2 men arrested for allegedly trafficking nearly $7 million worth of SNAP benefits: Officials
Federal authorities arrested two men accused of orchestrating a large-scale retail theft and trafficking operation valued at approximately $7 million. Investigators allege the suspects coordinated theft crews, transported stolen merchandise across state lines, and resold the goods through organized distribution channels. The case highlights how modern retail theft often operates as a sophisticated supply chain rather than isolated shoplifting incidents. Prosecutors say the arrests represent a significant step in disrupting the financial backbone of organized retail crime.
$67K in Stolen Goods Recovered, Over 120 Arrested in High Desert, Inland Empire Sweep
A multi-agency enforcement sweep across California’s High Desert and Inland Empire regions resulted in more than 120 arrests tied to retail theft activity. Authorities recovered roughly $67,000 in stolen merchandise during the operation. Law enforcement officials emphasized that the sweep targeted repeat offenders and organized theft crews rather than one-off shoplifting cases. The operation underscored the scale of coordinated retail theft and the need for sustained regional collaboration.
Walmart impersonation scam targets hundreds of thousands of consumers each week
Scammers posing as Walmart used robocalls to lure consumers with fake PlayStation giveaway offers. Victims were directed to provide personal information or make payments to claim the non-existent prize. Officials warned that the scam relies on urgency and brand recognition to bypass consumer skepticism. Authorities encouraged shoppers to verify promotions directly through official retailer channels and report suspected fraud.
The Breaches 2025: The Worst, Weirdest, Most Impactful Data Breaches of the Year
A year-end analysis highlighted the most significant data breaches of 2025, ranging from massive corporate leaks to unusual and poorly secured systems. The report emphasized how simple misconfigurations, outdated security practices, and human error continued to drive many of the year’s biggest breaches. Several incidents exposed sensitive personal and financial information, amplifying downstream fraud risks. The findings reinforce the growing need for stronger cybersecurity governance across both public and private sectors.
San Diego DA testifies in Congress, urges federal help to combat organized retail theft rings
The San Diego County District Attorney testified before Congress, calling for a stronger federal response to organized retail theft rings. The testimony outlined how theft networks exploit jurisdictional gaps and move stolen goods across state lines with little friction. The district attorney urged lawmakers to enhance penalties, improve data sharing, and provide more resources to law enforcement. The hearing signaled increasing pressure on federal agencies to treat organized retail theft as a national crime issue, not just a local concern.
Fighting Retail Crime on Capitol Hill
Scott McBride | Chief Global Asset Protection Officer & CSO | AEO
I had the honor of testifying along side Summer Stephan, Chris Spear, Shane Bennett before the U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime to address a critical threat to our industry and our communities: Organized Retail Crime (ORC) and Cargo Theft.
There is a clear, bipartisan consensus that this is no longer just a "retail problem." It is a national crisis impacting our economy, our supply chains, and the safety of our citizens.
During the hearing, I focused on key pillars for a safer future:
Exposing the Reality: These aren't petty shoplifters. We are dealing with sophisticated, transnational criminal organizations that bring high-level coordination and unacceptable violence into our stores and logistics networks.
The Need for Federal Leadership: I emphasized that a Federal Coordination Center under HSI is essential. We cannot fight a global, networked enemy with fragmented, local data. We must understand the full scope of these organizations at the national level.
Disruption through Data: By leveraging national-level link analysis and deepening partnerships between local, state, and federal law enforcement, we can move beyond arrests and start dismantling these criminal networks for good.
I am incredibly proud to represent American Eagle Outfitters Inc. and the thousands of industry associates, store managers, and LP/AP professionals who are on the front lines of this issue every day.
The time for reactive measures is over. It’s time for a coordinated, national offensive.
POLICE: Home Depot theft suspects caught with nearly $20,000 of stolen products
Thousands of dollars worth of stolen items have been seized in a shoplifting investigation in Jasper.
On December 12, officers say they arrested Rajean Sanders and Kyle Noftle after they caught them stealing products from Home Depot on Newton Street.
During the investigation, police say they discovered the pair had also stolen items from the same business the two previous days.
Initially, detectives were tipped off to illegal activity when they noticed Facebook marketplace listings from two Alabama residents trying to sell a large amount of brand new power tools in Jasper.
Trucking, retail pressure lawmakers to pass anti-theft bill
Without federal oversight and the ability to coordinate and share information, cargo theft – particularly high-tech “strategic theft” directed by organizations operating outside the U.S. – will continue to surge, trucking and retail officials told lawmakers on Wednesday.
“This goes way beyond the hit-and-run type of straight theft that we’ve seen for over a hundred years with trucks,” American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear told House Judiciary committee lawmakers.
“This is a very complex, digitally-driven renaissance.
Retailers keep cashing in on crypto ATMs as scams surge
Last year, criminals stole thousands of dollars from Steve Beckett at a Circle K convenience store in Indiana. The robbery happened in broad daylight.
The thieves didn’t use a gun or a knife. There was no getaway car. The instrument of the crime was a machine, much like an ATM, owned by Bitcoin Depot and placed in the convenience store as part of a nationwide agreement with Circle K.
Beckett, 66 at the time, had been paying bills at home when his computer froze and a message directed him to call what turned out to be a phony Microsoft service hotline.
TalkLP NYC is shaping up to be a night focused on real conversations and real connections, and we’re grateful to have SIS as a sponsoring partner. Their support helps bring retail leaders together during NRF BIG Show week to talk honestly about safety, security, and what’s next for the industry. We appreciate SIS for investing in the dialogue, not just the spotlight.
Retailers & Sponsoring Solution Providers RSVP below…
Kentucky tackles $2 billion organized retail theft crisis with new crime unit
Organized retail theft has caused a $2 billion loss in one year in Kentucky, according to Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman.
At his Frankfort office on Wednesday, Coleman discussed the new organized retail crime unit that was created this year. The focus is not on petty shoplifters; they're going after gang-driven organized retail theft, according to Coleman.
"We're talking about crews that are coming up from other states, coming into Kentucky, and we're talking about an economic impact last year of $2 billion...in the Commonwealth...a 30% increase in one year," Coleman said.
NACS Urges Action on Retail Crime Ahead of House Judiciary Hearing
NACS today sent a letter to lawmakers on the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance ahead of its hearing, “Protecting Consumers and Businesses: Confronting Organized Retail Crime.”
In the letter to Subcommittee Chairman Andy Biggs (R-AZ) and Ranking Member Lucy McBath (D-GA), NACS thanked the Subcommittee for convening the hearing and highlighted the growing impact of organized retail crime and escalating violence on convenience and fuel retailers across the country.
From Discovery to Delivery: What Separates Top Digital Gift Card Programs
Gift cards continue to be one of the most resilient and valuable product categories in retail, and the latest research shows that their importance is only growing. According to new findings from NAPCO Research and Blackhawk Network (BHN), the U.S. and Canada gift card market is projected to reach $311.7 billion by 2029, reinforcing gift cards’ role as both a revenue driver and a customer acquisition tool.
A recently produced infographic from NAPCO Research and BHN includes insights from two benchmark reports covering 100 digital gift card programs and 50 digital gift card malls. It highlights what separates leading gift card programs from the rest of the market.
Weaponizing Proximity: How Ghost Tap Exploits NFC Payments
Tom Meehan
President | CONTROLTEK
Contactless payments always require the phone to be positioned right next to the terminal, with just a few centimeters between the card or phone and the POS. That "near" assumption? It has become the backbone of NFC security. Therefore, the recent escalation of Ghost Tap, named by the Dutch security firm ThreatFabric, shatters that premise. By using a free Android app like NFCGate, attackers can turn two regular phones into a long distance NFC relay, and the hack becomes simple. Thieves tap 2 pay anywhere on Earth, the real cardholder. Completely unaware, fraud spreads worldwide. Studying Ghost Tap's methods reveals new risks, prompting banks, stores, and shoppers to implement additional safety measures. Basically, that's how Ghost Tap ends up working.
Acquisition of Card Credentials
How do they get it? First, criminals steal a victim's payment information; that's why they've used data breaches, card not present fraud, or malware that grabs card numbers and onetime passwords. Stolen info? It ends up in a digital wallet, ready to be spent later. Imagine a hacker stealing your phone and runs Google Pay or Apple Pay; consequently, your cash is gone.
Construction of the Relay Pair
Install an app like the free NFCGate app on two Android phones that support NFC: they're now a relay pair. A phone (the victim's device) sits by the NFC enabled card or wallet, acting as a reader to catch the NFC signal. The second phone, the POS device, is placed next to a target POS terminal; it acts as an emulator that retransmits the captured signal. That's the third point.
Why AI Doesn’t Have to Break the Bank for Retailers
SAI challenges the idea that meaningful AI requires massive upfront costs. Its cloud-optimized approach delivers enterprise-grade capabilities without expensive hardware or hidden fees. A transparent licensing model allows retailers to scale AI by camera, lane, or store based on real operational needs. The result is a practical path to stronger loss prevention and operational insight without the traditional cost barrier.
See how retailers are rethinking AI economics and why affordability may no longer be the barrier it once was.
LA County woman says Amazon delivery driver stole her family's cat
A Los Angeles County woman is pleading for the safe return of her cat, Piper, who she says was stolen by an Amazon delivery driver dropping a package off at her home last week.
It happened on December 11 at around 6:15 p.m., according to Diane Huff-Medina, who lives in Lakewood.
Huff-Medina shared surveillance camera footage from her home that shows the driver leaving a package at her doorstep before snapping a photo. The driver then turns his attention to the family's 6-year-old Siamese cat.
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