Early Detection is Key to Retail Shooting Prevention
Why Frontline Prevention Needs More Than Just Security Cameras

By the D&D Daily staff

Retail shootings, while still rare compared to the millions of transactions that occur daily, have become an increasingly visible risk for both employees and customers. Most coverage focuses on the incident itself, the suspect’s motive, or the law enforcement response. But many loss prevention professionals say the more urgent conversation is about what can be done in the critical window before a gun is drawn.

According to workplace violence researchers, most retail shootings aren’t entirely “out of the blue.” They often emerge from situations that start as verbal altercations, escalated theft attempts, or disputes that move from the parking lot to the sales floor. That means prevention strategies can’t just be reactive — they have to focus on early detection and de-escalation.

Some retailers are investing in AI-driven behavioral analytics that flag unusual movement patterns or recognize repeated loitering. Others are deploying wearable panic buttons, giving employees a discreet way to summon help when they sense a situation is turning dangerous. These tools aim to shorten the time between threat recognition and security intervention — sometimes from minutes to seconds.

Employee training is another critical layer. Experts emphasize that teaching associates how to disengage, create physical distance, and follow store-specific emergency procedures can reduce the likelihood of violence escalating. This includes knowing when not to confront a potentially armed individual — a decision that can be life-saving.

Coordination with local law enforcement is also evolving. Some police departments now offer active threat scenario walk-throughs inside stores, helping both sides understand building layouts, evacuation routes, and communication protocols before a crisis occurs.

The retail industry’s challenge is balancing open, welcoming environments with robust safety measures. As one LP director for a national chain put it, “We can’t turn our stores into fortresses, but we can make sure the people inside have the tools and training to respond quickly if something goes wrong.”

While technology and training won’t eliminate the risk, they can make the difference between a confrontation that escalates into gunfire and one that is resolved without injury. For retailers, that difference is measured not just in losses avoided, but in lives saved.


Auror's Mission to Cut Retail Violence by 50% in 5 Years
Joining forces in the fight against retail violence

A focus on collaboration is key to combat organized retail crime and repeat offenders

Phil Thomson is CEO and co-founder of Auror, a crime intelligence software company aimed at helping retailers securely record crime, reduce loss and make stores safer. Reducing retail violence is square in his company’s sights. Auror’s new shared mission is to work together with retailers, law enforcement and the community to reduce violent retail crime by 50% in the next five years.

Thomson laid out Auror’s “50 in 5” call to action during a session at NRF PROTECT 2025 that included Paul Jaeckle, vice president, asset protection, safety and corporate services, Meijer Stores Inc., and Ulta Beauty Senior Vice President, Loss Prevention Dan Petrousek. Terry Sullivan, senior vice president, strategic partnerships, Auror, moderated.

Auror, founded in 2012, spent its first decade focused on providing visibility around the true scale and severity of retail crime, improving the experience of reporting, investigation and collaboration. More recently, however, there’s been an uptick not only in retail violence — with Auror’s own U.S. retailer data showing one in eight retail events now involve threatening behavior — but also the introduction of more hardened criminals, Thomson said: Repeat offenders are up to four times more likely to be violent in retail settings.

Auror works with enterprise retailers in Australia, New Zealand, North America and the United Kingdom, and is hopeful to bring the weight of the global community to the issue.

The retailers present admitted the “50 in 5” effort is bold. It’s also timely. The COVID era brought deep changes in the way people interact, with violence becoming more personal, aggressive and overt.

Partnership with other retailers is critically important, as well as partnership with law enforcement, technology solution providers, legislators and prosecutors.

The panelists shared experiences related to their teams, internal processes, training, data, partnerships and tactics — including educating law enforcement, government authorities, leadership and community members on the scope of the problem. It’s far more than a mere “nuisance.”

Read the full article here: nrf.com


Cargo Theft Epidemic
Cargo theft reaches record highs, costing businesses millions
Cargo theft continues to be a growing threat for businesses, insurers and supply chains. CargoNet reported that more than $63 million in goods were stolen in the first quarter of 2025 alone, with an additional $7.5 million lost over the Fourth of July holiday. The average stolen load now exceeds $200,000.

In the last 18 months, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), which supports Customs and Border Protection in preventing insurance fraud and crime, has assisted in more than 240 cargo crime investigations and more than 70 recoveries valued at nearly $40 million.

Federal actions to combat organized crime

A bipartisan push is underway in Congress to crack down on organized retail and cargo theft. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) have reintroduced the “Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 (CORCA),” targeting the networks behind large-scale theft. The bill would coordinate law enforcement action and investigations.

During a July committee hearing, four expert witnesses described the challenges in tackling organized retail crime and stressed how CORCA would give authorities tools to improve coordination and response. A major obstacle they noted is the lack of cross-state collaboration once stolen merchandise moves across state lines.

“IMC Logistics has seen cargo theft of intermodal volumes rise from five incidents in 2021 to 876 incidents in 2024. That is a 17,520% increase in just three years,” Donna Lemm, chief strategy officer of IMC Logistics, said in her testimony. ccjdigital.com


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Cybersecurity Spending Down, Pressure Up
Trump administration cyber cuts eroding private sector’s trust, confidence

A report by Swimlane shows companies are reducing cybersecurity spending and security teams are experiencing increasing pressure.

The Trump administration’s massive cuts to federal cybersecurity programs have produced a ripple effect that is eroding industry confidence in the government and placing enormous strain on companies’ security teams, according to a report released Wednesday by Swimlane.

The report — based on a survey of 500 IT and cybersecurity decision makers in the U.S. and the U.K. — finds that 85% of organizations have faced budget or resource cuts over the past six months.

Almost half of companies plan to reduce plans to invest in cybersecurity, the report said, and eight in 10 respondents fear the government budget reductions will hinder intelligence sharing.

Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has cut thousands of employees at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and other agencies with cyber missions. He has also disbanded several cyber advisory panels, including the Cyber Safety Review Board.

The concerns raised in the report echo similar worries that longtime national security and cyber experts have voiced in recent months. cybersecuritydive.com


Great Debate Over Federal Cybsercurity Policy
White House urged to revamp cyber regulations

A leading trade group said the Trump administration should rein in a major pending cybersecurity rule as well as embrace AI-based cyber defenses.

The Trump administration should slash cybersecurity regulations and double down on winning the trust of the private sector, the U.S. tech industry’s largest trade group said in a paper published Tuesday.

In a report laying out recommendations for the White House’s Office of the National Cyber Director — now helmed by newly confirmed Trump appointee Sean Cairncross — the Information Technology Industry Council said the government should focus on “results-driven action.”

“There is a need to prioritize impactful security outcomes, slash red tape, rethink legacy network architectures, invest in secure modern systems, and strengthen trusted partnerships between the public and private sectors,” ITI said. cybersecuritydive.com


Stolen Police & Government Emails for Sale
For $40, you can buy stolen police and government email accounts
Active police and government email accounts are being sold on the dark web for as little as $40, giving cybercriminals a direct line into systems and services that rely on institutional trust. According to new research from Abnormal AI, the accounts come from agencies in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, India, and Brazil, and are being traded on underground forums.

Unlike spoofed or dormant addresses, these accounts are functional and still in use by legitimate agencies. Once compromised, they allow attackers to impersonate officials, send fraudulent subpoenas, or request sensitive data with a level of credibility that is difficult to challenge. helpnetsecurity.com


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Seattle, WA: Multiple Armed suspects steal $1M in jewelry from West Seattle store
A West Seattle jewelry business was brazenly robbed in broad daylight on Thursday, and police are actively searching for the suspects Menashe & Sons Jewelers, located right in the heart of the West Seattle Junction, was ambushed by a group of masked men armed with hammers and bear spray, police said. The smash-and-grab robbery happened around noon, and left the store with broken glass and display cases scattered across the floor. Seattle police say the suspects stole an estimated $1 million worth of jewelry.  fox13seattle.com


Pleasanton, TX: 4 Shoe snatchers allegedly steal $20K worth of merchandise from sports store, 2 people arrested
Pleasanton police say an early-morning burglary at a local sports store led to the rapid recovery of $20,000 in stolen merchandise and the arrest of two suspects in Houston. Meantime, two other suspected thieves remain at large. Officers responded to the Hibbett sports store on the 2000 block of W. Oaklawn Road at around 4 a.m. on Wednesday after an alarm was triggered. Investigators discovered the rear metal paneling of the building had been torn open. Images provided by police show a massive hole they say was used to enter the inventory room of the store. Thousands of dollars worth of merchandise, predominantly shoes, was taken during the quick operation. Surveillance evidence helped detectives identify two suspect vehicles, including a white van and a dark-colored Sedan. The investigation brought detectives to Katy where the police department there had surveillance footage showing the suspects before their journey to Pleasanton. The investigative trail then led to Houston, where the Houston Police Department’s Criminal Apprehension Team and SWAT located the van, searched a connected residence and recovered the stolen merchandise. Two suspects were taken into custody during a standoff.  kens5.com


Covington, TN: Illinois duo linked to alleged $15K Walmart theft; one still wanted
Covington Police have arrested one man and are searching for another in connection with two theft incidents at Walmart that were worth nearly $15,000 in stolen electronics. According to the Covington Police Department, the investigation began on Wednesday when officers responded to a felony shoplifting call at Walmart on Lanny Bridges Avenue. Store employees reported that two men stole $14,797.53 worth of Apple AirPods and other electronics. Police say surveillance footage shows the suspects using stolen tools — including a screwdriver, pry bar, and bolt cutters — to break open an electronics case. They then concealed the items in store totes and a stolen trash can before leaving through the Tire Center doors without paying. The suspects fled in a white crossover SUV.  wreg.com


Portland, OR: $18K in stolen goods recovered from Tualatin Fred Meyer, 2 arrested

Westport, CT: Woman Accused Of Stealing $14,000 from Luxury Clothing Store

Barrington, IL: Illinois Police Bust Man For Selling 71 Stolen Appliances