EXCLUSIVE REPORT JUST RELEASED

Robberies & Burglaries Hit New Low After Record 2023
Down 19% from Last Year - Massive Drop in Q4

C-Stores Top Targeted Store 8 of 9 Years - Tuesday Top Day
Calif. Remains Top State - Chicago #1 Robbery Hot Spot
 

Yearly Robbery & Burglary Comparison | 2016-2024
Down 18% Overall Since 2016

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Nationwide Crime Drops Across the Board
FBI crime report says violent crime decreased by 4.5% in 2024

Violent crime is defined as murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.

Statistics released Tuesday by the FBI indicate that violent crime decreased overall in the United States by 4.5% last year.

The FBI’s annual crime report is made up of data from over 16,000 agencies around the country, covering 95% of the U.S. population. Around 2% more agencies submitted crime data compared with the previous year. Notably, every city agency covering a population of 1 million or more submitted a full 12 months of data for the 2024 report.

According to the FBI, murder and nonnegligent manslaughter decreased an estimated 14.9%, robbery decreased an estimated 8.9%, rape decreased an estimated 5.2%, and aggravated assault decreased an estimated 3.0%.

Property crime also decreased an estimated 8.1% from 2023 to 2024, and hate crimes decreased an estimated 1.5%, the report found.

Estimates based on reported crime have decreased, but the data still indicates that violent crime occurred an average of every 25.9 seconds and that property crime occurred every 5.3 seconds, FBI Assistant Director Timothy Ferguson said on a media briefing call announcing the report.

While there has been an overall decrease in crime, there has been an increase in officers killed in the line of duty, according to the data. In 2024, 64 officers were feloniously killed in the line of duty. Sixty-one offenders were reported in connection with those killings. Firearms were involved in 46 of the felonious deaths. nbcnews.com


C-Stores Fight Theft with AI
Thwarting Theft in Your C-Stores

C-store retailers are leveraging artificial intelligence to upgrade their loss prevention solutions.

As theft shifts from standard shoplifting to organized activity, including digital fraud and internal coordination, loss prevention strategies must change as well, and digital solutions are seeing steady growth.

Convenience stores, whose very nature of high traffic and smaller staffing appeals to “bad actors,” according to Khris Hamlin, VP asset protection at the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), are taking the initiative to install technology such as artificial intelligence (AI)-based camera and audio software to manage theft and even prevent it.

“Technology has definitely shifted and become much more advanced than how it used to be before. We’re seeing smart cameras, AI-driven video analytics happening that’s backed by exception-based reporting and also, at times, could be connected with their point-of-sale monitoring systems, too,” said Hamlin.

C-store retailers can use this to spot trends and suspects quicker.

“And in some instances, they’re able to actually stop the theft even before it happens because of some of the predictive-analytic models that are out there,” continued Hamlin. “So with all these tools in play, what we’re seeing across the industry is that the technology is giving the end user a single dashboard where they can look at everything connected together and make really smart decisions and make them a lot faster than they were in the past.”

Minits, with 16 convenience stores in Texas, implemented a multitiered system to prevent theft. Its i3 International camera system provides intelligently indexed video that can be accessed in-store and remotely. cstoredecisions.com


Is Prop 36 Driving Down Retail Theft?
"Over 50% of the smash and grabs have decreased."

Prop 36 'greatest thing that's happened,' leads to 50% drop in retail theft
at River Park

Prop 36 stiffens penalties for retail theft, bringing it from a misdemeanor to a felony for thieves with at least two convictions.

A new state law appears to be stopping thieves in their tracks after videos of dramatic and brazen smash-and-grabs went viral online. "It's been the greatest thing that's happened for our retail," Tracy Kashian at Fresno's River Park said about Proposition 36.

Kashian said the law has resulted in a double-digit reduction in retail crime in seven months. "We are seeing a decrease in numbers, a profound decrease in numbers," Kashian said. "Over 50% of the smash and grabs have decreased."

Proposition 36 stiffens penalties for retail theft, bringing it from a misdemeanor to a felony for thieves with at least two prior convictions.

"The law went into effect, and it's like everybody went on vacation, in terms of the thieves," Kashian said.

The threat persists. River Park's Drip-on-Drip sneaker store still leaves its cash register open in plain sight of the window after thieves hit the retailer twice in 13 months. One time, a car plowed through the storefront, costing thousands in damages.

Local law enforcement supported Prop 36, but critics raised concerns. "If this passes, it will absolutely send us back," Jose Bernal at the Ella Baker Center said before the election. Bernal feared it could lead to mass incarceration, sending more people to jail, left to await trial in a slow court system. abc30.com


What's behind 2024's drop in crime?

Data show crime is falling in Chicago along with national trend
 

When Hackers Go Shopping:
The Rising Cyber Threat in Retail

By the D&D Daily staff

In today’s retail landscape, threats don’t always come through the front door — many now enter through the network.

Cybersecurity has rapidly become one of the most pressing concerns for the retail sector, especially as more operations shift to digital platforms. From point-of-sale (POS) systems to e-commerce platforms, customer loyalty apps, and mobile payment solutions, retailers now handle more sensitive customer data than ever before — and cybercriminals know it.

The 2025 threat environment continues to evolve. According to a recent IBM report, the average cost of a retail data breach now exceeds $4.2 million, with customer personally identifiable information (PII) being the top target. Retailers are particularly vulnerable due to the sheer volume of daily transactions and the multitude of third-party vendors integrated into their systems — from payment processors to supply chain partners.

Phishing attacks remain the most common method of compromise. Just one employee clicking a malicious link can open the door to ransomware, credential theft, or even full system lockdowns. And with the rise of AI-generated phishing emails, it’s becoming harder than ever for even savvy staff members to spot the threat.

But it's not just about email. POS malware, credential stuffing, and unsecured API endpoints are all areas of growing concern. Many retailers continue to use outdated or unpatched software, leaving them exposed to known vulnerabilities.

The rise of omnichannel retailing adds another layer of complexity. A customer may browse on mobile, order online, and return in-store — each step requiring secure, seamless data handling. That means retailers must not only protect against external breaches but also ensure proper segmentation and monitoring across their internal networks.

What can retailers do? Experts stress the importance of regular employee training, timely software patching, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and real-time monitoring. Many are also turning to Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) to supplement internal IT teams.

Ultimately, cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue — it’s a business continuity issue. A single breach can erode customer trust, trigger fines, and bring operations to a standstill.

As retail continues to digitize, one thing is clear: the next big threat may not wear a mask — it may be logged in already.


Global Uncertainty Impacting Cybersecurity Spending
Cybersecurity budgets tighten as economic anxiety rises

Uncertain tariff policies and fluctuating inflation and interest rates are leading to stagnant or reduced budgets, according to an IANS Research report.

Cybersecurity budgets grew 4% in 2025 on average, down from 8% in the previous year, likely driven by economic uncertainty, according to a report released Tuesday by cybersecurity firm IANS Research and executive search firm Artico Search.

As a share of overall information technology budgets, cybersecurity spending declined from 11.9% to 10.9%, breaking a five-year upward trend, according to the research.

“Once again, we find that security budgets are not immune to macro conditions,” Steve Martano, a partner in Artico’s cybersecurity practice, said in a press release. “Despite most companies identifying cyber as a top five business risk, most CISOs are not receiving budget increases commensurate with the increase in security program scope.”

CFO confidence plummeted in the second quarter of the year amid economic headwinds and geopolitical concerns, according to a July Deloitte report. The economy topped the list of external risks worrying CFOs, with 53% of respondents citing that category, followed by cybersecurity (51%) and interest rates (43%).

Global market volatility, driven by geopolitical tensions, uncertain tariff policies and fluctuating inflation and interest rates are impacting cybersecurity spending, leading to stagnant or reduced budgets, according to the new study by IANS and Artico. cybersecuritydive.com


SonicWall investigating possible zero-day related to firewall attacks

Millions of Dell laptops could be persistently backdoored in ReVault attacks

Alexandria, LA: Police investigate early morning smash-and-grab at jewelry store
Alexandria Police are investigating a smash-and-grab burglary that occurred early Tuesday morning at Schnack’s Fine Jewelry on Jackson Street. According to the business owner, Bill Carstens, the store’s alarm was triggered around 3 a.m. on August 5. Carstens said he was notified immediately and later reviewed surveillance footage with family members. Video shows a man striking the store’s thick front windows with a hammer before squeezing through a hole in the glass. Once inside, the suspect made a direct dash to a display stand, stealing an entire case of high-end watches. Store associates said the suspect appeared “frantic” during the burglary, which lasted approximately 31 seconds.  cenlanow.com


Mt Juliet, TN: Memphis man accused of stealing over $7K in Lowe’s merchandise
A Memphis man is taken into custody by police in Mt. Juliet after they spotted a vehicle without a license plate. The reported driver of the van ran from officers when they approached him in the Lowe's parking lot on Pleasant Grove Road on Sunday afternoon, said Mt. Juliet Police, who quickly caught him. Inside the vehicle, in plain sight, was $7,000 worth of merchandise from Lowe's, police said. The 41-year-old man who is charged with felony theft and burglary and evading arrest is believed to be connected to similar thefts across the region, according to police.  msn.com


Watson, LA: Louisiana Man Scammed Walmart Self-Checkout with Pasta Barcode; theft of $2300

Monroe County, PA: Two accused of over $2,000 retail theft at Pocono Outlets

Brookfield, WI: Ulta Beauty retail theft; over $1K of stolen merchandise

Macomb County, MI: Metro Detroit man charged again, could face 30th retail fraud conviction; $900 Target theft