Rumors Run Wild Amid SNAP-Related Crime Surge
Walmart addresses rumors that it will close stores when SNAP benefits lapse

Videos claiming retail giant will close stores on Nov. 1 have garnered millions of views

Walmart is pushing back against viral social media rumors falsely claiming the retail giant plans to close stores amid looting threats tied to a possible lapse in federal food assistance funding.

The rumors have spread across TikTok as the federal government shutdown stretches into its fifth week and threatens to disrupt federal programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food aid to more than 40 million Americans.

"These claims are false, and we will continue to be open for business," a Walmart spokesperson told FOX Business in an email.

One widely circulated TikTok video falsely claimed Walmart would close all of its stores on Nov. 1 and only allow customers to place orders online.

The video — which garnered more than 570,000 views and 40,000 likes as of Wednesday — alleged that the company’s decision was due to concerns over unrest if SNAP benefits were paused.

Another user posted a video viewed nearly 250,000 times that claimed customers would be required to shop exclusively online.

A third TikTok user attracted 1.1 million views and 47,000 likes with similar claims that Walmart would restrict in-store shopping. foxbusiness.com


Backlash Over Grocery Store Patrols
California police chief addresses backlash to increased grocery store patrols ahead of potential SNAP lapse
A California police chief is addressing his department's messaging around policing grocery stores in the wake of SNAP benefits being halted on Nov. 1.

In an Oct. 28 Facebook post, the Barstow Police Department wrote that it was "taking proactive steps to support our community" in the wake of the shutdown and possible SNAP benefits lapse, including "conducting extra patrols around local grocery stores, convenience stores, and shopping centers" to "help ensure the safety of residents, customers, and business owners."

Negative reactions to the post were swift, with some asking why the department was not more focused on helping food insecure community members and others accusing the department of targeting already vulnerable people.

Barstow Police Chief Christopher Kirby told ABC News in a phone call this week that his department was simply looking out for residents and that no extra officers would be deployed in the community.

"The intent was to let the community know that we were aware of what was going on, and it was our plan to be out there protecting the community," Kirby stated, referring to the department's Facebook post. He said the department's intent was to keep officers informed of the ongoing situation in a way that protects the community, and not to target any particular group of people. abcnews.go.com


Organized Crime Fueling Cargo Theft
2025 Third Quarter Supply Chain Risk Trends Analysis

Cargo Theft Holds Steady in Q3, Organized Crime Drives Surge in High-Value Cargo Theft Across U.S. and Canada

CargoNet, a Verisk business and leader in cargo theft prevention and recovery, has released its analysis of cargo theft trends for the third quarter of 2025. The report shows a stabilizing theft landscape, evolving tactics among organized crime groups, and increased targeting of high-value and ultra-high-value goods.

CargoNet recorded 772 cargo theft events across the United States and Canada in Q3 2025—a modest 1% increase compared to Q3 2024 and a 10% decrease from Q2 2025. While incident volume remained relatively stable, the financial impact surged to record levels.

The total value of stolen goods in Q3 2025 reached $111.88 million, driven by organized crime groups targeting high-value shipments of enterprise computer hardware, cryptocurrency mining equipment, and copper products. The average stolen shipment value doubled to $336,787, up from $168,448 in Q3 2024—clear evidence that cargo thieves are becoming more strategic in selecting targets.

California and Texas—historically high-theft states—saw modest year-over-year increases of 11% and 12%, respectively. However, the most dramatic shift occurred in the New York City metropolitan area, where New Jersey theft incidents surged 110% and Pennsylvania rose 33%.

CargoNet’s analysis shows organized crime groups are in a transitional phase, adapting to anti-fraud tools deployed across the logistics industry. While overall activity remained relatively static year-over-year and declined modestly from Q2 2025, behavioral shifts within these networks signal a recalibration that supply chain stakeholders must monitor closely. ajot.com

1,000 Customer Threats Per Month?
Australia: Workers threatened with weapons as retail crime spikes
Retail workers at Bunnings and Kmart are being threatened by customers more than 1000 times a month, with many incidents involving weapons. Parent company Wesfarmers, which also owns Target and Priceline Pharmacy, has revealed the extent of worsening rates of retail crime.

Incidents involving threats of serious harm at Bunnings rose by 66 per cent while threatening incidents at Kmart increased 29 per cent, chief executive Rob Scott said.

The company recorded 13,500 instances of customers threatening workers in retail stores across 12 months, he told shareholders at the company's annual general meeting on Thursday. More than 1000 of those instances involved physical assault and several hundred threats of serious harm, often with a weapon.

The company has increased security at high-risk locations, trained workers in de-escalation tactics and deployed body-worn cameras. Data showed one-in-three retail crimes across Australia took place in Victoria - 60 per cent more than any other state.

The ACT has laws that allow judges to impose workplace protection orders that prohibit individuals engaging in violence towards workers from attending particular shops for up to 12 months. South Australia has introduced similar legislation to its parliament.

The NSW government has launched a police retail crime strategy that allows prosecutors to apply to prevent recidivist and violent offenders from re-entering retail premises with a place restriction order after a conviction.  au.finance.yahoo.com


Debate Over NYPD Headcount
Mayor Adams’ plan to boost NYPD officer headcount slammed by Mamdani as political theater
Amid debate in the mayoral election over NYPD staffing levels, Mayor Adams Friday announced a plan to significantly increase the department’s headcount, potentially leaving his successor with upwards of 40,000 police officers by 2029, officials said on Friday.

Under Adams’ plan, announced on Friday, the city would invest millions in the coming years to hire and train more than 5,000 new officers. The increase in manpower will bring the department up to 40,000 cops, the highest level in 20 years, Adams said.

The additional cops would be hitting the streets long after next week’s mayoral election, where Democratic Socialist Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani is leading a three-man race that includes former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.

Adams has secured $17.8 million this fiscal year so the NYPD can hire more cops, officials said. According to his proposal, number will increase to $318.5 million by fiscal year 2029 to support additional hiring.

Adams can add money to he NYPD’s current fiscal budget, but any plan to bulk up the department’s headcount in the future could immediately be quashed by whoever leads the next administration, officials admit. Neither the next mayor nor the City Council has to abide by this plan. nydailynews.com


EDITORIAL: What Nevada needs to stop retail theft

Some Middle Tennessee police departments report shoplifting decrease
 

Will AI Lead to Store Closures?
AI will accelerate the end of brick and mortar’s reign: Amazon CEO

The domination of e-commerce is inevitable and will only come faster thanks to the emerging technology, even if physical stores represent opportunity for now, Andy Jassy told analysts Thursday.

Amazon sees “a significant opportunity” for growth in its existing physical stores, which are centered on grocery — at least for now. The e-commerce giant announced plans to expand same-day deliveries of fresh groceries, now in 1,000 U.S. cities, to 2,300 by the end of the year.

Even that could be seen as an extension of e-commerce as much of physical retail. In any case, despite the current dominance of brick and mortar, e-commerce will ultimately take over, and AI is making that happen even faster than before, Andy Jassy told analysts on a Thursday earnings call.

“I still think if you look at the worldwide market segment share of retail, still 80% to 85% of it lives in physical stores,” he said. “That equation is going to flip over time. And I think AI is going to only accelerate that.”

Physical retail remains a small, if growing, portion of Amazon’s retail operation. In Q3 online store sales rose 10% year over year to $67.4 billion, while physical stores sales rose 7% to $5.6 billion, according to financial filings Thursday. Overall product sales rose 9.6% to $74.1 billion. There’s a price to all of that e-commerce, as worldwide shipping costs rose 8% to $25.4 billion.

Several analysts noted that Amazon is taking share in retail. But other aspects of the retail business are growing faster than either the online or offline channel. Seller services sales grew 12% to $42.5 billion; advertising grew 24% to $17.7 billion; and subscription services grew 11% to $12.6 billion.

Whatever the impact of AI on the retail landscape, there’s no doubt it’s fueling Amazon’s tech operation, and Amazon’s tech operation is fueling profits. retaildive.com


What Will Retail Look Like in 2026?
IGD reveals seven global retail trends that will define food and grocery industry transformation in 2026

New report highlights where innovation and investment will be most critical as retailers navigate geopolitical uncertainty, rising health consciousness, technological progress and environmental concerns to secure long-term growth

”Retailers are navigating ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainty, while rising consumer focus on health and wellbeing is fuelling demand for wellness, preventative, and functional products.

”Technological progress continues at pace, requiring retailers to strike a balance between embracing innovation and maintaining resilient infrastructure,” it continued.

Climate change and environmental concerns are also intensifying, IGD outlined, with both regulators and consumers expecting greater sustainability efforts.

Additionally, demographic shifts are influencing shopper expectations, with a growing demand for personalisation, faster service, and better value.

IGD’s seven global retail trends for 2026 include ’Cybersecurity becomes retail’s frontline’; ’AI as the engine of the retail revolution’; ’Retail media comes of age’; ’Retailers race to capture the world on their shelves’; ’The convenience revolution’; ’Playing a meaningful role for more health missions’; and ’The war on waste’. fruitnet.com


Unlock Your Potential:
The 3 Unbreakable Laws of Success!

By Tony D'Onofrio - President, Sensormatic

There are many days where I feel that the clock is my enemy. From a little small mountain town in central Italy where I was born to now an accomplished American Dream in the United States, the sense of total fulfillment still escapes me.

The thoughts of many other possibilities to contribute to my family, the current career, and my legacy continuously swirl in my mind. I am very thankful for the achievements to date: multiple university degrees in my adopted immigrant land; an amazing growing multi-cultural family (I am from Italy and my wife is from Hungary, both pre-teen USA arrivals); a successful career in technology and loss prevention; lucky to create a flourishing personal brand at the start of the social media era; immersive innovation experiences in Silicon Valley; multiple CEO leadership roles; the publishing of my first book; traveling to every continent except Antarctica for both pleasure and work; and a global highly supportive network of individuals in multiple industries.

My career pain, which I hope will be your gain, is that I could have accomplished much more, if I had understood earlier the following three unbreakable laws. This is mine and your wake-up call to never settle, no matter what the age and start sooner, rather than later in building lasting success.

   Click here to read Tony's full article


Good News for Retailers?
Judges say Trump administration must continue paying SNAP food stamp benefits during shutdown
Two federal judges on Friday said the Trump administration must tap into contingency funds to make payments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the government shutdown, ruling against the government in a pair of suits over the imminent benefits lapse. Roughly 42 million Americans rely on SNAP to help buy food.

In a case brought by a coalition of states in federal court in Massachusetts, Judge Indira Talwani ruled that the government is required by law to tap into the emergency money to make at least partial payments, and gave the administration until Monday to tell the court whether it planned to do so.

McConnell on Saturday ordered the Trump administration to pay SNAP benefits in full by Monday and to report to the court by noon regarding the status of the distribution. In the order, the judge said that if the government chooses to use its discretion and decides not to use other funds to make a full payment, then it must make a partial payment using the total amount of the contingency funds. The order said the contingency funds must be used to make a partial payment by Wednesday. cbsnews.com


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