Adidas confirmed a data breach involving a third-party customer service provider, exposing consumer contact details—but not passwords or payment information. The company acted swiftly by launching an investigation, notifying affected customers, and coordinating with security experts and law enforcement. This incident highlights a broader wave of cyberattacks targeting major retailers in both the UK and US, with experts warning that sophisticated hackers are now shifting their focus to U.S. retail operations.
Former President Donald Trump announced a delay on the threatened 50% tariffs on EU goods until July 9, stating the EU had reached out to schedule trade talks. He criticized the EU for "slow walking" negotiations but called the outreach a “positive event,” hoping for increased market access similar to his demands with China. The move briefly unsettled markets but optimism returned as both U.S. and EU officials signaled willingness to resume discussions, though the EU warned it would not accept any deal at any cost and prepared countermeasures targeting $107 billion in U.S. goods if talks fail.
To offset rising tariff costs, U.S. retailers are increasingly turning to the “first sale rule,” a legal workaround that allows them to pay duties based on a product’s initial sale price—often before middleman markups—resulting in significant savings. Though the rule has existed since 1988, its popularity has surged amid renewed tariffs, particularly among companies dealing in high-margin goods like luxury fashion and biotech. While the rule is legal, it requires extensive documentation and cooperation between suppliers and intermediaries, raising concerns that its use may undermine tariff policy goals.
A years-long federal investigation into two Milwaukee stores, Dutti Fashion and Jordan River Fashion, has led to the seizure of over $1.6 million in counterfeit designer merchandise. Homeland Security and Customs agents executed a search warrant on May 19, uncovering fake items from brands like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Rolex, with most shipments traced to Hong Kong and Turkey. The store owner is accused of importing and trafficking counterfeit goods, and both stores had been under surveillance since 2017, including agents collecting trash as evidence.
Despite decades of progress in workplace safety, more than 5,000 U.S. workers still die on the job each year—a number that has plateaued in recent years. The 2025 Avetta Insights and Impact Report reveals that traditional compliance measures are no longer enough to drive meaningful reductions in incidents. The report highlights the importance of prequalification, continuous compliance, and five system-wide drivers—including leadership engagement and data integration—that significantly improve safety outcomes.
Randy Van Dusen Promoted to Director of Asset Protection for Raley’s
Randy Van Dusen has been promoted to the role of Director of Asset Protection at Raley’s. Randy brings a wealth of law enforcement experience, leadership, and dedication to this role.
Before joining Raley’s, Randy served within the City of Sacramento Police Department for an impressive 25 years, where he held various specialized positions including K9 Handler, Regional Fugitive Apprehension Team Supervisor, and Air Operations Supervisor, among other roles. After retiring from law enforcement in 2023, Randy joined Raley’s, bringing his deep expertise and passion for public safety to our team.
Congrats Randy!
Been promoted or have a new gig? Let us know and we'll celebrate with you! Email our Editor-in-Chief, Amber Bradley here.
U.S. Secret Service: Fraud Update
Michael Centrella
Assistant Director
U.S. Secret Service
TalkLP Host Amber Bradley is stoked to chat with Michael Centrella, Assistant Director for the U.S. Secret Service. Michael explains the intersection between digital and physical threats that target infrastructure of the U.S. and what retailers should be worried about in the years to come. What’s the top fraud happening to businesses out there? To the tune of $10 TRILLION dollars last year... Business Email compromise. Take a listen to hear Michael explain the scam and other major fraud schemes you should be aware of.
Need a Secret Service partner?
Call your local office! Michael talks about the offices in every major city and how available they are to retail partners. Here’s a listing. We’re hoping to have Michael back to talk all the tea on his Presidential details – but I doubt it. He’s way too professional for that…
For decades, making a payment online was as simple as entering a few numbers: a card number, an expiration date and a name. Then came card verification values and additional security layers. Now, depending on where you shop, your internet protocol address, device ID, and even behavioral data might be used to verify transactions.
Man yanks shopper’s gun away and shoots him dead in store
An accused assailant wrestled away another man’s open-carry firearm inside a Las Vegas store and shot him dead with it, Nevada police reported.
The shopper was standing in line with his purchases when Kyle Capucci, 36, entered acting erratically on Friday, May 23, police said in a news release.
Capucci had a “short interaction” with a store employee, then lunged for the shopper’s firearm at his waist, police said.
How Retailers Can Use AI Video Security To Combat The Retail Theft Crisis
Retailers now often find themself in a precarious situation.
Profit margins are being squeezed by widespread shoplifting: The Council on Criminal Justice reports that between the first half of 2023 and the first half of 2024, shoplifting reports increased by 24%.
Meanwhile, the strategies used by shops to deal with this situation are alienating consumers and affecting total sales.
POS Connect: The Power of Video and Transaction Data
POS Connect in OpenEye Web Services reduces shrink, improves customer service, and streamlines investigations by combining your point-of-sale data with the power of video verification.
With POS Connect, you’ll receive a complete picture of every transaction in your workplace. Notice something suspicious? Our robust platform offers customizable search capabilities to quickly locate events of interest. Just as important, you’ll also have the tools to put this information in the right hands for further investigation.
Unlock the Advantages of POS Monitoring with POS Connect
Point-of-sale data is some of the most valuable data intelligence businesses have.
Records of transactions provide crucial insights into what is and isn’t working for your company, and receipt data can get you that. This is why POS monitoring is so vital for organizations everywhere. Having a real-time, searchable stream of transactions can be just the edge many businesses need to boost their workplace operations. But while your POS system may reflect what was purchased, it might not be giving you the full picture.
This is where POS Connect comes in. By integrating your security video with your POS system, business owners can streamline their monitoring and get a better understanding of what’s happening during transactions. [keep reading]
Research examines body cameras as a response to rising retail violence
A QUT-led study published in the International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction has suggested how body-worn cameras (BWCs), commonly used in law enforcement, could transform the retail and service sectors to address abuse and violence towards workers.
This study is said to be the first to interrogate existing BWC research and contextualize it to a service-based business domain.
3 charged in what police say was looting of tornado-damaged market
Three people are charged with felony burglary in what St. Louis Metropolitan Police say was a looting incident at a market damaged by the May 16 tornado.
Following the incident, police issued a warning that looting in storm-damaged areas of the city would not be tolerated.
“We tried to warn you, looting will not be tolerated,” police said.
A delivery drone owned by online retailer Amazon crashed at an apartment complex in the Phoenix, Arizona area recently.
While the machine didn’t explode or suffer serious damage because it was more of a crash landing, the incident did spook people who live in the apartments.
According to AZFamily, the incident happened on May 21. Nobody was hurt in the crash landing. It was reportedly the first such incident. Amazon says the drone had to crash land thanks to “factors outside of its control.”
The Director of Asset Protection and Safety is responsible for protecting company assets, reducing loss, and promoting a safe and secure environment across all locations. This strategic leadership role oversees a team of approximately 30 Asset Protection professionals.
Key responsibilities include leading the asset protection function, managing security and life safety systems, and ensuring compliance with all applicable government regulations and safety programs. The role requires expertise in loss prevention, risk management, safety protocols, and employee training.
5 Signs Your Company's Resources Are Being Misused — and How to Catch It Early
In 2023, Apple revealed a case of serious internal fraud. A longtime employee had exploited his access to procurement systems, diverting company funds, manipulating vendor relationships and approving fake invoices. The fallout: nearly $19 million in losses.
This wasn’t a Hollywood-style embezzlement. It was slow, quiet and unnoticed for years. It started with unchecked trust and processes that weren’t built to flag abuse.
Fortifying Retail Security: Practical Steps to Prevent Cyber Attacks
Experts warn that the retail sector’s vast access to consumer data and the challenges it faces in keeping up with the constantly shifting threat landscape make it a prime target for hackers.
This is evident in the finding that retail cyber vulnerabilities have risen by 52% year-over-year.
These types of attacks are almost inevitable, but retailers are prime targets due to their online presence and the high volumes of transactions involving billions of customers’ sensitive data.