Organized retail crime crackdown intensifies across the Carolinas North Carolina businesses lost over $1.8 billion in 2022 due to theft, with shoplifters often working in groups and getting physical. Security guard Keyon Huntley shares his wild experiences, including being attacked by a customer and chasing down armed thieves. State leaders and big retailers like Home Depot and Walmart are pushing for tougher laws and better security measures to combat these organized retail crimes. [WCNC]
5 insights from Lowe’s EVP of Supply Chain Margi Vagell, Lowe's EVP of supply chain, dropped some serious knowledge at the Retail Industry Leaders Association’s LINK 2025. She emphasized the importance of understanding both customers and the employees who serve them, optimizing networks to cut down transit times, balancing customer segments, and setting high standards for automation. Oh, and don't forget to make friends in every department—relationships are the real MVPs in getting things done. [SupplyChainDive]
Reducing Workplace Hazards: The Industrial Application Of AI Industrial workplaces are dangerous, but AI is stepping in to help. With real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, and proactive safety solutions, AI can detect hazards, predict risks, and even monitor worker health. However, adopting AI comes with challenges like high costs, data privacy concerns, and worker resistance. Despite these hurdles, AI's role in workplace safety is set to grow, making industrial environments safer and more efficient. [Forbes]
New Workplace Safety Report Finds Employees Want Better Communication and Psychological Safety AlertMedia's latest report reveals that while workplace safety is a top priority for employees, many still feel unsafe. The survey, which included over 2,000 U.S. and 1,000 U.K. employees, found that 56% of workers don't feel completely safe at work, and 35% feel unprepared for emergencies. The report highlights the need for better safety policies, mental health support, and communication, noting that employees who feel safe are three times more likely to be prepared for emergencies. [Business Wire]
Walmart is quietly rolling out a new tech upgrade that’s a win for paying customers —but a nightmare for shoplifters. If you have recently noticed that your self-checkout experience has vastly improved, you are not imaging things (nor have you suddenly developed Wild West reflexes while scanning codes). Walmart has secretly improved their self-checkout stations so that honest customers don’t struggle.
Retail theft crackdown in 2024 recovers $13.5 million in stolen goods
Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that in 2024, the state’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force conducted a record-breaking 879 investigations which led to 1,707 arrests and the recovery of 676,227 stolen goods valued at $13.5 million.
Spearheaded by the California Highway Patrol, the Organized Retail Crime Task Force in January and February 2025 focused on 136 retail theft investigations leading to 209 arrests while recovering 24,510 stolen items worth an estimated nearly $2.2 million.
Dollar General CEO warns consumers are cash-strapped, and says 2025 won’t be better
Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos said on Thursday that inflation continues to hurt the discounter’s customers and that the macroeconomic environment won’t improve this year.
On the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call, Vasos said customers are expecting value and convenience “more than ever” from the dollar-store chain.
“Our customers continue to report that their financial situation has worsened over the last year, as they have been negatively impacted by ongoing inflation. Many of our customers report they only have enough money for basic essentials, with some noting that they have had to sacrifice even on the necessities,” Vasos said.
TikTok’s Secret to Success: Unmatched Data Collection and Algorithmic Precision
Tom Meehan, CEO CONTROLTEK comments@talklpnews.com
The dominance of TikTok in social media arises from its unparalleled data collection and the advanced recommendation algorithm that it powers with this data. Whereas other platforms display user-selected content, TikTok serves its users an AI-curated feed known as the For You Page (FYP), which has become thoroughly personalized. To achieve this, TikTok collects vast amounts of user data, including biometric information (faceprints, voiceprints), keystroke dynamics, clipboard activity, location tracking, and real-time behavioral interactions. The estimates vary on Just how much data is collected. One popular figure suggests that TikTok collects upwards of 80 different types of data from its users. Another breaks it down like this: TikTok collects over 10 terabytes (a terabyte is 1,000 gigabytes) of data daily from its 1 billion-plus user base. But this data is not collected just for the heck of it; TikTok has way too much fun with its data.
TikTok's data collection merits concern for a couple of reasons. First, it is collected in such large amounts. Second, it is tied to a platform that operates in such a different way from those offered by U.S.-based companies. Even if that were not the case, though, TikTok's data practices would still be a cause for concern, given what we know about the Chinese government's ability to reach into companies like ByteDance. Consider the following: TikTok claims that U.S. user data is stored on Oracle servers. Okay, that's a start. But Alibaba, another Chinese company, uses the same kind of cybersecurity infrastructure in China that Oracle does in the U.S. And ByteDance is using that for its American operations.
Gemspring Capital Management, LLC, a middle-market private equity firm, is pleased to announce that an affiliate has acquired Appriss Retail, a leading provider of AI-driven analytics and loss prevention software for retailers. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The Organized Retail Crime (ORC) Investigator works closely with various internal and external business partners, including law enforcement, other industry retailers, corporate investigations, Field Loss Prevention Managers, Supply Chain Loss Prevention and Store Operations partners to leverage all available investigative tools and resources to eliminate and reduce company exposure as it directly related to external theft, Organized Retail Crime, and all aspects of fraud.
Amazon Boycott: What to Know About 'Calculated Strike'
Amazon is facing a week-long boycott as part of an “economic blackout” led by The People’s Union USA, an advocacy group urging consumers to stop shopping at Amazon and its subsidiaries, including Whole Foods and Twitch.
The boycott, which began on March 7 and runs through March 14, is intended as a “calculated strike” aimed at challenging the retail giant’s impact on small businesses and treatment of workers, according to activist and founder of The People’s Union, John Schwarz.
Businesses adapt to Miami Beach rules against spring break violence
We’re in the thick of spring break travel, and Miami Beach has long been a hot spot for student revelers. In recent years though, the annual party scene in March has escalated into stampedes and even fatal shootings. After pressure from residents and bad publicity, officials have announced they’re over the chaos.
The city has implemented a number of rules to keep tourists and residents safe.
How a surge in boycotts could upend the retail industry this year
This year, more customers are taking action with their wallets as major retailers like Target and Amazon are facing multiple, simultaneous boycotts — actions that could shake up the retail outlook for the year.
Boycotts as a response to retailers’ pullback of some diversity, equity and inclusion policies have made headlines in 2025. On Feb. 28, a group calling itself The People’s Union USA organized “Economic Blackout Day,”...
Venezuelan immigrant sentenced to 17 years in prison for role in retail theft ring
A 20-year-old immigrant was found guilty for playing a key role in a large-scale Venezuelan theft ring based in Castle Rock, according to the 23rd Judicial District.
Jaison Contreras-Rangel, 20, was sentenced Friday to 17 years in prison for his role in 12 separate theft incidents. His contributions resulted in more than $238,000 of goods stolen from retailers such as Sunglass Hut, big box jewelry stores and others, according to the 23rd Judicial District and the arrest affidavit filed with Castle Rock police.
Contreras-Rangel is the third convicted among seven accused to take part in its ORC (Organized Retail Crime) group. Among the group, Contreras-Rangel committed the second most amount of heists, the affidavit shows.
The group has been linked to other jewelry store robberies in Boulder, Denver and Aurora.
The seven alleged members of the ORC, including Contreras-Rangel, are Venezuelan immigrants who illegally entered the country. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement assisted with identifying the suspects, authorities said in the affidavit.
More than a dozen arrested in Hillsboro retail theft sting
HILLSBORO, Ore. — It's no secret that retail theft has been an issue throughout the Portland metro. Over the weekend, the Hillsboro Police Department (HPD) made 13 arrests in a massive retail theft operation in the Tanasbourne area.
"We are very, very thankful for the partnerships that we have, not only with the local community but also the Washington County District Attorney's Office because they do prosecute retail theft here in Washington County,” said HPD's Jim Ruiz.
Over 120 items were found in this sting operation. Ruiz said this was one of their top 10 most successful operations to date — and they, in part, have the Organized Retail Theft Grant Program, approved by Oregon legislators, to thank for providing them extra funding.
“It's useful to bring officers that would typically be off during those times to come in and focus solely on the retail theft without having to put a burden on our patrol staff," said Ruiz. “That is already very busy with the ongoing calls throughout the community.”
KnowBe4 today released its "Global Retail Report 2025," revealing a notable shift in cybercriminal tactics targeting the retail sector. The report finds that credential harvesting, which is often orchestrated through phishing attacks, has become the predominant threat, accounting for 38% of all compromised data in 2023, while payment card data theft dropped to 25%.
The research shows an alarming increase in cyberattacks in the retail sector, with attack frequency rising by 56% in 2023 compared to the previous year. This puts retail in the top five industries targeted by cybercriminals. The average cost of a retail data breach reached $3.48 million in 2024, an 18% increase from 2023.
Key findings from the report include:
Credential theft now accounts for 38% of all compromised data, while payment card theft dropped to 25%, making credential harvesting the leading threat in retail cyberattacks.
North America's retail sector experienced the highest percentage of attacks (56%), while Latin America saw the second most at 32%, and Europe experienced 11% of attacks.
The U.S. retail sector accounted for 45% of global ransomware attacks despite representing only 28% of market share, making retail the second most targeted sector.
Conducting security awareness training and simulated phishing evaluations for one year or more can reduce the likelihood of employees falling for phishing attacks for organizations of all sizes.
Editor's Note: This is a similar article to what we covered in the Top 5 yesterday, but it breaks out the key findings of KnowBe4's report in a more comprehensive way.
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