When asked about cargo theft tactics, respondents identified fraudulent pickups and carrier impersonation (78%), GPS jamming and spoofing (71%), trailer theft (66%), and double brokering (64%) as their top concerns.

The data paints a troubling picture of increasingly organized criminal operations targeting U.S. supply chains through a wide range of tactics designed to evade traditional security measures. businesswire.com


Cargo Theft Gets More Selective
Fewer Cargo Thefts, Bigger Losses: Organized Groups Get More Selective

By the D&D Daily staff

For retailers, the latest cargo theft numbers carry an important warning: fewer incidents do not necessarily mean less risk.

Verisk CargoNet documented 677 supply chain theft incidents across the U.S. and Canada during the second quarter of 2026, down 26% from the same period last year. But estimated losses more than doubled, climbing from $135.7 million in Q2 2025 to $304.6 million this year.

The numbers point to a cargo theft environment increasingly defined by the value of individual targets rather than sheer incident volume. CargoNet said organized groups are focusing on high-value commodities, particularly metals and enterprise technology, while some traditional forms of physical cargo theft have declined.

At the same time, fraud-based theft remains a persistent threat.

CargoNet reported that schemes involving business email compromise and shipment misdirection remained comparatively stable during the quarter. Criminals can use compromised accounts to obtain shipment information, impersonate trusted companies and alter delivery details, potentially redirecting valuable freight without physically breaking into a truck, trailer or warehouse.

The FBI has also warned the transportation and logistics industry about the growth of cyber-enabled strategic cargo theft. Criminal organizations are using phishing emails, spoofed websites, compromised business accounts and fraudulent load postings to impersonate legitimate brokers and carriers.

For retail asset protection teams, that evolution broadens the traditional cargo security challenge.

Locks, trailer tracking, secure yards and monitoring high-risk locations remain important. But protecting merchandise in transit increasingly requires verifying the people and businesses involved in moving it. Unexpected changes to carriers, pickup instructions, delivery locations or account information can represent security risks well before merchandise disappears.

The trend also reinforces the need for coordination between retail AP, logistics, cybersecurity and transportation partners. Cargo theft is no longer exclusively a physical security issue occurring somewhere between a distribution center and a store.

Increasingly, the theft can begin with an email, a stolen credential or someone successfully pretending to be a trusted supply chain partner.


Crime Data Disconnect
Crime Is Falling. So, Why Doesn’t It Feel That Way?

Crime data expert Jeff Asher says faster, better reporting can help lawmakers see trends clearly.

Crime is down in many places, but public concern remains high. Jeff Asher says the disconnect often comes down to timing: Crime stories travel faster than crime data.

Asher, co-founder of the data firm AH Datalytics, spoke at NCSL’s 2026 Legislative Summit about crime trends, the limits of crime statistics and the need for better, more current data. His firm created the Crime Index in 2024, a free public tool that gathers local, state and national crime data and aims to show trends with about a 45-day lag, instead of the 18 months often required for federal reports.

“The idea behind it was that if you can gather enough data from enough agencies, you can essentially understand what the nation’s crime trends are as they develop,” Asher says. “Without having to wait 18 months to understand what was happening 18 months ago, you can figure out exactly what’s happening now.”

The current sample includes 586 agencies with data from January 2017 through May 2026, representing about 36% of the U.S. population and roughly 52% of murders expected each year. Asher says that sample shows murder is down 18% nationwide.

The challenge for policymakers is that crime numbers do not always match public views.

“Your perception of crime is often anecdote-driven,” Asher says. “And I think that speaks to the vacuum of data.” A news story, a social media post or a doorbell-camera video can shape how people understand safety, even when broader trends point in another direction.

Asher says the delay in official data makes that gap worse. “You could be two or three years into a crime wave ending or crime falling historically like it is now, and people are just starting to catch up,” he says. ncsl.org


Save the Date!
MAORCA’s Fall Conference Announcement
The Mid-Atlantic Organized Retail Crime Alliance (MAORCA) will hold its 2026 Fall Training Conference October 28–29 in Manassas, Virginia. MAORCA is beginning to announce sessions for the two-day event, starting with OSINT Training You Can Put to Work, a practical session focused on open-source intelligence for investigators.

The developing agenda will bring retail, law enforcement and prosecutors together for conversations spanning legislation, investigations, emerging ORC challenges, community impact, and stronger public-private partnerships, along with recognition of those leading the fight against ORC across the Mid-Atlantic and plenty of opportunities to network.

If your AOR includes the Mid-Atlantic, this is a meeting to get on your calendar. Follow MAORCA on LinkedIn as additional sessions are announced. SIGN UP for the Event HERE | Follow MAORCA on LinkedIn


Australia: ‘Criminal’s dream state’: shopping centre developer slams Victoria

Canada: RCMP targets retail theft through Boost & Bust operations
 

Emphasizing Retail Worker Safety
UK: Braintree Village joins campaign to improve retail safety
The outlet is backing the Let’s Respect Retail campaign, which offers free training to help workers handle difficult encounters on the shop floor. Landsec, which owns and runs the outlet, has expanded its partnership with the Retail Trust after a successful pilot last year.

Josef O’Sullivan, centre director at Braintree Village, said: "Every day, our retail colleagues play an essential role in bringing Braintree Village to life. "It’s important that they feel supported, valued, and confident that their wellbeing and safety are a priority.

"Working with the Retail Trust and the Let’s Respect Retail campaign gives our teams access to meaningful, practical support while also helping us build a culture where looking out for one another is part of everyday life.

"By investing in the people who make our centre what it is, we can create a positive environment for our teams, our brand partners, and our guests alike."

The campaign is being rolled out this month at 13 more shopping destinations across the UK, including Braintree Village.

Staff will get new guidance through the Landsec Protect app on handling antisocial behaviour, being filmed without consent and being targeted after work.

The expansion follows the British Retail Consortium’s 2026 Crime Report, which found that retail workers face more than 1,600 incidents of violence and abuse every day.

Chris Brook-Carter, chief executive of the Retail Trust, said: "The people who’ve taken part in our training tell us that thoughtless, unkind and aggressive behaviour can stay with them long after their shift has ended and that they increasingly worry about situations like filming by shoppers or being targeted outside of work. braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk


Retailers Target Product Safety Gaps
Retail body targets ultra-cheap platform safety gaps
The Australian Retail Council (ARC) has backed the Federal Government's consultation on strengthening the national product safety framework, arguing any new rules must apply equally to offshore sellers as well as local retailers.

According to the ARC, requirements must be enforceable across every business selling into Australia, regardless of where it is based, as the safety standards holding local retailers accountable increasingly diverge from those governing offshore marketplaces.

ARC cited ACCC research showing 91 per cent of Australians believe products sold to them should meet local safety requirements even when the seller is based overseas. Yet Pattern's 2025 Australian research found only 12 per cent of consumers were confident in the quality of products sold by Temu, and 11 per cent in Shein's.

Speaking on the consultation, ARC chief executive Chris Rodwell said Australian retailers invest heavily in compliance, recalls and consumer protections, and argued every business selling into the country should be held accountable for the safety risks tied to its products.

"Product safety cannot stop at the border," he said, adding that consumers need to be able to trust that products meet the same standards whether bought locally or from an "ultra-cheap overseas online marketplace." ragtrader.com.au


$16M Walmart Settlement
Walmart to pay California $16 million after selling expired baby formula

The illegal action did not cause harm to any customers, authorities say

A settlement between retail giant Walmart, Inc. and the state of California will force the corporation to pay $16 million to the state for selling infant formula and other over-the-counter drugs after their expiration dates, authorities said.

Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones announced the settlement in a statement and said the county will receive $2.2 million in civil penalties and $60,000 in cost recovery. It was not immediately clear Wednesday whether Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties were parties to the settlement.

According to Jones, an investigation by law enforcement found that Walmart sold expired infant formula and other over-the-counter drugs. Authorities uncovered no evidence the illegal action caused any harm to consumers and cooperated with investigators, Jones said.

Jones said that Walmart has agreed to implement an enhanced training for employees and to devote hours ensuring that the formula and other drugs on its shelves are safe. mercurynews.com


Safety Inspections Surging?
Philadelphia’s food-safety rules aren’t new. Why does it seem like restaurant inspections have intensified lately?
As the city prepares to offer a new food-safety inspection guide to clarify the rules, recent enforcement actions at two restaurants point out gray areas.

For restaurant owners, the consequences of an inspection can extend beyond whatever corrective action the city requires. Reports of closures, cease-operations orders, or serious violations — especially at popular restaurants — spread on social media, where the conversation often turns to claims that enforcement is unfair or not uniformly applied.

The health department disputes that contention, saying that there is no crackdown. It’s in the process of rolling out a new Food Safety Inspection Guide, but while the format of the guide has been streamlined, the department said the underlying rules have not changed.

Health officials interviewed this month said the differing outcomes illustrate a basic principle of the inspection system: Each inspection reflects only a snapshot of what an inspector observes. inquirer.com


Sticker Shock
Numerator: Prices have increased 35% for low-income shoppers since 2019
In the face of worsening inflation, lower-income consumers have made multiple changes to their discretionary spending.

That’s according to Numerator’s Consumer Goods Price Index, which shows prices have increased 35% for low-income consumers, defined as those with a household income below $40,000, since January 2018. This is compared to 31% for high-income consumers.

Since 2019, Numerator found that low-income consumers have shifted over $10 billion of their budget from discretionary categories over to everyday essentials, such as grocery. In contrast, higher-income households have shifted $21 billion dollars worth of spending to discretionary goods. chainstoreage.com


How Can Retailers Best Capture the $13.5 Billion Halloween Opportunity As Shoppers Seek More Value?
According to the most recent National Retail Federation Halloween survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics, consumer spending this spooky season is projected to hit a new record of $13.5 billion in the U.S., beating last year’s $13.1 billion, but a deeper dive reveals a few emerging trends.

What Employers Need to Know About OSHA's Heat Stress Rule
As the temperature rises, so does the risk of heat stress and heat-related illnesses. Learn how to keep your workers safe and be compliant with OSHA’s new proposed heat stress rule.

Mastercard Economic Institute: Holiday spending to rise 5.5% year over year

Starbucks closing 250 locations in North America; accelerating cafe remodels

Survey: Consumers delaying large purchases until after Election Day