2 women arrested after police find over $12,000 worth of stolen merchandise in Orange County
Police in Orange County arrested two women after finding more than $12,000 worth of allegedly stolen merchandise during a traffic stop. The items were reportedly taken from multiple retail stores before being resold or transported. Authorities say stolen goods included fragrances, cosmetics, and clothing — consistent with a coordinated shoplifting ring. The arrests come as part of a broader crackdown on organized retail theft in the region.
Trio arrested in pricey sneaker heists at multiple malls in Florida, Georgia
Three people were arrested for allegedly carrying out a string of expensive sneaker thefts at multiple malls across Florida and Georgia. Investigators say the group targeted high-end footwear, loading up on dozens of pairs at once before fleeing. Police recovered substantial amounts of stolen merchandise and said the pattern suggested a coordinated crew rather than isolated shoplifters. The arrests highlight how boosting crews continue to plague retail centers in multiple states.
Five Argentinian Tourists Deported After Retail Theft Spree in Florida
Five visitors from Argentina were deported after authorities linked them to a multi-store shoplifting spree at several retail chains in Florida. Stores reported significant losses after the suspects allegedly stole clothing, accessories, and electronics over multiple visits. Law enforcement says the thefts were organized and the group used distraction and quick-grab tactics — typical of professional theft rings. The swift deportation followed coordinated investigations by multiple jurisdictions and served as a warning to traveling criminals using theft as a getaway strategy.
Suspect dies from self-inflicted gunshot wound after deadly shooting at Irvington clothing store
A suspect died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a deadly shooting incident at a clothing store, bringing a tragic end to a violent retail crime scene. The event unfolded after an apparent dispute inside the store; authorities responded quickly and found the suspect had turned the weapon on himself. One or more victims were reported injured during the altercation, prompting heightened concern about shop-level violence. The case underscores the increasing risks faced by retail staff and shoppers when theft escalates into armed confrontation.
Cargo theft: Letter to US Congress urges swift passage of CORCA
A coalition of major retail and shipping organizations has called on Congress to pass the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA), citing a sharp rise in cargo theft that threatens supply-chain integrity nationwide. The group argues that coordinated theft rings are targeting freight, diverting high-value goods, and undermining retail inventory before products even reach stores or customers. With online scams and hijacked shipments increasing quickly, they say federal legislation is needed to give law enforcement a unified framework to prosecute cross-border and interstate theft networks. The appeal reflects growing alarm that cargo theft isn’t just a trucking problem — it’s a retail crisis with wide-ranging economic consequences.
Planning for Problems That Don't Exist Yet
Amber Bradley
Editor-in-Chief | TalkLPnews
[email protected]
I always try to take the last few months of the year to plan for the next one. If you’re not heads down supporting your retail stores (hopefully packed with holiday shoppers), you’re trying to squeeze in a bit of forward-looking planning. And if you're like most people, you're looking at last year’s numbers, this year’s incidents, and building next year’s plan around solving problems you already know about.
But here’s the thing. The problems that are going to matter most in 2026 probably aren’t the ones you’re planning for right now.
If you read this column at all… you know I’m a big fan of Malcolm Gladwell and am currently reading his newest book, Revenge of the Tipping Point. Gladwell has always paid attention to the things the rest of us scroll past. The weak signals. The small shifts.
The outliers that do not make sense at first glance. He studies what everyone else ignores, not because it is loud, but because it might be important long before it becomes obvious.
Retail has lived this before. Amazon did not make a big dent in retail overnight. It arrived quietly, in ways that felt more curious than threatening. The signs were there for years. Easy to overlook. Easy to explain away. Until one day they weren’t.
Here’s my challenge to you: As you begin shaping 2026, try to make space for the parts you can’t name yet. Not just the issues sitting in reports or on spreadsheets. The ones that do not have a label or a budget line. The unease you feel when something small does not fit the pattern. That is often where the real shift begins.
Start by asking yourself these questions:
What is the one thing that went wrong this year that you wrote off as a fluke?
What if it was not a fluke? What if it was the beginning of something bigger?
What are your competitors doing that makes you uncomfortable? Not because it is working, but because you do not understand why they are doing it at all.
What technology are you dismissing as hype right now that could completely change your world in 18 months?
What would you do differently if your budget got cut in half tomorrow? Because that kind of constraint forces innovation you wouldn’t consider otherwise.
The best plans are never built on certainty. They are built on curiosity about what might be coming. They make space for the unlikely scenarios you hope never unfold but would rather not be surprised by. They leave a little give in the system, a little room to adjust when the year refuses to line up with your S.W.A.G. business plans.
A quiet planning session is your chance to think differently. To look at the outliers instead of the averages. To connect dots that nobody else is connecting yet.
Because the trends that matter most might not be the ones you plan for every year, but the ones you might have seen if you pushed yourself just a bit more.
Happy planning.
Family says Walmart, KCPD overreacted to self-checkout mistake
A local family claims they were traumatized at a metro-area Walmart and captured the incident on video.
In the process, two of their teenage sons ended up handcuffed, but were later released.
It happened on Nov. 30 at the Walmart store at 8301 North Church Road.
That’s where the Wotruba family- mom Vaquandra, 17-year-old Isaiah, 16-year-old Jeremiah, and their sister and cousin- say they went to buy snacks.
Police: Man brandishes gun in Walmart; threatens others at Weis days later
A Lock Haven man is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly brandishing a gun and threatening victims during separate incidents at a Walmart and a Weis Markets store in late November, according to police and the county district attorney.
Andrew W. Batschelet, 33, of Lock Haven, is accused of brandishing a handgun at the Walmart Supercenter in Bald Eagle Township on Nov. 23, according to the Clinton County District Attorney’s Office.
Stolen Amazon Truck Plows Through Parked Cars in Mid-City Before Suspect Flees
Chaos erupted in a Mid-City neighborhood Friday morning when a pilfered Amazon delivery truck went on a demolition spree, plowing into parked cars before the driver vanished into thin air. LAPD confirmed the wild scene, where the rogue driver turned the quiet street into a metal-crunching obstacle course.
People along West 21st Street were jolted awake by a thunderous crash—one collision leading to another like dominos. The truck first nailed a gray pickup, then careened into other rides, leaving at least four cars looking like they’d been through a demolition derby.
Introducing Location Arming in OpenEye Web Services
OpenEye, a global leader in video surveillance and cloud-managed security solutions, is happy to announce Location Arming, an intelligent video monitoring tool available in OpenEye Web Services (OWS). Location Arming is designed to help businesses and organizations everywhere reduce false alarms, saving time and money by leveraging the armed state from connected sensors, third-party panels, or Virtual Arm/Disarm in OWS.
The OWS alerting engine uses the armed state of locations to filter alerts and ensure you only get notified when it matters most to your business.
Choose the Arming Setup That Works Best for You Location Arming in OWS allows you to customize your security system to best fit your business operations, thanks to the open platform. Whether through third-party sensors, alarm panels, or OWS, you can use the armed state of a location to align with your security operations, including alert logic. Easily leverage the armed state of locations to streamline workflows, strengthen security, and make smarter decisions, regardless of your system architecture.
TalkLP ❤️ NYC is set to light up NRF week once again with the rooftop reception everyone talks about long after the badges come off. From skyline views to real-talk networking, it remains the night retail security leaders refuse to miss. A special thank you to Hanwha Vision for sponsoring and helping power the experience.
Retailers & Sponsoring Solution Providers RSVP below…
‘Isolated workers’ to receive panic buttons under new Washington state law
Housekeepers, janitors and other “isolated employees” in Washington state will receive additional safety protections under a new law set to go into effect Jan. 1.
H.B. 1524, signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson (D) on April 16, applies to employers in specific industries: hotels, motels, retail, security guard entities and property services contractors.
The legislation defines an “isolated employee” as someone who spends at least half of their working hours alone or who works in an area where two or more co-workers or supervisors are unable to immediately respond to a call of distress or emergency.
6 Ways AI is Changing Loss Prevention
“The acceleration of acceleration” is how Brian Gray, managing director, Accenture, described the technology landscape during Day 1 of the NACS Loss Prevention and Safety Symposium, happening now in Dallas.
AI is transforming what’s feasible for even a single-store operator and quantum computing is looming. That means operators can look to tech for loss prevention solutions that would have seemed like sci-fi just a few years ago.
Gray focused on six specific areas where tech is rapidly changing loss prevention. Even if retailers aren’t using any of them now, they might be accessible in the near future. After that, they might be expected by customers and staff alike.
Gift Card Fraud: Illinois Organized Retail Crime Association urges vigilance this holiday season
Gift card fraud is a growing threat across the United States, as criminal networks steal, tamper with, and drain gift cards to launder money and finance further illegal activities. The Illinois Organized Retail Crime Association (ILORCA) is sounding the alarm, urging consumers and businesses to stay vigilant this holiday season.
Gift card fraud has grown increasingly sophisticated, with organized criminal groups using a variety of tactics. Common methods include tampering with cards, hacking online accounts, and scamming victims into providing redemption codes.
The Director of Field Investigations provides strategic leadership, direction, and oversight for Burlington's external theft and organized retail crime investigative program. This role is responsible for developing and implementing an investigative strategy focused on complex case-building, multi-incident linkages, organized group disruption, and measurable total loss reduction. The Director leads a national team consisting of three Senior Investigations Managers and 15 Field Investigators, ensuring investigative excellence, consistent execution, and alignment with the company's objectives for reducing shortages. This position requires close collaboration with Territory, Regional, and District Asset Protection Leaders to create investigative strategies that prioritize the field teams' role in identifying, developing, and channeling information to the Field Investigations team through a structured, partnership-driven process. The Director also works cross-functionally with store operations, legal, HR, and IT to increase investigative efficiency and impact.
Seasonal job postings surge, but long-term hiring is uncertain, Indeed finds
The surge in seasonal job postings should be taken into perspective, Stahle noted. 2024 was the weakest seasonal hiring year in recent Indeed data, and the demand this year pales in comparison to 2020, 2021 and 2022, he pointed out.
Also, when combined with the overall weakness in job postings, the strong showing for driving and warehouse jobs suggests employers don’t want to be short-staffed during their busiest season, especially for logistics-heavy roles, but they’re hesitant about hiring for the long-term and are prioritizing short-term flexibility over long-term expansion, Stahle explained.
Restaurant fined $55,000 after worker was struck by customer
A restaurant chain has been fined $55,000 in after a worker was injured during an incident of workplace violence following a conviction for failing to have a compliant workplace violence policy in place.
The offence occurred when a worker was on duty as a host at the Richmond Street bar. At approximately 1 a.m., a floor manager directed the worker to tell a customer to leave.
While the host was speaking with the customer, “they mimicked striking the worker. A second later, the patron’s companion struck the worker.”
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