Gun Violence Strikes U.S. Again — Triple Killing at Austin in Texas Target Store

A tragic shooting at a Target store in Austin ended with three people dead, once again spotlighting the rising threat of gun violence in public retail spaces. Local police are investigating the motive and suspect, while community members grapple with the shock and grief. This incident serves as a grim reminder that no shopping trip is entirely safe—and loss prevention teams must be ever vigilant.

News X

Kroger announces settlement in lawsuit over failed merger with Albertsons

Kroger has agreed to a settlement in a lawsuit tied to its failed merger with Albertsons, sending ripples through the grocery industry. The legal fallout underscores the high stakes surrounding consolidation efforts and corporate accountability. With integration plans unfulfilled, Kroger now grapples with both financial and reputational repercussions.

WLWT

Trump extends China tariff pause to November

In a surprise move, former President Trump extended the pause on China tariffs through November, offering temporary relief to importers wrestling with rising costs. Retailers and manufacturers breathed a sigh of relief, hoping this hiatus will ease supply chain stress ahead of the holiday season. But industry insiders warn it may only be a brief reprieve amid ongoing trade tensions.

CSA

Shoplifting Confrontation Leads to Shooting in MN Cub Foods Store

A tense shoplifting confrontation at a Saint Anthony Cub Foods ended with a suspected shoplifter pulling a gun and firing a shot into the ceiling—no one was hurt. The suspect fled on foot and remains at large, prompting a coordinated search involving K9s and neighboring law enforcement. The incident underscores the unexpected volatility that can erupt in everyday retail environments.

KROC

CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor Shows Strong Spending in July as Consumers Responded to Sales and Bought Ahead of Tariffs

July brought a surge in retail spending as consumers scoured deals and rushed to get ahead of looming tariffs, according to the latest CNBC-NRF monitor. The data reflects both price sensitivity and economic optimism—but retailers beware: demand could flatten once tariff-driven markdowns fade. It’s a delicate consumer dance retailers must navigate carefully.

NRF

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Grab your spot now, it's almost too late!

Bob Oberosler

Industry Veteran

Face Matching Will Transform Retail

Imagine a technology that reduces the potential of employee injuries from confrontations with shoplifters by 90%, nearly eliminates police responses to retail theft, enhances store manager retention, minimizes shrink, and boosts sales and market share. Such a technology exists today: face matching. Powered by advancements in cameras, algorithms, and artificial intelligence (AI), face matching has evolved over the past decade into a reliable, ethical, and impactful solution for brick-and-mortar retailers.

This white paper explores how face matching delivers safer stores, better employee and customer experiences, and competitive advantages, while addressing challenges like bias and privacy through robust protocols and continuous improvement.

Musk threatens ‘immediate’ legal action against Apple over alleged antitrust violations

Elon Musk on Monday threatened Apple
 with legal action over alleged antitrust violations related to rankings of the Grok AI chatbot app, which is owned by his artificial intelligence startup xAI.

“Apple is behaving in a manner that makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store, which is an unequivocal antitrust violation.

xAI will take immediate legal action,” Musk wrote in a post on his social media platform X.

CNBC

AI not just a buzzword for Lowe's Companies as its 24-hour hackathon tackles major challenges

Lowe's Companies has held an AI focused 24-hour hackathon, with the aim of producing practical ideas to tackle complex business challenges.

In a LinkedIn post, Seemantini Godbole, EVP, Chief Digital and Information Officer at Lowe’s, said: "For us, AI isn’t just a buzzword, it’s a toolkit we’re using to create real, scalable solutions that reduce friction and deliver value for both our associates and our customers."

"At Lowe's AI Day, we celebrated that work and looked ahead to what’s next.

RTIH

What can LA do about rampant street takeovers? Prosecutors discuss plan

NBC4 News

Self-Checkout Friction: What's working and what's not. Hear it first hand from these grocers.

In today’s hyper-competitive retail landscape, loss prevention professionals face a unique challenge: safeguarding assets without compromising the seamless, inviting shopping experiences customers expect. But where is the line between effective security and unwanted friction, and how do you avoid alienating shoppers while deterring theft?

Join us for an insightful conversation where industry leaders explore the latest strategies and technologies that transform loss prevention from a barrier into a business advantage.

Security Leaders Share Thoughts on DaVita Data Breach

Dialysis firm DaVita confirmed a data breach affecting over 900,000 individuals. The breach potentially exposed Social Security Numbers and personal health information.

Rebecca Moody, Head of Data Research at Comparitech: 

"This attack on DaVita is one of the largest data breaches via ransomware this year so far. It's the seventh largest overall, the third largest in the U.S., and the third largest on a healthcare provider.

This highlights the far-reaching consequences these attacks have, particularly as ransomware gangs remain increasingly focused on stealing vast quantities of data.

Security Magazine

The Psychology of Deception: How to Outsmart Social Engineers and Protect Yourself

Every day, people are tricked by emails that look official, phone calls that seem urgent, and messages that tug at the heart.

These are calculated psychological attacks designed to manipulate anyone, regardless of experience or tech know-how.

This is the world of social engineering, where the human mind becomes the battlefield.

Unlike attacks that target software or hardware, social engineering exploits human behavior.

And unfortunately, it is often the most effective route.

SIW

Prop 36 prioritizes drug treatment for repeat offenders as retail crime falls

Proposition 36, the new state law tied to a decrease in retail theft, also offers a path forward for repeat drug offenders.

"It takes people several times to quit once they get kind of trapped into the substance use," David Daniel at WestCare California said. "So they need time to come through."

"We spend months sitting with a person, working with them, and figuring out what their needs are," he added.

"And then, hopefully, returning them to society at a different place than when they came in, as opposed to just pure incarceration."

ABC30 News

Director, Risk Management - USAL

The Director of Risk Management under the leadership of USAL's President is responsible for creating and overseeing the organization's risk management strategy. This includes ensuring regulatory compliance, leading safety training programs, managing accident investigations, and responding to emergencies. The role involves leveraging data and technology to improve risk management, overseeing fleet safety, and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.

The Director will also handle litigation related to risk management, lead disaster recovery and ergonomics initiatives, and collaborate with stakeholders to improve safety and performance standards. Additionally, the Director will lead and develop a team to support these efforts.

Rethinking Retail Loss Prevention Without Compromising the Experience

Retailers today face an impossible-sounding mandate: reduce rising shrink, ensure employee and shopper safety, and do it all while preserving a frictionless, welcoming experience. But for many, the solutions that aim to stop theft have created a new kind of barrier—one that drives away customers, frustrates employees, and makes stores feel more like fortresses than places to shop.

At Gatekeeper Systems, we believe loss prevention and positive customer experience can—and must—coexist. Our suite of intelligent theft prevention technologies, led by our Purchek® pushout theft prevention solution, is designed to do just that: create safer stores that remain open, efficient, and welcoming to shoppers.

The Safety Challenge Is Real—and Growing

Senate Approval Secures $632.3 Million OSHA Budget, Emphasizing Worker Safety and Health

OSHA appears to be maintaining its stability in light of new information on Capitol Hill.

Despite earlier budgetary concerns, the fiscal year 2026 congressional budget proposal for OSHA reveals that the agency's funding will remain consistent with 2025 levels. This decision comes as a result of the Senate Committee on Appropriations voting overwhelmingly (26-3) in favor of bill S. 2587. 

AInvest

Police searching for 'Black Bag Bandit' accused of stealing nearly $250,000 in 6 months

Ohio Crime Stoppers is seeking the public's assistance in locating Janika Johnson, a suspect in a series of high-value thefts from several retail stores.

Dubbed "The Black Bag Bandit," Johnson is accused of stealing thousands of dollars in merchandise from Lululemon stores at Polaris Mall and Easton Town Center since March 2025.

ABC6 News

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