In a plot twist worthy of a crime drama, three suspects were nabbed for their roles in a high-end fragrance heist spree, targeting Ulta stores and racking up over $190,000 in losses. The Fairfax County Police Department, along with a superhero team of law enforcement agencies, cracked the case after months of sleuthing. The suspects, including a 21-year-old, a 28-year-old, and a 17-year-old, were caught in Anne Arundel County, thanks to some nifty detective work and a little help from technology. Now, they're facing a laundry list of charges.
The retail sector? The news isn’t as bad you might think While some major retailers like Joann, Kohl’s, and Macy’s are closing stores, the retail sector remains resilient, with many brands expanding. According to Northmarq’s first-quarter 2025 Top 100 report, off-price and discount retailers like T.J. Maxx, Five Below, Burlington, and Ross are rapidly growing, with plans to open hundreds of new locations. Additionally, giants like Walmart, Aldi, and Dollar General are aggressively expanding, particularly in underserved and rural markets, signaling strong demand in specific retail segments. [REJournals]
FTC Cracks Down on E-Commerce Scam, Secures Millions for Defrauded Consumers The FTC has cracked down on a group of folks who promised consumers they'd be rolling in dough with e-commerce ventures linked to Amazon and Walmart. Spoiler alert: those promises were as real as unicorns. Trevor Duffy Young, Wessam Baiz, and their companies have to cough up a fortune and are banned from selling any more 'business opportunities.' The FTC's not done yet, as they're still chasing other players in this drama. [MSN]
Major U.S. cities are experiencing emerging crime trends influenced by technology, economic conditions, and social changes. Notable trends include organized retail crime, the rise of untraceable ghost guns, expanding international gangs, cyber-enabled financial crimes, and a surge in youth-perpetrated violence. Addressing these issues requires coordinated efforts among law enforcement, policymakers, and community organizations to enhance public safety and crime prevention strategies.
How to fight back against the threat of ecommerce fraud Ecommerce is thriving, but so are the sneaky fraudsters lurking in the digital shadows. With online shopping making up a hefty chunk of retail sales, cybercriminals are having a field day with account takeovers and new account fraud. Retailers are feeling the pinch not just financially, but also in terms of reputation, as one fraud incident can send customers running for the hills. To fight back, retailers are turning to high-tech solutions like AI, biometrics, and multi-factor authentication to keep the bad guys at bay while keeping the shopping experience smooth. It's a digital cat-and-mouse game, and retailers are determined to stay one step ahead.
The Secret Weapon to Staying Ahead in Asset Protection: Benchmarking
Brian Friedman
Director, Asset Protection
& Risk Management - REI
APEX Executive Council Member
Let’s be real—working in asset protection and security is no walk in the park. Things are always changing, from technology to customer behavior, and if we’re not careful, we can find ourselves playing catch-up. Luckily, there’s one tool that’s helped me stay ahead of the game: benchmarking.
Benchmarking is essentially learning from others. It’s about connecting with peers in the industry to swap notes, share stories, and steal—I mean, borrow—ideas that help us all move forward. As they say, "A smart man learns from his mistakes, but a wise man learns from others." (Yes, that’s definitely how I want to do it—fewer mistakes, please!)
Why Benchmarking Works
Benchmarking isn't just about comparing yourself to others (we’re not in high school anymore). It's about finding out what’s working for others and seeing how it can work for you. Have a problem? Chances are, someone else has already figured out a solution. Think of it like skipping to the front of the line.
One time, I was stuck on whether we should invest in new surveillance tech. After talking with a fellow retailer who’d already gone through the ups and downs of that decision, I felt a lot more confident moving forward. The conversation saved us time, money, and some unnecessary headaches.
How It Sparks New Ideas
Benchmarking isn’t just about solving problems; it’s a great way to get new ideas, too. Sometimes, you don't know what you're missing until you talk to someone who’s trying something new.
A colleague once told me about how they partnered with local community groups to help reduce theft. That idea had never crossed my mind, but after hearing their success story, we adapted the strategy, and it’s been a game-changer for us. To quote the great Jim Rohn, "If you’re not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you’re determined to learn, no one can stop you."
Ready to Give It a Try?
If you’re new to benchmarking, don’t sweat it. Here’s how you can get started without making it a big deal:
Make Some Friends: Find people in your industry who are willing to chat. LinkedIn is great for this, as well as conferences (and hey, everyone likes free food at those networking events, right?).
Keep It Real: When you connect, don’t just talk about your wins. Share your struggles—chances are, they’ve been there too and might have some solid advice.
Take Action: The best part of benchmarking is applying what you’ve learned. It doesn’t have to be a huge overhaul; small changes can make a big impact.
In a Nutshell
Benchmarking has been one of the best ways to keep our asset protection game strong. We’ve learned from others, avoided a lot of trial and error, and found ways to get creative with our strategies. So, if you’re looking to step up your security efforts, start a conversation—you might be surprised at what you learn.
And remember, as Isaac Newton once said, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” (Or in this case, other retailers.)
Motorcyclist describes moment drive-by shooting strikes people in-line at popular restaurant
BALTIMORE — A busy city street hit with a quadruple shooting in the middle of the afternoon. It happened in North Baltimore at the intersection of Greenmount and Venable Avenues.
“We were just standing there. All of a sudden, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop! I dove on the ground,” witness Fitzgerald White said.
On Saturday, this group of friends rode their Harleys from Washington, D.C., to North Baltimore to grab a seafood eggroll from this popular walk-up spot, I Love Seafood, off Venable Ave. While among many standing in line, he says a drive-by shooting struck.
How Seattle's record-high minimum wage has — and hasn't — paid off
Cadie Hood’s first job paid under $3 an hour.
She was 18, and working as a server at an Applebee’s in Wyoming — one of about 20 states still following the federal minimum wage, which has stagnated at $7.25 an hour for more than a decade. Employers can count up to $5.12 an hour in tips toward an employee’s wage.
“I was a senior in high school living on my own and paying my own rent and everything,” Hood said. “I survived solely off of my tips, which weren’t great.”
Hood moved to Washington state after graduating and started working at an Applebee's in Renton. Her wages immediately shot up to Washington state’s minimum wage at the time: $16.28 an hour — not counting tips.
Is Self-Checkout Leading to Increased Retail Theft, and Why Do Some Americans Feel Justified in Stealing?
The prevalence of self-checkout seems apparent to anyone who’s set foot in a grocery store, drug store, or big-box retailer over the past few years. And alongside that rise in prevalence — a recent Capital One Shopping report suggested that almost 40% of all grocery store registers nationwide are self-checkout kiosks — comes an apparent opportunity for retail theft.
Apparently, more than a few Americans are taking that opportunity to steal.
That same Capital One Shopping report indicated that over 20 million Americans have stolen products via self-checkout (15% of those surveyed)...
The Vice President of Global Fraud Prevention will lead this multi-function organization, building on an ethos of not just being a team that fights fraud and chargebacks, but one that excels at getting ahead of them before they ever happen. The successful candidate’s most crucial function will be the delivering of financial results – most specifically dollars saved at the top of the funnel, and loss-dollars reduced at the bottom - and developing and driving strategies to continue to continually improve on those metrics. They will lead their P&L, and build processes, reporting, insights, strategies, and alliances – both internally and externally – that continually have us ahead of bad actors and their MO’s.
Southern California woman charged after police seize over $350,000 worth of stolen merchandise
A Southern California woman was arrested and charged after police seized over $350,000 worth of stolen merchandise in a massive retail theft bust.
Police were investigating a retail theft case when a search warrant was served at a store on 6th and Alvarado Streets, across from MacArthur Park in L.A.’s Westlake neighborhood, on March 5.
The shop allegedly belonged to Blanca Escobar, 65, of Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Retail Federation is expressing appreciation for the state’s new law tackling gift card fraud.
Kentucky Senate Bill 130, bipartisan legislation aimed at addressing the growing threat of gift card fraud in the Bluegrass State, was signed into law March 19 by Gov. Andy Beshear.
The new law — sponsored by Sens. Scott Madon, David Givens, Donald Douglas, Greg Elkins, and Lindsey Tichenor and passed unanimously by both the House and Senate — targets what were once isolated incidents but have now evolved into a sophisticated operation orchestrated by transnational criminal organizations.
AT&T rep charged in theft of $40K worth of iPhones
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — An AT&T employee is under arrest after police say she allowed thieves to steal $40,000 worth of iPhones from a store.
Investigators told Channel 2′s Michael Seiden they have identified at least six victims, but there could be more. They are asking all customers to check their bills.
Police say as soon as officers arrived at the store, the accused employee confessed to the crimes.
2 in custody, Sweetwater officer injured after shoplifting incident at Dolphin Mall
SWEETWATER, FLA. (WSVN) - Two people were taken into custody after a shoplifting incident at Dolphin Mall ended in a foot pursuit that sent a Sweetwater Police officer to the hospital.
Sweetwater Police units responded to the shopping center after, they said, a man and a woman shoplifted at a store, Thursday afternoon.
The woman was quickly caught, while the man fled on foot, investigators said.
During the foot pursuit, officials said, the officer had to jump a fence, and that’s when he fractured his ankle.
Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Arrests 25 in Organized Retail Crime Sting at Clackamas Promenade
Clackamas County Sheriff's Office hit a significant stride by arresting 25 individuals suspected of various crimes, including theft from several retailers.
On Thursday, the sting operation at the Clackamas Promenade on SE Sunnyside Road sent a clear message that organized retail crime will not be tolerated in the area.
The Sheriff's Office announced that the 10-hour mission resulted in the recovery of $4,700 in stolen goods along with a firearm taken off the streets.
The hotbed of illicit activities targeted includes known establishments like Target, Old Navy, Kohl’s, and Nordstrom’s Rack.
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