This Week's ORC Hearing Making More Headlines

Industry Leaders Tell Congress to Pass 'Combating Organized Retail Crime Act'
Judiciary Witnesses Call for Congressional Action on Organized Retail Crime, Endorse Grassley-Led Bill
In response to questioning from Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) at a hearing today, witnesses urged congressional action to address the nationwide scourge of organized retail crime and endorsed the Grassley-led, bipartisan Combating Organized Retail Crime Act.

The witnesses discussed the dangers of organized retail crime, including its ties to international criminal and terrorist syndicates. Grassley’s Combating Organized Retail Crime Act was cited as a “game changer,” given the legislation’s proposal to zero-in on criminal enterprises through commonsense penalties and multi-agency coordination.

The witnesses included:

• The Honorable Summer Stephan, President of the National District Attorneys Association and District Attorney for San Diego County;

• The Honorable David J. Glawe, President and CEO of the National Insurance Crime Bureau;

• Scott McBride, Chief Global Asset Protection Officer for American Eagle Outfitters Inc.; and

• Donna Lemm, Chief Strategy Officer for IMC Logistics, testifying on behalf of the American Trucking Associations. judiciary.

Grassley’s opening statement is available HERE.  senate.gov


Should America Adopt the Florida Model to Fighting ORC?
Ashley Moody wants to enact Florida approach to retail theft on national level
Moody says her approaches as Florida's top prosecutor worked in reducing organized retail theft.
U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody is increasing calls for tougher federal laws to tamp down retail theft across America.

During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on organized retail theft, Moody advocated the use of emerging technology to help beef up federal stipulations that could break massive retail crime rings. It’s the same approach she used as Florida Attorney General before she was appointed to the Senate seat this year to replace Marco Rubio.

In Florida, Moody said she was able to develop partnerships along with utilizing new technology in order to crack down on retail crime. She said it’s a template that other areas of the country should start employing.

“While most of the country watched mobs storm Los Angeles stores and crime rings boldly target major retailers, Florida dug in, utilizing new technology, forging novel partnerships and strengthening state laws to make sure organized retail crime did not get a foothold in Florida,” Moody said.

“It is time to bring the Florida approach to the federal government to stop organized retail crime, protect consumers and keep prices low for hardworking Americans especially as weak state leaders fail to enforce the law.”

Moody’s template developed what was labeled the Florida Organized Retail Crime Exchange (FORCE) in conjunction with the Florida Retail Federation. The FORCE partnership led to a statewide task force and database that could identify retail theft trends. FORCE was also used to develop lists of suspects and infiltrated organized retail theft rings. floridapolitics.com


Is the Immigration Crackdown Pulling Resources Away from ORC Fight?
Democrat accuses Trump administration of diverting 'critical resources' from fighting organized retail theft

Sen. Durbin says Homeland Security Investigations is being shifted 'toward rounding up immigrants'

A top Senate Democrat is accusing the Trump administration of diverting "critical resources" away from fighting crimes such as organized retail theft so the president can carry out a "mass deportation agenda."

Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, who is the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, made the remark during a hearing on Tuesday in which he warned lawmakers about the "large scale theft of retail products that are then sold to unsuspecting consumers, often on online marketplaces."

"Federal law enforcement also has an important role to play, but we must acknowledge this administration has announced different priorities. Instead of combating crimes like I described, the Trump administration has diverted critical resources toward the president's mass deportation agenda," Durbin said.

"Homeland Security Investigations, better known as HSI, plays a leading role in combating criminal networks and organized crime, including organized retail theft. But under this administration, HSI has been diverted toward rounding up immigrants, many of whom pose no threat whatsoever to this country," Durbin added.

Durbin cited a recent report saying "HSI supervisors have waived agents off new cases so they have more time to make immigration enforcement arrests." foxnews.com


   Cargo theft moves into focus as Congress mulls how to fight ORC

   San Diego district attorney visits Washington to back retail theft bill

 
Self-Checkout's Catch-22
Target’s new self checkout rules target theft, punish customers

The company seems to be making two checkout choices that make shopping harder for customers.

Retailers want self-checkout to work because it saves them money. They may not come out and say that, and some may pretend it’s about giving customers what they want, but the reality is that it’s a cost-saving move.

The problem, and it’s a big one, is that self-checkout leads to increased theft. Some of that is unintentional, as people honestly try to scan something and it does not scan properly. Some percentage of self-checkout shrink comes from honest people who struggle to get the technology to work.

A bigger problem is that the possibility for mistakes and missed items opens the door for bad actors. It’s really easy for people to intentionally not scan their most expensive items. It’s a bit of a Catch-22. You can save money on labor by not hiring as many cashiers, but your theft goes up.

Or, you could place limits on self-checkout and hire more people. That raises your labor cost, but lowers the amount of theft.

What you can’t do is cut back on self-checkout and not have very many manned cash registers. That creates a terrible customer service experience where not only are people waiting in long lines, but they also can see multiple empty registers with nobody working there. thestreet.com


New data shows what Houston voters really think about neighborhood crime and police

Portland data shows what happens to crime rates near new overnight homeless shelters
 

Weathering the Storm:
How Extreme Weather Events Are Reshaping Retail Preparedness

By the D&D Daily Staff

Retailers are increasingly feeling the pressure—not just from consumers or competition, but from Mother Nature herself. As extreme weather events become more frequent and severe, retailers across the country are seeing firsthand how climate-related disruptions can upend operations, damage infrastructure, and jeopardize employee and customer safety.

From hurricanes along the Gulf of Mexico to wildfires in the West and record-breaking snowstorms in the Midwest and Northeast, no region is immune. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. experienced 28 separate billion-dollar weather disasters in 2023 alone—up from an average of 18 over the prior five years. Retail locations in vulnerable areas have seen everything from prolonged power outages and supply chain disruptions to store closures and property loss.

The impact goes beyond physical damage. Retailers face heightened security risks during weather-related shutdowns, including break-ins at temporarily closed stores and supply theft during restocking. Employee displacement, disrupted logistics routes, and insurance complications add additional layers of risk.

So what can retailers do?

1. Invest in Resiliency Planning: Comprehensive emergency preparedness plans should account for region-specific threats. These plans must include protocols for evacuation, communication, and post-event recovery.

2. Improve Infrastructure: From backup power generators to flood-proofing measures, investing in weather-resilient infrastructure can reduce recovery time and protect high-value inventory.

3. Real-Time Monitoring: Weather intelligence tools and threat detection software can help retailers stay ahead of developing storms and make faster decisions about closures or supply rerouting.

4. Strengthen Partnerships: Collaboration with local law enforcement, vendors, and emergency services can improve coordinated responses and prevent inventory loss.

5. Train and Communicate: Employees should be trained on emergency protocols, and communication channels must remain open—even during power or network outages.

As climate events continue to disrupt business as usual, proactive planning will be essential for minimizing losses, protecting teams, and maintaining operational continuity. In today’s retail landscape, weather isn’t just a seasonal concern—it’s a year-round security threat.


Has Target Lost Its Way?
‘Lost their identity’: Why Target is struggling to win over shoppers and investors

Customers, vendors and former employees told CNBC that the discounter has lost some of the unique traits that helped it stand out, including its eye-catching merchandise, attentive staff and well-kept stores.

The retailer, which gained a loyal following over decades for its quirky, progressive and chic approach to big-box retail, now appears stuck as it tries to grow again and bounce back from lower store traffic, inventory issues and customer backlash. Shares of Target have fallen about 61% since their all-time high in late 2021.

That peak came after Target’s sales rose more than $15 billion in the fiscal year following the start of the Covid pandemic, but its annual revenue has stagnated for the past four years. And Target said in May that it expects sales to fall this year.

Target leaders have described the weaker performance as a blip, pointing to higher inflation or other temporary factors, and expressing confidence in its long-term strategy. In May, Target said sluggish sales resulted from weaker discretionary spending, uncertainty about President Donald Trump’s tariffs and backlash to its decision to roll back key diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

But customers, former employees, vendors and analysts painted a picture of a company at an existential crossroads. In interviews with CNBC, they attributed Target’s struggles to the weakening of unique traits that helped the retailer stand out, including its eye-catching merchandise, attentive staff, well-kept stores and commitment to celebrating diversity through both the items that it sold and the policies it supported.

Multiple former employees, who asked not to be identified because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly on the matter, said Target’s store standards have slipped in recent years as the company has tried to juggle online and in-store businesses with a leaner store staff — leading to items being out of stock. Customers and analysts also told CNBC they have seen longer checkout lines, messier aisles and fewer employees at stores. Plus, former employees said Target’s sharp turn away from diversity efforts, along with cost cuts, hurt corporate culture and employee morale. cnbc.com

   RELATED: Is a Target Turnaround Likely To Occur in the Near Future?


Tariff Price Increases
Nike, Walmart, Shein, and other major brands that say Trump's tariffs are pushing them to raise prices

Some companies are preparing to raise prices in response to President Donald Trump's tariffs — or already have.

BI is keeping track of companies that said they'd raise prices due to tariffs — and those who already have.
Prices are expected to go up this year as many companies signal plans to raise them in response to President Donald Trump's slew of tariffs.

While firms raise prices for many reasons, some were blaming price hikes on tariffs long before Trump's so-called "Liberation Day" on April 2, during which he announced a 10% baseline tariff on imports from most countries, except Canada and Mexico, and a host of "reciprocal" tariffs on top of that.

The situation is fluid, as various countries continue to negotiate potential trade deals with the US. Some economists have said that Trump's tariffs — and the uncertainty with his overall trade policy — could lead companies to raise prices on the goods they produce. businessinsider.com


Data & Workplace Safety
Transform Your Workplace With Safety Data

Learn how to turn your raw data into compelling arguments that can result in safer workplaces.

That World War II-era slogan, “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without” could take on a whole new meaning if applied to workplace safety data (minus the last bit, of course).

That data could have another life, one filled with improvements, solutions and possibilities instead of collecting dust in three-ring binders or taking up space on your company’s servers.

Data is a great starting point for measuring success, but it takes actions to truly earn buy-in. No one person at a business can handle all aspects of safety. Every employee has a part to play in creating the safety culture and part of that is the understanding of the safety data. That understanding leads to engagement, and that’s what makes the data truly work for safety professionals. ehstoday.com
 

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