Sheriff’s office looking for suspects in violent dollar store heist
Deputies are searching for multiple suspects after a robbery at a dollar store turned violent, leaving employees and shoppers shaken. Investigators say the crew used force and threats to get cash and merchandise before fleeing in a waiting vehicle. Detectives are reviewing surveillance video and canvassing nearby businesses for leads. The public is urged to share tips as authorities warn the group may strike again.
Retail store ordered to close within 10 days after safety violations
City inspectors cited the store for numerous safety violations, including hazardous conditions that could endanger customers and staff. Officials issued an order requiring the business to shut down within 10 days unless problems are corrected. The operator has been told to submit a remediation plan and allow re-inspection to avoid permanent closure. Community leaders say the action aims to protect public safety while giving the operator a path to compliance.
VIDEO: Suspects yank ATMs out of stores in several towns overnight
Surveillance footage captured thieves attaching a strap to a convenience store’s door and using a car to tear it off. The smash-and-grab method allowed the suspects quick entry before they grabbed items and sped away. Investigators believe the tactic suggests a coordinated crew familiar with fast-exit burglary techniques. Police are asking nearby businesses and residents for additional video to help identify the vehicle and suspects.
Law enforcement tackling urgent threat from organized crime networks stealing railroad cargo
The sheriff’s office unveiled a helicopter program designed to track cargo theft and organized retail crime along rail corridors. Air support allows deputies to monitor moving trains, coordinate ground units, and document suspects in real time. Officials say the tool is especially valuable during multi-location thefts where crews scatter quickly. Early deployments have already improved response times and evidence collection.
Two men accused of hacking and extorting US companies previously worked for cybersecurity firms
Federal officials cautioned that ransomware groups and state-backed actors are increasing attacks on critical infrastructure and major companies. The government is urging stronger baseline security, rapid patching, and wider use of multifactor authentication. New guidance emphasizes incident reporting and closer public-private coordination to blunt large-scale disruptions. Agencies also warned that emerging AI tools could accelerate both attack speed and deception tactics.
What If We’re Fighting the Wrong War?
David George
Executive Editor | TalkLPnews
[email protected]
Every week, retail leaders are railing about theft. Organized retail crime! Shoplifters! Flash mobs! Politicians who “don’t care”! And don’t get me wrong — theft is a growing and painful problem that absolutely demands our attention.
But while we’ve been laser-focused on fighting the enemy outside the walls… we may be ignoring the one inside.
Here’s a not-so-fun fact: In most retailers, internal process failures and operational friction cost more than theft ever will.
Yet we obsess over adding more cameras, more guards, more locking up product — decisions that make customers miserable and employees frustrated. We pour millions into prevention and then scratch our heads when shrink barely budges.
Maybe the problem isn’t that we’re fighting a war. Maybe it’s that we’re fighting the wrong one.
The War on Theft vs. The War on Waste
We love chasing bad guys — it’s in our DNA as AP/LP professionals. But here’s the question no one wants to ask:
What percentage of your shrink is actually caused by external theft?
Not the “we believe it’s ORC” assumption. Not the “the store team must be doing something wrong” excuse. Actual, measurable, attributable loss.
In many organizations, once you strip away unknown shrink, paperwork gaps, poor controls, sloppy receiving, inaccurate inventories, and vendor errors… external theft becomes a much smaller slice of the pie than the media — and some LP presentations — would have us believe.
We’re putting SWAT-level resources against one threat while putting much less effort toward the death-by-a-thousand-cuts scenario happening quietly every day.
We Can’t Arrest Our Way Out of This
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: Theft is becoming more brazen faster than we are becoming more effective. We can lock up everything… until customers give up and go elsewhere. We can chase every ORC ring… until prosecutors shrug and let them walk. We can keep demanding more budget… until executives demand results we fail to deliver.
Meanwhile, operations leaders are begging for help with:
Inventory accuracy
Out-of-stocks that kill sales
Complex processes that lead to errors
Labor stretched so thin that controls crumble
Technology that creates more steps, not fewer
Those aren’t security issues. They’re business issues. Which means they’re exactly where AP/LP should be — if we want true influence.
The Hard Pivot Our Industry Needs
What if the future of AP/LP looks less like law enforcement and more like business transformation?
What if our success metrics expanded from “apprehensions and shrink reduction” to “profit protection, operational efficiency, and customer experience”?
What if our best partnerships weren’t with police departments… but with supply chain, store operations, merchandising, finance, and IT?
If we want a bigger seat at the table — or any seat at all — we must prove that we protect more than merchandise.
We protect the business itself.
Lululemon shoplifting spree continues in Boston
Shoplifters struck Lululemon in Boston twice on Sunday, the fourth time in just over a month.
Boston police received a report of a larceny incident in progress at 776 Boylston St. around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Police were told a group of 15 kids entered the store and stole merchandise in groups of three to four, police say.
An employee told some of the suspects that the police were called, prompting two suspects to return the stolen items and leave the store, police say.
Over 2 million Walmart jobs to be impacted? CEO says AI ‘offence’ will ‘change everything’
Having already issued a warning about employee evolution, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon has doubled down on AI changing jobs forever. The company host over 2 millions employees worldwide.
World’s largest retailer Walmart’s global workforce accounted for approximately 2.1 million associates worldwide, with about 1.6 million of those in the US, as per its official website. However, CEO Doug McMillon has repeatedly pitched an unfamiliar vision for the company’s future as they go “on offence” with artificial intelligence.
El Paso County Sheriff arrests six in shoplifting crackdown at Eastlake Marketplace
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office conducted a multi-day-long targeted shoplifting suppression operation at the Eastlake Marketplace.
“With the holiday season approaching, we want to remind the public that theft is not a victimless crime—it impacts our local businesses, employees, and community as a whole,” said Sheriff Oscar Ugarte.
“Our deputies and detectives will continue working closely with retailers to deter criminal activity and ensure shoppers feel safe while visiting El Paso County stores.”
Understanding Automatic Operators and the “Knowing Act”
Automatic door operators play a vital role in providing accessible, convenient, and secure building entrances. Whether you’re retrofitting an existing door or planning for a new installation, understanding the differences between operator types and the importance of the “Knowing Act” is essential for compliance and safety.
Types of Automatic Operators
Automatic operators generally fall into two categories:
Low-Energy Operators
Purpose: Ideal for mixed-use doors that some users open manually while others activate automatically.
Standard: Governed by ANSI 156.19, which limits the speed and force of operation to ensure safety.
Activation: Requires a Knowing Act, where users consciously trigger the door using push buttons, touchless switches, card readers, or similar devices.
Applications: Common in schools, libraries, hospitals, and entrances designed for ADA compliance.
Full-Energy Operators
Purpose: Designed for high-traffic areas where doors open and close quickly.
Standard: Governed by ANSI 156.10, which includes stricter safety measures like sensors and guard rails.
Activation: Triggered by motion sensors that detect movement near the door. Applications: Grocery stores, retail outlets, and environments requiring rapid door movement.
UK: GMB union slams ‘horrifying’ attacks on retail workers as research highlights growing problem
Attacks on retail workers are ‘completely horrifying’, the GMB union has said in response to a new survey by the Retail Trust. This shows that 77% shop staff have experienced intimidating behavior in the past year and 23% were physically assaulted.
A further 43% said they are being abused or attacked every week, a 10% rise on last year.
During a recent GMB survey, meanwhile, Asda workers said they had been: stabbed, punched and threatened with syringes; spat at, suffered broken bones, been hit with bottles and had death threats against them and their children.
Mexico: Fire + explosion at northwestern Mexico store leave at least 23 dead and 12 injured
A fire and explosion at a convenience store in northwestern Mexico killed at least 23 people, including children, and injured 12 others, state authorities said.
The fire occurred Saturday in downtown Hermosillo, the capital of Sonora state, Sonora Gov. Alfonso Durazo said in a video posted on social media.
Six people remained hospitalized on Sunday morning, according to Sonora's prosecutor's office. Sonora Attorney General Gustavo Salas Chávez said preliminary investigations showed the deaths were caused by inhalation of toxic gases.
Australia: “Put it back, mate!”: why shoplifting has turned nasty
Australia’s retail crime has shifted from garden-variety mischief to full-blown menace.
Wesfarmers — the owner of Bunnings, Kmart, Target, Officeworks and Priceline — told investors its teams faced more than 13,500 threats and over 1,000 assaults in the past year, with several hundred incidents involving weapons.
Stores have responded with more security, body-worn cameras and de-escalation training, arguing the rise in shoplifting, retail violence and organised retail crime is now a frontline safety issue rather than a minor loss-prevention problem.
Assist in making UNFI the best place to work and invest in by developing and implementing programs that provide a safe and secure environment for associates and company assets. Deliver on a critical UNFI value: “Do the Right Thing” by putting Safety and Integrity at the forefront of everything we do. This is accomplished by ensuring Asset Protection and security policies are implemented in our Distribution Centers (DCs) to protect associates as well as managing shrink due to theft, fraud, and damage resulting from carelessness or disregard, through the use of policies, technology, and existing resources. This role will be a key leader collaborating closely with DC Operations, Human Resources, EH&S, Inventory Control teams, and other DC partners.
FBI Little Rock joins national task force to combat violent crime
The FBI Little Rock Field Office is actively participating in a groundbreaking Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative aimed at coordinating law enforcement efforts across the nation to combat violent crime.
This task force, spearheaded by the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations, targets sophisticated criminal organizations, including cartels, foreign terrorist groups, and transnational gangs involved in crimes such as homicide, kidnapping, human trafficking, extortion, and drug smuggling.
SB-753: What California Retailers Need to Know
Last month, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 753 into law — giving cities and counties new authority to retrieve, fine, and bill retailers for shopping carts found off their property. While the goal is to reduce cart abandonment and maintain cleaner communities, the impact on retailers is significant.
Want to dig deeper into how local regulations can cost your business more than you expect? Read our related article, Avoid Surprise Fees: The Risks of Carts Off Your Property, for insights on financial, operational, and reputational risks associated with stray carts — and how to prevent them before they start.
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