barricade inside a Montgomery County, Maryland, department store ended with one man in custody. Christopher Lawrence, 37, surrendered around 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday after barricading himself in a dressing room of a JC Penney at Westfield Wheaton Mall on Veirs Mill Road for four hours. SWAT used pepper balls to get the man to turn himself in. Lawrence was taken into custody and evaluated because of the use of the chemical, WTOP’s Kate Ryan reported. Police said he is expected to be charged with first-degree assault. wtop.com

Genoa Township, MI: Woman caught shoplifting with more than 70 police officers present at ‘shop with a cop’ event
A Michigan woman was arrested at a Walmart store over the weekend after she was allegedly caught shoplifting during a “shop with a cop” event with over 70 police officers present. Law enforcement officers were at the store in Genoa Township on Saturday when a clerk notified police that a woman had packed a cart with about $730 goods and ran through the self-checkout, Michigan State Police Lt. Rene Gonzalez told FOX2 Detroit. “I do have to say it surprised me because when I’m driving a patrol car, people slow down,” Gonazlez said. “When you see 75 cops in the store, I mean, I don’t know if maybe they thought we were too busy.” nypost.com

Oklahoma City, OK: 3 men accused in $100K soda-syrup scheme
A major soda heist has fizzled out. Three men in Oklahoma City have been charged in connection with the theft of thousands of dollars worth of Dr. Pepper syrup which they allegedly re-sold to the owner of a local gas station, Oklahoma County District Court records reveal. The suspects are accused of scheming to steal whole pallets of the syrup from a Keurig Dr Pepper facility in Oklahoma City over the course of several months. A representative for the company estimates that over $100,000 worth of the syrup was stolen during that time. yourbasin.com

San Bernardino County: Burglars tunnel through walls, shatter windows to steal from Inland Empire businesses
New video shows smash and grab thieves breaking into multiple businesses, many part of a popular smoothie franchise, in the Inland Empire. Five stores were hit in San Bernardino County and, in some cases, burglars tunneled through a wall in one business to get to another. At around 5 a.m. Saturday, two burglars were seen on surveillance video using a rock to smash the front door of a Juice It Up! smoothie shop in Yucaipa. Kelsey Norton, who recently took over ownership of the juice bar became one of the latest targets of the burglars who ended up empty-handed. nbclosangeles.com

Annapolis, MD: Man Stabbed Multiple Times Outside Eastport Royal Farms

Jacksonville, FL: Shoppers evacuate Avenues Mall after Jacksonville police respond to 'armed assault' report; no victim or suspect was located

Toronto, Canada: Smash-and-grab in Cartier store at Yorkdale Mall

Frisco, TX: Man Sentenced to 35 Years for Serial Cell Phone Store Robberies

Oakland County, MI: Organized Chilean gangs believed to be behind growing number of high-end home robberies in Metro Detroit

Cumberland County, NC: Fayetteville man arrested in connection to recent string of robberies

• C-Store – Chico, CA – Armed Robbery
• C-Store – Blossburg, PA – Robbery
• C-Store- Pittsburgh, PA – Burglary
• C-Store – Lafayette, LA – Armed Robbery
• Dollar – Loranger, LA – Armed Robbery
• GameStop – Cordova, TN - Burglary
• Gaming – Huntington, WV – Armed Robbery
• Grocery – Jonesboro, AR – Burglary
• Jewelry – St Louis County, MO – Burglary
• Jewelry – Danville, CA - Robbery
• Jewelry – Gardendale, AL – Armed Robbery / Susp shot
• Jewelry - Westland, M – Robbery
• Jewelry - Cookeville, TN - Robbery
• Jewelry - Brunswick, GA – Robbery
• Jewelry - Las Vegas, NV – Robbery
• Jewelry - Melbourne, FL - Robbery
• Jewelry - Valley Stream, NY - Robbery
• Restaurant – Queens, NY – Armed Robbery
• Restaurant – Oakland, CA – Burglary
• Restaurant - San Bernardino County – Burglary
• Restaurant – New York, NY – Armed Robbery / Cust shot
• Tobacco - Houston, TX- Armed Robbery / Clerk killed
• Walgreens - Washington, DC - Armed Robbery

Daily Totals:
• 17 robberies
• 6 burglaries
• 3 shootings
• 1 killed

Click to enlarge map

None to report.

Submit Your New Hires/Promotions
or New Position
See all the Industry Movement

Feature Your Job Here For 30 Days -
70% Aren't On The Boards
Post your job listing

Featured Job Spotlights

An Industry Obligation - Staffing
'Best in Class' Teams

Every one has a role to play in building an industry.
Filled your job? Any good candidates left over?
Help Your Colleagues - Your Industry - Build a 'Best in Class' Community

Refer the Best & Build the Best
Quality - Diversity - Industry Obligation

Loss Prevention Manager (House of Sport)
Boston, MA - posted October 10

As a Loss Prevention Manager, you will support the Store Leadership team in achieving company objectives by managing all Loss Prevention programs and policies within the store. This key role will have the tremendous responsibility of keeping our associates, customers and our store safe...

District Asset Protection Partner
Tucson and Chandler/Phoenix Area - posted September 27

The Asset Protection (AP) Partner is a strong communicator, advisor, investigator, and compliance partner. This role is responsible for asset protection program execution at all levels and implementing methods to prevent, and control losses, in support of protecting company assets. This role collaborates with store teams, Human Resources, Supply Chain, and District Management...

Asset Protection Specialist
Newburgh, NY - posted September 25

The Asset Protection Specialist role at Ocean State Job Lot is responsible for protecting company assets and monitoring store activities to reduce property or financial losses. This role partners closely with store leadership and the Human Resources team, when applicable, to investigate known or suspected internal theft, external theft, and vendor fraud...

Security Director
Chicago, IL - posted September 7

Reporting to the VP of Corporate Security, the Director of Corporate Security is a professional security practitioner that acts as an advisor/consultant to the assigned Property Management Group. Responsibilities include monitoring security vendors' performance, evaluating for contract compliance, and serving as a program quality control manager...

District Asset Protection Manager
Washington, DC - posted August 31

The MidAtlantic Division has an opening for a District Asset Protection Manager in Northern Virginia. This person will support Fairfax, Arlington, and Loudoun counties. This is a salary role with up to 70% travel within the assigned district. District Asset Protection Manager will provide positive/proactive leadership, and instruction in the area of Security/Asset Protection...

Occupational Health & Safety Manager
Mount Horeb, WI - posted July 27

This role is responsible for examining the workplace for environmental or physical factors that could affect employee or guest health, safety, comfort, and performance. This role is also responsible for reducing the frequency and severity of accidents. To be successful in the role, you will need to work closely with management, employees, and relevant regulatory bodies...

Region Asset Protection Manager
Jacksonville, FL - posted October 24

Responsible for managing asset protection programs designed to minimize shrink, associate and customer liability accidents, bad check and cash loss, and safety incidents for stores within assigned region. This position will develop the framework for the groups' response to critical incidents, investigative needs, safety concerns and regulatory agency visits...

Regional AP Mgr - South FL Market - Bilingual required
Miami, FL - posted August 8

Featured Jobs

To apply to any of today's Featured Jobs, Click Here

View Featured Jobs | Post Your Job

Being a mentor can be an extremely worthwhile experience and sometimes the mentee brings mentoring to the relationship as well because we all learn from each other no matter what role we play. And while you may be reluctant or just feel time-strapped, try giving it a chance even for a short time and see what happens. As the old expression goes, one person can make a difference and you could help a fellow LP executive grow beyond their own expectations and, in having helped the number of people we've helped in our mere search role, I for one can say there is no better feeling in the world than helping someone reach beyond! That's what has actually kept me doing what I do for all these years!

Just a Thought,
Gus

Post Your Tip or Advice!
(content subject to approval)

NRF 2024: Retail's Big Show
January 13-16

Solink Secure Summit
February 12-14

2024 CRIA International Criminal Investigators Training Conference
February 13-15

RLPSA Annual Conference
March 24-27

2024 RH-ISAC Cyber Intelligence Summit
April 9-11

See More Events

Recruiting?
Get your job e-mailed to everyone... everyday
Post on our Featured Jobs Board!

Not getting the Daily?
Is it ending up in your spam folder?
Please make sure to add d-ddaily@downing-downing.com to your contact list, address book, trusted sender list, and/or company whitelist to ensure you receive our newsletter.
Want to know how? Read Here

SUBSCRIBE

FEEDBACK

www.downing-downing.com

Advertise With The D&D Daily