Brands Have a Role in Fighting Retail Crime
The role brands can play in the fight against retail crime

Shoplifting rates are on the rise. Phil Shaw of adm Group explains the measures used to prevent theft – including the part campaign messaging can play.

There is a rising trend in retail – and it is growth that is not good news for brands. Retail crime is reaching unprecedented levels. In the UK, incidents of customer theft reported by retailers rose by 3.7 million to 20.4 million, and cost retailers £2bn, according to the British Retail Consortium, and other nations globally are reporting similar surges.

As the perpetrators become increasingly more strategic and sophisticated, and the cohort of shoplifters diversifies, businesses and brands are being forced to adapt.

With rates so high, how can retailers and brands implement anti-theft solutions, without impacting sales and availability or disrupting the shopper journey?

Causal factors

These escalating rates of shoplifting can be attributed to several factors.

The lack of legal consequences makes it a low-risk and often spontaneous crime (alongside organized syndicates). Theft under £200 in the UK is classified as a minor offence and prosecutions are rare. In 2024, only 14% of reported cases resulted in charges or summons, according to the National Office of UK Statistics. This low rate emboldens shoplifters, as the likelihood of consequences remains minimal, for an almost guaranteed reward.

Furthermore, attitudes towards shoplifting are evolving. Increasingly, some individuals no longer view it as a crime but rather as an act of defiance against large corporations. For some, it has become an expression of anti-capitalist sentiment, targeting multinational retailers as a way to voice socio-economic frustrations.

Therefore, as the crime changes in nature, so must brand strategies to mitigate against it. As ramifications and morality decreasingly act as deterrents, retailers must favor strategies that reduce shoplifting success rates – both practically through making it more difficult, and psychologically, by sabotaging the intent of potential thieves.

Practical strategies | Brand campaigns | Key balance: thedrum.com


Georgia's ORC Unit Saved Consumers $80M in 2024
Organized retail crime unit cracks down on criminals in Georgia
The Peach State is cracking down on organized retail crime. Attorney General Chris Carr said Georgia is one of the few states putting the resources to tackle this issue after establishing a statewide organized retail crime unit last July.

Governor Brian Kemp says this task force will protect Georgia businesses and punish those who profit by stealing. The state’s attorney general said the Peach State can count around $3 billion lost due to retail theft every year, which includes about $1.6 billion in stolen items and more than $300 million in lost tax revenue.

“There is a lot of activity with trans national organizations and not just cartels. This is not just south of the border but even groups in Europe. Organized retail theft is involved in money laundering, drug trafficking, human trafficking and other activities that gangs and organizations use for criminal purposes.” said Attorney General Chris Carr.

Small business owners say retail theft means more costs passed on to the buyer because of higher security costs which forces them to raise prices.

This unit has the resources to prosecute locally and will partner up with the federal government as well. Last year, the organized retail theft unit saved $80 million Georgia taxpayers and consumers. wjbf.com
 

ORC & Financial Fraud Workshop
Pittsfield, MA: Workshop on organized retail crime and financial fraud prevention
A workshop focused on addressing organized retail crime and financial fraud will be held in Pittsfield.

The event was created to help support the prevention of retail and financial crimes that impact both businesses and consumers. Participants will learn about the current crime trends and ways to recognize and reduce organized retail crime and financial fraud.

he conference is being held on Monday, April 14, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM in the Boland Theater at Berkshire Community College, 1350 West Street, Pittsfield. Guest speakers will be:

• Ben Dugan, Executive Director for Central Investigations, CVS Health

• Mark Solomon, International President, International Association of Finance Crimes Investigation

• Ryan Kearney, General Counsel, Retailers Association of Massachusetts

• Kelly Kemp, Second Assistant District Attorney, Berkshire District Attorney’s Office

The workshop is a collaboration between the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office and the New England State Police Information Network. For more information or to register contact James Hall, Organized Retail Crime and Financial Crimes Specialist, Berkshire District Attorney’s Office  msn.com


TNORCA Shares Update on ORC Act
New Amendments to the Tennessee ORC Prevention Act Signed into Law
TNORCA is pleased to share that Governor Bill Lee has officially signed the new amendments to the Tennessee Organized Retail Crime Prevention Act into law, with an effective date of July 1, 2025. The Tennessee Organized Retail Crime Alliance was paramount in introducing new ideas to make the existing ORC laws even stronger.

A huge thank you to the Board of Directors and members of TNORCA, Tennessee Retail Association, Tennessee Grocers and Convenience Store Association, and the 123 members of the Tennessee House of Representatives and Senate who voted in favor of this bill.

We are incredibly grateful to Governor Lee and the bipartisan majority of Tennessee Legislators who recognize that organized retail crime is a pressing issue that needs to be addressed to make our communities safer.

This is a significant win for the Tennessee Organized Retail Crime Alliance and step forward for Tennessee. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this law will have across our state as it takes effect in the coming months!  linkedin.com


Rhode Island: State lawmakers looking to up penalties for organized shoplifting

Signing of Bill to Crack Down on Organized Retail Theft Will Benefit Several Business Owners in East Orange/Orange, NJ
 

Siffron's Sliding Clear Security Gate

Product security & visibility in one solution

Retail theft continues to rise. For some categories and locations, the only solution to prevent theft and protect merchandise is to restrict access. siffron's Sliding Security Gate with clear front allow retailers to convert their existing shelving systems into a locked case. This managed access solution requires store personnel to open and access products for customers while keeping it safe from potential shoplifters.

Mounting hardware is provided to secure the gates to standard Lozier or Madix shelving. Side panels are available to close off the ends and prevent side access, creating a secure system. This solution is available in wire grid or in clear glass gates.

Testing Readiness with Cyber Crisis Simulations
Why CISOs are doubling down on cyber crisis simulations
Cyber threats aren’t going away, and CISOs know prevention isn’t enough. Being ready to respond is just as important. Cyber crisis simulations offer a way to test that readiness. They let teams walk through real-world scenarios in a controlled setting, exposing gaps and showing what needs work. It’s a practical way to strengthen response plans before a real attack hits.

Budgets are up, and so is pressure

A recent survey by Hack The Box shows that 74% of CISOs plan to increase annual budgets for cyber crisis simulations this year, driven by a wave of high-profile incidents in 2024. Many organizations found their response processes broke down when tested by real-world attacks. The result: missed alerts, slow decisions, bad communications, and reputational damage.

“Poorly managing public opinion can affect revenue, stock prices, reputation and customer relations. Conducting organization-wide cyber simulations is a way for the business to prove they did everything possible to be prepared,” explained Dan Potter, Senior Director, Cyber Drills & Resilience at Immersive.

Simulating the whole business, not just IT

A breach impacts more than systems. It affects customers, partners, and regulators. That means business leaders need to be involved in simulations.

The most effective simulations now include full executive participation, often using platforms to model end-to-end crises. Some platforms allow CISOs, legal, CFOs, and PR teams to walk through a breach scenario in real-time, making decisions under simulated pressure. These exercises test not just systems but also company culture and coordination.

Don’t ignore the human side

Crisis simulations also provide a chance to observe how teams work under pressure. They should be used to test processes, spot stress points, and support resilience. High-performing teams trust each other and communicate well under pressure.

Benefits of conducting simulations | How to run a simulation that works | In a crisis, coordination beats luck: helpnetsecurity.com


Economic Downturns Lead to More Cyberattacks?
Tariffs May Prompt Increase in Global Cyberattacks

Cybersecurity and policy experts worry that if tariffs give way to a global recession, organizations will reduce their spending on cybersecurity.

Chaos breeds cybercrime and cyber conflict, and President Trump's trade war — and its global impact — may become the latest example of that dynamic.

Following last week's announcement of harsh tariffs on top US trading partners, cybersecurity and policy experts are warning that the import taxes will likely result in an increase in nation-state cyber operations and, if recessionary forces mount, an increase in cybercrime and hacktivism. Even the 90-day "pause" on tariffs the White House called for today isn't expected to change the eventual impact on cybersecurity. In fact, an economic downturn will likely lead companies to invest less in cybersecurity, resulting in higher success rates for cybercrime and cyber operations.

Overall, the digital threat landscape is likely to become more dangerous as companies make tough economic choices, says Matt Pearl, director of the Strategic Technologies Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

"An economic downturn will reduce the resources that US businesses and multinational companies have to spend on cybersecurity," he says. "Additionally, there is a belief in some — though certainly not all — companies that there is a low return on investment on cybersecurity because they have invested resources in the past and still suffered significant cyberattacks." darkreading.com


WhatsApp vulnerability could be used to infect Windows users with malware

Treasury Department bank regulator discloses major hack

Brandon, FL: Woman accused of stealing more than $15K of merchandise from Hillsborough County stores
A woman is accused of stealing more than $15,000 of merchandise from several stores in Hillsborough County. Detectives with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said they were conducting an operation at Regency Square Plaza in Brandon on Tuesday when they saw a woman placing several items into her purse while inside a store. The sheriff’s office said the woman, identified as 46-year-old Stephanie Valdez, was detained after she left the store without attempting to pay.  wfla.com


Buffalo, NY: Reported $8,000 burglary at GObike shop on Colvin Avenue
GObike announced Wednesday that its Colvin community bicycle store was robbed. "Unfortunately, it was a big one," Gobike said on Facebook. "The evidence left behind suggests 2-3 people parked a truck near Nichols School on the other side of the railroad tracks, then proceeded to break through the windows we had already secured on the outside and inside of the building." Gobike said 20 bikes, dozens of handlebar grips, lights, new tires and tubes and power tools were taken, totaling about $8,000.  wkbw.com


Cranston, RI: Three men accused of stealing over $7,000 of merchandise face larceny, conspiracy charges
Providence police said Keiner Perez Salas, Howard Garcia, and Beickel Arellano were arrested at Providence Place mall for allegedly shoplifting merchandise worth thousands of dollars. Now, the three face charges of larceny and conspiracy. However, police say this wasn't their first stop. The men are also believed to be connected to multiple shoplifting thefts that occurred at Garden City, where items worth $7,000 were stolen. The men are believed to be a part of a South American retail theft group, with people who travel up and down the northeast, shoplifting expensive items and then selling them. Officials said they are becoming more professional and using bags lined with aluminum foil that hides the security devices on the merchandise from being detected.  turnto10.com


Seymour, IN: Kentucky Man Charged With Multiple Thefts From Home Depot
Seymour Police have charged Kenneth Fambrough, 28, of Louisville, KY with four counts of organized retail theft after he was apprehended Wednesday, March 26, after walking out of the Seymour Home Depot with Milwaukee® Packout tool boxes— large portable wheeled lockable plastic boxes contractors us to store and transport tools. According to Police Corporal Adam Surface, Fambrough had committed similar thefts from the store four times since late February. According to the probable cause affidavit, he would pay a driver $30-$50 to drive him from Louisville to the Seymour Home Depot Store. Then he would enter the store, go to the tool area, pickup the items he wanted to steal and exit the store then head to the awaiting car and driver. Fambrough told authorities that the tool boxes sell retail for around $500 and he sells the purloined merchandise for $300-$400.  crothersvilletimes.com


Boise, ID: Police arrest woman for stealing over $1,000 in merchandise from local store

Brownsville, TX: Police Searching for Two Women Accused of H-E-B Theft