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ORC Is Growing Globally
Data Reveals True Impact of Retail Loss
While external theft, including organized retail crime, remains the largest single source of retail loss at 25 percent, three-quarters of total loss dollars is happening elsewhere, according to a new IHL Group and Sensormatic Solutions joint study.

Researchers said the report reveals “how complicated retail shrink really is and why leaders need to begin redefining loss within their operations.”

The report, titled “IHL Group’s Beyond Shrink: 2026 Global Total Retail Loss Study,” showed that 75 percent of loss originates in other areas of the retail business. Researchers studied five key areas of the business where retailers experience loss: store theft, supply chain, returns/reverse logistics, e-commerce fulfillment and administration.

Two areas that are often overlooked include returns and supply chain losses. The report’s authors described returns as a significant blind spot. “Return fraud increased for 68 percent of retailers, nearly matching the 69 percent reporting increased shoplifting in their retail locations,” the report stated. “Even so, retailers rank fraud prevention fifth among seven when prioritizing loss-related performance measures.”

With the supply chain, the report noted that losses can add up fast. “Supplier fraud, warehouse/sales-area shrink and goods-receiving loss together account for 33 percent of retailers’ total losses,” the report stated.

The report’s data lays the foundation for a new loss framework for making better business decisions. “The study’s findings highlight the ways in which precise, connected data is expanding retailers’ understanding of shrink and changing how leaders approach loss prevention,” the report’s authors said.

The report’s authors said organized retail crime (ORC) is growing globally. They found that Australia reported the highest rate of ORC growth in the study, with 80 percent of retailers reporting increases. This compares 71 percent of U.S. retailers and 67 percent of Spanish retailers. The findings reinforce that ORC is now an international challenge.

The researchers also found that the size of the retailer changes their exposure to loss. “External theft and ORC account for 26 percent of total loss among retailers generating $1 billion-plus in revenue; for retailers with revenue under $250 million, it drops to 17 percent,” the report’s authors said, adding that a similar gap surfaces in shoplifting frequency, “with 71 percent of the largest retailers surveyed seeing increased shoplifting, compared with just 28 percent of the smallest retailers.”

The data also showed that traffic insights are linked to better loss outcomes. The report found that retailers that align staffing and monitoring to traffic patterns report better loss outcomes, “with 91 percent citing peak traffic periods and 89 percent citing event-driven crowd surges as key drivers of loss.”   wwd.com


Fraud Replaces Force in Cargo Heists
Thieves Steal Over $150 Million in AI Hardware and Disable Escorts To Smuggle Gear to China

Cargo security firm Overhaul reports thieves took more than $150 million in AI hardware in transit this year, mostly through fraud, not force.

Thieves have stolen more than $150 million in artificial intelligence (AI) hardware moving by truck this year, and most of it was taken through deception rather than force, the cargo risk firm Overhaul said in a report released October 21.

Deception featured in 92% of the high-value technology thefts the firm examined, with crews using fake carrier identities, forged paperwork, and spoofed communications to pass as legitimate freight partners. Reports of stolen data-center equipment, chips, and computing components are up 34% since 2024, Overhaul said, though it did not disclose the incident count behind that figure. The firm said single losses now regularly top $30 million, and the largest AI cargo theft on record exceeded $100 million.

Fraud Replaces Force in Cargo Heists

Criminals hijack freight brokers’ accounts on load-listing sites, post fake shipments to draw bids, then send responding trucking firms malicious links that hand over account control, law enforcement investigators said. They then bid on real loads and route the cargo to a driver working with the ring, sometimes using AI-generated licenses to hire accomplices.

Stolen Gear Feeds Restricted Markets Abroad

Freight investigators say location signals from stolen components often trace overseas, and U.S. export controls have made restricted AI hardware one of the few stolen goods worth more on the black market than in a legitimate sale. Servers sell in China for roughly double their U.S. price, and WIRED reported that Nvidia’s DGX B300 server goes for more than $1.1 million there against about $550,000 at home. sofx.com


Memphis Robberies Surge 88% Despite Task Force
October crime data for Memphis shows increases despite task force anniversary

New weekly numbers show double-digit jumps in several categories even as officials mark one year of federal help

New data shows double-digit increases in several crime categories in Memphis during the first three weeks of October, as the Memphis Safe Task Force marked its one-year anniversary in the city. The following week, October 13 through 19, overall Part 1 city-wide crime (rape, murder, robbery, human trafficking, arson, larceny, motor vehicle theft) was up 3% over the same week in 2025.

For October 20 through 26, aggravated assaults were up 7% with 79 reports taken by MPD compared to 74 last year. Robbery was up 88% with MPD receiving 17 reports from victims compared with 9 reports during the same week in 2025.

Johnson said that even with the Memphis Safe Task Force in the city, Memphians still feel the impact of crime on their families and neighborhoods. actionnews5.com


Using Tech to Crack Down on Violence
Airbnb using AI to crack down on Halloween parties after violence at Indy rentals
With Halloween weekend just days away, Airbnb is rolling out technology designed to prevent large parties at short-term rentals following several violent gatherings in Indianapolis, including one that turned deadly.

With Halloween traditionally being a popular weekend for parties, Airbnb is once again implementing special technology aimed at stopping potentially disruptive gatherings before they happen. The company uses artificial intelligence to analyze reservations and identify bookings that may pose a higher risk of turning into large parties.

According to Hernandez, the technology considers several factors, including how close a guest lives to the rental property and whether the reservation is being made at the last minute. fox59.com


'Biggest Return on Investment':
Viral Footage Shows Louis Vuitton's Sturdy Windows Defeating Paris Looting Attempt

Louis Vuitton's viral Place Vendôme storefront window in Paris survives a looting attempt and steals the show

Louis Vuitton's handbags may be designed to last, but one of its Paris boutiques has showcased that even the brand's windows are made to stand the test of time and looters. Viral footage from France's recent unrest shows masked individuals repeatedly striking the windows of Louis Vuitton's Place Vendôme boutique in an apparent attempt to break into the store. The glass cracked under the attack but refused to surrender the luxury goods sitting tantalisingly on the other side.

The circumstances surrounding the footage are serious, but the stubborn window has become an unlikely internet sensation. One Instagram user called it the 'biggest return on investment', while another asked the question apparently on everybody's mind: 'Who makes the glass?' As it seems, not all heroes are made of muscle and vow to protect humanity. Some are made of glass and vow to protect haute couture. fashiontimes.co.uk


Shoplifting is down. So why is retail crime getting more violent?
Co-op’s expectation that retail crime will fall to a post-pandemic low in 2026 represents a genuine milestone

No evidence stolen Crime Stoppers data used for fraud, provider says

El Dorado County Sheriff to present on license plate readers at Board meeting
 

Retail Loss Prevention's Next Chapter:
New Skills, New Roles and a Changing Workforce

As retailers rethink their approach to risk management, technology and store operations, the loss prevention and asset protection profession is entering a period of significant transformation.

By the D&D Daily staff

Retail loss prevention has evolved considerably over the past decade, moving beyond its traditional responsibilities to become an increasingly important part of corporate strategy, operational efficiency and business continuity. Looking ahead, the profession's future may depend as much on technology expertise, analytical skills and cross-functional collaboration as on traditional LP experience.

For retailers, this evolution is creating new expectations for asset protection teams and potentially opening doors to a broader range of career opportunities.

Roles involving data analytics, artificial intelligence, risk assessment, workplace safety and operational compliance are becoming increasingly relevant to the industry's long-term direction. As retailers invest in new technologies, LP professionals who can interpret complex information and translate it into practical business decisions may find themselves particularly well-positioned.

The changing landscape also presents opportunities for younger professionals entering the workforce. Experience in information technology, business intelligence, cybersecurity and supply chain operations can provide valuable foundations for careers in retail asset protection.

Meanwhile, established LP leaders face their own challenges. Recruiting and retaining qualified employees, developing future leaders and ensuring teams receive appropriate training will remain important priorities as responsibilities expand.

The industry's future will also depend on how effectively companies balance automation with human judgment. While emerging technologies can streamline reporting, identify operational inefficiencies and improve visibility across retail environments, experienced professionals remain essential for interpreting findings and guiding decisions.

For LP/AP departments, demonstrating measurable value beyond traditional loss metrics could become increasingly important when competing for corporate resources and investment.

Ultimately, the next generation of loss prevention professionals may be defined less by a single specialty and more by their ability to adapt, collaborate and contribute to the retailer's overall business performance.


AI Safety Errors Raise Concerns
Is AI Causing Safety Errors?

New survey shows 20% of workers have witnessed an adverse outcome associated with an AI safety-document error.

As AI is growing in use in the safety sector, its benefits must be weighed against potential errors.

Case in point is a recent survey from Tradesafe that showed 20% of workers have witnessed an adverse outcome associated with an AI safety-document error.

And these errors are fairly common, with 36% of workers having encountered AI-generated safety documents containing outdated requirements, vague instructions, incorrect information, or missing steps.

Also troubling is the fact that 77% of safety professionals do not report independent review of AI-generated safety documents before use.

Part of the reason for the lack of reporting is that 82% of workers say there is not a formal policy defining accountability for errors in AI-assisted safety content.

"Only 23% of the safety professionals we surveyed said AI-generated safety documents get an independent review," Herbert Post, vice president of Tradeshow, told EHS Today. ehstoday.com


Information Gaps Hurt Frontline Worker Productivity
Survey: Frontline workers say information gaps lead to decreased productivity

Information gaps are causing problems for frontline employees and managers.

According to a new survey from AI-powered employee experience platform Staffbase, more than 50% of frontline workers and managers (spanning retail, manufacturing, logistics and more) receive the news and information they need to do their job across six or more channels.

More than a quarter (27%) of those surveyed said information across channels is moderately to very inconsistent, while more than a third (35%) encounter conflicting, outdated or unclear information a few times a week or more.

Due to these gaps, nearly half (48%) of the frontline workers and managers surveyed reported lower productivity or operational efficiency due to information gaps. Forty-four percent reported a higher risk of errors, quality issues or missed deadlines, while 43% reported slower decision-making as a result.

The vast majority (83%) of frontline employees said a single app bringing together work-related activities and information would have a "high" or "very high" impact on their ability to do their jobs effectively. chainstoreage.com


5 of the biggest retail horror stories of 2026

Wendy's store closures: Franchisee could close another 60 locations in Chapter 11 bankruptcy