New York's new Retail Worker Safety Act mandates panic buttons for retail employees in large companies by 2027. This law aims to enhance worker safety amidst rising workplace violence and theft. Retailers are encouraged to proactively update their safety protocols and consider implementing panic buttons now. These devices, already used in banks and casinos, can provide immediate help during emergencies, fostering a safer work environment.
Convenience stores are expanding their loss prevention strategies beyond just theft and break-ins to include food waste, expired products, supplier fraud, and more. With the rise in violent retail crime, c-stores are also focusing on mitigating these threats. By using AI and retail analytics, they can identify and address various forms of shrink, from coupon abuse to administrative errors, ultimately tightening profit margins. It's a tech-savvy approach to tackling all the sneaky ways profits can disappear.
Editor's Note: Convenience executives: Consider attending the APEX conference to hear & share valuable insights with other c-store execs. Just announced convenience store breakout facilitated by Michael Loox with Sheetz. More here.
The tragic assassination of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO has highlighted the growing threats faced by corporate executives. Companies are now focusing on 'hardening' personal information to protect their leaders, like scrubbing sensitive details from websites and social media. Even family members' social media habits are under scrutiny to prevent accidental leaks. With data brokers and the Dark Web posing additional risks, comprehensive monitoring and proactive measures are essential to keep execs safe.
New York City is cracking down on repeat shoplifters by using trespass notices to potentially upgrade charges from misdemeanors to felonies. The Manhattan DA's office has trained over 200 business reps on this tactic, which involves formally serving trespass notices to offenders. While some see it as a way to curb retail theft, critics argue it unfairly targets vulnerable populations and undermines bail reforms.
Cybercriminals are getting craftier, shifting their focus from tech vulnerabilities to human weaknesses. Phishing, which preys on emotions like fear and urgency, has become a top method for breaching systems. ProofPoint's 2024 report shows over 70% of organizations faced successful phishing attacks in 2023, with financial penalties and reputational damage soaring. Adding to the chaos, fake IT workers, like North Korean operatives, have infiltrated companies, stealing data and funds. Organizations need a multi-layered defense strategy, combining employee education and advanced tech defenses, to combat these evolving threats.
Two individuals accused of orchestrating an elaborate gift card scam have been charged in Michigan, following an investigation that led to their arrest at a hotel in Dearborn. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced yesterday that Guangji Zhang, 46, and Huachao Sun, 35, both Chinese nationals, are facing serious charges including one count each of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise and two counts each of Possession of a Fraudulent or Altered Transaction Device. The charges follow an operation targeting Metro Detroit Meijer stores, where thousands of tampered gift cards were purportedly seized.
Retail sales increased 0.2% on the month, better than the downwardly revised decline of 1.2% the prior month but below the Dow Jones estimate for a 0.6% rise.
The so-called control group, which strips out noncore sectors and feeds directly into gross domestic product calculations, rose a better-than-expected 1%.
Also, the New York Fed’s measure of factory activity in the region posted an unexpectedly sharp drop for March.
Cybersecurity officials warn against potential ransomware attacks involving email, VPNs
The FBI and the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency are warning against a dangerous ransomware scheme.
In an advisory posted last week, government officials warned that a ransomware-as-a-service software called Medusa, which has launched ransomware attacks since 2021, has recently affected hundreds of people. Medusa uses phishing campaigns as its main method for stealing victims’ credentials, according to CISA.
To protect against the ransomware, officials recommended patching operating systems, software and firmware, in addition to using multifactor authentication for all services such as email and VPNs.
Cramer on Dollar General (DG): Closing Underperforming Stores Could Lead to Turnaround
We recently compiled a list of Jim Cramer Discusses These 13 Stocks & Says Calm Down Everyone. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG) stands against the other stocks Jim Cramer recently discussed.
In his latest appearance on CNBC's Squawk on the Street, Jim Cramer commented on today's inflation release which saw inflation drop for the second time in a month for the first time since 2020. Cramer shared that markets were unmoved by the release since the tariff narrative and a potential recession was the dominant theme driving their performance.
As technology has improved, it has led to an ongoing evolution of video management systems (VMS) from traditional, forensic recording tools into dynamic, proactive platforms driven by artificial intelligence and advanced analytics.
Many have prognosticated what will become of the VMS in this new era of machine learning, deep learning, and neural networks. In a world where AI chipset makers are seen as the driving force behind security technology advancement, it is easy to assume that the VMS might be heading toward obsolescence.
However, experts, prognosticators, and even the executives at these chip-making companies have a different perspective.
GO Outdoors announces roll-out of employee body worn cameras to 25 more stores following trial in Stoke
GO Outdoors recently conducted a trial of body worn cameras at its Stoke store to seek new ways to deter theft and ensure the safety of its store colleagues. The retailer says it will now roll out the initiative to 25 more stores.
The trial comes after GO Outdoors announced a partnership with The Retail Trust, a charity that works to care for and protect the lives of people working in retail.
Claire Cowie, Stoke store manager, says: “Body cameras have been a game-changer. They’ve not only deterred theft but also increased confidence amongst staff that they are safe when they come to work.”
2 Men Charged with Oakland Co. Gift Card Scam by Attorney General
Two Chinese nationals have been charged by the Michigan Attorney General in a large-scale gift card scam.
Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that the FORCE Team arrested the two at a Dearborn hotel on March 5. They were each charged with one count of conducting a criminal enterprise, a 20-year-felony, and two counts of possession of a fraudulent or altered transaction device.
FORCE is an acronym that stands for Focused Organized Retail Crime Enforcement.
Mayor Bass visits Boyle Heights to tout crime drop in L.A.; Hollenbeck Division sees 65% decrease in homicides
Statistics released by the Los Angeles Police Department on Monday show overall crime declined citywide in 2024, including a 65% drop in homicides within the Hollenbeck Division, which encompasses Boyle Heights.
The LAPD analyzed violent crimes, including homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault, as well as property crime such as burglary and theft. The data revealed a 14% drop in homicides and a 19% decrease in shootings across Los Angeles.
Woman pleads guilty in connection to Minneapolis Lululemon theft ring
A woman has pleaded guilty on a charge in connection to a theft scheme involving a Minneapolis Lululemon store.
According to court documents, Kathy Nguyen, 25, pleaded guilty Monday to a charge of obstruct legal process – lawful execution legal process, which is a misdemeanor.
She has been sentenced to 90 days in prison, with a judge postponing the sentence for one year. Nguyen has also been ordered to pay a $50 fine.
REI ‘actively working’ to nab serial shoplifter who hit 3 Twin Cities stores, 22 nationwide
REI says it is “actively working” with law enforcement to catch a man who is suspected of targeting three stores in the Twin Cities as part of a one-person nationwide shoplifting spree that yielded more than $130,000 in merchandise from nearly two dozen of the outdoor gear retailer’s outlets.
The day of thievery in the Twin Cities occurred on Dec. 20 at REIs in Bloomington, Maple Grove and Roseville, according to a search warrant affidavit filed in Hennepin County District Court last week. The affidavit points to a specific suspect.
“In the past 18 months, a male subject is actively traveling across the country and shoplifting large amounts of merchandise [at] REI stores,” read the affidavit, which asked for a judge’s approval to search records associated with a cellphone with a Beverly Hills area code that belongs to the suspect.
New York Men Arrested for Alleged Shoplifting Spree in Franklin and Nashville Malls
Two New York men have found themselves on the wrong side of the law after being apprehended for alleged shoplifting at Cool Springs Galleria in Franklin. Devaska Gordon, 40, and Christopher Wilson, 28, are now facing multiple charges after a swift response from local police to the March 13 theft call, according to the Franklin Police Department.
What started as an ordinary Thursday spiraled into a chase scene, with Franklin police officers hot on the heels of the suspected shoplifters. After a brisk pursuit on foot, both suspects were detained.
The swift action by the officers led to the recovery of a significant haul of goods, purportedly lifted from numerous retailers within the mall. Moreover, when searching their vehicle, the police unearthed more than $3,000 worth of merchandise, reported as stolen from Opry Mills Mall in Nashville.
Lost and abandoned shopping carts contribute to urban blight, increased carbon emissions from retrieval, and unnecessary waste from frequent replacements. With growing municipal regulations and consumer expectations for greener retail practices, sustainability starts with better shopping cart management. Gatekeeper Systems’ CartControl® solution ensures carts stay on-site, preventing waste and aligning with eco-friendly operations. Small changes can lead to big impacts—rethinking how retailers manage carts is a crucial step toward a more sustainable future.
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