Retailers Worldwide Blame Crime for Possible Closures
Supermarket chain threatens to close stores after rise in violence and aggression against staff

A surge in retail crime, particularly in Victoria, has prompted supermarket chain Ritchies IGA to consider closing stores.

The head of a major independent supermarket chain is considering closing down stores in Victoria, warning retail workers are facing unprecedented levels of violence and aggressive behaviour on an almost daily basis.

Ritchies IGA chief executive Fred Harrison said retail crime in Victoria had reached "crisis point", and managing a small business while trying to keep staff and customers safe was almost impossible.

"It's getting to a point now where [at] a number of our stores, you've got to question when leases come up, do we want to remain in this area? Do we want to remain in this store?" Mr Harrison told 7.30. "Is it all-round more profitable, safer if we just close and walk away?"

Mr Harrison said post-COVID-19, thieves had become more brazen, targeting stores during daylight hours, often armed with weapons such as knives, and undeterred by workers trying to stop them.

Cases of aggression, violence and intimidation have become so common it has prompted Woolworths to set up a new department dedicated to investigating such incidents.

Recent crime data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics has confirmed retail crime is on the rise across Australia, and Victoria is the worst-offending state. According to the ABS, theft reached a national 21-year high last year, with 595,660 victims of personal and retail theft recorded by police — a 6 per cent increase from the previous year.

The Australian Retailers Association is calling for the nationwide introduction of workplace protection orders to stop repeat offenders from returning to a store. abc.net.au


NYC's Retail Theft Reduction Makes More Headlines
NYC Retail Theft Cases Down Nearly 5,000 in Past Year

After a spike in shoplifting during the pandemic, New York is seeing progress: retail theft is down 12% in NYC thanks to new laws and safety investments.

Governor Kathy Hochul on Sept. 26 spotlighted the state’s decline in organized retail theft across New York City and statewide.

Retail theft dropped more than 12% in New York City, nearly 5,000 fewer cases and 5% across the rest of the state, after thefts spiked in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Retail theft and quality-of-life crimes impact more than just the businesses who experience them — they impact entire neighborhoods. That is why I dedicated tremendous resources last year to fight the scourge of organized retail crime,” Hochul said.

The changes, signed into law as part of the FY2025 State Budget, include:

• Elevating assaults on retail workers from a misdemeanor to a felony.

• Allowing prosecutors to combine stolen goods from multiple stores when building larceny cases.

• Cracking down on third-party sellers who profit from stolen items.

• Creating dedicated Retail Theft Teams with 100 State Police officers.

• Offering small businesses a $3,000 tax credit for theft-prevention upgrades. bkreader.com

D.C. is Just a 'Template' - Which City Will See the Next Federal Crime Crackdown?
President Trump spotlights crime in US cities: Here's what the data shows

President Donald Trump has cast a spotlight on crime in several cities across the United States.

Washington, D.C., was the first target when, in early August, Trump deployed National Guard troops to crack down on crime. Now, the president has said Baltimore and Chicago are next. “(Washington, D.C.,) serves as a template, and we’re going to do it elsewhere,” Trump said in a Sept. 2 news conference.

The cities that Trump has pointed to as being riddled with crime and murder — Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Chicago — are ranked fourth, 10th and 24th, respectively, among cities with the highest rate of murder per 100,000 residents.

In terms of violent crime, they are ranked fifth, 36th and 120th. This is among reporting cities with populations greater than 100,000. The FBI cautions against doing city-by-city rankings with its data. Many things can affect crime rates in a city, like economic conditions and population density.

Densely populated urban areas typically see more crime, so the rates could be skewed softer for cities that have sprawling suburban areas included in their population counts. Birmingham, Alabama, St. Louis, Missouri, and Memphis, Tennessee, had the three highest homicide rates among large U.S. cities in 2024. wisn.com

Crime Becomes Hot Button Political Issue
Is Chicago the violent crime capital of the US? What the facts say

Republicans claim it is. Democrats say red states are worse. Both are spinning. The truth lies somewhere in the middle.

President Donald Trump and his Republican allies have painted Chicago as the most dangerous city in the United States before expected immigration enforcement raids and as Trump has floated the idea of sending in the National Guard.

Trump called Chicago the “murder capital of the world!” in a Truth Social post on Tuesday.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem focused on raw homicide numbers on CBS’s Face the Nation show on August 31, saying, “For 13 consecutive years, Chicago had more murders than any other American city.” Meanwhile, Chicago’s Democratic defenders said Republicans overlook crime in red states.

It’s not unusual for politicians to choose numbers that favour their political message, but at a time when both sides are making seemingly opposing claims about Chicago’s crime statistics, what’s the truth?

A single word – rate – makes a big difference in terms of accuracy when discussing Chicago or any city’s crime. It is accurate to say Chicago has led the country’s most populous cities for sheer numbers of homicides for 13 years.

But it is inaccurate that Chicago is the country’s leader according to the homicide rate, the measure that is preferred by many criminologists because it adjusts the count for population size, usually homicides per 100,000 people. aljazeera.com


DC crime falls, but tourism takes a hit too as federal surge reaches one-month mark

UK's National Crime Agency relies on 260 legacy IT systems
 

Turning Point for Loss Prevention?
September 11 and Retail Security: A Wake-Up Call That Still Shapes the Industry

How 9/11 transformed retail security from guarding merchandise to safeguarding people and preparedness

By the D&D Daily staff

This week marks the anniversary of the September 11 attacks — a moment in history that forever altered how the United States views safety and security. While much of the immediate focus after that day centered on aviation and government facilities, the retail industry also drew lasting lessons from the tragedy.

For many in loss prevention and asset protection, 9/11 served as a wake-up call that the threat landscape extended far beyond theft and shrink. Shopping malls, big-box stores, and distribution centers were recognized as potential soft targets, and retailers began to reassess their vulnerabilities in a world where large-scale threats were no longer unthinkable.

One of the most significant shifts was the expansion of the LP role itself. Before 2001, loss prevention teams largely concentrated on shoplifting, employee theft, and inventory control. After 9/11, the mission broadened to include crisis management, terrorism awareness, and public safety preparedness. Security cameras, access controls, and emergency communication tools became more common — not just as loss prevention measures, but as safeguards for employees and customers in worst-case scenarios.

The attacks also underscored the importance of business continuity planning. Retailers realized that the ability to respond quickly to emergencies — whether natural disasters, active shooter incidents, or power outages — could determine not only the safety of people but also the survival of operations. In the years since, most major retailers have invested in detailed continuity and disaster recovery strategies, covering everything from evacuation protocols and crisis communication to supply chain resiliency and data backup systems.

Equally important has been the human dimension. The aftermath of 9/11 brought forward countless stories of ordinary professionals who stepped up under extraordinary circumstances. In retail, too, security and LP professionals have embraced a responsibility that extends beyond merchandise protection. Many see their work as part of a broader mission to safeguard communities, prevent harm, and foster resilience in the face of unexpected threats.

That legacy is visible today. When retailers conduct emergency drills, design evacuation routes, or run tabletop exercises simulating active threats, they are following a playbook shaped in the wake of 9/11. The responsibility of loss prevention has grown: to protect assets, yes, but above all to protect people.


More Employees Turn to Fentanyl
Fentanyl Positivity Is 7 Times Higher in Random Tests vs. Pre-Employment Screening

A report from Quest Diagnostics notes that "employees are turning to a dangerous drug like fentanyl after they've passed a pre-employment drug screen, putting the overall wellness of the workforce at risk."

On September 2, the 2025 Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index revealed that the percentage of employees in the general U.S. workforce testing positive for fentanyl in random drug tests far exceeded those in pre-employment testing.

While the analysis of more than 8 million drug tests shows that overall workplace urine drug positivity declined slightly last year, to 4.4% from 4.6%, the sharp increase in fentanyl in random drug checks suggests more workers are using the highly addictive opioid after they have passed pre-employment screens. Random drug testing involves unscheduled and unannounced drug tests of employed individuals after they have presumably passed pre-employment drug screens.

In 2024, the general U.S. workforce positivity for fentanyl was 707% higher in random tests (1.13%) compared to pre-employment tests (0.14%). This is a stark contrast to other categories of drugs, such as marijuana or other opiates, where less variation is seen in random and pre-employment positivity rates.

For example, in the general U.S. workforce, marijuana's positivity rate in random testing was 42% lower than its positivity rate in pre-employment testing over the past five years. In contrast, the fentanyl positivity rate in random testing has been 400% higher than in pre-employment testing over the past five years. ehstoday.com
 

Retailers Beware: Shoppers Will Punish Strict Return Policies
Survey: Strict return policies deter two-thirds of consumers from purchasing
Consumers across the globe are in agreement that strict return policies will dissuade them from shopping with a retailer.

According to AI-powered supply chain firm Blue Yonder’s 2025 Global Consumer Retail Returns Survey, 84% of global respondents will stop shopping at their favorite retailer if stricter returns policies are implemented. Two-thirds (66%) of all respondents are deterred from making a purchase due to more stringent returns policies.

Over half of global respondents (53%, slightly up from 51% in 2024) believe tighter returns restrictions are inconvenient and unfair for consumers. For one-third (33%), some online retailers’ policies are strict enough to make them avoid shopping there altogether.

Half (50%) of global respondents in Blue Yonder’s survey said that charging a fee to return a purchase is the most inconvenient element of tighter returns policies, but consumers are still generally willing to pay the price. Consumers in the U.S. (36%) are most likely to not return an item if there is a fee associated, followed by the U.K. (31%), ANZ (31%), Middle East (12%), France (11%) and Germany (10%). chainstoreage.com


Inflation Both a 'Headwind & Tailwind'
Holiday sales could grow up to 3.4%: Deloitte

The firm predicts that sales between November and January could reach $1.62 trillion, with e-commerce sales projected to grow up to 9%.

Holiday sales in the U.S. are expected to increase between 2.9% and 3.4% this coming season, according to a Deloitte forecast. While inflation may cause consumers to buy fewer goods, a projected increase in personal income will help offset the discrepancy, according to the Deloitte report.

“Inflation is potentially a headwind and a tailwind this holiday season,” Brian McCarthy, principal of retail strategy at Deloitte, said in an email. “As prices rise, the nominal value of retail sales may increase even if the actual volume of goods sold remains stable or grows modestly."  retaildive.com


What Can C-Stores Do To Address a General Sales Decline?

Morrisons to launch first U.K. pilot of Instacart smart carts

Imports decline after summer surge; trade outlook for rest of year not ‘optimistic’

Wholesale prices unexpectedly declined 0.1% in August, as Fed rate decision looms
 

Retailers Must Work Together to Fight Cyber Threats
The role of AI in shaping cybersecurity and fraud prevention

Retail Gets Real episode 390: How cybersecurity has moved far beyond a technical issue

Cybersecurity has moved far beyond being just a technical issue — it is now a core business priority that directly impacts customer trust, operational resilience and the bottom line.

We sit down with two industry leaders on the front lines of digital risk: Pam Lindemoen, chief security officer and vice president of strategy at the Retail & Hospitality Information Sharing and Analysis Center, and Christian Beckner, vice president of retail technology and cybersecurity at the National Retail Federation.

Together, they unpack the fast-changing cybersecurity landscape facing retailers today, from fraud and social engineering to the new challenges posed by artificial intelligence.

Why cybersecurity is a collective challenge

Retailers across the globe are grappling with increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks. With fraud schemes targeting gift cards and advanced threat groups like Scattered Spider, cybercriminals are leveraging social engineering and third-party vulnerabilities to breach even the strongest systems. Lindemoen and Beckner emphasize that these threats are too complex for any one company to tackle alone. Retailers must work collaboratively to safeguard consumers and protect the sector as a whole — collectively sharing intelligence, insights and best practices.

The role of AI in cyber threats

Artificial intelligence has quickly emerged as both a tool and a threat in the cybersecurity conversation. Attackers are now able to clone voices, mimic speech patterns and deploy AI-driven scams to trick front-line workers and IT help desks into granting access. These capabilities make fraud detection harder for the human eye and demand new approaches to training and awareness across retail organizations. AI risk management is no longer optional; it must be integrated into every company’s cybersecurity strategy.

Building resilience through investment

Despite razor-thin margins, retailers are investing more heavily in cybersecurity than ever before. Teams that once numbered in the single digits now include dozens of specialists, with larger companies deploying entire departments dedicated to digital defense. According to RH-ISAC’s benchmark report, many organizations have doubled their cybersecurity budgets since 2019. Importantly, the focus is shifting from compliance checkboxes to proactive business resilience. That means not only defending against attacks but ensuring continuity of service when incidents occur.

Strengthening industry partnerships

RH-ISAC and NRF continue to deepen their collaboration, creating common frameworks for fraud prevention and advocating for policies that support information sharing across the sector. Both organizations offer councils, working groups and events that bring together cybersecurity leaders from competing companies to share knowledge in a trusted environment. RH-ISAC offers workshops, webinars and conferences, many of which are open to professionals from across consumer-facing industries. nrf.com


New Opportunities - and Risks
AI agents are here, now comes the hard part for CISOs
AI agents are being deployed inside enterprises today to handle tasks across security operations. This shift creates new opportunities for security teams but also introduces new risks.

Google Cloud’s new report, The ROI of AI 2025, shows that 52% of organizations using generative AI have moved to agentic AI. These agents are more than chatbots. They can make decisions, execute tasks, and interact with other systems under human oversight. For CISOs, this means security includes managing the behavior and outputs of autonomous systems that directly affect business processes.

There are security benefits, but proving ROI is harder

The report found that 49% of executives say generative AI has improved their security posture. Respondents reported benefits such as a 77% improvement in threat identification and a 61% faster time to resolve incidents. Some organizations also saw a 53% drop in security tickets after implementing AI-driven processes.

Anton Chuvakin, Senior Staff Consultant in Google Cloud’s Office of the CISO, told Help Net Security that AI’s most immediate effect is on speed. By automating repetitive tasks, AI shrinks the time between an alert and resolution without sacrificing quality. He explained that CISOs can track this improvement with metrics like Mean Time to Detect (MTTD), Mean Time to Investigate (MTTI), and Mean Time to Respond (MTTR). helpnetsecurity.com

 
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