AI Shoplifter-Spotter Installed in 6K Stores, 25 Countries
US shoplifting ‘epidemic’ sparks demand for French AI cameras

Veesion's AI promises to help retail stores crackdown on crime

Paris-based AI startup Veesion has secured €38mn to fuel expansion to the US — where it looks to help cure the country’s shoplifting “epidemic.”

Veesion’s AI-based computer vision software is trained to spot gestures in security camera feeds, such as a shopper putting an item in their pocket. If it sees something suspicious, the AI pings the store owner or security guard via an app, where it displays a recording of the activity. The user then makes the final judgment on whether the situation qualifies as theft.

The software comes in a small box that plugs into a shop’s existing CCTV system. To protect privacy, the system only registers human movements, not identifying information like a person’s face or clothing, the company said.

Founded in 2018, Veesion’s AI shoplifter-spotter is already installed in over 6,000 stores in 25 countries, including France, the UK, Brazil and the US, where it is now looking to expand.

However, spotting the crime is just one part of the puzzle — confronting shoplifters is another. According to the same BRC survey, violence and abuse against UK shop workers rose by 50% in 2023, with more than 2,000 such incidents recorded on average per day. In both the UK and the US, enforcement against shoplifters is free-falling.

As retailers struggle to keep pace with rising theft, some are turning to technology for support. While Veesion’s AI doesn’t promise to solve shoplifting outright, it might give store owners better tools to detect it and decide how to respond.

Looking ahead, Vession hopes to use its computer vision technology to spot other issues in retail stores, such as falling or slipping risks. It’s also considering expanding to other sectors like manufacturing and healthcare. thenextweb.com


37% of UK Supermarket Shoppers Steal via Self-Checkout
People urged to 'tell' on self-scan shoplifters as 37% now do it
Security experts are urging shoppers to inform staff if they see someone not scanning an item at self-checkouts, as the trend is costing the industry more than £4billion a year. Nearly two in five shoppers intentionally steal from self-checkouts, according to survey, costing retailers more than 4% of their total retail sales.

Kingdom Security which partners with several of the country’s top retailers and supermarkets, has said the ‘scan and swipe’ phenomenon hitting stores has become a part of normalised behaviour for many since the pandemic.

New data from The Grocer found 37% of supermarket shoppers deliberately fail to scan at least one item while using self-service checks. The nationwide poll of 1,000 Brits also saw 32.5% admit to incorrectly weighing loose items to lower their bill.

John Nussbaum, Director of Service at Kingdom Security’s Retail Division, said: “It’s alarming to see this rise over the past years and our officers are only seeing more and more theft in supermarkets and shopping centres across the country. While some might think this is somehow a lesser offence than outright stealing without paying for a thing, stealing from a machine is still stealing from the store, and ultimately stealing from fellow customers through increased costs.

“The reduction of face-to-face contact at checkouts has made some feel emboldened to shoplift in this way. We’re urging vigilance to all supermarket shoppers. If you see shoplifting at a self-service checkout, immediately report it to instore security or staff. If you are tempted to steal at self-checkouts, remember this is a serious offence that isn’t worth doing to save a few pounds.”

Shoplifting adds UK households over £137 to shoppers’ annual food bill, according to the Police Foundation’s forecast in line with inflation. Much of this cost comes from retailers investing in anti-theft protection and security devices to prevent the £4 billion in lost revenue each year. uk.news.yahoo.com


U.S. Cargo Theft Hits 'Unprecedented Levels'
Cargo Theft Risk Reaches All-Time Highs as Memorial Day Weekend Approaches, CargoNet Analysis Shows
As Memorial Day weekend approaches, cargo theft activity across the United States has surged to unprecedented levels, with reported incidents in 2025 already reaching alarming rates that far exceed historical averages. Analysis of holiday-period theft data from the past five years reveals a concerning pattern that suggests heightened risk during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.

"Our data shows that holiday weekends consistently create perfect opportunities for cargo thieves," says Keith Lewis, Vice President of Operations at CargoNet. "The days immediately following Memorial Day have historically seen elevated theft activity, likely because loaded trailers are often left unattended while businesses close for the holiday."

CargoNet's analysis of 159 theft events occurring between the Thursday before Memorial Day and the Wednesday after Memorial Day over the past five years shows a troubling upward trend. While 2020 recorded 35 incidents and 2021 saw 28, the numbers climbed significantly in recent years with 41 events in 2023 and 39 in 2024.

"This steady increase mirrors the overall surge in cargo theft we've observed throughout the supply chain," explains Lewis. "What's particularly concerning is that 2025 has already shattered previous records, with our analysts now processing an average of 338 theft reports monthly compared to our historical average of 136 reports per month from 2013 through October 2022, before the current crime wave began."

California, Texas, and Florida remain the most targeted states for cargo theft during the Memorial Day period. At the county level, San Bernardino County and Los Angeles County in California, along with Dallas County in Texas, have experienced the highest concentration of Memorial Day holiday theft events over the five-year analysis period. cargonet.com

45% of Shoplifters in Windsor, Canada are Repeat Offenders
Windsor police say a new strategy is curbing store thefts

Nearly 200 arrests made since start of initiative, police say

Windsor police say a new strategy is helping them curb theft at local stores, resulting in nearly 200 arrests in under a year. The Windsor Police Service on Tuesday announced that the retail theft initiative, launched last July in response to "an increase in shoplifting incidents over recent years," has led to 192 arrests.

WPS says it has also cleared more cases since the project started, solving "528 shoplifting-related incidents," which the force said was a 34 per cent increase compared to the year before. "So far in 2025, the number of shoplifting incidents reported to police has dropped 33 per cent over the same time last year," the press release said.

"We recognize that retail theft has a tremendous impact on businesses and often leads to increased prices for customers and even violence against employees," Jason Crowley, Windsor police's deputy chief of operations, was quoted as saying in the release.

"Through this initiative, we are strategically aligning our resources to improve clearance rates and more effectively target the repeat offenders responsible for a disproportionate number of these crimes," he said.

The force said that nearly 45 per cent of those charged in the shoplifting cases were repeat offenders. cbc.ca


RELATED: 'Huge success': Nearly 200 arrests as Windsor cops combat shoplifting


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Letters for May 21: Retail theft affects everyone and should be prosecuted