FBI Releases “Reported Flash Mob Shoplifting Incidents: 2020-2024” Special Report
The FBI reports a significant increase in coordinated “flash-mob” thefts over the past four years. These incidents involve large groups hitting a store at once, often resulting in over $8M in losses and property damage. Arrest totals have climbed as law enforcement links more offenders to organized crews. Retailers are pushing for stronger deterrence as violence and weapon use associated with these events rise.
New York man accused of buying $65,000 in liquor from Pennsylvania stores with stolen credit cards
A man was arrested after allegedly using stolen credit cards to purchase expensive liquor. Investigators say he made multiple high-dollar transactions across different stores. The case is tied to a wider pattern of payment-card fraud targeting retailers. Authorities continue to investigate potential accomplices and additional victims.
Millions of Walmart customers victims of major scam
Millions of Walmart customers have been targeted by scammers impersonating customer support to secure personal and financial information. Victims are told there is an issue with an order or refund, then tricked into handing over account credentials. The fraud campaign is highly coordinated and growing. Officials warn consumers to be especially cautious during peak holiday shopping.
Marin County joins $1M settlement in Panda Express safety lawsuit
Marin County joined a $1 million settlement involving safety failures tied to Panda Express locations. The case centered on allegations of unsafe working conditions and risk to staff. As part of the resolution, oversight and compliance standards will be strengthened. The settlement highlights growing accountability pressures on large food service chains.
Over $6M in counterfeit luxury watches seized in Cincinnati
Customs officers at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) intercepted a shipment at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) containing 52 counterfeit luxury watches trafficked from Colombia. If genuine, the watches — fake versions of brands like Rolex, Cartier, Hublot and others — would have retailed for more than $6 million. The parcel was bound for a residence in Washington state when it was flagged and seized by agents.
Best-In-Class EAS Solutions Delivered First Time Right
At CONTROLTEK, we understand your business challenges are unique and finding the right solution is essential for your success. Whether your asset protection needs require AM, RF, RFID or a combination of technologies, all our EAS solutions are made with only the highest quality materials and technology for optimum performance in your retail environment.
When you choose CONTROLTEK, you are choosing nearly half a century of experience in providing asset protection solutions for our customers.
Our First Time Right™ approach to systems deployment and installation, means we deliver faster and install with more attention to detail than any other provider in the industry.
Did you know… CONTROLTEK EAS systems help reduce losses by up to 80%, providing 24/7 protection, fewer false alarms, and a safer in-store environment.
Three Officers Shot at Omaha Convenience Store; Suspect Dead
Three police officers are reportedly wounded after a shootout at a QuikTrip in Omaha, Nebraska.
The officers were following a man suspected of shooting someone at a grocery store around noon.
The suspect is dead, and the officers are recovering after surgery.
Amazon will pay $3.7M to settle labor claims for alleged gig worker violations
Amazon has agreed to pay more than $3.7M to settle claims with Office of Labor Standards over allegations that it violated ordinances protecting gig and app-based workers during the pandemic.
OLS said in a news release Wednesday that Amazon only provided premium pay and paid sick and safe time (PSST) to workers when they performed deliveries for Amazon Flex’s food or grocery business lines
H-E-B warns customers about online scam that promises gift cards, shopping sprees
H-E-B is alerting customers about a scam circulating online that promises either large gift cards or shopping sprees in exchange for personal information.
In a social media post, the Texas-based grocery company said scammers have made contact by sending links to customers through Facebook messenger.
H-E-B said there are no ongoing giveaways occurring on Facebook.
TalkLP ❤️ NYC returns to the rooftop with cocktails, an amazing skyline, and conversations that actually matter. Special thank you to Gatekeeper Systems for supporting the night. We’ll see you at the top.
Retailers and Sponsoring Solution Providers RSVP Below…
$1.3M in liquor stolen from LCBO linked to alcohol trafficking operation
Halton Regional Police say three people are facing charges after more than $1.3 million of liquor allegedly stolen from the LCBO was being sold in a trafficking operation.
Police allege the operation involved stolen alcohol across the Toronto area.
In July, Halton police said it partnered with the LCBO and Toronto police in a joint investigation into an organized group “believed to be purchasing and re-selling liquor stolen from LCBO locations throughout the Greater Toronto Area.”
Small businesses losing thousands to fraudulent online chargeback claims
Shoplifting has long been the bane of small businesses and now thieves have moved online, with frustrated traders reporting customers making fraudulent claims for their money back.
The fake refund claims — instigated by shoppers requesting transaction reversals, known as "chargebacks", through their banks — have been labelled theft and led to shop owners calling for greater protection from cybercriminals.
Cops nab suspect in $25K retail theft spree
Winnipeg police have arrested a man responsible for a months-long string of retail thefts across the city, with losses totaling more than $25,000.
According to the Winnipeg Police Service, identified 40-year-old Ryan Joseph Campbell as the suspect in 19 separate thefts from grocery and retail stores between March 18 and December 1, 2025.
Campbell repeatedly stole food items, tools, electronics, and seasonal equipment, including pressure washers and snowblowers, often taking hundreds or thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise at a time.
Reduce Human Involvement With Intelligent Video Monitoring
Every second counts when a security threat emerges—yet traditional surveillance still relies heavily on on-site guards and constant human oversight. This dependence not only drives up operational costs but also puts staff in harm’s way during high-risk incidents, especially when confronting potentially violent offenders.
As threats evolve, organizations are urgently seeking ways to strengthen security without requiring in-person guarded protection.
This article examines modern strategies for remote monitoring that reduce the need for continuous human involvement. It explores how overreliance on manual processes can slow efficiency, and how intelligent, cloud-powered video solutions can relieve security teams of routine tasks—freeing them to focus on higher-value responsibilities that improve overall safety and operations.
Limitations of Manual Surveillance in Modern Security
Organizations have traditionally relied on security guards and monitoring teams to surveil facilities, respond to incidents, and keep people and assets safe. While human oversight remains an important component of surveillance, it brings notable complexities that can affect both productivity and safety.
How supply chain leaders can use AI to defeat digital cargo theft
When people who don’t work in the logistics industry think of cargo theft, they typically envision incidents where trucks are hijacked or cargo is burglarized from trailers in transit. Those risks are real. This summer, seven men from California were charged with stealing $100 million in jewelry from a truck at a remote rest stop as one of the drivers napped and the other was having a meal.
But as logistics professionals know, cargo burglary tools have evolved significantly over the past several years. Today, there’s a rapidly growing chance thieves will use technology and social engineering to gain access to cargo rather than cutting through a padlock with a chainsaw at a rest stop.
A year of reckoning: lessons in executive risk and governance
Across industries, as our clients absorbed the news that spread across screens and social feeds, Control Risks drew on 50 years of experience in critical incident response to help our clients stabilize and reassess their duty of care.
From emerging businesses to Fortune 500 companies, leadership teams recalibrated, asking the same urgent questions: Are we safe?
And then, for companies with no capabilities in place: where do we start? For companies with capabilities in place: how do we know if we have enough?
Simply forward this email to your team or colleagues > they scan the QR code or click below to sign up and BOOM > everyone is smarter.
