RILA & NRF Applaud Reintroduction of the Combatting ORC Act
Retailers support Federal bill to thwart organized retail crime
Retailers are urging passage of new bi-partisan legislation that would establish a coordinated federal response to the growing problem of organized retail crime.

The “Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 (CORCA) legislation calls for the establishment of a Center to Combat Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime. The center will combine expertise from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies as well as retail industry representatives.

The legislation was introduced as retail theft has become pervasive, with organized rings targeting retailers in-stores, deceiving consumers through gift-card scams and attacking the supply chains through cargo theft operation

“Organized criminal enterprises are endangering communities across the country through brazen and violent criminal acts that put retail employees and customers in harm’s way,” said Michael Hanson, senior executive VP, public affairs, Retail Industry Leaders Association. “Whether stealing mass quantities of products from retail stores or hijacking consumer goods throughout the supply chain, these gangs are wreaking havoc.”

The criminal rings use the profits from retail theft to support larger illicit activities such as human trafficking, gun smuggling, narcotics, and terrorism, Hanson added.

David French, VP of government relations, National Retail Federation, sounded a similar note.

“ORC is occurring across the retail enterprise — supply chains, bricks-and-mortar stores, warehouses and online — with stolen product sold for a profit, oftentimes to fund other crimes,” he said.

The legislation will ensure that resources and information-sharing will be available across local, state, federal and private-sector partners to bring cases and prosecutions against organized theft groups, noted French.

“This legislation is an important step to help prevent ORC from infiltrating local communities across the country,” he added. “We urge Congress to move quickly to approve this integral measure.” chainstoreage.com


How the Combating ORC Act of 2025 Will Fight Cargo Theft
Reintroduced legislation would make it easier for victims of cargo thefts get help from law enforcement

The legislation is called, The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, cargo thefts are costing the industry up to $35 billion annually, and have gone up by 1500% since 2021. The average cost per theft is valued at $200,000. It's a story we first brought you last month after a local CEO and co-founder of a trucking company testified before Congress.

Adam Blanchard says thieves targeted his companies. Blanchard is the co-founder and CEO of Double Diamond Transport and Tanager Logistics. Blanchard says thieves were able to mimic his companies, websites, emails and were able to steal cargo loads.

This week, Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nevada), reintroduced legislation to better coordinate efforts against cargo thefts. The law would create a department which would be part of the Department of Homeland Security, and would establish new tools to investigate and prosecute thieves, and recover stolen goods.

Blanchard calls cargo thefts an epidemic in the industry and says if they continue unchecked, it could cause the price of goods to go up. kens5.com


Self-Checkout & Unmanned Stores Fueling Theft Worldwide
Rising Theft Risks in Digital Retail Spaces
In recent months, instances of theft in unmanned digital stores have raised significant concerns among retailers in Sweden.

According to Svensk Handel, the organization representing Swedish retailers, there are no precise statistics available on thefts specifically related to unmanned stores. However, they have observed a general increase in theft across the retail sector. Between 2021 and 2023, the financial impact of theft grew from 8.5 billion to approximately 10 billion SEK. Nina Jelver, Security Chief at Svensk Handel, noted that around 70% of thefts occur at self-checkout stations and during self-scanning processes.

Jelver expressed alarm regarding the rising trend, emphasizing that as self-service options become more popular, the risk of theft consequently increases. She indicated that the ease of access provided by self-checkout systems appears to lower the threshold for stealing, particularly in both traditional and unmanned stores. Furthermore, organized groups are increasingly targeting specific items that are easier to resell, including meat, energy drinks, and coffee.

While the requirement for identification through bank-ID in these unmanned stores could aid police investigations into theft, Backman pointed out that multiple individuals often share the same bank-ID, complicating accountability. This situation allows suspects to claim innocence more easily if they enter the store using a shared account.

Addressing the issue, Jelver suggested that enhancing security measures could help mitigate theft. She advocated for increased police presence and security personnel in retail environments. Additionally, she expressed support for legislation implemented in 2021 that allows stores to ban individuals from entering based on their behavior.

Jelver urged law enforcement to prioritize reported thefts, recognizing the challenges of focusing on organized crime. She argued that many current offenders are first-time criminals who could be deterred before escalating to more serious offenses. The current climate, she contended, makes shoplifting seem almost risk-free, leading to continuous losses for retailers. thegermanyeye.com


How a Murder Investigation Revealed a Lowe's ORC Scheme
Murder investigation uncovers organized theft scheme
An investigation into a Wichita Falls murder in May 2024 has yielded a fifth arrest, Patricia Vasquez, in just 15 days after police said they found evidence of a theft scheme on a suspect’s phone.

According to the arrest affidavit, a Crimes Against Persons detective with the Wichita Falls Police Department discovered messages about possible retail theft while executing a search warrant on Elmondo Gildon’s phone. Texoma’s Homepage previously reported that Gildon was arrested on April 9 and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm as a result of an active murder investigation.

The detective said he found messages between Gildon and a contact named “Lowes Lady”, and the thread contained messages dated from Aug. 2023 to Jan. 2025. He said the messages showed that “Lowes Lady” was an employee of Lowe’s hardware store.

According to the affidavit, the detective said the messages showed that “Lowes Lady” would obtain merchandise from Lowe’s, including ceiling fans, cabinets, doors, paint, and more. He said the messages would then provide details about picking up the items, and later collect payment away from the store.

Police said “Lowes Lady” was later identified as Vasquez, and Lowe’s management confirmed she was an employee at the Wichita Falls store. The detective said he provided a regional loss prevention employee with details from the messages, and an internal review began.

The detective said the messages showed Vasquez would give Gildon a price for the items that was half off the retail price. According to police, the messages also showed that the two would coordinate payment by either meeting away from the store or by Gildon placing money in Vasquez’s unlocked vehicle. texomashomepage.com


Retailers Grapple with 'Inaction' on Theft
'Once it gets to the PA’s Office 90% of our cases are not prosecuted'

Store owner sounds the alarm on rising theft, urging prosecutors to do more
It’s an ongoing problem business owners say is getting worse. The issue: shoplifting. James Gieschen, president of Sugar Sugar Hawaii retail store, said enough is enough and wants prosecutors to do more to stop it. “If we just boil it down to one word, what is the issue here? It’s inaction,” Geischan said.

He is frustrated because he said his shop has been dealing with shoplifting since they opened six years ago and things have only gotten worse. “It’s gotten really bad recently,” Geischan explained. “It’s about one to two thefts per day across all locations. And that’s a huge hit for a small business.”

Geishcan has invested thousands into a top-of-the-line surveillance system. He posts photos of the shoplifters on his store walls as a deterrent, and he reports most of the incidents to police But he said nothing seems to change.

“Our experience working with HPD, has been actually really good. But for whatever reason, and I’m not here to judge what the reason is, once it gets to the PA’s Office 90% of our cases are not prosecuted,” Geischen explained.

“We understand Mr. Gieschen’s frustration with shoplifters and we are committed to prosecuting cases that are brought to our office with evidence that is sufficient to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. However we cannot control factors outside of our control (such as decisions by a court, defendants or witnesses not showing up for court, etc.),” the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

But Geischen said 33 of his cases were submitted to the prosecutor’s office. And he said only two have resulted in someone being sentenced. khon2.com


Atascadero, Calif. businesses experiencing issues with theft

North Charleston PD shows decrease in violent & non-violent crime
 

Top Worries for CIOs
CIOs worry about cyber threats, tech talent

Tech executives grapple with a looming skills gap as they juggle cybersecurity with the speed of innovation, according to an Experis survey.

Cybersecurity threats emerged as tech executives’ top challenge and area for investment, according to a report published Tuesday by IT resources and managed services provider Experis.

Nearly three-quarters of the 1,393 survey respondents — which included 480 C-suite tech executives and 913 senior IT decision-makers from nine countries — said they planned to increase cybersecurity spend in 2025. CIOs also prioritized modernization efforts and emerging tech through increased spending on cloud and AI, cited by 68% and 67% of respondents, respectively.

IT leaders plan to address a tech skills shortage in 2025 by blending external hiring and upskilling efforts with role redesign. More than half of respondents reported embedding AI skills into existing roles as a way to build expertise.

CIOs and CTOs have their hands full in 2025. In addition to addressing critical security, innovation and talent concerns, they’re juggling cyber imperatives, digital transformation efforts and emerging tech initiatives.

The concern that topped the list for tech leaders is the ever-present threat to enterprise security, with 41% of respondents indicating this is the issue keeping them up at night. Their concerns are not unfounded as attacks become more sophisticated, frequent — research found that cryptocurrency ransomware-specific payments decreased 35% year-over-year in 2024 but activity spiked — and expensive. In 2025, Forrester Research predicts global cybercrime costs overall could reach $12 trillion. cybersecuritydive.com


The Cybersecurity Challenges of Remote Work
Why remote work is a security minefield (and what you can do about it)
Remote work is seen as more than a temporary solution, it’s a long-term strategy for many organizations.

Remote work cybersecurity challenges

Unsecured networks: Workers often operate from home or public Wi-Fi networks that don’t have the security features of corporate environments.

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD): Personal devices are frequently used for work, but these devices may not have the same security protections as company-issued ones. They often lack up-to-date software, antivirus protection, and can be shared with family members, increasing the risk of malware and unauthorized access.

Phishing and social engineering attacks: The remote work environment makes employees more vulnerable to phishing and social engineering attacks, as they are isolated and may find it harder to verify suspicious activities.

Working from home can create a sense of comfort that leads to relaxation, making employees more prone to risky security behavior. The isolation associated with remote work can also result in impulsive decisions, increasing the likelihood of mistakes.

Cybercriminals exploit this by tailoring social engineering attacks to mimic IT staff or colleagues, taking advantage of the lack of direct verification.

Strategies for enhancing remote work security: helpnetsecurity.com

 
Top Entry Point in Ransomware Attacks?
Remote access tools most frequently targeted as ransomware entry points

Supply chain risk via third-party vendors increased sharply last year, according to a report by At-Bay.

Remote access tools were the initial entry point in eight of every 10 ransomware attacks in 2024, according to a report released Thursday by At-Bay. VPNs accounted for about two-thirds of ransomware attack entry points.

Indirect ransomware claims continue to rise, showing a 43% increase in 2024, according to At-Bay. Indirect ransomware is when an attack begins on a third-party vendor or business partner, often leading to a data breach or business interruption of a downstream client or partner. The report cites the 2023 MOVEit breaches and the 2024 CDK attacks.

Overall, the frequency of ransomware claims returned to record levels seen in 2021 after a decreased rate of attacks in 2022 and 2023, according to At-Bay. cybersecuritydive.com

 
Why security culture is crypto’s strongest asset

Houston, TX: Police link raid of Texas home to $100 million theft ring with ties to Mexican cartel
A theft investigation at a Houston area mall was found to have ties to a nationwide theft ring "directly tied to Cartel Organizations in Mexico," court records say. On March 31, law enforcement surrounded a short-term rental home in southeast Houston to execute a search warrant. In the court record, the investigating officer with Katy police said he was investigating "large-scale thefts" at the Katy Mills Mall. He saw four men enter the mall on surveillance video wearing earpieces, which he noted is a common form of communication for individuals committing theft. In total, they got away with suitcases full of about $5,000 worth of merchandise from the Tommy Hilfiger and Guess stores. The investigating officer was able to track the car to the Houston home, and on the same day, a search warrant was executed on that home. The court document said investigators seized three bags worth of stolen clothing, two Mexico IDs, a Beverly Hills police release, three airline tickets, and more.  6abc.com


Washington DC: Fire extinguisher distraction fails in Chanel heist attempt, four arrested
The Chanel store in downtown was under attack again. our people are in custody after trying to rob a Chanel store in DC. Police say at 1:55 p.m. officers responded to the 900 block of I Street, NW for reports of a group trying to steal merchandise. According to police they were on the scene within "seconds" and were able to arrest the group. A preliminary investigation showed, the group deployed the store's fire extinguisher as a way to cause a distraction while trying to steal merchandise. According to police, once the group sprayed the fire extinguisher, a special police officer employed at the store was assaulted. The group then put $217,644 worth of merchandise into a large duffle bag. They were able to get out of the store, but did not get far. Police arrested Devin Wingate, 18, Tyrik Hagood, 30, Jamar Tolson, 38, James Crumpler-Nichols, 32 were arrested and charged with Robbery, Burglary Two, and Destruction of Property. Jamar Tolson, 38 was charged with Simple Assault for hitting the special officer. This attempted heist may sound familiar, that's because WUSA9 reported on two similar robberies back in 2023.  dcnewsnow.com


Chicago, IL: Crash-and-grab thieves target Heart of Chicago GameStop store
Crash-and-grab thieves targeted a GameStop location on the Southwest Side early Sunday morning, Chicago police said. Officers responded to the Heart of Chicago neighborhood's 2300-block of West Cermak Road just after 5 a.m. Someone drove a Jeep SUV into the store, and multiple suspects took property before fleeing the scene in unknown directions and vehicles, police said. There were no reports of any injuries, and no one is in custody, police said. There have been at least two other GameStop burglaries within the past week and a half. There's no word if they are all connected.  abc7chicago.com


San Jose, CA: Nine arrested in retail-theft operation at San Jose Target
Nine people were arrested during a mission to stop retail theft in San Jose on Thursday, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office said. The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office’s Retail Theft Task Force made the arrests during a “blitz operation” at Target at 450 Capitol Ave. Deputies recovered roughly $1,400 in stolen items during the mission, including clothes, computer ink cartridges, food and household goods. “Nine suspects went from aisles to arrests after being caught red-handed stealing,” SCCSO said. One of the suspects arrested Thursday had two prior theft convictions and three warrants for their arrest, SCCSO said. Another suspect had four warrants and multiple credit cards, which deputies suspect are stolen.  kron4.com


Update: Northern California police recover $40,000 in stolen goods from retail crime ring
Nearly $40,000 in stolen merchandise was recovered by the California Highway Patrol during a retail theft operation. In February 2025, a CHP task force investigated a suspected retail crime that involved the sale of stolen merchandise online. Subsequently, three suspects were identified and arrested. The suspects were from San Jose, Dixon, and Rio Linda, according to CHP. CHP said investigators executed three residential search warrants and two additional warrants for storage lockers across three counties. This extensive operation led to the recovery of $40,533.25 in suspected stolen goods.  fox40.com


Surrey, BC, Canada: Police, suspect vehicles crash after Armed Robbery report at Surrey Home Depot
A robbery at a large retail store in South Surrey led to a police chase, car crashes and finally, the arrest of four suspects. On Wednesday (April 9) afternoon around 12:45 p.m., a male and female exited a store in the 2500-block of 160 Street in Surrey with a shopping cart full of tools not paid for, according to a press release from Surrey Police. According to a Black Press freelance photographer, Home Depot in South Surrey was targeted by the robbery. "When confronted by a staff member, the male suspect produced a handgun, and the pair fled in a blue Toyota Matrix," police state.  surreynowleader.com


Seattle, WA: Man charged in $5,748 Sunglass Hut thefts in Tukwila

Haverford Township, PA: Kohl's store in Delaware County being hit time and time again by shoplifters