Police responded to ‘active shooter’ reports at Walmart, 19-year-old facing multiple charges
Police responded to reports of an active shooter at a Walmart in Rantoul, Illinois; a 19-year-old man was taken into custody and now faces multiple charges. Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, prompting a large police presence to secure the store and evacuate civilians. Authorities say no confirmed fatalities have been released, but the incident has heightened alarm over retail-store violence and safety. The arrest reflects growing concern around weapons incidents at big-box stores and the risk they pose to shoppers and staff.
Thieves steal more than $100,000 in merchandise from Burbank trading cards store
In a bold burglary at a Los Angeles-area collectibles shop, thieves stole more than $100,000 worth of high-end sports cards and memorabilia. Officials say the thieves targeted rare and collectible items — likely anticipating high resale value on the black market. The heist underscores how organized theft rings are shifting focus from clothing to niche high-value inventory like trading cards and collectibles. Retailers across specialty categories are now being warned to step up surveillance and tighten security measures.
Fight at Georgia store led to fatal shooting; suspect charged
A large fight involving around ten individuals outside a business in Griffin escalated into a deadly shooting, leaving one person dead and at least one suspect charged with murder. Police arrived to find chaos — multiple people injured, and conflicting reports about who fired the lethal shot. The violence has reopened concerns about public safety where retail or social gathering spots intersect with crime. Local law enforcement is now investigating potential motives while warning the public about the danger of mob-style confrontations.
Visa’s Report Uncovers New Tactics as Fraud Becomes Industrialized
Visa’s latest threat report finds that fraud has evolved from individual schemes into industrialized operations powered by AI, botnets, and synthetic identities. These networks run like tech companies, testing stolen credentials slowly to avoid detection and then striking quickly with high-value transactions. Traditional defenses are failing as attackers exploit third-party systems and expand ransomware and account-takeover tactics. Small businesses are now urged to upgrade security tools, tighten vendor controls, and train teams before losses escalate.
VIDEO: Three men arrested in Phoenix-area jewelry store heist spree
Law enforcement arrested three men — ages 41, 57, and 62 — for allegedly orchestrating a series of violent burglaries at jewelry stores across Phoenix, Litchfield Park, and Sun City. Surveillance and forensics tied the suspects to at least two smash-and-grab break-ins where display cases were smashed and large amounts of jewelry were stolen. Authorities found stolen items, burglary tools, and clothing matching security footage during a search of the suspects’ vehicle and home. The arrests serve as a strong reminder of how organized retail crime rings often rely on speed, force, and coordination to hit multiple targets across a region.
More than 1 in 4 self-checkout shoppers admit they’ve stolen: Survey
Self-checkout may save time at the store, but a growing number of shoppers admit they’ve also used it to steal.
Among Americans who’ve used self-checkout, 27 percent say they’ve intentionally taken an item without scanning it — up from 15 percent in 2023, according to a recent LendingTree survey.
Millennials (41 percent) and Gen Z adults (37 percent) were the most likely to admit to stealing at self-checkout, while only 2 percent of Baby Boomers said the same. Men (38 percent) were more than twice as likely as women (16 percent) to say they’ve done it.
When asked why they stole, 47 percent said the current financial climate has made it difficult to afford essentials. Nearly as many (46 percent) cited higher prices — including increases they attributed to tariffs — and many (39 percent) said today’s prices “feel unfair” or “too high in general.”
“Even though people know that stealing is wrong and most understand the risk they’re taking, tough times require tough choices, and lots of people are clearly willing to take a risk,” LendingTree’s chief consumer analyst Matt Schulz said in the report.
As WA ranks No. 1 in U.S. for retail theft, lawmaker pushes for reform
Washington is the nation’s unfortunate leader when it comes to retail theft — an issue that some state lawmakers are signaling needs urgent attention.
In a 2024 Forbes Advisor survey, Washington ranked as the No. 1 state in the nation most impacted by retail crime. Now state Rep. Mari Leavitt, a University Place Democrat, is sounding the alarm on organized retail crime (ORC), the coordinated stealing and reselling of goods for financial gain, typically by large-scale crime rings.
Phoenix man arrested in multi-store golf equipment theft spree
Glendale police arrested a 31-year-old Phoenix man in connection with a series of thefts targeting golf equipment stores across the Valley, with stolen merchandise valued at nearly $12,000, according to court documents.
Connor Burgess faces multiple felony charges, including three counts of organized retail theft, tampering with physical evidence, and possession of narcotic drugs, following his arrest on Nov. 25 at a Phoenix motel.
$24K of stolen Lululemon found in bags in woman’s car, police say
Atlanta police recovered over $24,000 worth of stolen Lululemon merchandise using trackers hidden inside the clothing.
The theft occurred at a Lululemon store off Howell Mill Road in Northwest Atlanta, where thieves broke in during the night and stole the clothing.
Police tracked the stolen items to a parking lot, leading to the arrest of Brittany Parks.
The Basics of Break-In Prevention: Securing Your Facility
No facility is completely impervious to break-ins, but with the right security measures in place, you can make it much harder for burglars to succeed. The goal of break-in prevention is not to guarantee a completely secure building but to delay unauthorized entry long enough for law enforcement or security personnel to respond. Even if your building hasn’t experienced any recent security threats, regular evaluations and upgrades to its protective measures are essential.
Over The Last Month, Florida’s Agriculture Dept Makes Huge Retail Theft Bust
Calling it a multi-state organized retail theft investigation, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the arrests of two foreign nationals involved in an organized retail theft ring responsible for more than $1 million in losses to Home Depot stores across the United States.
Simpson said the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) partnered up with local, state, and federal partners to nab the thieves.
Five arrested in retail theft investigation
Sheriff Jason Ard says, “We observed the passengers of one vehicle littering. While having a chat with our detectives about the litter, the occupants of the vehicle were trying to conceal a lot of merchandise from several area stores.
Further investigation revealed the individuals had been on a theft spree targeting numerous retail outlets in Juban Crossing - and, possibly other jurisdictions. These individuals would conceal merchandise on their person, in large purses they were carrying - or - simply walk directly out of the businesses avoiding all points of sale.”
National Retail Federation Cheers Final House Passage of Long-term Transportation Bill
The NRF applauded the House for taking final action on a long-term surface transportation bill that is critically important to America’s retailers. Prior to the vote, the NRF sent a letter alerting House and Senate leadership that votes on the conference report for the FAST Act would be included in the retail association’s annual voting scorecard.
“We encourage the House and Senate to quickly vote in support of the conference report and provide long-term stability to our nation’s surface transportation programs,” wrote David French.
TalkLP ❤️ NYC is almost here and the roster of sponsors backing this rooftop takeover keeps getting stronger. Big thanks to InstaKey for helping bring the industry together high above Manhattan to talk shop, swap intel, and enjoy the skyline the way NRF week should be done. Grab your spot before the list closes and the elevator doors do too.
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Dunkin’ Cashier in Georgia, Stabbed by Rapper, Can’t Claim More Than Workers’ Comp
A Dunkin’ Donuts cashier who was stabbed by an Atlanta-area rapper has only the workers’ compensation remedy, even if the incident seems far outside the scope of work duties, the Georgia Court of Appeals has decided.
“In this case, the trial court erroneously concluded that (victim Mekia) Bryant’s injuries did not arise out of her employment because ‘there is a significant difference between the resolution of basic customer service dispute[s] and being subjected to criminal assault by a disgruntled customer,'” the appellate judges wrote in the Dec. 3 opinion.
American Job Woes: Are Tech, Telecom, and Retail the New Unemployment Epicenters?
The current U.S. employment landscape is experiencing significant shifts, marked by a subtle yet impactful transformation in job dynamics across various sectors. According to the latest data from September 2025, the U.S. economy managed to add 119,000 jobs, bouncing back from a slight drop in the previous month.
This growth, although modest compared to previous years, signifies a continued expansion albeit at a slower pace, with monthly job growth averaging 76,000 in 2025—a notable decrease from last year's average of 168,000 jobs per month.
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