Preventing Mass Shootings in Retail Settings
Enhancing Security for Retailers and Malls Against Mass Shootings

By the D&D Daily staff

Mass shootings remain a significant concern for high-traffic areas like malls and retail spaces. While no security plan can entirely eliminate the risk, combining various strategies can help create a safer environment.

Strengthen Security: Invest in well-trained security personnel who can monitor activities and respond quickly. Enhance your surveillance system with high-quality cameras, and consider measures such as bag checks or metal detectors in areas deemed high-risk.

Train Staff: Regular active shooter drills and training sessions enable employees to recognize potential warning signs and react appropriately. Establish clear emergency communication protocols to ensure that everyone knows how to alert authorities and keep customers informed during a crisis.

Control Access and Design for Safety: Reducing the number of entry and exit points makes it easier to monitor incoming individuals. Ensure that emergency exits are clearly marked and accessible, and restrict access to employee-only areas with proper security measures.

Leverage Technology: Utilize advanced systems like AI-driven threat detection and gunshot detection tools to identify potential dangers in real time. Implement mass notification systems that can quickly alert shoppers and staff through loudspeakers, text messages, or app notifications.

Collaborate with Law Enforcement: Develop a strong partnership with local police by conducting regular security assessments and inviting law enforcement to participate in training sessions. A well-coordinated emergency response plan, crafted in collaboration with local authorities, can significantly improve the speed and effectiveness of any necessary intervention.

By integrating these measures, retailers and malls can proactively address security concerns and work toward minimizing the risks associated with mass shootings, ultimately ensuring a safer experience for both employees and customers.


Safety Becomes Top Concern Among Shoppers
Crime is pushing shoppers online and away from stores

Shoplifting has become so rampant nearly 60% of shoppers say they feel safer shopping online than in store

The rise in retail theft is driving shoppers toward e-commerce.

Retail crime continues to be a thorn in retailers' collective side. It not only results in dwindling profits but a considerable chunk of consumers who are now simply afraid to shop in person, according to a new survey by Flock Safety and Zencity.

About one-third of consumers surveyed said they saw retail crime as a major concern, while 58% said it has made them want to shop online instead of in stores. The numbers are even more concerning among those who had actually witnessed a retail crime in person-63% of those consumers prefer online shopping as a result.

"The fact that 1 in 3 Americans view retail crime as a serious concern, and that concern is driving shopping behavior online is a crisis for vibrant neighborhoods and commercial districts," Zencity CSO Michael Simon told Retail Brew via email. "When retailers close their doors, everyone suffers-from employees to community members to municipal governments that rely on the tax base from these businesses."

Oscar Arango, former VP of assets protection at Target, agreed, adding that not only did retail crime make consumers more concerned about their safety, but it also hampered the overall shopping experience.

"Shoppers who once enjoyed browsing leisurely may now feel uneasy, leading them to adopt a more transactional mindset-getting what they need quickly and leaving, rather than spending time exploring products or making impulse purchases," he told Retail Brew via email. "Additionally, increased retail crime often results in heightened security measures, such as locked merchandise, limited store hours, or restricted access to high-value items. While these steps help prevent theft, they can also create friction in the shopping experience, frustrating consumers who value convenience and ease of access."

Simon highlighted another key finding: Retail theft was more likely to disproportionately impact Black and Hispanic/Latino Americans as well as those under the age of 35.  fortune.com


"Retail Crime Costs Us All" Campaign
Australia: New campaign focuses on stopping retail crime
CRIME Stoppers Victoria and Victoria Police have launched a new campaign calling on information from the community to help disrupt retail crime. In the "Retail Crime Costs Us All" campaign, CCTV footage of some of the state's worst retail crime repeat offenders will be released in an appeal to the public.

Retailers targeted can range from grocery stores and liquor outlets to hardware stores and clothing shops. Repeat offenders account for nearly 70 per cent of all retail crime incidents, with information from the community important in helping police to detect offenders.

Crime Stoppers Victoria chief executive officer Stella Smith said retail crime affected everyone. "Retail crime puts frontline workers and the community at risk and fuels further criminal activity.

In addition to stealing goods, retail crime offenders often come prepared for confrontation, with increased reports of carrying weapons. Assaults linked to theft in retail settings have risen by 12.3 per cent year on year, with assaults on females in a retail setting rising by 65.7 per cent in 2024.

Detective Superintendent Geri Porter from Victorian Police said retail crime posed a direct threat to the safety of both workers and shoppers. She said Victoria Police took the issue seriously, with more than 1,133 offenders arrested in January alone.

For more information on "Retail Crime Costs Us All", click here. timesnewsgroup.com.au


Do 'Sanctuary City' Policies Increase Crime?
Democratic big-city mayors defend immigration policies before U.S. House GOP
Republicans grilled the mayors, singling out instances where the death or harm of a U.S. citizen was linked to a person without permanent legal status. Colorado GOP Rep. Jeff Hurd pressed Denver's Johnston if he thought the city's sanctuary policy has "made Denver more vulnerable to crime."

Johnston said that "even as 42,000 newcomers have arrived in the city over the last 18 months, crime has gone down." The other mayors made similar remarks, and pushed back against GOP claims that immigrants increased crime rates in their cities. All the mayors said crime decreased in their cities even with newly arrived migrants.

"We are a safer city since I've been in office, (and) crime is down," Chicago's Johnson, who has been in office since 2023, said. washingtonstatestandard.com


Tennessee ORC Alliance created to combat organized crime across the state

Lawmakers spar over crime data during hearing on sanctuary cities
 

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Using AI in Retail - How to Tell Customers
How Should Retailers Address AI Transparency?
Store signage and self-checkout notifications rank as top methods for communicating artificial intelligence (AI) use at the store level by both retailers and consumers, according to a study from Everseen, a specialist in computer vision AI.

Exploring in-store transparency measures, the survey of 200 loss prevention retail executives and over 1,000 U.S. consumers (who have confirmed use of self-checkout technology) taken in January found:

• 44% of retailers use signage at store entrances to disclose the use of AI, with 64% of consumers finding this approach most helpful.

• 39% of retailers use pop-up notifications at self-checkout, with 50% of consumers finding this approach most helpful.

• 35% of retailers use signage within aisles, with 44% of consumers finding this approach most helpful.

• 44% of retailers include details on their company websites, with 38% of consumers finding this approach most helpful.

Consumers in the survey were found to be enthusiastic about AI, with 55% of consumers comfortable with AI and advanced retail technology, 65% believing AI makes shopping more convenient, and 59% believing AI, such as product recognition at checkout, can help reduce theft. However, only 31% feel they have "fully grasped" AI, and 72% say AI technology needs greater transparency in grocery and retail stores.

According to the study's respondents, if they discovered their favorite retailer was using vision AI without transparency, 24% would be wary of shopping there, 21% would only shop there if "absolutely necessary," and 17% would stop shopping there altogether.

At the same time, Everseen's study showed that retailers "acknowledge their responsibility in AI transparency, with most sharing accountability with vendors for privacy measures." Of the loss-prevention retail professionals surveyed, 80% turned to AI vendors - either partnering with AI vendors (61%) or fully relying on them (19%) for the technical responsibilities of privacy compliance. retailwire.com


The Cyber Risks & Benefits of AI
Cybersecurity in retail: What does the future hold?

With the retail industry evolving at a rapid rate, technological innovation has played a critical role in offering a competitive advantage to retailers.

However, while technology brings immense benefits, it also introduces vulnerabilities that need to be addressed. Technologies such as Gen AI are helping to transform the industry by combating common customer pain points and increasing operational efficiency. Yet, as we embrace these advancements, it is equally important to prioritise robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard against potential cyber risks.

In 2024 we have seen a plethora of cyberattacks hit industries all across the board - with security teams wondering how to maintain a secure environment for their customers going forward.. Recent statistics from the British Retail Consortium's 2024 Crime Survey Report have shown that 57% of retailers reported an increase in cyberattacks and breaches, and at least 90% have reported that cyberattacks have either stayed the same or increased yearly since 2015. This is a clear reminder of the persistent and escalating digital risks faced by the industry that need to be addressed in 2025.Here's how I see such threats evolving in the next 12 months:

Balancing innovation and risk with Gen AI

As AI becomes deeply integrated into retail operations, the risks surrounding misuse are dramatically escalating. For instance, an AI-driven customer service chatbot can be manipulated by malicious actors, potentially leading to unauthorised access to sensitive customer data.

In the coming year, cybersecurity experts predict attackers will increasingly target Generative AI models used by retailers, creating significant potential for operational disruptions and data breaches. These AI systems, now critical to retail operations, are vulnerable to sophisticated attacks that could compromise customer service efficiency and expose critical business vulnerabilities.

The core risk lies in the sophisticated ways attackers can exploit AI's complex decision-making processes, turning what was once a technological advantage into a potential security liability. Retailers must recognise that their AI systems are not just technological tools, but potential entry points for cybercriminal activities.

Rising supply chain attacks during peak shopping periods: technative.io


Scammers take over social media

The 5 stages of incident response grief

Orlando, FL: Suspect swallows $770K in Tiffany diamond earrings during arrest
A Texas man was arrested after allegedly swallowing two pairs of diamond earrings worth nearly $770,000 during his arrest on a Florida highway last week, according to the Associated Press. The suspect, 32, is accused of stealing the Tiffany & Co. earrings from an upscale Orlando shopping center. Detectives believe he ingested the jewelry to avoid detection after being pulled over by state troopers in Washington County, Florida. According to the arrest report, a state trooper overheard the suspect saying, 'I should have thrown them out the window,' and later asked jail staff if he would be charged for what was in his stomach. The theft occurred when the suspect allegedly posed as a buyer for an Orlando Magic basketball player, expressing interest in diamond earrings and a ring. He was taken to a VIP room to view the items, where he then attempted to flee with the jewelry. During the escape attempt, a sales associate was injured but managed to knock a diamond ring, valued at $587,000, out of the suspect's hands. Detectives tracked the suspect's vehicle using security footage and tag readers, eventually stopping him for driving without rear lights. An X-ray at the Washington County jail revealed foreign objects in the suspect's digestive tract, believed to be the stolen earrings. The suspect faces charges of first-degree felony grand theft and robbery with a mask. As of Wednesday, he remains in custody in Orange County, Florida, awaiting further legal proceedings.  wsoctv.com


Charlotte, NC: Feds charge two painters with making fraudulent returns at Charlotte Home Depots
Two painters are facing federal charges after investigators say they made fraudulent returns to Charlotte area Home Depots. Darwin Alberto Corea Calderon and Francis Gissel Moreno Lopez made their first appearance in federal court Wednesday. Feds say between 2022 and 2025, Calderon and Lopez received hundreds of thousands of dollars in refunds from The Home Depot for products they grabbed off shelves minutes earlier without purchasing. According to the indictment, Calderon and Lopez operated Correa Painting, LLC. The company had a "Pro Account" at Home Depot. The program allows companies to track spending and receive discounts. In the indictment, feds say the two would legitimately purchase products from Home Depot under the Correa Painting account with a debit card in the company's name. The indictment says after purchasing the products, the two would return to a different Home Depot a couple of days later without the purchased products. The indictment says Calderon would typically bring an empty cart into the store and load it with some of the exact same products he purchased on other occasions. Lopez is then accused of entering the store, getting the cart and then proceeding to the return desk. The indictment says the two used the history of previous purchases in the Home Depot tracking system to trick employees into providing refunds. Feds say the two conducted their fraudulent refund scheme at the Home Depots in Charlotte, Cornelius, Gastonia, Kannapolis, Matthews, Statesville, Rock Hill, and Spartanburg.  wsoctv.com


San Ramon, CA: Opticians Fight Off Armed Robbers
Employees at a City Center optometry store fought off masked robbers, one of whom was armed with a metal tool, according to the San Ramon Police Department and other reports. On Feb. 21 at around 1:17 p.m., San Ramon police responded to a strong-arm robbery at Optical Illusions, a high-end optometry store at 6000 Bollinger Canyon Road #1104 at City Center. Four masked suspects entered the store, and three of the suspects began grabbing eyewear from glasses and display cases, according to police. Two of the store's employees, including Dr. William To, tried to stop the robbers, and a physical altercation ensued. Video footage shared with KTVU shows an intense fight with the employees. The optician fighting takes Krav Maga martial arts classes twice a week, Dr. To told KRON4.  patch.com


Lake Elsinore, CA: Baby Formula Robbed From Lake Elsinore Store
A 34-year-old woman has been arrested for allegedly stealing baby formula from a retail store in Lake Elsinore, authorities said. The alleged theft was reported Feb. 13 at a store in the 18200 block of Collier Avenue. An employee told the Riverside County Sheriff's Department via an online report that a female suspect was inside the store selecting various cans of baby formula and concealing them inside a tote bag.  patch.com