Suspect forced through wall, tied up worker in jewelry store robbery
A robbery at a Florida jewelry store escalated into a hostage situation after suspects entered the Cape Coral location and threatened employees. Law enforcement responded quickly, surrounding the store and negotiating to secure the safe release of those inside. Authorities said the suspects were attempting to steal high-value merchandise when the situation turned violent. The incident highlights the increasing severity and risk associated with organized retail theft targeting luxury goods.
AG’s Organized Retail Crime Unit Charges 2 Businesses in $178K EBT Card Scheme
Pennsylvania’s Attorney General charged two Pittsburgh business owners for their alleged role in a $178,000 EBT fraud scheme. Investigators say the defendants illegally exchanged SNAP benefits for cash, violating federal and state program rules. The case was brought by the state’s Organized Retail Crime Unit as part of broader efforts to protect public assistance programs. Officials emphasized that benefit fraud undermines trust and diverts resources from families who rely on the system.
Store clerk shoots suspect during attempted robbery
A Memphis store clerk shot a robbery suspect during an attempted hold-up, according to police. Authorities say the suspect entered the store and threatened the clerk, prompting the employee to fire a weapon in self-defense. The suspect was injured and transported for medical treatment, while the clerk was not harmed. Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Duo arrested after alleged shoplifting and driving over employee
A man and woman were arrested after allegedly shoplifting and then fleeing the scene of a crash that seriously injured a store employee. Authorities say the suspects attempted to escape after the theft, leading to a collision that caused significant injuries. Both suspects were later taken into custody and face multiple charges related to theft and leaving the scene of an accident. The incident underscores how retail theft can quickly escalate into life-threatening situations.
‘You’re going to get tackled:’ Video shows Port Orange police takedown of shoplifting suspect
Police in Port Orange, Florida tackled a shoplifting suspect after a brief pursuit, an incident captured on body-camera footage that later went viral. Officers say the suspect ignored commands to stop and attempted to flee the scene. The video shows police taking the individual into custody without further injury. The incident has sparked conversation about enforcement tactics and the risks officers face during retail theft calls.
Last Chance to Provide Your Opinion!
Last call. Is LP dying, or just getting started? In three minutes, you can help shape the future of Loss Prevention by taking our five-question survey. We’ll reveal the results live at the TalkLPnews Rooftop Reception during NRF on January 12th, and break it down again in our February 5th webinar. Take the survey now, get your voice in the mix, and you could even walk away with a gun safe from LVT.
Telecom Attack Foiled: Secret Service Disrupts Network That Could Have Crippled NYC Communications
Tom Meehan
President | CONTROLTEK
At the UN General Assembly, the Secret Service disrupted a massive SIM network that could've shut down all of New York's phones.
The Secret Service announced that it has dismantled a web of sophisticated phone jamming equipment that could have disrupted cell service across New York; therefore, the threat has been eliminated. Crazy, right?
The operation was carried out, coinciding with the gathering of over a hundred world leaders gathered in Midtown Manhattan for the UN's 80th General Assembly.
Officials say they uncovered over 300 SIM servers and 100,000 SIM cards, which is enough gear to launch massive telecom attacks. The devices weren't confined to a single location; consequently, they spread across a 35-mile radius around the UN headquarters, encompassing New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
That network could knock out every cell tower and basically wipe out New York's phone service, Matt McCool, the Secret Service's lead agent, said. What we uncovered: a tightly‑run, well‑funded system operated by nation state threat actors, teaming up with organized crime, cartels, and terrorist groups. Officials said the seized gear could send text messages to every phone in the United States; therefore, the mess would be massive. Within twelve minutes, the whole city could hear it; thus, that power could be twisted into a tool for false stories, social tricks, or panic‑making broadcasts. Even scarier, the network could've knocked out cell towers or slammed the emergency call system with massive cyberattacks that jam all the essential links. Imagine a brief cell network crash in the largest city during the UN General Assembly; consequently, chaos would ensue, emergency crews would be hindered, and the world's security plans would become entangled.
Target’s Forensics Lab Battles Retail Theft, Aids Police Amid Bias Concerns
In the shadowy world of retail security, where billions in merchandise vanish annually due to theft, one corporation has built an unlikely fortress of forensic expertise. Target Corp., the Minneapolis-based retail giant, operates a state-of-the-art forensics laboratory that rivals those of major law enforcement agencies.
Established in 2003, this facility has evolved into a critical tool not just for combating shoplifting within its stores but also for assisting external investigations on everything from homicides to organized crime.
Drawing on advanced techniques like video enhancement, fingerprint analysis, and digital evidence recovery, the lab processes thousands of cases each year, often providing pro bono support to police departments overwhelmed by backlogs.
Facial recognition cameras preventing 1,400 shoplifting crimes per day in the UK
London, UK - Repeat shoplifters are being caught by face recognition cameras and prevented from stealing goods or abusing staff a record 1,400 times a day, analysis shows.
More than 100 retailers, including Sainsbury’s, Budgens, Sports Direct, Iceland and Home Bargains, have deployed the cameras operated by Facewatch in thousands of stores across England and Wales.
The system uses AI to cross reference faces against a watchlist of prolific and repeat offenders shared by local stores. When a “subject of interest” enters a shop, it sends an alert to staff, enabling them to ask the person to leave or monitor them.
Facewatch, defended the system, saying: “We only store and retain data of known repeat offenders.
As long as the technology is used and managed in a responsible way, I can only see it being a force for good.”
Multiple smash-and-grab burglaries hit Nashville businesses overnight
Metro police are investigating several connected smash-and-grab burglaries that occurred overnight in South Nashville and Antioch, prompting shopping complexes to increase security measures.
The crime spree began around 2:30 a.m. when a 2018 brown Kia Soul drove through the front of Hibbett Sports on Mt. View Road. Surveillance video captured four young men dressed in black inside the vehicle, according to police.
"I got a call around 2:30, 2:45," said Veshawn McKnight, the store manager. "She said the store has been broken into, they drove a car through there."
Unfortunately, this wasn't the first time the sporting goods store has been targeted by thieves.
Retail has no shortage of data, but clear answers are still hard to come by. In this TalkLP webinar, we get real about how sensor fusion is finally connecting RFID, video, EAS, and AI into one operational view that LP, ops, and merchandising teams can actually trust.
We’re digging into real use cases, real results, and what it takes to move beyond disconnected tools and endless dashboards. If you’re done managing chaos and ready to turn your tech investments into clarity, register now and add it to your calendar so you don’t miss it.
Walz orders MN National Guard to prepare for possible deployment following ICE killing
Gov. Tim Walz issued an order for the Minnesota National Guard to prepare to be deployed if necessary following the killing of a 37-year-old woman by a federal immigration agent Wednesday.
Dozens of members of the State Patrol’s response team have also been activated to respond to possible unrest, Walz said at a news conference at the State Emergency Operations Center.
Walz’s quick action is no doubt informed by his response to the uprising following the police murder of George Floyd in 2020, when critics said he was slow to marshal the state’s resources to restore order amid burning and looting, including of a Minneapolis police precinct.
From Power Tools To Lobster Tails, Organized Retail Theft Hits New England
In Portsmouth, it was power tools and air conditioners at Home Depot stores. In Taunton, Mass., it was a truckload of lobster meat.
And across the U.S., it’s a rising tide of organized retail crime — a mixture of stolen products and counterfeit goods — that is costing American businesses billions of dollars.
According to the National Retail Federation, American stores lost $121.6 billion to retail theft in 2023, up from less than $50 billion in 2017.
If that sounds like a lot of money, consider that the 13 defendants charged in the organized crime ring targeting Home Depot stores in Portsmouth and Seabrook, as well as eight other states, allegedly stole at least $2.2 million.
Global food waste to cost $540 billion by 2026, Avery Dennison cautions
In its new report, Avery Dennison uses independent modelling to suggest that food waste will generate an economic cost of $450 billion across the global supply chain – marking a $14 billion increase from last year.
On average, food waste costs are thought to reach 33% of total revenues in the food retail supply chain every year, from post-farm to the point of sale.
Among 3,500 global food retailers and supply chain leaders surveyed, over half (51%) of business leaders believe that inventory management and overstocking are significant areas of waste generation in their operations – but 61% of respondents told Avery Dennison that they lack full visibility into the points at which food waste is created across their supply chains.
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OSHA launches Safety Champions Program
OSHA has launched a new Safety Champions Program designed to help employers build and implement more effective workplace safety and health programs.
The initiative is structured around seven core elements of OSHA’s Recommended Practices, including leadership, hazard identification, training, and continuous improvement. Participants can work through three self-guided steps — introductory, intermediate, and advanced — at their own pace, and can request assessments from Special Government Employees as they progress. The overarching goal of the program is to prevent workplace deaths, injuries, and illnesses.
Video Surveillance to Reduce Product Shrink
Retail businesses face diverse challenges every day, from inventory loss to theft to operational inefficiencies. Cloud video surveillance provides powerful tools and features built to improve incident response, streamline investigations, and enhance workflows for better profits and safer stores.
These advanced capabilities help uncover actionable insights into retail operations, helping take business to the next level. With a complete cloud video platform, retailers can improve loss prevention efforts, keep an eye on operations from any location, and enhance customer experience.
Download the complete infographic to learn more about the complex and difficult challenges affecting the retail industry.
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