Another State Fights ORC 'Epidemic'
RI lawmakers look to curb organized retail theft
Lawmakers have introduced legislation aimed at cracking down on organized retail theft in Rhode Island. The proposal, sponsored by Sen. Leonidas Raptakis, would make organized retail theft a felony.

If approved, those who are convicted of organized retail theft could face up to five years in prison, a fine of no more than $5,000, or both.

Right now, organized retail theft is a misdemeanor under state law that’s punishable by up to one year in prison, as well as a fine of at least $50 or two times the value of the stolen merchandise, whichever is greater.

Raptakis said the goal of the legislation is to send a strong message.

“You see them all the time — individuals running into a store and stealing probably tens of thousands of dollars of merchandise in a matter of minutes,” Raptakis told the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday.

Sen. Todd Patalano, who’s also a major with the Cranston Police Department, supports the legislation. He said that, although he’s investigated a number of shopliftings throughout his lengthy career, organized retail theft has become much more popular in recent years.

“It’s becoming an epidemic,” Patalano said. “We’ve had thousands of dollars stolen by an organized ring within literally two-to-three minutes by simply distracting someone, filling up a garbage bag and running out the door.”

Liquor stores are among the most popular targets for organized retail theft rings. Nick Fede Jr., director of the Rhode Island Liquor Operators Collaborative, believes this legislation will put and end to organized retail theft once and for all.  wpri.com


Canada's War on Retail Theft
Vancouver mayor launches ‘retail security task force’ to combat theft

Vancouver Police Department recorded 7,686 shoplifting incidents in 2024

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim announced Thursday that he is launching a “retail security task force” to combat the rise in shoplifting and help protect workers from becoming victims of violent incidents.

The task force will include representatives from the Vancouver Police Department, business improvement associations, retailers, legal experts, social service providers and the provincial government.

Over the next six months, the task force will examine the root causes of retail theft, consult with impacted businesses and frontline staff, and study effective models in other jurisdictions, the mayor said in a news release.

The task force will then deliver a report to council with “practical, evidence-based recommendations,” said the mayor, who noted in the release that VPD recorded 7,686 shoplifting incidents in 2024, an 11.7 per cent increase over the same period last year.

However, police believe the true number may be significantly higher due to widespread underreporting.

“This isn’t just about stolen goods — it’s about protecting workers, standing up for local businesses, and making sure the people who keep our neighbourhoods thriving feel safe and supported,” Sim said. “Retail theft is hurting communities across Vancouver, and we’re stepping up to tackle it head-on.” biv.com


Is Winnipeg Canada's 'Canary in the Coal Mine' on Theft?
Winnipeg not the only Manitoba city inundated with retail theft,
as Brandon cracks down
Retail crime continues to be a top-of-mind issue for law enforcement and business owners in Winnipeg, but the rest of the province is feeling the effects as well.

Brandon, Man., police chief Tyler Bates says local police have been working on the problem — with over 50 arrests made and $10,000 in property recovered in a recent crackdown.

Bates said in his opinion, the best solution for the long-term would be a more proactive approach from police.

“I certainly don’t want to sit back and reactively deal with a police service that is just responding to call after call in the downtown district,” he said, “where 30 per cent of our calls continue to be within a small radius. I’d rather look at what efforts we could collectively invest from a prevention standpoint.”

Bates said law enforcement in Manitoba’s second-largest city should be addressing root causes, but also learning from the provincial capital as far as what works and what doesn’t in the fight against theft and other retail crime.

“I would say that Winnipeg is the canary in the coal mine if you will,” he said. globalnews.ca


$105M in Shoplifting Losses at British Food Retail Businesses
Britain’s Co-op Group Says Retail Crime Cost it $105 Million in 2024
Britain’s Co-op Group said on Thursday that losses from shoplifting in its food retail business rose by over 14% to 80 million pounds ($105 million) in 2024, or more than half of its adjusted operating profit.

The group, which trades from over 2,300 food stores across the UK, has been one of the worst hit retailers by a surge in thefts in recent years.

As in the United States and elsewhere, retail crime is a huge and growing problem in Britain, highlighting the financial straits of some consumers and also stretched policing resources.

Industry body the British Retail Consortium’s annual crime survey, published in January, found more than 20 million incidents of theft were committed in the year to August 31, which equates to 55,000 a day, costing retailers 2.2 billion pounds. There were 16 million incidents in the previous year. insurancejournal.com


DC mayor, police chief announce new initiative on juvenile crime

Pittsburgh crime data from 2024 shows Downtown remains a hot spot
 

Don't Let Disruption Derail Cybersecurity
Building a cybersecurity strategy that survives disruption
Cybersecurity isn’t what it used to be. Attackers are moving quicker, disruptions happen all the time, and many security plans built for more predictable times just can’t keep up. With everything from ransomware to geopolitical threats to cloud slip-ups hitting companies, there’s a shift happening: security needs to be ready for chaos, not just focused on keeping things safe.

That shift changes everything: how companies plan, how they invest, and how they recover.

From protection to resilience

Cybersecurity used to focus primarily on prevention. But in today’s environment, that’s not enough. That’s where cyber resilience comes in. Instead of just keeping attackers out, it focuses on keeping the business running during and after an attack. It combines security, crisis response, and recovery. It assumes something will go wrong and builds systems to adapt, bounce back quickly, and learn from the damage.

The best strategies treat resilience as a core part of business operations, not just a security add-on.

“The key to managing resilience is to approach it like an onion,” says James Morris, Chief Executive of The CSBR. “The best strategy is to be effective at managing the perimeter. This approach will allow you to get a level of control on internal and external forces which are key to long-term resilience.”

That layered thinking should be matched by clearly defined policies and procedures. “Ensure that your ‘resilience’ strategy and policies are documented in detail,” Morris advises. “This is critical for response planning, but also for any legal issues that may arise. If it’s not documented, it doesn’t happen.”

Documentation, however, is only part of the equation. Morris stresses the importance of creating and actively testing a resilience plan across the organisation. “Develop and test a resilience management and process plan in your organisation. Ensure that accountabilities are clear and identify information and communication gaps.”

Ensure that you follow the plan. “It is always tempting to become reactive when under pressure,” Morris notes, “but from an operational and legal point of view it is much better to stick to the plan and not get blown off course in the pressure of the moment.”   helpnetsecurity.com


Lawmakers Sound Alarm Over NIST Jobs Cuts
House members press Commerce Secretary on DOGE-related job cuts at NIST

The agency has already slashed dozens of probationary workers, and further cuts could have major consequences for cybersecurity standards and AI development.

A group of 22 House members are raising alarm bells in a letter sent Wednesday to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick about recent job cuts at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, a key federal agency for developing best practices for cybersecurity and emerging technologies, including AI.

The members, which include Rep. Zoe Lofgren, ranking member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, urged Lutnick to explain recent cuts of 70 probationary workers at NIST as well as potential cuts to probationary scientists, post-doctoral researchers and others. The firings are part of an overall plan to cut about 20% of the Department of Commerce workforce.

“Removing national and international leaders from the nonpartisan and professional civil service at NIST would hamper the development of critical standards, threaten industrial and consumer safety and weaken American leadership around the world,” the House members wrote in the letter to Lutnick.  cybersecuritydive.com


Using AI to Help Companies Defend Against Cyberattacks
OpenAI just made its first cybersecurity investment
Generative AI has vastly expanded the toolkit available to hackers and other bad actors. It’s now possible to do everything from deepfaking a CEO to creating fake receipts.

OpenAI, the biggest generative AI startup of them all, knows this better than anyone. And it has just invested in another AI startup that helps companies defend against these kinds of attacks.

New York-based Adaptive Security has raised a $43 million Series A co-led by OpenAI’s startup fund and Andreessen Horowitz, it announced Wednesday. This marks OpenAI’s first investment in a cybersecurity startup, OpenAI confirmed to TechCrunch.

Adaptive Security simulates AI-generated “hacks” to train employees to spot these threats. You might pick up the phone to listen to the voice of your CTO asking for a verification code. That wouldn’t be your actual CTO, but a spoof generated by Adaptive Security. techcrunch.com


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Denver, CO: License plate cameras help crack $12M Jewelry heist
City license plate camera system has unexpected crime-solving benefits. A network of license plate-reading cameras installed throughout Denver to combat auto theft proved instrumental in solving a $12 million jewelry heist at Cherry Creek Mall, officials told Denver City Council on Wednesday. Now the city's contract to use the Flock camera system will likely be extended for another two years. The camera system tracked a suspect vehicle without license plates from the mall to hardware stores where tools for the robbery were purchased and eventually led police to the truck with the accused thieves, according to First Assistant District Attorney Matthew Kirsch. "The mall surveillance video identified a suspect's truck in that case that didn't have any license plates," Kirsch said during his testimony to city council. "The system has been useful in cases where the cars don't necessarily have license plates." The success story emerged as Denver City Council considers funding the camera system, known as Flock, for two more years after the pilot program expires. It would cost $666,000 over two years, and councilors voted unanimously to move the vote to a full council out of the committee hearing.   9news.com


Philadelphia, PA: 3 men arrested, accused in retail theft ring targeting shoe stores in Philadelphia and New Jersey
Three Philadelphia men are behind bars in connection with a retail theft ring that allegedly targeted various shoe stores. Investigators say Demil Coley, Darryl Foreman, and Malik Williams are accused of being involved in 22 organized thefts across the Philadelphia region and New Jersey. The thefts took place between February 3 and March 22, resulting in more than $28,000 in stolen merchandise.  6abc.com


Howell, NJ: $6,300 ULTA Theft Ends In Arrests As Howell Police Chase Pair Into Woods

Opelika, AL: Police seek public's help in identifying suspects in $2000 October 2024 store theft

San Luis Obispo, CA: Store owners turn to social media to stop serial shoplifters