Woman sentenced for $200K shoplifting spree in King County
A woman in King County, Washington, has been sentenced after orchestrating a shoplifting spree that netted more than $200,000 in stolen merchandise from major retailers. Investigators say the thefts were part of a large-scale organized retail crime operation. Stolen goods were resold online and through local marketplaces. Prosecutors described the case as one of the region’s largest retail theft investigations in recent years.
Final man sentenced in million-dollar stolen mail credit card fraud scheme
Federal prosecutors announced the final sentencing in a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme involving stolen mail and credit card information. The Texas-based ring stole personal financial data to make counterfeit credit cards and fraudulent purchases. The final defendant received several years in prison, joining others previously convicted in the case. Officials say the scheme caused significant losses to businesses and consumers nationwide.
Video released of officer shooting at gas station hostage standoff
New Orleans police released body camera footage of a standoff that ended with officers fatally shooting a suspect who allegedly fired on them first. The incident began after a domestic disturbance call led to a prolonged armed confrontation. The video shows officers repeatedly ordering the man to surrender before he opened fire. The case remains under investigation as officials review the use of force.
Arrests made in Retail Theft Ring Tied to 28 Crimes Across Southern California
Authorities in Southern California arrested four women accused of stealing thousands of dollars in merchandise as part of a coordinated retail theft ring. The suspects are linked to at least 28 separate incidents targeting stores in multiple counties. Detectives recovered stolen items and identified getaway vehicles used in the crimes. Investigators say the arrests mark a significant step in dismantling an organized shoplifting network.
Starbucks workers kick off 65-store US strike on company’s busy Red Cup Day
Starbucks employees at 65 unionized locations nationwide staged a walkout on the company’s annual Red Cup Day, one of its busiest promotional events. Workers demanded better staffing, scheduling, and working conditions, accusing the company of anti-union tactics. The strike was organized by Starbucks Workers United and drew national attention. Starbucks denied the allegations and said it remains committed to bargaining in good faith.
Your Selfie Knows If You're a Thief (Or Does It?)
Amber Bradley
Editor-in-Chief | TalkLPnews
[email protected]
Scientists just figured out how to predict personality traits and career success from a selfie. MBA graduates' headshots were fed into an AI system that analyzed their faces and predicted their Big Five personality traits, then researchers tracked how their careers actually played out. Turns out, the AI wasn't half bad at predicting who would succeed.
One of my favs, Malcolm Gladwell, wrote about this exact thing in "Talking to Strangers."
He references a study where an AI algorithm was fed data from roughly half a million bail cases (just age and criminal record, nothing fancy) and then compared against actual judges who got to meet the defendants face to face, look them in the eye, read their body language, all of it.
The judges were trying to determine who was "high risk" and would either reoffend or skip bail.
Guess what? The algorithm won. It wasn't even close. The people judges granted bail to were 25% more likely to commit another crime than the ones the computer would have picked. Turns out, all that looking people in the eye and trusting your gut? It actually made the judges worse at their jobs, not better.
So…here's the uncomfortable question for LP pros: If AI can predict success from a photo, or if people will be repeat offenders….how long before it claims to predict theft?
Actually, we're already partway there. Behavioral AI systems are being deployed in retail right now, analyzing everything from how people walk to their hand movements and facial expressions to flag "suspicious behavior." One system claimed it reduced shoplifting losses by 77% during testing, though I'd love to see the methodology behind that number before we pop the champagne.
But here's where it gets really interesting. These current systems analyze behavior in real time. What happens when someone figures out how to skip that step entirely? When AI claims it can look at someone's face... not their actions, just their face... and determine theft risk before they even walk through the door?
We're about to enter an era where your face becomes evidence. Not evidence of what you did, but evidence of what an algorithm thinks you might do. (and they said it wouldn’t be like Minority Report…..yeah, ok.)
The technology is advancing faster than our ability to have honest conversations about it. Faster than regulations can keep up. Faster than most LP professionals are even aware of what's coming down the pipeline. I’d love to say THAT part isn’t coming….but to be honest, it’s already blowing my mind on what it can do.
Questions to consider if we are headed down this path: Are we ready for the lawsuits? The discrimination claims? The privacy concerns? Will AI systems truly be unbiased? Are we prepared to defend using technology that makes judgments about people before they've done anything wrong?
I'm just saying, a version of these implications are coming whether we like it or not. Maybe it's worth thinking about what your vendors are actually selling you and how it works. Maybe it's worth asking some questions about accuracy and bias and who ends up holding the bag when things go sideways. AI vendors are certainly coming out of the woodwork – pick one you can trust.
Your face is already telling a story. But is it one you want AI to know?
Did you enjoy this My Take or do you have your own take? Share it with me by emailing me here.
The Holiday Shopping Is a Stress Test for Password Security
Every November, the same story repeats itself: record-breaking online sales, massive transaction volumes, and security teams bracing for impact. The holiday shopping season is make-or-break for retailers and their partners — but it’s also a goldmine for attackers.
Credential-based threats spike right alongside consumer spending. And here’s the reality: while customers may feel the pain of a stolen account, the real cost lands on businesses. Retailers, payment processors, logistics firms — they’re the ones left dealing with fraud, downtime, and reputational fallout.
Cal/OSHA Advisory Committee Discusses Revised Workplace Violence Prevention Regulation Draft
California’s workplace violence prevention law—the nation’s strongest and broadest workplace violence prevention statute for general industry—took effect, with the requirement that the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health adopt a standard setting forth the employers’ duties under the law.
Presently, California’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board is considering further revisions to the draft regulation and recently conducted an advisory committee meeting to discuss the latest revisions and the current draft.
Retailers Face ‘AI Paradox’ as Nearly 40% of Shoppers Reject Smart Shopping Tools
While nearly all retail decision-makers are now using AI in some form, new research from PXP, reveals a significant level of consumer caution, with 37% of people saying they would not use AI shopping tools at all. This reluctance underscores a critical challenge for the sector: how to balance AI-driven efficiency with the human connection that builds trust.
The research highlights a clear divide in consumer acceptance of AI tools. Shoppers are highly selective about where they are willing to surrender control to automated systems.
LPSO K9 catches fleeing shoplifting suspect outside of store
LPSO K9 Rex (Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office)
A Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office K9 helped catch a suspect on Monday, Nov. 10.
LPSO said they were called to Academy for an ongoing theft. A man was still in the store and with detectives there, LPSO K9 Rex was called in to help.
Deputies said the man left Academy without paying and a foot chase ensued, which involved K9 Rex.
After being taken into custody, LPSO said, “He had on 5 pairs of pants. 4 were stolen.”
In total, the suspect had around $500 worth of items on him, including a sweatshirt and hoodie.
LPSO confirmed deputies also found sensors that had been taken off, along with the suspect’s theft deactivation magnet.
Khristopher Chapman, 23, of Baton Rouge, was booked into the Livingston Parish Detention Center on multiple charges, including theft, tampering with surveillance, resisting an officer, unlawful distribution, possession, and use of theft deactivation devices, and flight from an officer. [Newsbreak]
LPRC Study Reveals Dramatic Efficiency Gains with FaceFirst® Technology
Investigators using FaceFirst® solved cases faster, uncovered more value, and built stronger cases against organized retail crime.
A Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC) case study has demonstrated the substantial impact of FaceFirst®’s facial recognition technology on organized retail crime investigations, revealing dramatic improvements over traditional CCTV methods.
The study compared two investigators with similar backgrounds working the same case: one using FaceFirst® and the other relying on traditional CCTV reviews. The results were striking.
From Alerts to Answers While most facial recognition systems stop at the alert, FaceFirst® continues where others stop — turning alerts into answers.
FaceFirst® transforms face matches into actionable intelligence, helping loss prevention teams connect patterns, accelerate investigations, and outpace organized retail crime.
The technology’s most powerful differentiator is its look-back capability. Unlike systems that can only work from existing case data, FaceFirst® can search historical system footage to uncover every visit, every pattern, and every accomplice tied to a person of interest — even those never captured in a case file.
This unique ability to search the unknown is what turns data into investigative efficiency — giving investigators the tools to build meaningful, multi-location cases faster than ever before.
Video: Neighbors frustrated with former Kroger blasting music 24/7 to stop trespassing
Local residents say they’re being kept awake by loud classical music playing continuously outside a shuttered retail property that once housed a grocery store, where the new owner installed the system to deter trespassers.
The music, which began around 5 pm and continued overnight, includes intercom warnings such as “You are trespassing, you are being recorded,” and has drawn complaints from neighbors who say it’s “overly loud” and disruptive.
Video shows mother’s shoplifting arrest weeks before cops say her daughter went missing in Margate
Local 10 News obtained body camera video on Thursday showing the October arrest of a Margate woman who police say is now facing a child neglect charge in connection with her 10-year-old daughter, who has been missing for nearly five months.
The video shows Passha Davis, 34, being taken into custody by Margate police on Oct. 17 after officers said they responded to a reported shoplifting at Dollar Tree, located at 332 S. State Road 7.
Experts warn of rise in A.I. holiday shopping scams
As you start your holiday shopping, be aware of Grinches out there trying to steal your personal information.
As artificial intelligence has gotten better, experts are warning shoppers that scammers have been using AI to create websites and ads that look like they're from trusted retailers.
You should never access a website through an ad or a link sent to your phone or email.
Avoid clicking links in ads, in text or emails or social media. These can often lead to fake websites that can look very real but are often not legitimate.”
The Manager, Asset Protection oversees one of the highest shortage locations, with an elevated scope of responsibility that may include executive direct reports and increased staff levels, higher Sales Volume, or significant Shortage risk. They serve as the subject matter expert on Asset Protection and Shortage Reduction Strategies within their location, the experience they bring in asset protection and shortage reduction is essential in supporting the overall company goal for topline results.
Compliance Guide for Retail Employers: 5 Workplace Law Essentials for the 2025 Holiday Season
For retail employers, the holiday shopping season means more shoppers, more shifts, and more workplace law challenges to keep up with. Consider this your guide to 2025’s key compliance must-haves – from classics that return year after year to the newest arrivals and hottest trends this season, here’s what should be at the top of your list.
The holiday rush brings long hours and heightened demands on your employees, and this increased activity calls for more attention on the overtime rules under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and state laws.
‘Tis the Season for Safer Shopping- NJ’s Gift Card Fraud Notice and Packaging Requirements
Gift cards are a perennial favorite for holiday shoppers. They’re easy to wrap, universally appreciated, and always the right size. But as gift-giving season approaches, it’s important to remember that gift cards are also a common target for scams. In 2024, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law new requirements governing the sale and display of physical gift cards in New Jersey, aiming to combat the growing threat of gift card fraud. The legislation, P.L.2024, c.39 (S3587), places new obligations on merchants and manufacturers, including prominent consumer fraud notices and specific display protocols.
It’s time to break out your most gloriously hideous holiday sweater and join the leading ladies of Loss Prevention for a night of virtual fun and connection. This lively event is all about camaraderie, laughter, and celebrating the season TalkLP-style. Grab your favorite cocktail, log in, and enjoy an evening of networking with some of the most inspiring women in the industry.
Space is limited, so don’t wait! Grab your spot HERE.
Simply forward this email to your team or colleagues > they scan the QR code or click below to sign up and BOOM > everyone is smarter.
