AI fueled massive surge in fraud losses last year, study finds
A new report highlights how criminals are increasingly using AI tools to scale fraud operations, leading to a sharp rise in losses across retail and financial systems. Synthetic identities, automated scams, and AI-assisted social engineering are allowing bad actors to operate faster and with greater sophistication than traditional fraud models anticipated. Retailers are facing pressure to modernize detection systems as legacy protections struggle to keep pace. Analysts warn that without rapid investment in AI-driven countermeasures, fraud losses are likely to accelerate in the coming years.
5 charged in connection with Portland second-hand store dealing in stolen goods
Prosecutors in Oregon have indicted five people accused of running a large fencing operation that processed stolen retail merchandise through a storefront known as “Card Rhino.” Investigators say the group purchased stolen goods from organized shoplifting crews operating in Portland and Vancouver, then resold the items for profit. Authorities estimate the operation handled a significant volume of stolen property and contributed to ongoing organized retail crime in the region. The indictments are part of a broader crackdown aimed at disrupting the resale networks that fuel theft rings.
Moms terrified after they say a man attempted to kidnap their daughters in Walmart greeting card aisle
Two Louisiana mothers say a man attempted to abduct their daughters inside a Walmart greeting card aisle, prompting a rapid police response and an active investigation. According to the families, the suspect approached the children and tried to pull them away before the mothers intervened. The incident has heightened concern about child safety in busy retail environments and triggered calls for increased vigilance. Authorities are reviewing surveillance footage and urging witnesses to come forward as they work to identify the suspect.
NYC mall on edge after social media-crazed teen mob tears up stores, tangles with cops
A large group of teenagers allegedly coordinated through social media swarmed a New York City mall, vandalizing stores and clashing with police. Video from the scene shows crowds running through corridors, knocking over displays, and creating panic among shoppers and employees. Law enforcement made multiple arrests as officers struggled to contain the disruption. The incident has renewed debate about flash mob-style gatherings organized online and the challenges they pose for mall security.
VIDEO: Panicked Customers Taking Cover In Convenience Store After Nearby Mass Shooting
Security video captured a tense moment inside a convenience store where youth hockey players and their parents suddenly took cover during what appeared to be a nearby disturbance. Witnesses described confusion and fear as customers ducked behind shelves and counters while trying to understand the threat. Authorities later determined the situation was related to a nearby incident that spilled into the area, though no serious injuries were reported inside the store. The footage underscores how quickly everyday retail spaces can become scenes of emergency response.
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SF man arrested for aggravated assault after chasing store employee with a knife
A Sioux Falls man has been arrested on multiple charges after chasing a store employee with a knife early Monday.
According to police, the call came in shortly after 6:00 am on Monday, February 16, at a business at West 41st Street and South Madeline Avenue.
An employee at the business reported that a man was refusing to leave the property.
The employee went out into the parking lot and asked the man to leave several times.
Walmart confirms ‘freeze’ tactic used by workers at checkout in effort to stop rampant theft
William Monroe Houst Parks, 53, was arrested for theft according to a report from the Leesburg Police Department.
The man had allegedly skip-scanned items at a self-checkout register from a Walmart in Leesburg, Florida, about 42 miles outside of Orlando, said Leesburg-News, citing court documents.
An employee tried to stop him by pausing the register. But he allegedly continued to skip-scan items before paying for just some of them.
Textile counterfeiting infiltrates US retail chains, the AAFA warns
In February 2026, the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) published an alarming study showing that 41% of the counterfeit products it tested failed to meet US safety standards.
Beyond the harm to intellectual property, the report highlights a simmering public-health crisis and a structural shift in the grey market which, via social platforms and marketplaces, is now infiltrating legitimate brick-and-mortar stores.
From Optics to Outcomes: Rethinking Pushout Theft Prevention
In 2025, a national grocer tested gates, guards, and Gatekeeper Systems’ Purchek® cart-based technology to address rising pushout theft. While visible controls increased presence at the front of the store, offenders quickly adapted—bypassing gates and exploiting human limitations. High-friction measures influenced shopper flow but did not consistently stop cart-based theft.
In contrast, Purchek®, powered by SmartWheel® technology, delivered automated, measurable intervention by locking carts with unpaid merchandise at defined boundaries. The lesson was clear: real prevention starts at the cart—not the gate.
The Problem
Visible security ≠ effective prevention. Retailers invested in gates and guards to stop pushout theft. The intent was clear, but the outcomes didn’t match the optics.
What the Data Showed
Offenders adapted. Theft continued.
49% of pushout attempts bypassed the entrance gates.
27% exited through self-checkout areas.
24% went through manned or unmanned registers.
Gates relied on timing, attention, and compliance, all easy to exploit.
How important is retail as a proving ground for AI?
The AI hype train hit a prominent bump last month when Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella expressed concern that the sector could be dangerously overvalued if—and here’s the caveat—a wider set of companies don’t start benefitting from the technology soon.
“For this not to be a bubble by definition, it requires that the benefits of this are much more evenly spread,” Nadella said during the World Economic Forum. He added that non-tech firms specifically need to see the upside of AI investment.
OpenAI, which is partly owned by Microsoft, is seemingly harboring similar concerns.
Workplace abuse complaints by women dismissed more than men
Most workplaces have reporting processes for harassment and other abusive behavior. Whether the complaint gets addressed, however, may depend on who is doing the reporting.
Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and University of Pennsylvania published a study in 2025 questioning a long-held belief that “Reporting is thought to be effective because it is the clearest path to facilitate corrective action against transgressors.
More specifically, they sought to uncover if gender played a role in whether corrective action is taken when workplace abuse is reported.
Pittsylvania County board censures supervisor over shoplifting charges
Pittsylvania County officials voted 6-1 Tuesday to censure Supv. Tim Dudley. The resolution removes Dudley from all board-appointed committees but allows him to keep his role as supervisor.
Chairman Robert Tucker, who voted in favor of the censure, said he wanted to be transparent and honest with voters. “If there’s a mistake or an issue, we have to own it and we have to deal with it.” He expressed disappointment that Dudley did not publicly acknowledge the situation. “I was saddened by the fact that he did not step up and own the mistake and make a statement to his constituents and to the public.
Why Open Matters in the Age of AI Video Analytics
Brent Boekestein
VP, Enterprise Accounts
OpenEye
Artificial intelligence (AI) creates efficiencies throughout various industries, from managing teams to operating businesses.
A survey conducted by McKinsey found that sixty-two percent of surveyed companies are experimenting with or using AI throughout their organization. This widespread adoption is due to key outcomes, including faster investigations, fewer false alerts, automated operational checks, and quicker support experiences.
These advancements free up valuable time for users, allowing them to focus on high-impact priorities that drive greater ROI.
When it comes to surveillance, AI is most visibly powering a new generation of vision language-powered video analytics, a technology that has adapted systems meant solely for security into solutions capable of identifying actionable insights and streamlining workflows.
When choosing a surveillance system powered by AI, it’s vital to select an open platform. To stay ahead in the fast-moving AI landscape, it’s more important than ever for businesses to choose an open platform that empowers them to adapt and innovate. In contrast to closed systems, an open platform enables flexible integration with existing security and business systems. This offers businesses a greater return on their initial security investment while still providing an adaptable model built for the innovations of tomorrow.
Why Nancy Guthrie investigators are working with Walmart
Investigators working on the disappearance of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie’s mother are consulting with Walmart to develop leads because a backpack the suspect was wearing is sold exclusively at the stores, the Pima County, Arizona.
The suspect's clothing “may have been purchased from Walmart but is not exclusively available at Walmart,” the Pima County Sheriff's Department said in a statement Monday. “This remains a possibility only.”
The development comes as law enforcement gathers more potential evidence and as the search for Guthrie’s mother heads into its third week. Authorities previously said they had not identified a suspect.
15-year-old injured after shooting at convenience store parking lot
A 15-year-old was shot and injured in the parking lot of the King Quick Food Mart in Sharonville, Ohio, just after 3 p.m. Tuesday when Cincinnati Police responded to reports of gunfire at the location. Officers found the teenager with gunshot wounds and he was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Witnesses reported seeing a White Ford Fusion flee the scene, and officers later detained the vehicle’s occupants for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation. At this time no suspect has been publicly identified and authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the shooting.
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