Man accused of kidnapping, fatally threatening woman to steal from Walmart
A man from Lewiston, Maine, was arrested after allegedly forcing a woman into his vehicle and driving her to a Walmart in Auburn against her will. Once inside, he reportedly threatened to kill her if she did not steal certain items. Store employees and responding officers quickly intervened, locating the suspect in the parking lot and taking him into custody without incident. He faces multiple charges, including kidnapping, assault, and criminal threatening.
If the SNAP Benefits Cutoff Results in Violence, It Wouldn’t Be the First Time…
The article explores how an interruption in SNAP benefits due to a government shutdown could lead to unrest among vulnerable communities. It draws parallels to previous instances where cuts to social programs have sparked violence and theft. The author suggests that desperation and food insecurity can drive people to extreme actions when safety nets are removed. The piece calls on policymakers to recognize that economic disruptions often carry public safety consequences.
Knife-wielding suspect fatally shot inside a Ralphs grocery store in Santa Barbara
A man armed with knives was fatally shot by deputies after attacking a person and their dog inside a Ralphs grocery store in Santa Barbara. The suspect barricaded himself inside a restroom and charged at officers before being shot. The stabbing victim was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and released from the hospital. The shooting remains under investigation, with officials reviewing the officers’ response and use of force.
Food Lion employee attacked after attempting to confront suspected shoplifters
An 18-year-old Food Lion employee in Charlotte was attacked after confronting two people suspected of shoplifting. One of the suspects forced the employee into a back room and assaulted them before fleeing the store. The confrontation was caught on surveillance video, and police are seeking the suspects involved. The incident highlights growing safety risks retail employees face when trying to prevent theft.
Self-checkout at grocery stores characterized as creating unsafe workplace, rise in theft
Lawmakers in Massachusetts have proposed new regulations limiting self-checkout lanes in grocery stores to improve safety and reduce theft. The bill would require one staffed lane for every two self-checkout stations and mandate that employees monitor the self-checkout area. Supporters argue that automation has reduced staffing levels, increased shoplifting, and led to more aggressive interactions with customers. The proposal reignites the debate over convenience versus worker safety and job protection in retail environments.
TalkLPNews Host Amber Bradley talks with Jeff Cox, Vice President of Loss Prevention at Public Storage, about keeping 3,400 locations safe across 43 states. From data science to 24/7 GSOC monitoring, Jeff ’ s team is on it. Plus, he shares career advice for future LP leaders: diversify your skills, tell your story, and invest in your team. Because in LP, every move counts, everywhere, every day.
Progress is made but work continues to combat organized retail crime
With a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing under our belt and a majority of House Judiciary Committee members backing the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (H.R. 2853/S. 1404), NRF, its members and other stakeholders are building momentum toward a national strategy to disrupt and dismantle organized retail crime networks.
The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act now has more than 200 bipartisan co-sponsors across both chambers of Congress, reflecting strong across-the-aisle commitment to a coordinated federal response to support state and local law enforcement to address ORC.
Shoplifting incident escalates to brawl
A man and woman were arrested after a wild scene at a Centennial liquor store that included a car window being broken, pepper spaying being deployed and someone getting bitten.
It all started around 3 p.m. on Oct. 29 when Arapahoe County deputies responded to a shoplifting call at Dry Creek Liquors in the 7500 block of South University Boulevard. According to a Facebook post from the sheriff's office the incident turned into a physical fight when two workers confronted the theft suspects in the parking lot.
5 more arrests in brazen Louvre crown jewels heist but gems still missing
Five more people have been arrested in the investigation into the theft of crown jewels from the Louvre Museum, but the treasures remain missing, the Paris prosecutor announced Thursday.
The five were detained late Wednesday night in Paris and the Paris region, Prosecutor Laure Beccuau told RTL radio.
One is suspected of being part of the four-person team that robbed the Louvre's Apollo Gallery in broad daylight Oct. 19, the prosecutor said.
She said the DNA-linked suspect was "one of the objectives of the investigators — we had him in our sights."
SB-753: What California Retailers Need to Know
On October 13, 2025, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 753 (introduced by Senator Dave Cortese) into law — giving cities and counties new authority to retrieve, fine, and bill retailers for shopping carts found off their property.
While the goal is to reduce cart abandonment and maintain cleaner communities, the impact on retailers is significant.
What the Law Says
Under California Business & Professions Code Sections 22435.7 and 22435.7.5, local governments can now:
Retrieve and return shopping carts found off-premises and charge up to $100 per cart for the service.
Fine retailers $30 per occurrence for failing to retrieve carts within three business days of notice.
Impound or dispose of carts not reclaimed within 30 days.
Act immediately if carts block emergency access or create safety hazards.
Cities are also empowered to document each incident, keeping proof of notice and delivery — increasing precision and accountability in enforcement.
Whitepaper: Why Lab-Perfect Face Matching Fails in Real Stores
Discover why face matching solutions can fail in real stores and learn what you should look for in a face matching solution designed to protect your store.
Customer fraud is becoming more mainstream, new survey finds
New data shows that ecommerce fraud is costing online retailers $11 million (£9.07 million) a year – and a significant percentage of this is coming from the customers themselves. Alarmingly, as customer fraud becomes more mainstream, retailers are finding it harder and harder to keep up.
New research from ecommerce fraud prevention platform Ravelin – which surveyed 1,466 fraud and payments professionals from around the world for its Global Fraud Trends in Online Retail report – found that three in four retailers say fraud has risen over the past year.
Cybercriminals renew focus on retail targets
Cyber criminals are now scanning business devices more than 4,000 times a day, following on from a summer which saw some of the worst-ever cyber attacks to hit businesses.
The retail sector has been one of the top ransomware targets this year, with Marks & Spencer, the Co-op and Harrods being impacted by hacking gangs.
According to BT, new data suggests that these criminals are now targeting networked devices, which include IoT systems like security cameras, over 4,000 times each day as they look for weaknesses in retail firms.
Beware of Tricks: Halloween Scams Are Stealing Credentials, Money
Halloween tricks aren't reserved for trick-or-treaters — cybercriminals are preying on the Halloween spirit to enact malicious spam.
While Halloween spam can be benign (37%), a majority were designed to steal money and/or credentials (63%).
According to Bitdefender Labs, threat actors are leveraging "multiple fraud tactics into one seasonal wave" in order to focus on nearly every user on the internet. The research found that this year, threat actors are employing fraudulent retail sales, fake brand giveaways, cryptocurrency cons, and even dating scams, with an increase in Halloween-themed phishing and scam campaigns.
The Security Operations Center (SOC) Manager at Public Storage oversees all aspects of the company’s 24/7 security monitoring and response program. This role leads a dedicated team responsible for detecting, assessing, and responding to security and safety incidents in real time, while ensuring operational readiness and adherence to company procedures. The SOC Manager leverages analytics and incident data to identify emerging risks, strengthen preventative measures, and coordinate crisis management and emergency communications. This position also plays a key role in fostering partnerships with law enforcement, guiding investigations, and supporting strategic initiatives that enhance companywide safety and resilience.
Some police departments report shoplifting decrease
As the holiday shopping season approaches, several police departments across Middle Tennessee are reporting that shoplifting cases are down. But police say organized retail theft is still happening.
Two people were arrested in Lebanon on Tuesday after an alleged “nationwide retail theft operation.”
“Time is of the essence when it comes to these organized retail theft rings; they move quick and get out quick,” Lebanon Police Department Public Information Officer Zach Patton said.
The 2025 Federal Budget Impasse, OSHA’s Reduced Operations, and Why Worker Safety Will Not Collapse
The 2025 federal budget impasse and the resulting partial government shutdown have curtailed routine operations across many agencies, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
OSHA’s diminished functionality, even if it persists until after Thanksgiving 2025, as some predict, is unlikely to produce a dramatic, near-term deterioration in worker safety.
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