$2.2 Million Home Depot theft ring busted in Queens, largest retail crew ever prosecuted
Thirteen people were charged in a large organized retail theft ring accused of stealing and reselling more than 2.2 million dollars in merchandise from Home Depot stores across nine states. The group allegedly committed more than 300 thefts at over 100 stores, sometimes striking the same location multiple times in a single day. Investigators say the crew met in Queens to plan their thefts and used online inventory tools to identify high-value targets. Prosecutors called it one of the largest retail theft cases ever brought in the region.
17 arrests, fentanyl and firearm seizures after retail-theft crackdown: RPD
A targeted retail-theft operation in Redding resulted in 17 arrests and multiple citations at stores with frequent theft issues. Officers recovered firearms, ammunition, fentanyl, and other illegal drugs during the enforcement action, highlighting how retail crime often overlaps with broader criminal activity. Several suspects were booked on charges ranging from drug sales to unlawful firearm possession and theft-related offenses. Police said the crackdown is part of an ongoing effort to reduce retail theft and improve community safety.
Women used children in counterfeit cash scheme at Polk County businesses, deputies say
Deputies arrested three adults accused of running a counterfeit-money operation that involved giving fake bills to children and instructing them to spend the money at local businesses. Investigators learned the children were told to make purchases and bring back the legitimate change, prompting a multi-agency response. The adults now face charges including fraud, theft, uttering forged bills, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Authorities emphasized the seriousness of exploiting children to carry out criminal activity.
Woman stabbed in unprovoked attack inside Macy's in NYC, suspect arrested, police say
A woman was arrested and charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing a tourist multiple times inside the Macy’s Herald Square store in Manhattan. The victim sustained several wounds and was transported to the hospital in stable condition. Police quickly responded to the scene and took the suspect into custody, raising ongoing concerns about safety in crowded retail environments. Store representatives expressed concern for the victim and reaffirmed their focus on customer and employee safety.
Shoplifting suspect captured with drone after allegedly crashing car on Long Island
Police used a thermal-imaging drone to locate a suspected shoplifter who fled after crashing her vehicle while trying to escape from a theft incident at a sporting goods store. The pursuit began after officers responded to reports of multiple individuals stealing merchandise, leading to a vehicle chase that ended in a collision. When the suspect ran from the crash, the drone was deployed to track her movements from above. The technology enabled officers to safely apprehend her, demonstrating how drones can support law enforcement during chaotic retail-theft incidents.
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Is Casual Theft the New Normal?
Amber Bradley
Editor-in-Chief | TalkLPnews
[email protected]
A recent survey found that 27% of Americans who use self checkout have intentionally stolen items, up from 15% just two years ago. Let that sink in for a second. More than one in four people are casually admitting to theft. Not making excuses for it in whispered tones. Just straight up saying yeah, I steal.
When did that become okay?
The survey breaks down the usual suspects. Millennials and Gen Z are leading the charge at 41% and 37% respectively, while only 2% of Baby Boomers admit to it. Men are twice as likely as women. But here's where it gets interesting. The people making over $100,000 a year? They're stealing at higher rates than people making under $30,000.
So, when these same people claim they're stealing because of financial hardship or unfair prices, the data doesn't exactly back that up. The excuses don't match reality. This isn't about survival. This is about entitlement dressed up as justification.
And maybe the most telling part? About a third of people who've stolen say they don't feel remorseful. Another 35% see self-checkout as "unpaid work" so taking items feels like compensation. We've moved from "stealing is wrong but I had to" to "stealing is fine because I feel like it."
Here's what this means for loss prevention professionals. If casual theft becomes socially acceptable instead of something people are ashamed of, your job just got exponentially harder. You're not just fighting opportunistic thieves anymore. You're fighting a cultural shift that says taking things without paying is no big deal.
The question you need to ask yourself is this: Are you ready for that? Do you have the tools, the technology, the strategies to combat theft when the people doing it don't even think it's wrong? When 55% of the people who admit to stealing say they'll probably do it again?
This mentality shift matters. Pay attention to it. Because trends like this don't just affect shrink numbers. They fundamentally change how you approach your role. When theft moves from taboo to acceptable, everything about prevention, detection, and prosecution has to evolve with it. Is your investigation team trained up? How about your self-checkout technology? Exception-based reporting? Health-monitoring for your CCTV systems? Better get a move on.
The world is telling you loud and clear that stealing is becoming normalized. Your move.
New scam wiping out gift cards impacts local stores; what you can do to protect your balance
Verona police are dealing with what is believed to be a widespread scam across Western Pennsylvania. They told Channel 11 scammers are tampering with Giant Eagle gift cards, leaving unsuspecting shoppers with zero balances on some of those cards.
On Tuesday, police were called to the Giant Eagle in Verona, where they said 15 gift cards were purchased and loaded with several thousand dollars but somehow ended up with no money on them.
Police believe scammers are taking gift cards from Giant Eagle store racks, removing the silver pin covers to get serial numbers, then replacing that sticky silver covering, repackaging the gift cards and taking them back to the store.
Woman accused of shoplifting during Shop with a Cop event in Hartford
The Hartford Police Department says a Milwaukee woman picked just about the worst possible time to try stealing from the Hartford Walmart: right in the middle of the store's annual Shop with a Cop event.
According to the Hartford Police Department, Sophia Malak was wanted in connection with a felony retail theft that happened days earlier at the Walmart on Thiel Street.
Surveillance photos from the Walmart show a woman walking out of the store, pulling a cart overflowing with more than 600 dollars worth of stolen toys, decor and clothes.
N.C. man arrested after falsely reporting hostage during Pulaski shoplifting investigation
A NC man was arrested in on Thursday after leading the authorities on a wild goose chase during a shoplifting investigation, including falsely reporting a hostage situation.
Officers with the Pulaski Police Department responded to Tractor Supply in reference to a shoplifting suspect, who was described as a male with a face mask, seen leaving in a Lexus.
Officers located the empty vehicle at a nearby business; some officers remained with the car, while others searched for the suspect. During that search, the Pulaski County 911 Communications Center received a call reporting that an employee of O'Reilly's was being held hostage by someone with a firearm.
Florida Jury Returns $779M Verdict for Family of Security Guard Killed at Gambling Cafe
A Gadsden County, Florida, jury awarded $779 million, believed to be a record for the county near Tallahassee, to the family of a security guard who was killed at what was called an illegal internet gambling café in 2023.
Ben Crump, the high-profile lawyer who has handled civil rights lawsuits around the country, represented the survivors of Lewis Butler, who was shot eight times while trying to protect a cashier at the café, according to the Tallahassee Democrat and court records.
Judge sentences Romanian man in Walmart fraud spanning 18 states
A federal judge has imposed a two-year prison sentence on a Romanian national convicted of orchestrating a multi-state retail fraud scheme that exploited cash-handling procedures at Walmart stores across the United States.
U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp sentenced Suras Rostas, 22, on Thursday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis after Rostas admitted to using sleight-of-hand tactics to defraud retailers of at least $130,000 in money and merchandise.
BBB issues this year’s list of the 12 scams of Christmas
As we near the end of 2025, scams targeting the public continue to cause trouble. Stakes are high as the National Retail Federation predicts the first $1 trillion holiday shopping season.
With scammers increasingly exploiting the seasonal rush for deals, gifts, and goodwill, the Better Business Bureau is issuing its annual “12 Scams of Christmas” list. It identifies the scams and schemes most likely to catch consumers and donors off guard this season.
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OSHA Clarifies Workplace Safety Standards
The U.S. Department of Labor’s OSHA is taking steps to provide clearer guidance on federal workplace safety regulations.
OSHA released seven letters of interpretation as part of its opinion letter program to support employers across various industries.
Agency officials said the program was part of the Trump Administration’s broader emphasis on compliance assistance and to promote consistency within OSHA’s requirements.
Agency officials are encouraging employers, workers, and other stakeholders to review previous guidance and submit new requests through OSHA’s letters of interpretation page.
Inside the ROI Story Every LP Leader Should Be Telling
Inside the ROI story every LP leader should be telling is a truth most teams miss: the value of your technology stretches far beyond shrink.
At APEX, executives revealed how tools meant to stop theft ended up strengthening safety, tightening operations, and even building community trust. CFOs don’t just want numbers; they want a narrative that shows every angle of return, from hard savings to the unexpected wins hiding below the waterline.
When you learn to speak that language, you stop being seen as a cost center and start becoming a strategic partner.
And here’s the twist: the biggest ROI you’re overlooking might not be the one you think.
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