Yorkdale Shopping Centre enhances luxury shopping experience with Genetec Security Center

Unified security platform heightens operational efficiency and law enforcement collaboration

MONTRÉAL, December 18, 2023-Genetec Inc. ("Genetec"), a leading technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence solutions, announced that the Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto, Canada, has unified its security operations based on Genetec™ Security Center, Sipelia™ , AutoVu™, and Mission Control™. With the Genetec platform, the security team at Yorkdale has been able to enhance operational efficiency, better collaborate with local police, and take a more proactive security stance.

With over two-million square feet of retail space and 270 stores Yorkdale Shopping Centre offers the country's largest collection of designer labels and luxury brands. Managed by Oxford Properties Group, it goes beyond shopping, offering visitors valet services, a museum-quality art collection, and 24/7 on-site security.

Click here to learn more
 

Retailers, Lawmakers & Law Enforcement Debate Ways to Fight Theft
And once again, California's Prop 47 is at the center of the debate

Commission hears retail theft complaints linked to Prop 47 criminal justice reforms

"It's getting worse," said Lynn Melillo, VP for asset management at Bristol Farms

A California commission charged with delivering recommendations to the governor and state lawmakers next year on how to curb rampant retail theft, questioned claims that state criminal justice reforms are to blame for the troubling trend.

During its second hearing Thursday, the Little Hoover Commission, an independent state watchdog agency, heard testimony from retailers and law enforcement officials about the brazen store thefts and other crimes that have been regularly featured on newscasts and led to calls to reconsider criminal justice reforms.

"It's getting worse," said Lynn Melillo, vice president for asset management at Bristol Farms, Lazy Acres Natural Market and New Leaf Community Markets. "There is organized retail crime, but it's also more than that. It's so-called consumers coming in and loading a grocery cart up and bypassing the register, avoiding the check stands, knowing there's no consequences."

Republican lawmakers who have criticized criminal justice reforms advanced by Democrats to reduce prison overcrowding and address social justice concerns had asked the commission to look at the reforms' impact on retail thefts. A reform often cited is Proposition 47, which voters approved in 2014 to reduce drug and property crime penalties.

But many of the commissioners - mostly Democrats - questioned the extent of the problem and whether Prop 47, backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, and other reforms are to blame.

"For a lot of people changing Prop 47 is a huge ask," said Commissioner Janna Sidley of Los Angeles, a former prosecutor and Democrat appointed by former Gov. Jerry Brown.

Added Commissioner David Beier, a nonpartisan commissioner and Bay City Capital managing director from San Francisco, also appointed by Brown, "I want to go to a world where Prop 47 isn't the target."

The commission held an initial meeting on retail theft last month. It heard testimony from Democratic and Republican members of the Assembly Public Safety Committee and a Beverly Hills retailer. Additional hearings are planned for January and February before the commission issues a recommendation.  mercurynews.com news.yahoo.com

RELATED: Dramatic rise in California retail theft prompts action from lawmakers


A New Wrinkle in Prosecuting Theft Cases
Should Retail Theft Suspects Benefit From Discount Prices?

Two men charged with stealing from a Kohl's in Colorado argued that they should face a misdemeanor charge rather than a felony since some of the items were on sale.

If an item is on sale, should someone who steals it be able to get a deal, as well? That question was raised by a recent case in Colorado, where two men accused of stealing shoes, KitchenAid mixers and other items from a Kohl's department store argued that they should face a lesser charge based on the sale prices of the items.

The argument was vitally important to their case. In Colorado, theft under $2,000 is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail. But theft between $2,000 and $5,000 is a felony punishable by up to 18 months in prison.

The district attorney's office argued that the "documented value" of the items was $2,094.98. That would make the theft a felony.

But the two men, Michael Green, 50, and Byron Bolden, 37, who had pleaded not guilty, contended that the value of the items was $1,856.19, because some of the goods, including at least one of the mixers, were on sale, said Thomas A. Ramunda Jr., Mr. Bolden's lawyer. That would classify the charge as a misdemeanor.

Eric Ross, a spokesman for the district attorney's office in the 18th Judicial District of Colorado, which prosecuted the case, rejected the sales-price argument. He said the Parker Police Department spoke to the Kohl's loss prevention manager, who provided the retail price of the stolen goods.

Even if some of the items were on sale, "we argued that doesn't count," Mr. Ross said. "You can't get sale prices or sale promotions on stolen goods. Sales prices, promotions, coupons - all of that only applies to paying customers."

On Dec. 6, a jury agreed and found Mr. Green, of Aurora, and Mr. Bolden, of Denver, guilty of felony theft, Mr. Ross said. Mr. Green was sentenced to 15 months in prison. His lawyer did not respond to a request for comment. Mr. Bolden was sentenced to 90 days in jail, with credit for time served. nytimes.com


Businesses in Washington Shut Down as Retail Crime Surges
Officials urge retailers to report retail theft so they can prosecute criminals

Retailers encouraged to report thefts as retail crimes continue to climb
SEATTLE - Retail crimes are continuing to climb in western Washington, causing many businesses to close up shop permanently, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office (KCPAO).

The KCPAO held a press conference Friday to discuss the rising trend and its approach to put criminals behind bars. Earlier this year, the KCPAO launched its Economic Crimes and Wage Theft Division, which focuses on tackling retail crimes.

In 2022, the KCPAO filed 157 felony retail theft cases compared to 52 in 2021. These cases often involve multiple codefendants and/or multiple incidents per defendant. This year, 92 cases were filed as of Dec. 1, officials said the reason why they could be seeing less cases being filed is because of underreporting.

Officials said they are doing everything they can to put criminals behind bars, but said one problem they are seeing is the fact that many retailers are not reporting these crimes.

Prosecutors said they're working with other agencies to prosecute criminals tied to retail crimes, but added that in order for that to happen, the crimes need to be reported. Prosecutors also said reporting the crimes is how law enforcement determines where they staff their officers in order to deter retail crimes.

Some police agencies have added extra patrols in highly shopped areas during the holidays to help curb retail theft. komonews.com


Security Guard Killed By Shoplifter - Community Protests & Demands Action
Protesters demand justice for 7-Eleven security guard shot & killed in Oakland
A protest was held on Friday outside the 7-Eleven store in Oakland where a 59-year-old security guard was shot and killed a week ago. Police say the security guard, identified as James Johnson, confronted a shoplifter, who allegedly pulled a gun and shot him before escaping on the night of December 8. The 7-Eleven is located on the 2300 block of Harrison Street, near Lake Merritt.

Oakland Police say no arrests have been made as their investigation continues. Organizers say the protest will honor the father of two.

"We are outraged and saddened by this senseless act of violence that took the life of a hardworking and courageous man who was just doing his job," said Edward Escobar, one of the organizers of the demonstration. "We want to honor his memory and show our support to his family and friends.

The Coalition for Community Engagement will also be demanding action from city leaders and justice for "crimewave victims."

"We also want to send a clear message to the authorities, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, Council President Nikki Bas & Alameda County D.A. Pamela Price, that we demand a swift and thorough investigation to find and prosecute the killer," escobar continued. "We will not tolerate this crimewave spiralling out of control bringing more & more extreme violence into our communities."

Co-workers say they're now scared to be at work after Johnson's death inside the store despite the efforts of paramedics. Those who work at the 7-Eleven told ABC7 News that Johnson lived down the block at a homeless shelter and worked as an unarmed security guard. abc7news.com


More PDs Beef Up ORC Patrols & License Plate Readers in Shopping Centers
San Jose police beef up organized retail theft detail
The San Jose Police Department is reinforcing its organized retail theft detail, which means more officers in uniform walking around malls and storefronts.

The goal is to curb the rise in retail theft and catch crooks in the act.

"We're hoping that these patrols will assist not only in building relationships with business owners and community members who are going shopping, but also just be a visual deterrent," San Jose police Officer Steve Aponte said.

In San Jose, retail thefts increased 25% last year compared to 2021.

"They're fast, they're violent, and they're disturbing," Aponte said. "These types of criminals come in with the sole purpose of taking property away from businesses. But in doing so, they deter future shoppers from coming to the area."

The department is using state grant money to pay for the additional overtime patrols. It's also paying for a specialized unit of investigators looking deeper into these crimes. Those funds also help pay for the license plate readers that are currently up at malls around the city.

The expanded team will work six hours per day, four days a week. The department won't be more specific for strategic reasons, only to say officers will see the crooks before the crooks see them. nbcbayarea.com


The Challenges of Tracking ORC
Is the Retail Crime Wave a Tsunami or a Ripple?
The fact is that it's extremely difficult to get accurate figures about retail crime - not just how much there is, but what exactly is causing it.

Additionally, definitions remain vague. If a cashier "sweethearts" for his friends and family, how many people need to be involved for it to be classified as "organized retail crime"? Where do fraudulent returns fit in, and is it possible to definitively determine if these bad actors are working alone or for a larger group? (Amazon recently sued an international organization for its role in millions of dollars of returns fraud.) And let's not even get into cybercrime, where the black hats do everything they can to cover their nefarious tracks.

The NRF admitted the challenges associated with getting accurate crime data: "We stand behind the widely understood fact that organized retail crime is a serious problem impacting retailers of all sizes and communities across our nation," said an NRF spokesperson in comments provided to Retail TouchPoints. "At the same time, we recognize the challenges the retail industry and law enforcement have with gathering and analyzing an accurate and agreed-upon set of data to measure the number of incidents in communities across the country. Retailers and law enforcement agencies continue to experience daily incidents of theft, partner in large-scale investigations and report recoveries of stolen retail goods into the millions of dollars."

But this narrative of a retail theft tsunami has been more than a data accuracy challenge. I'd say one reason the NRF's figures weren't challenged earlier is that they fit into a perception of overall lawlessness. And here we get into another sticky wicket, because those perceptions are frequently shaped by people's political persuasion. retailtouchpoints.com


Undercover surveillance teams cracking down on retail theft in LA
Undercover surveillance teams at shopping centers across the country are trying to crack down on organized retail theft.

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