Unrest Could Be Coming to Your City - Are You Prepared?
In an unpredictable environment, being ready is not just a precaution, but a necessity.

Preparing for Potential Unrest: What Urban Retailers Should Know

By the D&D Daily staff

As political and social tensions rise following recent ICE raids in major U.S. cities, retailers—especially those operating in urban centers—are reassessing their preparedness strategies for potential unrest. With public demonstrations and spontaneous protests becoming more common, retail businesses are increasingly focused on minimizing risk and protecting employees, customers and assets.

Recent enforcement actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in cities like Los Angeles have sparked backlash, including protests that, while often peaceful, carry the potential to escalate. For retailers, this presents a challenging environment where operational disruptions, property damage or safety concerns can emerge quickly and unpredictably.

Retailers can take several proactive steps to mitigate risk during periods of heightened tension. First and foremost is communication. Store managers should stay informed through local news and law enforcement updates to anticipate potential protest activity in their area. Establishing a clear internal communication protocol ensures that staff can respond swiftly to changing conditions and know when to shelter in place, close early or modify operations.

Physical security is another key area of focus. Retailers in areas more prone to demonstrations may benefit from reviewing security camera coverage, ensuring alarms and locks are functioning properly and confirming that emergency exits are accessible. Some businesses are also coordinating with local law enforcement or private security firms to enhance on-site protection during high-alert periods.

Employee training is critical. Staff should be briefed on how to handle crowd activity near or around the store, how to de-escalate tense situations when possible and when to prioritize evacuation over confrontation. Retailers may also want to revisit insurance coverage to ensure policies are current and adequately cover civil unrest scenarios.

Finally, maintaining a thoughtful, community-aware approach can also play a role in diffusing tensions. Retailers known for equitable labor practices, inclusive hiring or community involvement may find themselves better positioned to navigate moments of unrest with support from local residents.

While no two situations are identical, preparedness can go a long way in minimizing disruption. As tensions continue to flare across the country, retail businesses—particularly those in densely populated urban areas—would be wise to develop or refine their response plans. In an unpredictable environment, being ready is not just a precaution, but a necessity.


Businesses Fed Up with Looting
LA business owners 'sick and tired' of 'stupid' anti-ICE rioters looting their stores
Local Los Angeles business owners are expressing anger at the anti-ICE rioters and looters in interviews with various outlets. "We are sick and tired of it," Paul Scrivano told "Fox & Friends First" this week. "We have no one in charge. I would go so far as to say we have children in charge of Los Angeles right now."

Over the weekend, protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers escalated into violent and destructive riots, leading President Donald Trump to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops and at least 500 Marines to help quell the unrest.

During the riots, looters were captured on video vandalizing and ransacking several Los Angeles stores. While major chains like Apple took the brunt of the robberies, local businesses were also caught in the crossfire.

"This is so ridiculous. This doesn’t look like they’re protesting for ICE or anything. They are doing [it] just for the looting of the stores. I saw they’re breaking into the Apple store. They’re breaking into the Adidas store. This is not them doing protest [sic]," Monty told NewsNation.

Scrivano largely placed the blame on Los Angeles leadership and told Fox News that the only way to clamp down on the violence is to arrest the criminals. foxnews.com


Los Angeles, CA: Stolen iPhones taunt thieves with tracking message, ‘please return to Apple Tower Theatre'
The incident occurred during widespread riots in Downtown Los Angeles. What initially began as peaceful protests in response to recent immigration raids quickly escalated into looting and property damage across the area. A video shared on X by user Damani Felder has drawn widespread attention for showing what appears to be a group of individuals who stole iPhones from an Apple Store in Los Angeles, only to discover that the devices were rendered useless and tracked remotely. In the video, the stolen phones display a clear message on their screens: “Please return to Apple Tower Theatre. This device has been disabled and is being tracked. Local authorities will be alerted.”  financialexpress.com


NYPD commissioner: No need for National Guard after 86 arrested in NYC ICE protest

Texas Gov. to deploy National Guard across the state in response to protests
 

Retail Theft & Violence Hitting 'Crisis Levels' in the UK
UK: Communities face a surge in theft and retail crime

In the year ending December 2024, thefts from the person were up by 22% year-on-year and shoplifting up by 20%.

Mobile phone theft is on the rise, and it’s more than just a stolen device. Every day, people lose not only expensive smartphones but also irreplaceable memories, personal data, and peace of mind. Increasingly, thieves are using e-scooters and bikes to snatch phones out of their victim’s hands in seconds, making quick getaways through busy streets and public spaces.

It’s estimated that over 200 snatch thefts occur on our streets every day. But it’s not just phones being targeted. Across the UK, shoplifting and violence against retail workers have reached crisis levels. In 2024 alone, there were more than 600 shop thefts every hour.

Behind these numbers are real people, shop workers facing daily abuse, threats, and even physical attacks. Many are targeted simply for doing their jobs: enforcing age restrictions, confronting shoplifters, or refusing service to aggressive customers. In some cases, these confrontations escalate into violence, often involving weapons.

The reasons are complex. Some offenders are driven by addiction or desperation, others by organised crime. But the impact is widespread: retailers lose billions, prices rise for everyone, and communities feel less safe. For workers, the emotional toll can be lasting fear, anxiety, and burnout are becoming all too common.  crimestoppers-uk.org


New regional dashboard provides crime data in near real time

Wood County is pilot for organized retail crime task force in Ohio
 

How Retailers Can Fight Return Fraud
Return fraud isn’t slowing down — retailers shouldn’t either

Insights on the evolution of return fraud and 3 ways retailers can combat it

As retailers continue to offer more flexible and convenient return policies, they’re also facing a growing — and increasingly complicated — challenge: return fraud. In a webinar hosted by David Johnston, NRF’s vice president of asset protection and retail operations, David Sobie, co-founder and CEO of Happy Returns, discussed how return fraud is evolving and what retailers can do to combat it.

From empty box scams to label tampering, return fraud is a real threat, and Sobie shared a clear message: Retailers don’t have to choose between protecting themselves and serving customers. The key is smarter policy, better technology and a customer-first mindset.

3 ways retailers can combat return fraud

Sobie outlined several ways retailers can defend themselves while still maintaining a positive return experience for honest shoppers.

1. Rethink your return policies and procedures

According to Sobie, retailers need to review not just their policies, but their systems. “The process and where the refund is issued are just as important as how the policy is defined,” he said.

2. Leverage technology to predict and prevent fraud

Sobie said new tools are helping retailers go beyond just catching fraud after the fact. This includes machine learning to flag high-risk return patterns and secure QR codes to make return labels harder to tamper with. Better tracking systems can also help identify inconsistencies early.

3. Prioritize the customer experience

Prioritizing ease and trust in the return process is still essential. “Convenience and ease in returns will generate loyalty from shoppers,” he said. Finding ways to protect the business without punishing good customers is key. nrf.com


Nationwide Workplace Injury Trends
Workplace Injuries Decline

A report from Travelers analyzed workers' compensation claims over the past 10 years.

The frequency of workplace injuries overall has declined over the past decade, according to a new report, the 2025 Injury Impact Report, from The Travelers Companies, Inc. The insurance company examined 1.2 million workers' compensation claims received during the past five years, down from 1.4 million from 2015 through 2019.

The report identified three specific trends:

Workplace Turnover and First-Year Employees

The report found that employees in their first year on the job accounted for approximately 36% of injuries and 34% of overall claim costs during the last five years. This is an increase from the prior five years, when 34% of injuries and 32% of overall claim costs were attributed to new employees.

An Aging Workforce

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that by 2033, approximately 24% of employees will be age 55 or older – up from 15% in 2003. Travelers has seen the volume of claims involving older employees rise in line with this shift.

Lengthier Recovery Times

From 2020 through 2024, employees missed an average of 80 workdays per injury – an increase of more than seven days when compared with the previous five-year period. Injured employees aged 60 and above were out of work due to workplace injuries for nearly 97 days, almost 17 more days than the overall average and an increase of 14 days from pre-pandemic years. ehstoday.com


490K Seasonable Jobs Coming This Summer
Report: Restaurants to add 490,000 summer jobs this year
Restaurants, especially in the Northeast, are expected to create more seasonal jobs than last year.

Restaurants are estimated to add 490,000 seasonal jobs this summer, per the National Restaurant Association’s 27th annual Eating and Drinking Place Summer Employment Forecast. This is an increase from last year, when restaurants across the United States added 459,000 seasonal jobs, but down from 2023 when the industry added 524,000 jobs in the summer. chainstoreage.com


Tariff Pause Will Trigger Import Surge
Import Cargo Levels Expected to See Surge During Pause in Tariff Increases
NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said many retailers suspended or canceled orders after the Trump administration announced a 145% tariff on China in April but have resumed imports after tariffs were reduced to 30% and a 90-day pause that will last until August 12 was announced. The higher reciprocal tariffs on other nations have also been paused until July 9 as the administration negotiates with those countries. nrf.com


Trump Hails Progress With China, but Details Are Sketchy
Two days of trade talks resulted in what leaders called a framework agreement meant to solidify terms of a truce that the superpowers reached in Geneva last month.

Franchise Group exits Chapter 11

Safety-First Culture Is Challenge for EHS Professionals