EXCLUSIVE REPORT


 

2024 Robberies & Burglaries by State
California Highest Since 2017

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'Suspicious Behavior Analytics'
Retailers Turn to Behavior Analytics and Centralized Intelligence to Combat ORC Before Loss Occurs

By the D&D Daily staff

As organized retail crime (ORC) groups become more sophisticated, retailers are moving from reactive theft detection to proactive prevention—using behavior analytics and centralized intelligence-sharing platforms to identify threats earlier in the theft cycle.

One approach gaining traction is the use of suspicious behavior analytics—AI-driven tools that flag potential theft activity before merchandise is removed from the store. These systems monitor patterns such as repeat visits without purchases, coordinated group activity, or lingering in high-value areas, giving loss prevention teams a chance to engage earlier.

That early intervention window is proving critical. In addition to deterring theft on the spot, it provides actionable intelligence that can be shared across locations and with law enforcement. This is where platforms like Auror come in.

Nick McDonnell, Senior Director of Trust and Safety at Auror, notes that many retailers have historically relied on outdated and fragmented processes to share theft information.

“These [information-gathering] methods typically involve the use of spreadsheets, USB sticks, public in-store ‘walls of shame’ and unofficial chat groups between stores, which are typically unsecured and present privacy issues,” McDonnell said. “By replacing those with a secure, centralized platform, retailers can connect the dots on repeat offenders and ORC crews operating across multiple sites.”

Centralizing data helps retailers:

• Identify Repeat Offenders Faster – Linking incidents across stores and regions.

• Work More Effectively with Law Enforcement – Providing complete case files rather than isolated reports.

• Deploy Resources Strategically – Using trend data to position staff and technology where they’re most needed.

Behavior analytics and centralized intelligence don’t replace traditional LP measures like EAS tagging or CCTV, but industry leaders say they’re becoming an essential layer in the defense strategy—particularly as ORC crews adapt to older security methods.

As theft methods evolve, retailers are looking for tools that don’t just record losses after the fact, but actively prevent them—turning the focus from recovery to deterrence.


Will Congress Finally Pass ORC Bill?  
Senate hearing focuses on need to pass the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act

A coordinated effort is needed to help law enforcement, retail and other stakeholders address ORC and supply chain theft

“Imagine an organization that leverages masters-level business school concepts to unite individuals toward a common goal, meticulously measures results, harnesses technology to its advantage, and defines clear roles and responsibilities.”

That could refer to a successful retail organization — but add fear, violence and intimidation, and it describes the operations of an organized retail crime group. American Eagle Outfitter’s Chief Global Asset Protection Officer Scott McBride began his testimony with this anecdote during the July 15 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, “Beyond the Smash and Grab: Criminal Networks and Organized Theft.”

The hearing explored the sophistication of organized retail crime and supply chain theft and addressed the need to pass the bipartisan Combating Organized Retail Crime Act. McBride was one of four expert witnesses invited to testify about the ongoing challenges industry and law enforcement face with ORC and to emphasize how CORCA would equip law enforcement with critical tools to enhance coordination and response.

Despite what some may believe, ORC is not a victimless crime. It impacts every aspect of the retail environment from stores to the supply chain to financial networks.

ORC not only disrupts supply chains, but it also presents safety concerns among retail associates. “Our store staff face threats with knives, guns or even dirty needles,” McBride said. He described attacks that range from vandalism to physical assault on associates. McBride’s peers have even witnessed the deaths of associates and customers as a result of ORC.

One major setback toward fighting ORC is the lack of coordination once merchandise crosses states’ borders.

CORCA seeks to provide a tool to help law enforcement, retail and other stakeholders address ORC and supply chain theft. The bill currently has 28 Senate co-sponsors and 129 co-sponsors in the House. nrf.com


$8M in Stolen Goods Recovered This Year in California
Coordinated organized retail theft crackdown recovers $8 million in stolen assets this year

Building on years of work, in 2025, the state’s CHP-led Organized Retail Crime Task Force have so far made over 700 arrests and recovered nearly 150,000 stolen goods worth $8 million.

Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that in the last 7 months, the state’s CHP-led Organized Retail Crime Task Force has conducted 415 investigations which have led to 706 arrests and the recovery of nearly 150,000 stolen goods valued at an estimated $8 million.

Spearheaded by the California Highway Patrol, the Organized Retail Crime Task Force works with state, local and federal partners to tackle retail crime statewide. Since its inception, the Task Force teams statewide have recovered more than 1.4 million items of stolen retail merchandise, valued at nearly $60 million. The Task Force members have arrested over 4,500 suspects for retail crimes and have been involved in almost 4,000 investigations.

During a notable operation in July, the Task Force learned of a prolific crew affecting multiple retailers in Northern California, including Lululemon, American Eagle, Abercombie, Hollister, Alo Yoga, and Victoria’s Secret, among others. Through coordination with the Sacramento Police Department, Placer District Attorney’s Office, and Roseville Police Department, officers arrested four individuals, seized an unserialized assault rifle, and identified over 1,200 stolen retail products valued at more than $92,000. The ongoing investigation has uncovered evidence of a potential larger conspiracy.

California is delivering on its promises – significant investments in public safety help ensure safety in communities statewide with lower crime rates in 2024. New data released by the California Department of Justice shows that in 2024, nearly every major crime category declined, including violent crime, property crime, homicides, aggravated assaults, motor vehicle theft, burglary, and robbery. The 2024 homicide rate is now the second lowest since at least 1966. The overall number of homicides decreased by nearly 12% since 2023. In addition, total full-time criminal justice personnel increased 1.9% from 2023 to 2024.

California has invested $1.7 billion since 2019 to fight crime, help local governments hire more police, and improve public safety. In 2023, as part of California’s Public Safety Plan, the Governor announced the largest-ever investment to combat organized retail crime in state history, an annual 310% increase in proactive operations targeting organized retail crime, and special operations across the state to fight crime and improve public safety. gov.ca.gov


DAs Getting Tough on Retail Crime
Mercury News: South Bay DA pushes for jail time in organized retail theft case that stretched across region
anta Clara County’s top prosecutor advocated Wednesday for jail time for a defendant who was involved in a string of organized retail theft that targeted more than 30 Home Depot stores across the Bay Area.

“These are not shoplifters,” Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen said Wednesday morning at a news conference outside the Santa Clara County Hall of Justice. “This is a determined, destructive and dangerous thieving crew of individuals.”

Rosen said the group struck nearly 200 times in a four-month period, hitting Home Depot stores in every county in the Bay Area.

Adolfo Duarte Herrera, a 45-year-old resident of Richmond, was set to be sentenced Wednesday morning for his involvement in the organized theft ring but his sentencing was continued to a later date.

A judge indicated that the court was considering a sentence of just under a year in county jail and two years probation for Duarte Herrera, which prosecutors “strenuously” objected to, according to court filings. da.santaclaracounty.gov


Is Crime Up Or Down In New Jersey? Here’s What FBI Data Shows
New Jersey saw 20,684 violent crimes with a population of 9,500,851 residents last year – a rate of 217.7 per 100,000 people. That’s down from 225.3 per 100,000 people in 2023. The state’s violent crime totals were below the national rate, which came to 359.1 per 100,000 people.

Prosecutors using new strategy to get tougher sentences in retail theft cases

Springfield police warn about FBI’s new crime data accuracy
 

Retail Cyberattacks Have Not Made a Dent in Cyber Confidence
Confidence in cybersecurity holds in face of retail attacks
Businesses remain overwhelmingly confident in the value of cybersecurity despite the recent high-profile cyberattacks on retailers, a survey has shown.

GlobalData’s Tech Sentiment Polls Q2 2025 survey, carried out across the company’s network of B2B news websites between April and June, found that 85% of respondents believe either that cybersecurity will live up to all of its promise or that there is some use for it. In terms of the impact the technology is expected to have, 69% of respondents suggested it would either significantly or at least slightly disrupt their industries.

Nearly two-thirds (60%) of respondents reported that cybersecurity is already disrupting their industries, with a further 18% believing that it will do so at some point in the next decade. The survey showed a slight fall in the proportion of respondents predicting that cybersecurity would not disrupt their industry at all, from 22% in Q1 2025 to 18% in Q2.

The survey was carried out around the time that various retailers in the UK and elsewhere were being hit by cyberattacks. They included Marks & Spencer, Co-op and Harrods.

By way of context, GlobalData said in its report outlining the survey results: “As a technology, cybersecurity is ubiquitous across all sectors. In Q2 2025, 68% of respondents believed cybersecurity was already disrupting their industry or would do so in the next 12 months. No industry is exempt from cyberattacks.

"Confidence in cybersecurity holds in face of retail attacks" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand. finance.yahoo.com


More Concerns Over Microsoft Vulnerability
CISA, Microsoft warn about new Microsoft Exchange server vulnerability

The flaw could enable a hacker to perform a “total domain compromise” on affected systems, CISA said.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and Microsoft late Wednesday warned that a new high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange could let hackers pivot from the on-premises version of the product to the cloud version and potentially gain total control of the system.

The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-53786, could allow an attacker with administration privileges for on-premises Exchange “to escalate privileges by exploiting vulnerable hybrid-joined configurations,” CISA said in its alert.

Microsoft has not seen evidence that hackers are exploiting the vulnerability, according to CISA’s alert. A CISA employee, who requested anonymity to speak candidly, said the agency likewise had not seen signs of exploitation.

CISA urged users of on-premises Exchange servers to download Microsoft’s April 2025 Exchange Server hotfix updates. It also said organizations should disconnect any internet-connected versions of Microsoft Exchange Server and Sharepoint Server if they have reached end-of-life status. cybersecuritydive.com


The 'Zero-Trust' Push
US still prioritizing zero-trust migration to limit hacks’ damage

The zero-trust initiative, which gained steam during the Biden administration, is still underway.

The U.S. government is still pushing agencies to adopt zero-trust network designs, continuing a project that gained steam during the Biden administration, a senior cybersecurity policy official said on Wednesday.

“It must continue to move forward,” Michael Duffy, the acting federal chief information security officer, said during a panel at the Black Hat cybersecurity conference. “That architectural side of it is very important for us to get right as we integrate new technologies [like] artificial intelligence into the ways we operate.”

Zero-trust networking emphasizes the concept of throwing up hurdles to hackers who penetrate a computer system, limiting the damage they can do by sealing off parts of the network and requiring strict user authentication. cybersecuritydive.com


SonicWall says recent attack wave involved previously disclosed flaw, not zero-day