Organized Retail Theft Grants Used for AI-Powered LPRs
Oregon: Eugene and Springfield will soon have new AI-powered license plate readers that will make ‘digital fingerprints’ of cars
Eugene and Springfield police have purchased license plate readers that use AI to make digital fingerprints of vehicles. Police say they're a tool to gather objective evidence and they’ve already helped solve a violent crime.

The cameras–small black devices powered with solar panels–use AI to capture make, model, color, unique characteristics like damage or bumper stickers, as well as license plate numbers. According to the company, it can also make digital fingerprints of bicycles.

All that data will go into a searchable database maintained by Georgia-based Flock Safety for 30 days. That company now has contracts with Eugene and Springfield Police Departments, as well as law enforcement agencies and homeowners associations across the country.

Eugene Police Chief Chris Skinner said Flock is still in the process of installing Eugene’s 57 cameras, but the department has already used the system to apprehend suspects in two crimes; a robbery and a double homicide. Skinner said he anticipates the cameras will help police gather more evidence, and potentially deter crime, despite staffing challenges.

Both Eugene and Springfield used Oregon Criminal Justice Commission Organized Retail Theft grants to purchase cameras.

Springfield Police Lt. George Crolly said in an email to KLCC that the department bought 25 cameras that will be rolled out over the next few months. He said the cameras will be used for retail theft investigations, stolen vehicles, major crimes and Amber Alerts. He said the department will follow Oregon’s Sanctuary Promise Act, which bars law enforcement from helping with immigration enforcement.  klcc.org


Shoplifting Epidemic Putting Small Shops Out of Business
UK: Small shops on the brink amid shoplifting and violence
Independent retailers face being put out of business by an epidemic of shoplifting, violence and rogue traders selling illegal cigarettes and vapes.

Shocking figures show 96 per cent of small shop owners said rising retail crime combined with Labour's tax hikes and high energy costs have made it harder for their businesses to survive.

A third of those surveyed by the Federation of Independent Retailers have noticed an increase in crime in their stores since the start of the year.

Nearly all – 95 per cent – said more shoppers will turn to rogue traders to buy tobacco and e-cigarettes amid a government crackdown on smoking and vaping.

The Federation's national president, Mo Razzaq, said: 'We have repeatedly warned the Government in no uncertain terms that independent retail is on the brink of disaster unless our industry receives support.' thisismoney.co.uk


What Fueled D.C.'s Biggest Youth Crime Surge in a Generation?
How D.C.'s failure to curb truancy fueled a surge in youth crime

How the District’s failure to curb truancy in middle schools yielded the biggest youth crime surge in a generation.

Irving was one of nearly 16,000 D.C. Public Schools students — one-third of its K-12 enrollment — who were truant in 2024, meaning they missed at least two weeks of classes without an excuse. For more than a decade, District leaders have linked school attendance to youth crime, saying tackling one will curb the other.

City leaders blamed the coronavirus pandemic for an uptick in unexcused absences, as well as the rise in youth crime. However, The Post found that the truancy rate began rising for DCPS middle-schoolers before the pandemic, from 10 percent in the 2014-2015 school year to more than 30 percent in 2018-2019 and one-third last year.

The D.C. Council passed anti-truancy laws intended to address youth violence after a series of shootings in 2010 left five young people dead. The legislation established a process to identify at-risk students before they ended up in the court system, and directed the mayor to create a plan to staff schools with mental health specialists. washingtonpost.com


Property Crime Continues to Surge in Cities
Arlington, VA: Crime rose in 2024, continuing multi-year trend
Crime continued to increase in Arlington last year, according to police department stats, with notable upticks in reported assaults and shoplifting incidents. The overall number of more serious “Group A” offenses increased 11% between 2023 and 2024, according to the Arlington County Police Department’s annual report released today (Tuesday).

Property crimes rose by around 12%, crimes against people — like assault — increased 9% and crimes against society — including drug offenses — increased by about 1%. Crime rates have been rising for several years in Arlington, although they appear to have begun leveling out in the first few months of this year.

Driving last year’s increase in property crimes was a jump in reported larcenies and thefts, especially shoplifting incidents — which rose from 1,060 in 2023 to 1,863 in 2024. The report notes that multiple factors probably played a role.

“This increase likely reflects both an increase in offenses as well as better reporting by affected businesses through the online reporting system,” it says. arlnow.com


Eight shoplifting suspects arrested in Pentagon City after surge in retail crime

North Carolina experienced 4 mass shootings in early 2025, data shows
 

The Hardware Store ICE Raid That Never Was?
How LA erupted over rumours of immigration raid at a hardware store
Juan and several friends huddled in the car park of a hardware store near Los Angeles, where protests have erupted against US President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.

Typically, their gatherings include dozens of day labourers, many of whom are undocumented immigrants, seeking work from shoppers or contractors.

But on Sunday, only two small pickups advertised that they could help with roofing, repairs or paint jobs outside this branch of Home Depot in the suburb of Paramount, whose population is more than 82% Hispanic.

It was one day after the store became the centre of immigration protests, sparked by rumours that day labourers here had been rounded up and arrested.

Many who live in the community told the BBC they saw immigration enforcement vehicles in the area.

It caused instant fear and panic. Then came reports about raids and arrests of day labourers at Home Depot, a place where many undocumented migrants across the US go to find work.

Protests erupted in this Hispanic-majority city, turning violent as rocks and Molotov cocktails were thrown. Authorities used pepper spray, rubber bullets and smoke bombs to subdue the crowd.

But the demonstrations in Paramount appear to have spawned out of misinformation.

While dozens of migrants have been detained by authorities elsewhere in the area, the rumours of raids at the store were misinformation, according to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

"Despite false reports, there was no ICE 'raid' at a Home Depot in LA," the DHS told the BBC. bbc.com


Looting Breaks Out Amid LA Unrest
Los Angeles businesses looted overnight; anti-ICE protests expected to continue Monday
Several downtown Los Angeles businesses were looted and vandalized overnight as law enforcement worked to restore order following a weekend of protests that turned violent.

The crowds had mostly dispersed as of Monday morning, but streets are closed, and a heavy law enforcement presence is in place around several downtown federal buildings, where National Guard troops have been posted. Graffiti could be seen on business after business, including the Los Angeles Times building, for several blocks.

Video recorded just after midnight showed individuals going in and out of a T-Mobile store on South Broadway after smashing through the glass front door early Monday morning.

Armed officers also responded to an Adidas store after reports of looting near 8th Street and Broadway. Some of the merchandise taken from the store had been recovered by law enforcement and could be seen on top of their vehicles.

Police have declared all of downtown Los Angeles an unlawful assembly area. news10.com


California sues Trump over National Guard deployment to Los Angeles
 

Is the Target DEI Backlash Overblown?
Target DEI Fallout Was ‘Manufactured Outrage,’ According to New Report
In a digital era where perception can be manufactured and outrage amplified, a new report suggests that the backlash against Target over its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts may have been more artificial than genuine.

Fake Accounts Helped Fuel the Target Backlash

A report from Israeli tech firm Cyabra, and furnished to USA Today, has uncovered a coordinated disinformation campaign aimed at inflating outrage against Target between January and April of this year. Cyabra’s AI-powered analysis found that 27% of social media accounts contributing to the viral backlash were fake, with many impersonating Black users as well as conservative voices.

These inauthentic accounts pushed trending hashtags like #EconomicBlackout and calls for campaigns such as the “Target Fast” or a “40-day boycott,” all while stoking division and intensifying polarization. Cyabra noted that fake accounts were amplifying both sides of the DEI debate — some attacking Target for being “woke.” In contrast, others lambasted the company for backing down on its DEI commitments.

According to USA Today, Cyabra found that “inauthentic sentiment surged 764% after Target’s announcement to roll back some diversity programs.”

“We’ve seen this kind of behavior in disinformation campaigns tied to elections, brands, and social movements around the world,” added company spokesperson Jill Burkes. “When fake profiles move in sync, mimic real users, and amplify both sides of a divisive issue, it’s a clear sign of manipulation.” retailwire.com


Are Malls Where 'It's Happening' Again?
Experiential Retail Is Transforming American Malls With Pet Groomers And Doggy Daycare, IV Drips, And Specialty Grocers
Shopping centers and malls are diversifying and getting creative to maintain high foot traffic. The days of legacy tenants such as Bed Bath & Beyond, Filene’s Basement, Modell’s and Party City are long gone. Instead, experiential businesses have taken their place, according to a report by CoStar News.

While experiential businesses have often been associated with nail and hair salons and restaurants, the type of retailers now occupying U.S. shopping centers has diversified to cover any operation that requires an in-person visit. CoStar reports those businesses now include pet groomers and doggy day care spaces, golf simulator clubs and even an IV drip center, all of which ply their trade alongside fast food and grocery stores like Jersey Mike’s, Panda Express and Whole Foods.

The growing trend in experiential retail centers around wellness, healthcare, fitness, recreational sports, pets, and kids. According to Forbes, at the start of the year, CoStar data showed successful retail centers were able to pivot to embrace new shopping trends. This meant smaller store sizes, experiential retail, and stores that catered to their geographic location, using data to inform site selection. finance.yahoo.com


Mall Traffic Up Again
Placer.ai: Mall visits rise for second-consecutive month in May

Memorial Day helped boost traffic to indoor, outdoor, and outlet malls in May.

Retail data firm Placer.ai’s new Mall Index for May 2025 revealed that mall visits followed a strong performance in April by increasing 5.2% year over year. Indoor malls posted the largest gains with a 6.7% increase in visits, followed by open-air shopping centers (+5.0%) and outlet malls (+3.9%).

Placer.ai says that some of May's visit increases were likely also driven by the sector's strong showing over Memorial Day weekend. Indoor malls and open-air shopping centers saw their visits spike on the Saturday and Sunday before the holiday, both seeing double-digit increases compared to 2024. chainstoreage.com


Walmart challenges consumer perceptions with ‘Who Knew?’ campaign
Walmart has teamed with actors Walton Goggins and Stephanie Beatriz for a new campaign, “Walmart. Who Knew?,” designed to challenge consumer perceptions about the big-box store, according to details shared with Marketing Dive.

Survey: More consumers moving up back-to-school shopping to June
Potential price hikes from incoming tariffs have families moving up their back-to-school shopping.

The ‘most patriotic’ brands in America are…

The running list of major retail deals

Lowe’s Has Just Completed One of Its Biggest Acquisitions. Here Are the Details