New NYPD retail theft task force cut Staten Island Mall crime by 40%. Here’s how
The NYPD’s dedicated retail theft task force has driven a sharp decline in crime at Staten Island Mall, reducing reported incidents by roughly 40%. The improvement follows an expansion of the unit, increased officer visibility, and a more proactive approach focused on repeat offenders and organized theft activity. Law enforcement officials say close coordination with mall security and retailers played a key role in identifying patterns and intervening earlier. The results highlight how targeted enforcement can deliver measurable impact in high-risk retail environments.
Burglars smash into convenience store using pick axe, flee in stolen vehicle: police
Two suspects used a stolen vehicle to ram and access a convenience store in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, then used a pickaxe to smash their way inside. Once inside the store, the burglars stole cigarettes and vape products before fleeing the scene at high speed. Police later confirmed the getaway vehicle had been stolen from a nearby dealership, linking the incident to broader property crime activity. Authorities are continuing to investigate and are asking for public assistance as they work to identify those responsible.
Hamilton police charge 21 suspects in organized retail theft worth ‘more than $1 million’
Hamilton police have charged 21 individuals in connection with an organized retail theft operation responsible for more than $1 million in stolen merchandise. Investigators uncovered a coordinated network targeting multiple retail locations across regions, using theft-for-resale schemes to move stolen goods. The case resulted in the recovery of a large volume of merchandise and a wide range of criminal charges tied to theft and trafficking. Police say the investigation underscores the scale and sophistication of modern organized retail crime.
San Francisco Police Dismantle Theft Ring: Six Arrested, Over $52,000 in Stolen Goods Recovered
San Francisco police arrested six suspects linked to an organized theft ring that caused more than $52,000 in losses to retailers. The arrests followed a focused investigation aimed at identifying repeat offenders responsible for multiple theft incidents across the city. Officers were able to recover a significant portion of the stolen merchandise during the operation. The case reflects a broader enforcement strategy centered on dismantling organized groups rather than addressing theft as isolated events.
Amazon employees have been accused of stealing $2 million worth of merchandise
Two Amazon employees are accused of stealing nearly $2 million worth of merchandise from a fulfillment center in Ajax. Authorities allege the suspects exploited their internal access to remove products over time and divert them for resale. The case highlights the growing challenge of internal theft within large-scale distribution and fulfillment operations. Investigators continue to examine whether additional individuals or organized networks were involved.
Be the Grinch All Year
Amber Bradley
Editor-in-Chief | TalkLPnews
[email protected]
One of my favorite Christmas movies is Jim Carrey’s version of the Grinch. And let’s be honest, it can be easy to identify with his character’s angst over the Christmas season rushing around in brutal traffic, buying junk people don’t need… just to see their mildly disappointed smile when opening it. But… I digress.
The Grinch movie helps remind me what Christmas, and the coming of Jesus Christ, should remind all of us: being grateful for our many blessings. Not things, but people. The magic of moments with the people we care about most. Relationships.
Forget the abstract, "I'm grateful for my network." I mean the actual humans who showed up for you this year. The ones who took your call. The ones who sent the text that said "you good?" when you weren't. The ones who pushed back on your bad idea before you made it worse. The ones who celebrated your win without keeping score.
Here's what I've learned after nearly 20 years in this industry: relationships are the only currency that actually appreciates. Your title changes. Your company changes. Your budget, your team, your strategy—all of it shifts. But the people who matter? They stay. If you let them.
We say, "let's grab coffee" and never do. We think "I should thank them for that" and don't. We assume people know we appreciate them because we worked together once or stayed in touch on social media. But appreciation left unsaid doesn't count. It doesn't land. It doesn't stick.
So, here's my challenge in the new year: bring the Grinch spirit all year round. Not only BE grateful for the real connections I’ve made but STOP and tell them. Make sure they know how much they’ve meant to me along this journey – personally and professionally.
Having trouble recognizing support? Ask yourself: Who mentored you when they didn't have to? Who vouched for you when you needed it? Who told you the truth when everyone else was being polite? Who made you laugh when everything felt heavy? Who showed up—not because they had to, but because they chose to?
Those people are your blessings. Not your conference speaking slots or your social media followers or your job title. The people who know you—actually know you—and pick up when you call without fail.
I’m so grateful for this industry and the people in it. It’s been a joy for these last 20 years to learn, grow, and build new things in it – WITH YOU! I don’t say it enough – but THANK YOU! To all those that pick up my call, come to our events, believe in what we’re doing – we appreciate YOU!
And if there's someone in your life who fits that description? Tell them. Today. Not next week. Not when it's convenient. Now. Because gratitude isn't a season. It's a practice. And the people who matter deserve to hear it while it still means something.
"Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more!"
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
'If you mess around, you're going to find out' | Footage shows thieves stealing $8,000 worth of merchandise from ALO
Alexandria police arrested one woman and are searching for two others after a robbery on King Street last week. The whole thing was caught on camera.
Police say three suspects ran out of the ALO store on King Street with about $8,000 worth of merchandise. According to Detective Anthony LaRusso with the Alexandria Police Department, one of the suspects threatened a manager and an employee with violence before all three grabbed "armfuls of merchandise" and fled the store.
Video: How Financial Crime Actually Works — From Money Laundering To The Dark Web
Brett Johnson is a reformed internet fraudster who stole over $1 million through stolen credit cards, counterfeit documents, and phishing schemes.
Johnson cofounded ShadowCrew, one of the first major cybercrime forums, where stolen credit card numbers and hacking techniques were traded among criminals.
He was placed on the US Secret Service's most-wanted list in 2004. After his arrest in 2005, he served eight and a half years total in prison.
Amazon security head on catching North Korean operative posing as IT worker
North Korean operatives are attempting to infiltrate global tech firms like Amazon by posing as remote IT workers. A North Korean operative posing as a remote IT worker for an Amazon contractor was caught after security protocols detected a tiny delay in his typing speed.
Amazon’s Chief Security Officer, Stephen Schmidt, explained that typical keystroke data from a domestic worker reaches the company’s systems in tens of milliseconds, but this particular machine consistently showed latency of more than 110 milliseconds.
Rising Prices, Rising Retail Theft: Preparing for 2026
As 2025 draws to a close, retailers are preparing for another year of economic uncertainty. Inflation has cooled from historic highs, but prices remain elevated across essential categories — and many consumers continue to feel real pressure at the checkout. New consumer behavior data suggests a troubling reality for retailers: when wallets tighten, theft tends to rise.
A recent LendingTree survey of more than 2,000 U.S. consumers found that 27% admitted to intentionally taking items without paying in retail environments, up sharply from 15% just two years ago. More revealing than the statistic itself is the motivation behind it. Nearly half of respondents cited high prices or financial strain as the primary justification for their behavior, with many stating that rising costs made essentials feel unaffordable or unfair.
This data reflects a broader behavioral shift. As prices climb, a growing segment of consumers appears to be rationalizing theft — reframing it as a response to economic stress rather than criminal intent. In modern retail environments, where self-service, open exits, and unattended carts are common, this rationalization can quickly translate into action.
Anti-retail theft operation nets 5 arrests, 1 citation
An anti-retail theft operation in Sparks, Nevada, resulted in five arrests and one citation as local police cracked down on shoplifting activity.
The effort targeted individuals suspected of stealing merchandise from area retailers, and officers executed the operation with increased patrols and investigative focus.
Law enforcement officials say the arrests were part of a broader push to deter theft and support local businesses during a busy shopping season. Police continue to monitor retail crime trends and urge the community to report suspicious behavior.
Santas, elves rob grocery store in Robin Hood-inspired heist
A group of Santa Claus impersonators and a band of masked elves appear to have stolen thousands of dollars of food from a Metro grocery store in the Plateau neighborhood Monday night.
Article content The group claiming to be behind the heist calls itself Robin Hood. Videos of the alleged heist circulated on social media, showing individuals dressed as Santa and masked elves swarming the store.
The grocery store — located on Laurier Ave. near Chambord St. — was robbed at 9:40 p.m. Monday, police spokesperson Jean-Pierre Brabant confirmed.
Siblings go on Felony Shoplifting Spree at Target, Family Arrested
On December 17th, 2025, four siblings decided to head to the Westside Target and do some Christmas shopping with a price tag of over $4,000 worth of goods. The problem is they had no means to pay for the merchandise and decided to leave the store without paying for the merch.
According to a criminal complaint, 19-year-old Isabella Bernal and her 3 younger siblings arrived at the Target and started to fill up shopping carts full of goods. A loss prevention officer from the store knew the elder Bernal from previous shoplifting incidents.
Loss Prevention is rapidly changing. Executives are asking LP professionals to provide more value beyond safety, security, and shrink savings to the business. From people and traffic analytics to solution provider management and marketing promotions to operational efficiencies. We want to hear from you! Take 3 minutes to answer our 5-question survey.
Schnucks Pilots Gift Card Security Tech to Stop Fraud at Checkout
A 10-week pilot across 10 Schnuck Markets, Inc. stores in the St. Louis area suggests a new approach to gift card protection that could cut down on fraud while keeping checkouts moving.
According to results released by Digimarc Corp., gift cards protected by the company’s new on-card digital security technology reported no fraud incidents during the test period, while cards from other brands using traditional packaging did not.
Digimarc’s system embeds a tamper-evident digital watermark directly on the card, which replaces the standard activation bar code.
Retail’s Reality Check: Closing the Cyber Resilience Gap
Cyber pressure on retailers isn’t easing; it’s evolving. Threat actors have shifted away from direct attacks and are placing more emphasis on exploiting partner ecosystems, digital platforms, and customer-facing interfaces. In most cases, that means weaponizing supply-chain vulnerabilities, which are the weakest link for most retailers.
After a string of high-profile attacks, the sector should be questioning its cyber security posture. Instead, our data shows that the real-world experiences of retail sector IT leaders tell a different story.
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