Retail’s High-Tech Defense
How New Theft-Fighting Tools Are Reshaping the Industry—and Why Young Talent Is Needed

By the D&D Daily staff

As organized retail crime (ORC) and shoplifting continue to strain the retail industry, companies are turning to cutting-edge technology to protect merchandise, employees, and customers. From AI-powered surveillance to smart shopping carts and RFID tracking, the fight against retail theft is evolving—and so is the need for a new generation of skilled professionals to drive it forward.

Retailers are increasingly investing in advanced tools that do more than just record theft—they help prevent it. Artificial intelligence and machine learning software can now detect suspicious behaviors in real time, alerting staff to potential threats before merchandise even leaves the shelf. Smart security cameras are being integrated with facial recognition and license plate reading systems, enabling law enforcement to identify repeat offenders more quickly.

Electronic article surveillance (EAS) has also gotten an upgrade. Modern systems use RFID tags embedded in products, giving stores the ability to track inventory in real time and detect unauthorized removals with far greater accuracy than traditional barcodes or magnetic tags. Some companies are even deploying locked smart shopping carts that require customers to scan items before placing them inside—reducing both accidental and intentional shrink.

Body cameras for retail staff, automated exit alarms, and tamper-resistant packaging are also part of this new wave of deterrence. Together, these technologies don’t just protect assets—they create a safer environment for workers and shoppers.

But as the technology becomes more advanced, so does the demand for tech-savvy professionals to design, manage, and improve these systems. That’s why industry leaders say it’s more important than ever to encourage young people to pursue careers in retail asset protection and loss prevention.

In an era where retail jobs are often overlooked by younger generations, highlighting the high-tech, high-impact nature of modern loss prevention could help reshape perceptions. Entry points now include roles in data analysis, surveillance tech, systems engineering, and forensic investigation—fields with growth potential and real-world impact.

As retail crime becomes more sophisticated, the industry must match it with equally sophisticated solutions—and the next wave of innovators will be key to making that happen.


Is California's Prop 36 Working?
CA increased penalties for some drug & theft crimes. Is the law working?
Five months after California voters approved harsher punishments for repeat theft and drug crimes, an early snapshot of charging data reveals uneven implementation of the law across the state.

Some counties have filed far more theft cases while others have focused on felony charges for drug possession. San Francisco lags behind its counterparts in the number of cases filed under Proposition 36 in both categories. Even among prosecutors who backed the law, approaches differ. Some instituted time limits for considering past crimes to avoid punishing people for decades-old offenses, while others have not. Some say they won’t pursue felony charges against people who appear to be stealing to survive, while others are throwing the book at suspects regardless of what they’re accused of taking.

Across the state, it’s too soon to say whether the law is effectively reducing crime, but both prosecutors and public defenders say it has not yet lived up to its promise to compel more Californians struggling with addiction into treatment.

In the first two months after Prop 36 took effect, prosecutors in counties representing 98% of Californians filed 2,204 drug possession cases and 1,826 petty theft cases — a small fraction of the overall criminal cases filed in those counties, according to data collected by the California Judicial Council. Some cases would have been filed regardless of Prop 36, due to more serious accompanying charges, though it is unclear exactly how many, according to prosecutors.

The new law requires at least two prior drug- or theft-related convictions for prosecutors to charge the new offense as a felony, which can result in yearslong jail sentences. It also created a new type of crime called a treatment-mandated felony, which allows defendants to opt for mandated drug treatment instead of incarceration. If defendants complete a drug or mental health treatment program, the charges are wiped off their record.

San Francisco filed 31 theft cases and three drug cases, or 3.7 and 0.4 cases per 100,000 residents respectively, according to data reported to the Judicial Council in February. For comparison, Alameda County filed a little over 14 theft cases per 100,000 residents and Stanislaus County filed about 23 drug-related cases per 100,000 residents. sfchronicle.com


Shoplifting Up 11% in Houston
Houston, TX: Data shows shoplifting cases are on the rise

KHOU 11 Investigates dug into the data and found that shoplifting cases have risen over the last few years. And it's not happening most where you might think.

Shoplifting is on the rise and it’s not just happening at shopping malls and big box retail stores. KHOU 11 Investigates dug into Houston Police Department crime data and found shoplifting has spiked in places many might not expect, like local drug stores.

Shoppers have likely seen the signs -- detergent, razors and toothpaste are now locked away behind security cases. It has become so routine that people are flooding social media with pictures and captions mocking the anti-theft measures. And Houstonians recently vented their frustrations about the barriers.

KHOU 11 Investigates analyzed HPD crime data and learned shoplifting in Houston went up 11% last year. There were 10,485 incidents in 2022, 12,546 in 2023, and 13,937 cases last year.

The top spot for thefts was at The Galleria in 2024 -- there were 636 incidents last year. But numbers two and three were not at malls or big box stores, they were both Walgreens -- one at 6675 West Belfort with 305 incidents and another at 8300 Wilcrest with 302 incidents. khou.com


1 out of every 15 American adults have been at a mass shooting

Plymouth Township, PA: March 2025 crime data for Plymouth Township
 

How the Evolving Workplace Has 'Exacerbated Existing Security Vulnerabilities'
Why a secure enterprise browser should be on your security short list in 2025
The shift in how we work has brought efficiencies and operational enhancements, but it also added complexity, created new attack vectors, and exacerbated existing security vulnerabilities. While the move to remote and hybrid work is significant, the seismic change in how we work is the move to the browser, as most apps are cloud-based. Additionally, on-prem and remote users are accessing these apps from the browser on a wide range of devices.

According to The State of Workforce Security, a 2025 study by Omdia, approximately 85% of the workday is spent on browser-related activities using SaaS and web apps, and 90% of organizations enable access to corporate data from personal devices. This broad adoption of SaaS and web apps has exposed the limitations of traditional browser security, and attackers are taking advantage of these browser vulnerabilities to breach it.

What About the Browser? Limitations of Existing Security Approaches

The explosion of browser-based apps is overwhelming traditional, perimeter-based security models. Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), remote browser isolation (RBI), desktop-as-a-service (DaaS), and virtual private networks (VPNs) aren’t suitable. These security tools were not made to defend against attacks on compromised endpoints, sophisticated phishing, and unknown threats. They lack the granular data protection required when sharing sensitive corporate data through browsers.

Existing security solutions leave a distinct gap in protection between networks and endpoints. What’s worse is that while browsers have become the most popular application, traditional browsers do not have enterprise class security to protect sensitive data.

This is a massive and vulnerable attack surface. According to research by Palo Alto Networks, large organizations use approximately 10,000 SaaS and web apps. The threat is real and quantified by Omdia’s study, which found that 95% of organizations have experienced a browser-based attack.

Cybersecurity Secret Weapon: Secure enterprise browsers: cybersecuritydive.com


Personal Data Exposed in Hertz Data Breach
Hertz says personal data breached in connection with Cleo file-transfer flaws

The company is the latest organization to investigate or disclose an incident linked to a monthslong attack spree.

Hertz Corp. confirmed a threat actor gained access to sensitive personal data in a breach linked to vulnerabilities in Cleo file-transfer software, according to a filing Friday with the Maine Attorney General’s office.

Hertz said it learned on Feb. 10 that an unauthorized third party obtained the data in connection with an attack spree that took place between October and December 2024. Hertz completed an analysis of the stolen data on April 2.

According to the filing, more than 3,400 Maine residents were impacted by the breach. Maine usually discloses the total number of people affected by breaches, but Hertz’s filing discloses only those affected within the state.

Hertz said it has reported the incident to law enforcement and was in the process of notifying relevant regulatory authorities. Hertz is a publicly traded company, but it is not immediately clear whether a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has been made or is necessary.  cybersecuritydive.com



What is Pentesting & Why Is It Essential?
94% of firms say pentesting is essential, but few are doing it right

Penetration testing, often called pen testing, is a cybersecurity practice where ethical hackers simulate cyberattacks to find vulnerabilities in a system, network, or application.

94% of firms view pentesting as essential to their program. This captures the assurance role of pentesting and reflects the reality that‬ most breaches don’t occur because the victim had no defenses. Rather, the defenses they had‬ weren’t as solid as they thought.‬
‭
It’s probably no surprise to learn that 91% of respondents chose compliance as a major‬ reason why they do pentests. What may surprise some is that 92% say‬ ‭pentests are important to their organization’s strategy and senior leadership.

In 2017, only 27% of serious pentest findings were resolved. That proportion‬ doubled in 2021 to 55%, but has hovered at that level ever since. In 2024, serious findings were fixed in one-third of the time it took back in 2017 (37‬ versus 112 days). That’s shaving 75 days off the exposure window!‬

‭The largest organizations take over a month longer to resolve serious findings than‬ the smallest firms (61 versus 27 days). helpnetsecurity.com


Chief Legal Officers step up in cybersecurity oversight

Why shorter SSL/TLS certificate lifespans matter

Los Angeles, CA: Burglars Tunnel into Downtown L.A. Jewelers, Steal estimated $20 Million in merchandise
Millions of dollars in gold and jewels were stolen from Love Jewels in downtown Los Angeles, as burglars managed to tunnel through reinforced walls from a neighboring building. The heist, which occurred at the intersection of Broadway and 5th Street, left the owners reeling from a loss estimated at $20 million, though initial reports suggested the stolen merchandise was valued at $5 million. LAPD Cmdr. Lillian Carranza confirmed that the thieves cut through a room adjacent to the jewelry store, gaining access to the safes where the valuable items were stored. The daring break-in was captured on security footage, revealing a scene reminiscent of a Hollywood heist movie. The sound of a powerful drill echoed through the walls as the burglars meticulously carved a hole large enough for a person to slip through, evading even the most sophisticated security measures put in place by the jeweler. Love Jewels, also known as Reina de Oro, is renowned for catering to a clientele that includes rappers, artists, and even members of the underworld, with a reputation for providing exquisite bling that exudes luxury and opulence. Despite the perpetrators’ efforts to conceal their identities by disabling the security cameras inside the store, LAPD forensic experts are diligently scouring the crime scene for traces of DNA and fingerprints that could lead to their apprehension. The jewelers were shocked to discover the magnitude of the theft when they arrived at their shop on Monday morning, a stark reminder of the vulnerability businesses face even with stringent security protocols in place.  ktla.com


San Antonio, TX: Police search for 11 suspects who broke in and stole $20000 worth of items from SA smoke shop
SAPD says a group of thieves smashed their way into a smoke shop and took off with thousands of dollars of merchandise. It happened on the north side early Monday morning just after 5 a.m. Several members of that group were caught on camera forcing their way inside, breaking the glass door and getting past the burglary bars. Shop owner, Mak Hijaz, believes the thieves took off with more than $20,000 worth of items. Vapes being just one of the many items they took off with. “They just rushed in here and just grabbing things left and right," Hijaz said. "Tearing things up.” But Hijaz says they also took items with a price tag of $1,000 each. “Just this case alone was full of about $10,000 worth of product," he said. "And as you can see they cleaned it out." The owner says people tried to break into their other two locations on Wurzbach and Fredericksburg Road in late March.  kens5.com


Greenwich, CT: Update: Suspect charged in 'grab-and-run' larceny at Saks in Greenwich; Over $20K in merchandise taken
A New Jersey man with an extensive arrest record has been charged with multiple felonies for allegedly taking part in a "grab and run" stealing spree at Saks Fifth Avenue on Greenwich Avenue in 2020, in which $20,370 in high-end merchandise was stolen. Richard Dejoie, 35, whose most recent address was listed as Fourth Avenue in Newark, was allegedly part of a crew of organized retail thieves — two men and two women — who made off with seven Moncler jackets and two Moncler sweatpants on the afternoon of Dec. 6 in 2020. Another alleged co-conspirator, Jessica Lane, was previously charged in the case.  greenwichtime.com


Chicago, IL: Update: Four men charged with stealing from three Home Depots
Update: Four men have been charged with stealing items from three Home Depot stores in Carol Stream, Woodridge and Downers Grove. DuPage County prosecutors say it happened in February, March and April, including twice at the Carol Stream store. Criztobal Alvarez-Olivera, 31, Marcos Alvarez-Olivera, 29, David Flores, 41, and Rafael Felix, 33, appeared Tuesday in First Appearance Court. On April 14, authorities say, all four men went into the Home Depot at 7200 Woodward Ave. in Woodridge and took $4,482 worth of power tools. Later that day, authorities say, they took $6,638 worth of power tools from the Carol Stream store. They were released pretrial because burglary and retail theft are not detainable offenses.   dailyherald.com


Birmingham, MI: Clothing theft caught on camera, $7,500 worth of products stolen
A store theft has led Birmingham to search for two suspects who allegedly stole thousands of dollars of jeans. Business owners say 10 pairs of Mike Amiri jeans were stolen. The store says they’re making upgrades to their security.  fox2detroit.com


Stafford County, VA: New York man busted after underwear heist, high speed chase
A wanted 60-year-old man was pursued and stopped after stealing a suitcase full of unmentionables from a North Stafford business. On April 11th at approximately 8:38 p.m. deputies responded to T.J. Maxx, for a larceny. The caller advised they observed security chasing a suspect out of the store with a suitcase filled with goods. The caller would further provide a description of the vehicle the suspect was actively fleeing in. Deputy X.D. Bates would locate the vehicle conducting a California roll in the area of Woodstream Circle before failing to maintain the lane of travel. Deputy Bates conducted a traffic stop in the area of Staffordboro Boulevard; however, noticed signs that the driver was getting ready to flee once again. The studious Deputy Bates was correct and the driver accelerated from the traffic stop, resulting in a pursuit. As the driver traveled Westbound on Garrisonville Road, he would reach speeds above 60 MPH and run two traffic lights. This would not discourage deputies, for a PIT certified deputy would execute an outstanding PIT maneuver to get the vehicle stopped at the Soaring Eagle Drive intersection. A high-risk stop was conducted and the driver was detained shortly after. The driver was identified as Nelu Caldaras of Glen Dale, New York. Caldaras was wanted out of Fairfax for a capias offense. Within the vehicle, deputies located the suitcase in question. This suitcase was filled to the brim with women’s lingerie, shoes, and clothing. Over $1,000 worth of juicy items were recovered. Additionally, deputies located suspected controlled substances.  staffordsheriff.com


St Louis, MO: Gun sale gone wrong leaves 2 teen critically injured in south St. Louis