Washington state is considering a bill that would add extra prison time for those convicted of organized retail theft, especially if the stolen goods are worth a lot. If the loot is worth $20,000 or more, an extra 12 months could be tacked on, and for $50,000 or more, it could be 24 months. Supporters say it will help businesses and the economy, while opponents argue that longer sentences don't actually deter crime. The bill is still under discussion, so stay tuned!
A sneaker shop in Milford, MA, got duped into selling counterfeit kicks, leading to a police investigation and the seizure of over 1,200 fake sneakers worth $200,000. The store owner, who unknowingly bought the fakes from a Chinese distributor, is now offering refunds and has switched to authentic merchandise. Sneaker expert Ferguson Herivaux advises checking the sole, stitching, and tags to spot fakes, and warns that if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.[CBS News]
In a wild turn of events at a West Side dollar store in San Antonio, a 17-year-old woman was shot four times in the stomach, and a male was stabbed in the head. The chaos erupted around 6:20 p.m. following an argument among teenagers. The woman is in critical condition, while the male's status remains unknown. Police suspect a 15-year-old boy is behind the mayhem.
Fort Worth police are on the hunt for a group of men who pulled off a daring smash-and-grab at a jewelry store inside El Rancho Supermercado. The heist, which took less than two minutes, was caught on camera as the suspects used a metal tool to break the glass display and make off with cases of jewelry. Shoppers, including Lourdes Torres, were left in shock and fear, thinking it was a fight at first. The chaos even had cashiers running and warning everyone to back off. [NBCDFW]
Cybercriminals are getting sneakier, using social engineering to exploit our quick, instinctive decisions (thanks, System 1 thinking). They love catching us off guard with fake Amazon delivery texts or irresistible shopping deals. With AI making their scams even more convincing, it's crucial to stay sharp and use strong security measures like multi-factor authentication. Retail app developers also need to step up, offering secure, user-friendly options like passkeys and magic links to keep our info safe. Stay smart, stay safe!
"Retail crimes are becoming increasingly brazen, sophisticated, and organized nationwide.
Listen to the FBI National Academy Associates, Inc. (FBINAA) Training Podcast with CLEAR President Ben Dugan where they explore its impact on communities, businesses, and consumers, as well as its connections to fraud, financial crimes, human trafficking, narcotics, terrorism, and other serious issues affecting both the U.S. and global communities."
APEX Welcomes Melinda Black, Vice President of LP at Ulta Beauty to its Executive Council
The Asset Protection Executive Xchange (APEX), powered by TalkLPnews, welcomes Melinda Black, Vice President of Loss Prevention at Ulta Beauty to its Executive Council. The APEX Executive Council strategizes and plans the content for the APEX conference occuring this year Sept. 21 - 24. APEX is an executive-only, invite only conference focused on relationship building and problem solving with executive peers. No exhibit hall, no forced meetings - just real-world solutions. For more information on attending APEX, visit here.
“It’s crazy to read Brand’s Expert Corner and suddenly realize I have been in this industry for most of the technological solutions he mentioned. There was a time when RFID for retail LP was very exciting, but the costs prevented it from really materializing to its full potential. I certainly hope AI is different. Great write-up, Brand!” - Anonymous
“Fascinating take on the progression of our industry. Very interested to see how artificial intelligence (AI) will be fully utilized in retail within the next 1 to 3 years. Seems like that is how fast that technology is advancing.” - Anonymous
"It has never been more exciting to be in our profession! So much of what Brand said illustrates how fast things continue to change. All this technology can definitely help us achieve our objectives, but the difficult part is figuring out when to allocate capital to which technology. But hey – 20 years ago we never would have thought we would have such a buffet of solutions to choose from! Great article!” -Anonymous
Do you have a different take?
Tell us by sending a named or anonymous note to comments@talklpnews.com. We'll publish your comments throughout the week.
What retailers need to know about upcoming employment law changes
The Employment Rights Bill (the ‘Bill’) and the regulations which will follow it, will bring about significant transformation in employment law once they are fully in force over the next couple of years. Plus, there are other changes that come into force this year.
What impact will these have on retailers?
Unfair dismissal
The Bill will remove the two-year qualifying period and employees will be able to claim unfair dismissal from the first day of their employment. This means that the flexibility retailers are currently used to, which enables you to (more) easily dismiss an employee with less than two years service will disappear. To give employers time to consider whether their new recruit is all they were cracked up to be, the government will allow employers to go through a simplified procedure if they want to dismiss them during their probationary period.
Kroger laying off corporate employees, Albertsons downsizes Safeway workforce
Kroger is cutting about 200 employees across three office sites at its Cincinnati headquarters, according to a Cincinnati Business Courier report.
A Kroger spokesperson provided Drug Store News with the following statement, “As we continue delivering fresh, affordable food to our customers, we are focusing on key priority areas that support our go-to-market strategy. As part of this prioritization work, we announced team restructures and a small number of eliminated roles to improve efficiency."
The layoffs reportedly occurred the week of Feb. 3, and included staff working at its downtown Cincinnati headquarters, together with the 84.51 data compilation and analysis unit, and technology and digital team, per the report.
According to the report, the layoffs were unrelated to Kroger's failed merger with Albertsons last year.
Three women charged in $20k organized retail theft at Plano store
PLANO, Texas — Three women were arrested for organized retail theft after being caught stealing from a Burlington store in Plano, according to the Plano Police Department. The suspects were identified by a store manager and apprehended with approximately $20,000 in stolen merchandise.
On January 31, 2025, at around 12:30 p.m., Detective J. Dollar, who specializes in Organized Retail Theft, was contacted by Burlington Regional Organized Retail Crime Manager M. Ghazel. Ghazel reported that an Organized Retail Crime group was active in his Plano store. Plano theft detectives and patrol officers were dispatched to the location, receiving live updates from Ghazel.
The suspects, identified as three Hispanic females, were recognized by Ghazel from previous thefts at Burlington and other stores.
The Tennessee Titans are seeking a Director of Team Security. This position is responsible for overseeing all aspects of building and stadium security and safety within the organization. The Director of Team Security will be responsible for developing and implementing security policies and procedures, oversee security operations for football and business operations and lead a team of security staff. This role will report up to the Vice President of Football Operations.
New outreach campaign looks to deter retail theft in Washington County
The Washington County District Attorney's Office is partnering with the sheriff's office and law enforcement agencies county-wide on a new public service announcement aimed at protecting businesses from retail theft.
Washington County DA Kevin Barton said it is thanks to a $1,545,487 grant from the state of Oregon.
Their message is that theft is prosecuted in Washington County.
Are stores winning the war on shoplifting? Several factors are changing the narrative
NEW YORK — A year ago, America’s stores declared a shoplifting epidemic. They closed stores in major cities, hired extra security, locked up key merchandise and declared big losses in their financial statements.
This year, retailers are telling a very different story — or no story at all. It’s as if the shoplifting crisis suddenly vanished.
Pa. prosecutor perplexed by prime question in 100K egg-heist case
The brazen heist of 8,333 dozen eggs from the back of a distribution trailer owned by egg producer Pete & Gerry's Organics in Greencastle, Pa., has made national headlines. This is due mainly to the soaring value of eggs across the country. The thief’s haul of 100,000 eggs on the night of Feb. 1 was estimated at $41,666.
Law enforcement in Franklin County is intent on cracking the case of 100,000 purloined eggs earlier this month.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A retail theft mission conducted near Mall 205 resulted in 29 arrests on Thursday, authorities announced.
Spike sets with swastikas found on Clark County roads. The mission was conducted by multiple agencies, including Portland police and the Multnomah Counter Sheriff’s Office.
Three stolen vehicles and more than $650 in stolen merchandise were recovered. “Retail theft is often more than just shoplifting items for personal use. Many suspects are involved in organized theft rings, which steal items that can easily be sold for cash on the secondary market or returned to stores for a ‘refund.’ Returning or attempting to return stolen property, no matter the value, is a class-C felony,” Portland police said.
Police charge men with 11 robberies after string of retail break-ins in Oakland County
Troy police have charged Justin Shipp, 37, a Pontiac native, and Jackson Upton, 45, of Pontiac, with continuing criminal enterprise, multiple counts of breaking and entering with intent, and multiple counts of retail fraud for a string of 11 robberies of retail businesses.
In late 2024 and the beginning of January 2025, police investigated overnight burglaries committed by the men.
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13-year-old arrested in string of home invasions in Pontiac, Detroit Officials said the men simply threw large rocks through the storefront glass and stole register drawers and cash.
Police said their vehicle in each incident was a black Chevrolet Malibu.
Officials said that on Feb. 6, 2025, officers responded to a suspicious person/vehicle call from a concerned patron at the Highland Township ACE Hardware.
Expand the Purchek® solution’s impact far beyond the recovery of merchandise involved in pushout theft attempts. While the Purchek® technology effectively stops theft in real-time by locking carts and triggering video events, Gatekeeper Systems’ Theft Intelligence Services take this further, turning isolated events into powerful, actionable insights that inform long-term loss prevention strategies. This evolution allows retailers to shift from reactive theft management to a proactive, data-driven approach.
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