2 men killed, 3rd charged with obstruction in Roanoke Rapids convenience store shooting, police say A violent altercation at a Roanoke Rapids convenience store turned deadly, leaving two people fatally shot in what authorities believe was a targeted act. The shooting shook the small community, prompting a swift investigation by local police. Law enforcement is urging witnesses to come forward as the manhunt continues. The incident has reignited local discussions about violence at essential businesses. WRAL
Suspect rams into gas station, steals store’s safe before arrest A brazen thief in Georgia plowed a vehicle into a gas station, smashed through the storefront, and ripped out the store’s safe in the early hours of the morning. Deputies quickly tracked and arrested the suspect, recovering both the safe and the vehicle used. The wild smash-and-grab stunned the community and highlighted how far criminals will go to make a score. Authorities say the suspect faces multiple felony charges. WTOC
St. Louis man convicted of stealing $200K through Kohl's Cash scheme A Missouri man has been convicted in a multi-state fraud operation that exploited Kohl’s Cash rewards to the tune of $200,000. The scheme spanned 13 states, involving hundreds of bogus returns and purchases. Prosecutors say he took advantage of loopholes in the loyalty system to amass high-value merchandise. His conviction closes one of the more unusual retail fraud cases in recent memory. ABC 7 News
Two men accused of using stolen credit cards to purchase more than $1,000 worth of energy drinks Authorities say two men racked up more than $1,000 in Red Bull purchases at a Sam’s Club using stolen credit cards. The high-caffeine haul caught the attention of law enforcement after a tip led to their arrest. Investigators believe the energy drinks were part of a larger resale operation. The bizarre bust highlights how even everyday items can fuel illicit schemes. KDKA
Multi-state fraud scheme targeting retail stores cracked by police Police in North Carolina, helped take down a multi-state fraud ring that targeted major retail stores across the region. The suspects used fraudulent checks and fake identities to exploit return policies and make high-value purchases. After a joint investigation, multiple arrests were made and thousands in stolen goods were recovered. Retailers say the takedown sends a strong message to organized criminals operating in small-town America. ABC 12 News
An interview with Patrick O'Leary, industry veteran & Head of Sales,
SAI Group
From RFID to AI: Why Patrick O'Leary Sees SAI as the Future of Retail Technology
An interview by Amber Bradley, Editor-in-Chief at TalkLPnews
Patrick O’Leary has spent over two decades in retail technology, from pioneering RFID deployments at Sensormatic to exploring AI solutions at Dragonfruit. Now, as part of SAI Group’s North American expansion, he’s betting his career on what he calls “the most innovative technology that provides value to the entire organization.” We sat down with Pat to understand his journey and why he believes SAI represents the next evolution in retail intelligence.
Pat, you’ve had quite a journey in retail technology. Take me through your background and how you ended up at SAI Group.
Pat: You know, it’s been fascinating to watch this industry evolve. I spent over 25 years in the integration side of the business working with RFID, EAS and video solutions. Back then, we thought RFID was going to revolutionize everything – and it did, but in more focused ways than we initially imagined.
With this experience, I then moved to Dragonfruit AI because I could see that computer vision was the next big leap forward. While there I discovered that AI should be implemented with the main focus being on limiting user involvement while eliminating errors causing shrink or false positives.
Then I met Helen and the SAI team, and honestly, it was like seeing the future of retail technology. Here was a company that had solved the efficiency problem that’s plagued AI deployment, while building something that serves every department in the store. After over 20 years in this business, I knew I had to be part of it.
What specifically convinced you that SAI was different?
Pat: Three things really stood out. First, the economics are just fundamentally better. I’ve sold plenty of technology solutions that required massive infrastructure investments – $15,000, $20,000 per store just to get started. SAI delivers better results for a fraction of that cost. That changes everything about how retailers can approach AI.
Second, the scope is incredible. In my RFID days, we solved inventory problems. At my previous company, we focused on theft detection. But SAI is solving inventory problems and theft problems and safety problems and operational efficiency problems all from the same platform. It’s what every retailer has been asking for – technology that works across the entire organization.
But the third thing really sealed it for me – the technology actually works as advertised. I’ve seen too many impressive demos that fall apart in real-world conditions. SAI is deployed in over 800 stores, processing over a million transactions daily. Those aren’t pilot numbers; that’s proven, scalable technology.
You mentioned efficiency being a key differentiator. Can you elaborate on that?
Pat: Sure. Look, I’ve been through enough technology implementations to know that hardware costs are just the beginning. You’ve got ongoing maintenance, software licensing, support costs, power consumption – it all adds up quickly.
Most AI solutions require massive GPU arrays that consume enormous amounts of power and need specialized cooling systems. We were essentially talking about building a data center in every store. SAI’s approach is completely different – their AI runs efficiently on standard hardware without GPUs for most applications.
Police say suspected shoplifter attacked King of Prussia retail employee with bear spray or mace
Upper Merion police are asking for the public’s help as they try to identify the thief who sprayed a store employee at the King of Prussia Mall with what authorities said may have been bear repellent.
It happened around 4 p.m. on Aug. 14 at the Diesel store in the King of Prussia Mall.
Upper Merion Police Chief Blaine Leis said an employee tried to stop a masked young female, believed to be between the ages of 16 and 20 years old, who was stealing several purses. That person sprayed the employee with bear spray or mace.
CISA and Partners Providing Real-Time Incident Response to Nevada Cyber Attack Affecting Essential Services
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and its public and private sector partners are working closely with officials in Nevada as they respond to an August 24th cyber attack targeting the state and impacting essential services.
While the investigation into the origins of the attack is ongoing, CISA’s priority is assisting the state in restoring networks for lifesaving and critical services and rebuilding its systems.
Trump’s DC takeover caused violence to plummet 45%, Dem mayor admits — as residents, biz owners say, ‘we feel much more safe’
President Trump’s takeover of Washington, DC, has caused violent crime in the capitol to plummet in a matter of days, the city’s Democrat mayor acknowledged Wednesday — as many residents and biz owners say they feel safer already.
“We greatly appreciate the surge of officers that enhance what MPD has been able to do in this city,” said DC Mayor Muriel Bowser in a Wednesday press conference.
Top Five Benefits of Video Surveillance Systems for Convenience Stores
Convenience store owners know security is a top priority given they often operate 24/7 in high traffic environments and have unique challenges. C-stores are prone to ongoing security issues and instances of crime, like assaults, robberies, break-ins, vandalism, loitering, carjacking and more. The need for cost effective security and anti-crime solutions are paramount. Furthermore, C-stores can be prone to theft, fraudulent activities, and operational inefficiencies that can quickly erode profits.
March Networks understands these pain points and offers cost-effective intelligent video surveillance solutions tailored specifically for C-stores. Additionally, our continuing focus on privacy and data security makes our solutions ideal for C-stores that are looking for the highest level of cyber protection – at a cost-effective price point.
In this blog post, we’ll delve into the top benefits of intelligent video surveillance systems and highlight how March Networks partners with convenience stores to addresses these specific challenges.
LISTEN: The Red Flags of Potential Workplace Violence
In this episode of The Security Podcasts featuring Alan Saquella, Assistant Professor at the College of Business, Security and Intelligence at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, we discuss the red flags that a workplace violence incident may be about to occur.
Saquella notes that workplace violence can come from many sources, stating, “[Workplace violence] can occur internally, externally, and sometimes just at random.” While many times these incidents occur due to disgruntled employees, this is not always the case.
Therefore, organizations must be prepared to handle any and all potential workplace threats.
3 retailers, 3 distinct tariff strategies: What these plans say about their businesses
When it comes to managing the impact of tariffs, retailers don’t have a one size fits all solution.
An analysis of U.S. container data for retailers Abercrombie & Fitch, Best Buy and Five Below show various mitigation strategies.
Industry experts say each retailer’s plans reflects the categories they are in and the customers they serve. This means not all retailers will be rushing to import goods, or front-loading, at the same time, from the same countries.
All three companies were contacted by CNBC, but were in a quiet period because of this week’s earnings.
ZipLine Campaign: A Sophisticated Phishing Attack Targeting US Companies
Check Point Research has been closely monitoring the activity of a highly persistent and sophisticated threat actor who leverages social engineering tactics to gain the trust of targeted organizations.
While analyzing the phishing lures used by the actors, we noticed an intriguing pattern: in every case, it was the victim who initiated the email exchange that ultimately led to infection.
This unusual detail prompted a deeper investigation, which revealed a highly resourceful phishing campaign.
This campaign, which we named ZipLine, the attackers diverge from traditional phishing methods by initiating contact through the victim’s own “Contact Us” web form.
Prosecutor’s office: Retail crime cases increasing since 2021
Following the implementation of a position focused on prosecuting retail theft crimes, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office reported that retail theft filings increased.
According to a King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, in 2025, the office filed 142 retail theft cases through June — two and a half times the average through June across the past four years.
Paramus Sues American Dream Mall Claiming 'Thousands' Of Blue Law Violations
In the complaint, filed Aug. 25 in Superior Court, Paramus accuses mall operator Ameream, LLC, the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, the Borough of East Rutherford, and Bergen County of allowing more than 120 stores inside the mall to sell prohibited goods on Sundays, despite the county’s 1980 referendum banning such sales.
Every year at APEX, one moment steals the spotlight, the surprise celebrity guest.
Athlete? Performer? Icon? Nobody knows until the reveal, and it’s always unforgettable. The only way to experience it live is to be in Nashville. Don’t get stuck hearing about it on LinkedIn. Register now to be part of the surprise.