Anti-ICE protesters to stage sit-ins at 17 Twin Cities Target stores
Anti-ICE organizers are planning coordinated sit-in protests at seventeen Target stores in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area this weekend as part of growing demonstrations against federal ICE operations in MN. The actions are being led by local groups including ISAIAH and Unidos MN, who say they are demanding that ICE leave the state and are calling for justice following recent controversial incidents, including the killing of MN residents by ICE agents. The protests reflect broader statewide and national anti-ICE movements, including strikes and “no work, no school, no shopping” actions that have drawn wide participation and business closures. Organizers intend the sit-ins to renew pressure on Target and other institutions seen as not adequately opposing federal immigration enforcement in their communities.
Jewelry store raids in North Texas linked to $55 million scam
Law enforcement in North Texas conducted raids on multiple jewelry stores this week connected to a $55 million scam targeting senior citizens, officials announced. The investigation involved undercover work and collaboration among several police agencies after reports surfaced of suspects enticing elderly victims into selling gold and jewelry under false pretenses during staged appointments. Authorities say the sophisticated operation exploited trust to obtain expensive items, and the raids resulted in arrests and recovery of stolen merchandise linked to the scheme. Officials are urging the public, especially senior adults, to be cautious of unsolicited offers to buy precious metals and jewelry and to report suspicious contacts to law enforcement.
The Fraud Visibility Gap Created by Agentic Shopping
A new analysis highlights that “agentic shopping” behaviors – where consumers or bad actors use autonomous agents and AI tools to make purchasing decisions or place orders – are creating significant fraud visibility gaps for online retailers. Traditional fraud detection systems struggle to identify and verify automated transactions, especially when bots mimic legitimate consumer patterns at scale. This emerging trend has exposed weaknesses in how e-commerce platforms authenticate users and monitor transactional risk, prompting security teams to rethink fraud detection strategies. To close these gaps, retailers are being urged to adopt more adaptive, AI-enhanced monitoring tools that can distinguish risky autonomous behavior from genuine consumer interactions.
Organized retail crime: An expensive and growing problem
A special report on FOX16 examines how ORC has escalated into a major financial and operational challenge for retailers of all sizes. Investigators note that coordinated theft rings are increasingly sophisticated, targeting high-value items and employing tactics such as booster bags, diversion thefts, and resale networks that make recovery and prosecution difficult. The report highlights rising loss figures, the strain on law enforcement resources, and the increasing security investments retailers must make to protect stores, inventory, and employees. Experts interviewed say combating ORC requires stronger legislation, enhanced data sharing across jurisdictions, and closer collaboration between retailers and law enforcement.
What Amazon's layoffs mean for the rest of corporate America
Amazon’s recent announcement that it will cut around 16,000 corporate jobs globally has sparked broader discussions about how automation and AI are reshaping the workforce in retail and tech sectors. The company cited increased investment in generative AI and efforts to eliminate redundant roles as key drivers of the layoffs, indicating a shift toward more technology-enabled operations. Analysts suggest that the move reflects a larger trend of employers reconfiguring workforces to focus on higher-order tasks while relying on AI to handle routine or data-driven functions. The decision has raised questions about job security, the nature of future work, and the balance between human labor and automated systems in customer-facing industries.
Are you in an LP Greenhouse?
Amber Bradley
Editor-in-Chief | TalkLPnews
[email protected]
If you read this column weekly, (thank you) you know I’m a big fan of learning from nature. You also know I feel like it’s because God brings you closer to nature as you approach death, but that’s pretty morbid and not what this column is about….I digress.
I found another ridiculously fascinating fact about trees (other than the Wood Wide Web) and I’m stoked to share it on this end of January Friday (phew, what a month).
Scientists at Biosphere 2 built what they thought was the perfect environment for trees. Controlled temperature. Optimal water. Ideal sunlight. And you know what happened? The trees grew faster than they ever would in nature. They also collapsed sooner.
Turns out, without wind resistance, trees never develop what's called "stress wood" = dense, reactive tissue that forms in response to mechanical stress. The constant pushing and pulling from wind triggers the tree to reinforce itself from the inside out. No wind? No stress wood. The tree literally can't support its own weight once it reaches a certain height.
Kind of makes you think about your career, doesn't it?
How many of us are operating in our own version of Biosphere 2? Same store visits. Same meetings. Same responses to the same problems. We're growing, sure – getting older, gaining tenure, collecting experience points.
But are we getting stronger?
Here's the uncomfortable truth: if you're not regularly feeling stressed or challenged in your LP role, you're probably not building the kind of resilience you'll need when things get real. And things always get real eventually.
I'm not talking about the daily firefighting stress we all deal with. I mean the productive discomfort that comes from pushing into territory where you're not the expert yet. Learning AI tools when you're already buried in shrink reduction initiatives. Taking on ORC cases that stretch beyond your normal scope. Speaking up in executive meetings when your voice shakes (sign up for this Executive Presence webinar for help). Admitting you don't know something and asking for help. Managing conflict instead of avoiding it.
The action: Pick your stress (wood). Here's a few options:
Volunteer for a cross-functional project outside your usual wheelhouse
Have an honest conversation with your boss about taking on harder assignments
Learn that AI tool everyone's talking about, even though it feels overwhelming on top of everything else (listen to this podcast for help)
Stop avoiding that difficult team member and actually address the issue
Apply for that conference speaking slot that terrifies you (talk to me about the APEX agenda if you have an idea!)
Lead the initiative you've been quietly thinking someone else should handle
The trees in Biosphere 2 looked healthy right up until they fell over.
Don't be that tree. Seek the challenges in the wind and you’ll have all the stress wood you need for whatever comes your way.
3 arrested after authorities discover thousands worth of stolen retail merchandise
Three suspects were arrested after deputies discovered thousands worth of stolen retail merchandise in Orange County.
Riverside County deputies responded to a theft on the 1600 block of North Perris Boulevard in Perris around 12:37 p.m.
Following an investigation, Masvidal and Marin were identified as the primary suspects. Authorities said the pair was responsible for at least $20,000 worth of retail thefts across Riverside, Orange and Los Angeles counties.
Detectives narrowed down a location on the 7900 block of Artesia Boulevard in Buena Park where the stolen merchandise was being stored. On Jan. 28, Masvidal and Marin were located in the area and taken into custody.
Tennessee Illegals Arrested For Retail Theft, Attempted Murder, Aggravated Assault, Sexual Battery & More…
Two illegal aliens face felony charges in Knox County after stealing more than $18,000 worth of merchandise from Ulta Beauty stores.
According to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, a neighboring jurisdiction notified the department around 3 pm on January 22 that the three suspects had been seen in an Ulta store in Oak Ridge. The trio was spotted leaving in a red car.
A Knox County officer located the car on Lovell Drive and followed it to 1-40, where a traffic stop was conducted. Officers then detained Yilianne Casero, Yoandys Diaz, and Sariel Maqueria.
A K-9 hit on the presence of narcotics in the vehicle; as officers searched, they found more almost $5000 worth of merchandise.
RAM is the new gold – why Costco is pulling memory from display PCs to halt a shoplifting surge
If you needed another sign that the RAM crisis continues to get worse – yes, yet another sign – then here it is: memory sticks are starting to become a target for thieves.
VideoCardz picked up on what seems to be a growing trend, with the latest development being that Costco has started removing the RAM modules from its prebuilt PCs on the shelves. In one reported case, this was after an incident where a person was apprehended after removing memory from a display PC.
Another Redditor posted photographic evidence of a PC on the shelf with empty RAM slots on the motherboard, and this follows the retailer also removing GPUs from its computers.
Reduce Human Involvement With Intelligent Video Monitoring
Every second counts when a security threat emerges—yet traditional surveillance still relies heavily on on-site guards and constant human oversight. This dependence not only drives up operational costs but also puts staff in harm’s way during high-risk incidents, especially when confronting potentially violent offenders. As threats evolve, organizations are urgently seeking ways to strengthen security without requiring in-person guarded protection.
This article examines modern strategies for remote monitoring that reduce the need for continuous human involvement. It explores how overreliance on manual processes can slow efficiency, and how intelligent, cloud-powered video solutions can relieve security teams of routine tasks—freeing them to focus on higher-value responsibilities that improve overall safety and operations.
Fleeing Shoplifting Suspect Rammed Cars Before Eventually Crashing Into Snowbank
The call came in just after noon. There was a larceny in progress at the downtown Stop & Shop.
What happened next couldn't have been foreseen.
While Port Chester police officers were responding, a vehicle that matched the description of the one the suspect was in was spotted leaving the scene. Police stopped the vehicle and opened the door to have the suspect step out of the vehicle, but, according to cops, the suspect veered to avoid officers and accelerated at a high speed onto N. 4th Main Street.
Suspect arrested for firing gun at victim during Colorado Springs shoplifting incident
The Colorado Springs Police Department said a man has been arrested after firing a handgun at a victim during a shoplifting incident.
CSPD said officers responded to a business on the 2800 block of North Powers Boulevard, just north of Constitution Avenue, for a shots-fired call.
During the initial investigation, police said they learned that a man and woman were shoplifting from an unspecified business. While in the parking lot, police said the man fired a handgun at a victim inside their vehicle who had confronted the suspects.
Retail Remix Deep Dive: AI’s Next Chapter in Retail — Scale, Security & Strategy
As AI adoption accelerates in retail, so do its risks — from AI model outages to hallucinations. That makes the need for security, governance and guardrails around AI usage critical for retail operations. In this Retail Remix Deep Dive bonus episode, guest host Adam Blair of Retail TouchPoints, sits down with the CEO of AIRIA, Kevin Kiley, to explore how retailers can unlock the promise of AI without exposing themselves to unnecessary vulnerability.
Together, they unpack where AI is delivering real value across retail, from store associate enablement to back-office operations.
Boston "cash mobs" pop up to support struggling stores
This Friday’s feel-good story comes straight from Boston, where local shoppers are turning support for small businesses into a movement. After a beloved Dorchester restaurant was hit by a burglary, community leader Christy Felix organized a series of grassroots “cash mobs” — coordinated events where people gather to shop at and boost struggling local stores.
These pop-up shopping sprees have helped bring foot traffic, visibility, and $$ to independent retailers, especially those owned by Black, Latino, and Asian entrepreneurs.
The effort taps into a broader trend of customers choosing community-centered spending over big-box convenience. It’s a reminder that retail isn’t just about transactions, but about connection and resilience. If you need a little good news this Friday, this story shows how creative thinking, and a crowd with purpose, can make a real difference. See the full story HERE.
AI Without the Sticker Shock: What Affordable Implementation Really Looks Like
AI is no longer just a buzzword — but many teams still wonder if it’s truly affordable to implement at scale. This deep-dive from SAI Knows AI breaks down why modern AI solutions don’t have to strain budgets or require massive infrastructure investments. By focusing on lightweight architecture, efficient compute, and transparent pricing models, retailers can adopt intelligent systems that work with what they already have and deliver real value. The piece makes a strong case that AI can be practical, scalable, and cost-effective — especially when it’s designed to layer into your existing loss prevention and operations stack. If you’ve been holding off on AI because of cost concerns, this is a smart look at why now might be the time to rethink that hesitancy.
New NIOSH Guidance Outlines How Workplaces Should Manage AI-Related Safety Risks
AI is increasingly embedded in workplace systems, from automated equipment control and process optimization to scheduling, monitoring, and decision-support tools.
New NIOSH AI workplace safety guidance outlines how employers can identify, assess, and manage these risks using established principles of occupational and environmental health and safety.
Rather than treating artificial intelligence as a distinct hazard category, the guidance reframes AI as a software-driven factor that modifies existing occupational hazards.
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