Preparing for the Holiday Surge:
Retailers Strengthen ORC Prevention Strategies

By the D&D Daily staff

As the holiday shopping season approaches, retailers nationwide are ramping up efforts to prevent organized retail crime (ORC) amid forecasts of record consumer spending and heightened in-store traffic. Historically, November and December see significant increases in theft incidents, from coordinated grab-and-run operations to sophisticated fencing schemes that target high-demand items.

Industry analysts and law enforcement officials agree that preparation and coordination are key. Many retailers are reviewing their existing security protocols, conducting risk assessments, and retraining associates to identify suspicious behaviors. Loss prevention teams are also updating communication plans to ensure quick response when incidents occur.

Technology continues to play a major role in ORC prevention. Retailers are investing in upgraded CCTV systems, remote monitoring, and real-time alert tools that link stores to regional asset protection networks. Some are using data analytics to detect patterns in high-loss categories or pinpoint geographic hotspots. Others are expanding electronic article surveillance and access control systems to deter theft before it occurs.

Collaboration with law enforcement and Organized Retail Crime Associations (ORCAs) remains another central focus. Sharing intelligence—such as license plate data, suspect descriptions, and fencing trends—can help disrupt multi-state theft rings that typically intensify activity during the holidays.

Employee training and customer communication are also essential components. Retailers are emphasizing non-confrontation policies to keep workers safe and encouraging the reporting of all incidents, no matter how small. Some companies are reminding customers that aggressive or fraudulent behavior will be prosecuted, while balancing these messages with a welcoming in-store environment.

Experts note that prevention measures should extend through the entire supply chain. Cargo theft and return fraud often rise during peak shipping periods, prompting companies to tighten trailer seals, monitor delivery routes, and verify return transactions more closely.

While no single tactic can eliminate organized retail crime, a layered approach—combining technology, communication, training, and law enforcement partnerships—gives retailers the best chance to minimize losses and maintain safety as the busiest shopping period of the year begins.


Least Safe (And Safest) Cities in America
NYC no. 117 in safe cities ranking — but this metro-area town is top 5
It’s probably no shock that New York City didn’t top the list of safest US cities — but at least it’s not the worst.

In a WalletHub report ranking the safety of more than 180 US cities, NYC landed an unimpressive 117th place, highlighting that the Big Apple has more than just high rents and packed subways to worry about.

The study analyzed 41 indicators of safety — everything from violent crime and traffic fatalities to financial stability, natural disaster risk and health coverage. Despite a robust police presence and some recent gains in certain crime metrics, New York City still ranks in the bottom half of the nation in overall safety.

Bottom 10 Least Safe Cities in the U.S.

1. New Orleans, LA
2. Memphis, TN
3. Baton Rouge, LA
4. Detroit, MI
5. Baltimore, MD
6. Fort Lauderdale, FL
7. Houston, TX
8. San Bernardino, CA
9. Philadelphia, PA
10. Cleveland, OH

These cities tend to suffer from a combination of high violent crime, elevated poverty rates, and systemic financial challenges like low credit scores, poor access to insurance, and higher risks of homelessness or joblessness.

Top 5 Safest Cities in the U.S.

1. Warwick, RI
2. Overland Park, KS
3. Burlington, VT
4. Juneau, AK
5. Yonkers, NY nypost.com


Up or Down? The Political Debate Over Crime Data
The View from the Left: How Democrats’ ‘tough on crime’ politics laid the foundation for National Guard deployments
President Donald Trump has sent the National Guard to cities like Memphis, Portland, and Chicago – cities he has dubbed as crime ridden, despite record low crime rates. While he calls these cities dangerous “war zones,” in truth, these deployments have little to do with fighting crime.

Trump’s deployments are being justified by exaggerations about crime rates that conservative, big city Democrats themselves have centered their election campaigns around. In San Francisco, fear-mongering around crime fueled the recall of District Attorney Chesa Boudin, despite data showing crime was decreasing.

In New York, Mayor Eric Adams made “crime” central to his campaigns; campaigning almost exclusively on increasing police budgets at the expense of everything else and ensuring headlines revolved on isolated incidents in the process.

National news outlets have amplified these fears, running nonstop coverages of “organized retail theft” waves that industry insiders themselves admit were exaggerated.

In Santa Ana, conservative Democrats — Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua, Councilman Phil Bacerra, and Councilman David Penzaloza — have earned community disapproval and exploited “tough on crime” politics whose only solution is to invest in policing and punishment to avoid investing in other real drivers of safety like tenant protections, accessible childcare, and mental health care. ocregister.com

Editor's Note: The previous article does not reflect the views of The D&D Daily. As part of our ongoing coverage of organized retail crime, we believe it’s important to share a diversity of viewpoints, even on topics where opinions differ.


Las Vegas Grapples with 'Alarming Increase' in Retail Crime
‘A huge issue’: Las Vegas business owners speak of retail theft’s toll
Amid a rise in shoplifting over the same time last year, according to Metropolitan Police Department statistics, business owners and business advocates also called for stiffer penalties for retail thieves.

“Retail crime is a huge issue,” said Bryan Wachter, president of the association. He added that business owners were hoping to highlight the impact organized retail crime can have on local businesses. “It has the exact same effect on every single one of our retailers.”

Catherine Francisco, president and founder of the AAPI chamber, said at Thursday’s event that members have seen an “alarming increase” in retail crime as of late.

“These crimes are not just losses, they’re devastating,” Francisco said. “If this continues, the economic ripple effects will be very significant. When businesses shut down, we lose local jobs, tax revenue and the community character that makes Southern Nevada special.”

As well, retail thefts can cause a business to raise prices in order to offset the added overhead associated with reordering inventory or paying for bolstered security, Wachter said. He added that crimes against businesses can also lead to a decrease in sales tax revenue, which in turn can impact funding for state-level programs that support transportation and schooling. reviewjournal.com


Changes to Canada's Bail Law to Target Repeat Offenders
B.C. attorney general welcomes proposed federal bail reforms targeting repeat violent offenders
B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma said proposed changes to Canada’s bail laws reflect the province’s push for tougher rules targeting repeat and violent offenders.

The bill also includes expanded sentencing tools. A sentencing judge would be required to consider consecutive sentences for repeat violent offenders, in certain cases. It also expands the onus for offenders with other convictions within the previous 10 years, up from five years.

Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas is among several B.C. mayors who have pushed for stricter bail and sentencing laws targeting repeat offenders.

“It is encouraging to see the proposed federal bail reforms include a focus on violent and repeat offending including organized retail theft, break and enter, and auto-theft,” said Dyas in a statement. He also lauds changes that would require courts to consider the number or seriousness of outstanding charges when determining whether to release an offender on bail. mybulkleylakesnow.com


Memphis crime numbers at lowest point in years, data shows

Safety among top issues for voters in NYC mayoral race
 

Shutdown's Impact on Retail Continues to Grow
More pressure for US consumers as most states warn food assistance could dry up next month

Grocery stores will be directly affected, but discretionary spending will also take a hit if consumers can’t feed their families, analysts warned this week.

With food assistance funds set to become unavailable next month due to the government shutdown, financial pressures already faced by many consumers will only worsen. More than 30 states this week warned Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients that they may not have access to November benefits if the shutdown drags on.

The pressure faced by U.S. consumers is compounded by rising prices in several categories, as inflation edged up 3% in September, the fastest pace since January, according to the Consumer Price Index released Friday.

Retailers will feel the pinch as well. Grocers are directly affected by the SNAP interruption, but discretionary spending will inevitably take a hit as people empty their pockets to feed their families, according to Wells Fargo analysts led by Edward Kelly.

“This doesn’t bode well for [quarter-to-date] commentary from those retailers set to report in early November,” Kelly said in a Friday client note.

Other changes to SNAP, including the disqualification of some food items, have already affected retailers, including Walmart and dollar stores, to varying degrees, according to Coresight Research. Walmart alone captures more than a quarter of SNAP grocery dollars. retaildive.com


Store & Supply Chain Roles Will Avoid Target Layoffs
Target cuts 1,800 jobs in what it deems ‘a necessary step’

The mass merchant is laying off 1,000 corporate employees and cutting hundreds of open positions, though store and supply chain roles will be spared.

As part of a larger shift to Target’s global headquarters structure, the retailer will lay off about 1,000 corporate staff and close 800 open roles, per details the company shared with Retail Dive. This represents about 8% of its global headquarters workforce, and specifics about those impacted will be shared with employees on Tuesday.

No store or supply chain roles are part of the cuts, a company spokesperson said. Leader-based positions will be impacted at a rate three times the rate of individual contributors.

Impacted employees will receive pay and benefits until Jan. 3 in addition to severance packages. Many corporate Target employees are being asked to work from home next week in relation to the news. retaildive.com

 
Next Generation of Safety Pros
Rebranding the EHS Profession?

EHS professionals can bring new perspectives to corporate governance and widen the risk lens through insightful and probing discussions, says Deloitte.

It's been five years since safety professionals were asked to step up, in a way that was previously unimaginable, to handle the COVID-19 crisis.

While some EHS professionals were able to adapt protocols designed for emergency management, many had to create processes in real time. And to keep people safe and businesses running, these professionals took their seats at the boardroom table.

The profession has continued to occupy a place of value in most organizations. But looking to the future, are we doing enough to attract the next generation of EHS professionals? ehstoday.com
 

A Big Department Store Pivots to a Catalog
With a 100-page gift guide, Nordstrom wants to find customers where they are — at home.

With two months to Christmas, here's what retail leaders expect for holiday shopping
 
Step aside, Halloween. Spirit Christmas stores are opening in 12 states.

Canada ready to pick up trade negotiations with US, Carney says