A group of attorneys general have turned to Congress for help combating organized retail crime. On Tuesday, the National Association of Attorneys General sent a letter to Majority Leader John Thune, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, asking for them and their colleagues to lend a hand in the fight against retail crime. The initiative, led by the attorneys general of Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois and South Carolina, has called on the 119th Congress to re-introduce legislation brought forth in the 118th Congress. The bills, the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023 and the Organized Retail Crime Center Authorization Act of 2023, would make it easier to deter such crime in their respective states, they argue in the letter.
Retail is getting a tech makeover with Gen AI, but it's also opening the door to cyber baddies. In 2024, cyberattacks have been on the rise, with 57% of retailers reporting more breaches. As AI becomes more integral, it's also becoming a bigger target for hackers. Expect more supply chain attacks during peak shopping times and increased focus on third-party risk management in 2025.
Maryland has passed a groundbreaking law to combat gift card scams, requiring manufacturers to use tamper-evident packaging. This move aims to stop thieves from draining gift cards after recording their activation numbers. Retailers like Target are already redesigning their cards to comply, and the law is expected to influence nationwide changes. With gift card fraud on the rise, this law is a big win for consumers everywhere.
Editor's Note:To hear directly from Adam Parks, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) running Operation Red Hook, tune in to this TalkLPnews podcast here.
Food stamps for cash: Store owners, staff charged in $4M fraud scheme Eleven people, including business owners and employees, are facing charges for allegedly scamming over $4 million from food benefits programs in San Francisco. They reportedly used EBT cards to fake transactions and split the money with cardholders. The biggest case involves three Chinatown businesses accused of over $3 million in fraud. The DA is cracking down to ensure public benefits are used properly.
A 17-year-old Aldine ISD student was tragically shot and killed outside a McDonald's in north Houston. The incident occurred around 3:15 p.m. when a group of students approached a truck in the drive-thru, and someone inside fired a shot. Police are investigating and have detained multiple people but made no arrests yet. The shooting might be linked to a previous incident at a soccer game.
In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to want immediate results—whether you’re rolling out a new technology, refining processes, or onboarding key team members.
But the truth is, most meaningful changes don’t deliver their full impact overnight. It takes time, patience, and a strategic approach to see your efforts bear fruit.
That’s especially true in asset protection and security, where implementing new people, processes, or technology often creates ripples that may not settle for months—or even a year. So how do you stay the course, set realistic expectations, and cultivate a mindset that embraces delayed gratification?
Here are some tips:
1. Set Clear Expectations Early
It’s crucial to communicate upfront that results won’t always come quickly. Transparency with your team and stakeholders helps manage disappointment and builds trust.
Share realistic timelines: If you know a technology’s ROI may take 12 months, say so.
Focus on milestones: Break the journey into measurable phases to keep momentum.
Normalize patience: Emphasize that quick wins are great, but lasting results take time.
2. Measure What Matters
Don’t get stuck in the trap of over-measuring every small detail. Instead, identify the KPIs that align with your goals.
Short-term metrics can track adoption and initial engagement (e.g., team utilization rates).
Mid- to long-term metrics should evaluate efficiency gains, loss reductions, or cultural shifts over time.
Remember, the absence of immediate results doesn’t mean failure. It means you’re still in the early chapters of the story.
3. Iterate Thoughtfully
While it’s tempting to tweak things the moment you see a dip or plateau, constant iteration can muddy the waters and confuse your team. Give initiatives enough time to play out before making adjustments—unless those iterations directly affect people, processes, or technology.
Ask yourself:
People: Are your employees empowered to engage with the change? If not, address it.
Processes: Are workflows clear and scalable? Focus on simplification.
Technology: Are tools functioning as intended? If adoption is lagging, retrain before replacing.
4. Foster a Culture of Patience and Positivity
Teams can feel disheartened when results don’t come quickly. As a leader, your role is to keep spirits high and eyes on the prize. Celebrate small wins, acknowledge challenges, and remind everyone of the bigger picture.
The Long Game is Worth It Change is never easy. Whether you're integrating a groundbreaking technology, streamlining processes, or strengthening your team’s capabilities, the results that matter most often take the longest to achieve. But when you look back a year or two from now, you’ll see that the thoughtful, deliberate steps you’re taking today were the foundation for success.
Be patient. Stay the course. Trust the process. The results are worth the wait.
Do you have a different take? Or more to add? Let us know by emailing comments@talklpnews.com.
We'll run your comments later this week.
Former Fairfax County cop who killed Tysons shoplifting suspect sentenced to 3 years on firearm charge Ex-Cop Gets 3 Years for Fatal Shooting of Shoplifting Suspect in Virginia. Wesley Shifflett, a former Fairfax County officer, was sentenced to three years in prison for recklessly handling a firearm after fatally shooting a man accused of shoplifting at Tysons Corner Center. The incident involved a chase through a parking garage and into the woods, where the suspect was shot after failing to comply with police orders. The Fairfax County Police Department fired Shifflett for not adhering to use of force policies. [WTOP]
Trio accused of stealing $143K in cosmetics across King County
The Renton Police Department arrested a trio for a shoplifting spree that’s suspected of being part of an organized retail theft operation throughout King County, resulting in over $143,000 in lost cosmetic products.
On Feb. 4, the RPD reported the arrest of three suspects who had allegedly gone on a shoplifting spree at multiple Ulta Beauty stores between late Oct. 2024 and early January. The suspects are Imiko Stark, 26, who faces four counts of organized retail theft; Vershawn Hairston, 25, who faces 10 counts of organized retail theft; and R’mani Sweet, who faces six counts of organized retail theft.
The trio is suspected of stealing high-end fragrances and cosmetics from stores in Renton, Federal Way, Auburn, Tukwila, Seattle, Issaquah, Redmond and Lakewood.
Innovative Technologies Driving Digital Transformation in Retail
The retail industry is undergoing a fundamental digital transformation, driven by next-generation technological innovations that are reconstructing enterprise infrastructures, omnichannel customer engagement, and data-centric intelligence systems. Vaishnav Yerram explores the disruptive integration of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, artificial intelligence (AI), and autonomous process automation in revolutionizing retail ecosystems. His analysis provides a deep technical examination of how enterprises can deploy these advanced technologies to enhance operational efficiencies, leverage predictive analytics, and enable real-time, AI-driven strategic decision-making.
Warehouse capacity resilient in the face of shipper frontloading
Although many shippers in recent months have pulled cargo forward to mitigate port labor concerns and new tariffs from the Trump administration, experts say warehouse capacity has not been overly taxed.
While frontloading isn’t new, it became a prominent strategy in 2024 due to the crisis in the Red Sea, labor unrest at East and Gulf Coast ports and drought issues at the Panama Canal.
When it comes to port strike mitigation, while there was a limit to the ability to frontload retail goods, shippers focused on key product categories that could be most immediately impacted, according to Jonathan Gold, VP of supply chain and customs policy at the National Retail Federation.
his position will be part of the Global Capabilities Network. The goal of our team is to support Store Operations, which includes more than 65,000 North American store employees. The Director of Security will be responsible for leading the company’s security initiatives, including the management of security teams that monitor and respond to camera and alarm systems across all locations in North America. The Director will develop and implement strategies to mitigate risks, prevent losses, and ensure the safety of customers, employees, and company assets.
NFIB Applauds Lawmakers for Passing Retail Theft Bill
The measure gives law enforcement better tools to crack down on organized smash-and-grab rings.
NFIB State Director Ben Homeyer today thanked the General Assembly for passing H. 3523, critical legislation cracking down organized retail crime and protecting small businesses from financial harm.
Manhattan grocery store listed as victim of $16k scam
MANHATTAN (KSNT) – A large grocery store chain was listed as the victim of a $16,348 scam in Manhattan on Wednesday.
At 8:16 a.m., the Riley County Police Department was called to the 100 block of Sarber Lane when it was reported that Dillons was the victim of a scam.
According to police, the store was scammed by an unknown suspect.
Opinion: Cracking down on gift card fraud to protect consumers and businesses Gift card fraud is becoming a major issue, with organized crime rings exploiting laws to steal millions. These criminals use tactics like card tampering and hacking, and their activities fund larger illegal enterprises. Connecticut is considering legislation to combat this, with Senate Bill 1321 aiming to give law enforcement the tools they need. Retailers are also stepping up with advanced tech and employee training to protect consumers. It's a team effort to keep gift cards safe and trusted. TalkLPnews
Video shows married couple stealing boots in theft ring targeting western-style stores in North Texas
NORTH TEXAS (KTVT) — A husband-and-wife duo is out on bond following their arrests for allegedly operating a retail theft ring that targeted western-style clothing and boot stores in North Texas.
The White Settlement Police Department responded to multiple theft reports at the Boot Barn located in the 7600 block of Interstate Highway 30 service road over the past several weeks, according to a news release. Store surveillance video showed a man and woman jointly committing the thefts.
The female suspect – identified as 47-year-old Melissa Marez – would point out specific pairs of boots and the male suspect – 57-year-old Valentine Cardenas – would hide them inside his pants and walk out of the store, the news release states. In some cases, Cardenas hid up to four pairs of boots.
Deschutes County law enforcement holding organized retail theft listening sessions
The Bend and Redmond Police Departments and the Deschutes County District Attorney's Office will host a series of listening sessions last month in an effort to combat organized retail theft.
The county received a grant last fall aimed at helping stop organized retail crimes "by improving response to theft calls, increasing arrests, and enhancing prosecution of retail theft offenders," Bend Police said in a statement Thursday.
The listening sessions will let retailers tell police and prosecutors about the types of theft they have been experiencing and learn more about what is being done to combat it.
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