$4,100 Retail Theft and Human Trafficking Sting Mark Busy Wyomissing Day
A coordinated law enforcement operation in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania led to 41 arrests as part of a large-scale sting targeting retail theft and human trafficking. Authorities say the effort focused on identifying individuals involved in organized retail theft networks while also uncovering indicators of human exploitation tied to the activity. The operation brought together multiple agencies and was conducted during a high-traffic retail period to maximize impact. Officials described the results as evidence of the growing overlap between retail crime and more serious criminal enterprises.
Is Saks Global’s Financial Strategy Raising Red Flags?
An analysis of Saks Global’s recent business moves has raised concerns about whether aggressive retail consolidation could be masking deeper financial risks. The article examines debt structures, asset transfers, and corporate governance practices that some experts argue resemble warning signs seen in past financial failures. While no wrongdoing has been formally alleged, critics question the long-term sustainability of the strategy amid tightening credit markets and softening luxury demand. The situation highlights broader concerns about transparency and risk management as retail consolidation accelerates.
Man charged with organized $18k retail theft after repeat shoplifting at Ulta Beauty stores
Prosecutors have charged a man accused of orchestrating an organized retail theft spree across multiple Ulta Beauty stores in the Seattle-area region. Investigators allege the suspect targeted stores in several cities, stealing large quantities of merchandise over a short period of time. Authorities say the thefts followed a pattern consistent with organized retail crime, including rapid exits and resale operations. The case underscores ongoing challenges retailers face in addressing repeat offenders and coordinated theft activity.
Online marketplace meetup in Fort Pierce ends in mass shooting; 4 shot, suspect sought
Law enforcement officials in Fort Pierce, Florida are investigating a mass shooting that occurred in a residential area, leaving multiple people injured. Deputies have confirmed an active investigation but have released few details as they continue to assess the scene and interview witnesses. Authorities have not yet announced arrests or identified a motive. The incident has heightened concerns among local residents as officials urge patience while facts are verified.
Jersey City smash-and-grab earns thieves $1.5 million in just minutes
A jewelry store in Jersey City was robbed after suspects smashed display cases and stole high-value merchandise, according to police. Surveillance footage shows the thieves acting quickly before fleeing the scene, a tactic commonly associated with smash-and-grab robberies. No injuries were reported, and investigators are reviewing video evidence to identify those involved. The robbery adds to a growing list of incidents targeting luxury and jewelry retailers in dense urban areas.
Gracious AI in Action: Protecting Retail Without Locking Customers Out
Robert Harling | CEO
Gatekeeper Systems
Let’s face it—the world’s public spaces just aren’t feeling as safe as they once did. Your customers share understandable concerns about in-store violence, and it’s vital for retailers to help ensure their safety. That’s why it’s more important than ever to make your customers feel welcome when they’re in your stores! Gatekeeper Systems helps retailers accomplish both goals simultaneously.
Gatekeeper Systems’ powerful AI-driven solutions are designed to be invisible to your customers. They help retailers keep high-value items readily available on the shelves, not behind inconvenient, unwelcoming locked cases. They’re also designed to be discreet and frictionless while keeping your customers and employees safer in your stores.
Consider how Gatekeeper Systems uses artificial intelligence to power our FaceFirst real-time face matching software and our Purchek pushout theft prevention solution. They’re both essentially invisible. Visitors enter the store feeling welcome, shop for popular items instantly at hand, pay for their selected items, leave the store, and go about the rest of their day. That’s the experience most customers say they expect and prefer. I know I do.
FaceFirst’s real-time alerts give your authorized users the opportunity to respond discreetly when a known offender enters a store. When approached quickly upon entry and offered polite, attentive customer service, many known offenders simply leave immediately—with zero loss and no confrontation.
Similarly, shoppers using Purchek-enabled carts leave the store unhindered if they’ve paid for their selections. Individuals who attempt to load up the same carts and leave the store without paying find the cart’s Smartwheel® devices locked and immovable at the exit. Again, many such offenders abandon the cart and flee—again, zero loss and no confrontation.
Our AI-powered solutions help retailers feel good about making their customers feel welcome and their employees feel safe—all while protecting the bottom line, too. For details, click here.
2 arrested for stealing $47K in merchandise in Florida Ulta retail theft scheme
Two people were arrested in connection with a nationwide retail theft scheme targeting the beauty store Ulta.
According to Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, an investigation was launched by the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department, the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, and Florida’s Retail Theft Investigative Special Task Force that led to the arrest of Willy Jesus Diaz Pelayo and Maikol Eduardo Garcia Sanchez.
Investigators said that from Jan.1 to Nov. 28, 2025, Pelayo and Sanchez entered Ulta Beauty stores across Florida posing as customers. The two then hid expensive perfumes and colognes in their pants before leaving without paying.
Two arrested for shoplifting, assaulting store employees
Clarksville Police Department has identified three females they say were involved in the Christmas Eve shoplifting incident that occurred at City Gear, inside Governors Square Mall, located at 2801 Wilma Rudolph Blvd. in Clarksville.
Two of the three suspects, Toneisha Williams, 28, and Antranice Phillips, 27, have been arrested and booked into the Montgomery County Jail.
Police detectives said the women concealed merchandise and attempted to exit the City Gear store, but the anti-theft alarm activated. Store employees confronted the suspects and said they were able to recover stolen property.
Tech giants like Google and Amazon want retailers to use AI everywhere
Whether they're selling $35,000 ostrich leather handbags or chicken feed, companies are trying to figure out how to integrate artificial intelligence into all parts of their business, from checkout and security to advertising, inventory management, product design and hiring.
The industry was caught off guard by Amazon's e-commerce revolution more than 20 years ago and doesn't want an encore.
That's why, during a major retail summit in New York City this past week, two of the world's most powerful executives declared that AI would define a new age of shopping.
Secure, Time-Limited Video Sharing Made Easy with CloudSight’s Share Device Feature
March Networks CloudSight, our award-winning direct-to-cloud video management system, is packed with powerful tools that make managing video systems simple, flexible, and secure for customers. This month, we’re highlighting the Share Device feature to remind partners and customers how easy it is for users to collaborate and securely share video when it matters most.
Located under the View tab, Share Device allows users to easily share access to a selected camera with anyone, anytime. You can choose to share live video only or include both live and playback footage and even set how long the shared access remains available.
Unlike Case Vault, which requires users to download and share individual video clips, Share Device provides temporary access to the entire camera’s live and recorded footage for a set period of time. This makes it ideal for situations where collaborators — such as team members, law enforcement, or third-party partners — need broader, time-limited visibility without handling or transferring large video files.
This feature is especially useful for collaboration and investigations, giving businesses a quick, secure, and efficient way to share video when multiple stakeholders are involved. It also helps reduce back-and-forth coordination and ensures critical information stays easily accessible when it’s needed most.
With CloudSight’s Share Device, video sharing becomes seamless, controlled, and efficient — helping your customers save time, improve collaboration, and work smarter.
Top 10 scams to protect yourself from in 2026
Here's a quick tip on some of the top scams to watch out for this year, according to the Better Business Bureau.
Number one is online shopping scams. Look out for fake websites and phony pop-up ads, often for pets or hard-to-find items. Scammers take your money, then disappear.
Number two is phishing scams. Be aware of emails or texts that look like they're from your bank, merchants, or the government designed to rush you into clicking a link to give up personal information.
Top 5 fraudsters & criminals from Forbes ‘30 Under 30’ lists
Forbes is a well-known financial news publication that releases a “30 Under 30” list annually to recognize individuals under 30 who have made significant achievements in the entrepreneurial space. Over the years, however, a dark side to the list has emerged. Some 30 Under 30 alumni have been accused of impropriety, while others have been convicted of fraud and even landed in prison.
Here are five of Forbes’ picks from its 30 Under 30 lists who were later convicted of crimes.
This common security measure is draining your workforce
You sit down at your desk, ready to start the day. Before you can even open your first email, you’ve already typed in three different passwords—each more complex than the last. By lunchtime, you’ve repeated the ritual half a dozen times. It’s frustrating, it’s slow, and it’s happening to millions of employees every single day.
This is password fatigue—the silent productivity killer and hidden security risk plaguing modern enterprises. It’s more than an annoyance; it’s a costly vulnerability.
How Convenience Store Surveillance and AI Video Analytics Better Customer Experience and Boost Profits
Convenience store profitability is directly tied to customer experience. In fact, 73% of reported companies with outstanding customer experience performed better financially than their competition. From the moment a shopper enters your store to the time they check out, every element contributes to their satisfaction and, in turn, to your bottom line.
To ensure a positive shopping experience, convenience stores must prioritize a customer-first approach that builds lasting loyalty, elevates company culture, and drives repeat purchases. For multi-location operators, improvements to customer experience have a ripple effect, helping optimize and standardize operations while lowering turnover.
47-time convicted felon sentenced to almost 5 years in prison for retail theft in Spokane Valley.
A 47-time convicted felon has been sentenced to almost five years in prison for organized retail theft charges.
According to the Spokane County Prosecutor's Office, 61-year-old Shannon B. Morley was sentenced on Friday to 57 months in prison for two counts of organized retail theft.
Court documents say Morley used a key to open an electronic cabinet at a truck stop in Spokane Valley in March of 2023. Morley then removed a Garmin GPS device, valued at nearly $1,000.
Morley stole another device from the same truck stop in May of that same year.
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