A new workplace survey found that roughly one in three employees admit to engaging in some form of misconduct on the job, highlighting a growing integrity gap inside organizations. Researchers say behaviors range from policy violations and misuse of company resources to more serious ethical breaches. The findings suggest many companies underestimate the scale of internal risk, especially as remote and hybrid work reduce direct oversight. Experts warn that without stronger culture, training, and accountability systems, misconduct can quietly erode trust, productivity, and financial performance.

Yahoo! Finance

Authorities in New Mexico charged three suspects connected to an organized retail theft operation accused of stealing more than $47,000 in merchandise. Investigators say the group targeted multiple retailers and resold stolen goods for profit, following patterns commonly associated with coordinated ORC rings. Law enforcement credited joint investigative efforts and retailer cooperation for identifying the suspects and recovering evidence. Officials emphasized that organized theft is escalating in both scale and sophistication, prompting increased focus on multi-agency enforcement strategies.

KOB

Former First Brands Group executives Patrick James and his brother Edward have been indicted on multiple federal charges, including wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, in connection with an alleged multibillion-dollar fraud scheme. Prosecutors say the James brothers used fake and inflated invoices, double- and triple-pledged collateral, and misleading financial statements to deceive lenders about the company’s financial condition and obtain billions in financing. The indictment, unsealed in New York, alleges their actions ultimately contributed to First Brands’ bankruptcy in September 2025 and left lenders and creditors facing massive losses. A former First Brands executive has already pleaded guilty and is cooperating with authorities as the case proceeds.

Aftermarket Matters

Federal officials charged four defendants in a large-scale food stamp fraud case involving 115 stolen identities. Prosecutors allege the suspects used the identities to illegally obtain and spend government assistance funds. Authorities say the operation exploited weaknesses in identity verification systems and generated significant financial losses. The case highlights ongoing concerns about benefit fraud and the need for stronger safeguards against identity-based financial crime.

FOX News

New research suggests cryptocurrency payments are gaining traction among U.S. merchants as adoption barriers continue to fall. Retailers are increasingly exploring crypto acceptance to attract tech-savvy consumers and reduce transaction costs. However, volatility, regulatory uncertainty, and security risks remain major considerations for businesses. Analysts say crypto’s future in retail will depend on balancing innovation with consumer trust and operational stability.

Retail Customer Experience

Organized retail theft blitz leads to three arrests in Folsom

The Folsom Police Department has reported three arrests in their ongoing Organized Retail Theft “blitz” operation aimed at addressing the ongoing rise in retail theft impacting Folsom.

On Jan. 28, FPD detectives arrested three individuals on felony and misdemeanor theft charges. The three people arrested were identified as Robert Carroll from Sacramento, Aida Ilie from Sacramento and Jeronimo Podestaklappenbach from Folsom.

All three individuals were known theft suspects from prior incidents. FPD said they were arrested on a combination of felony and misdemeanor theft charges, as well as outstanding felony and misdemeanor warrants.

FOX 40

Deputies bust multi-state shoplifting ring after Walmart theft in north Georgia

Whitfield County deputies say they have disrupted a suspected multi-state shoplifting ring after a routine theft investigation at a Walmart led to a major arrest.

According to the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office, the case unfolded Monday at the Walmart on East Walnut Avenue in Dalton. Store loss prevention employees alerted deputies to a suspected theft in progress.

Investigators say the information provided by Walmart staff allowed deputies to quickly identify a vehicle believed to be connected to the incident. Within minutes, a member of the sheriff’s office Crime Suppression Unit located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop.

WSBTV

State and city create task force to prosecute retail crime in Anchorage

Lawyers with the state’s Department of Law are working with prosecutors at the Municipality of Anchorage to more aggressively go after serious shoplifters. Retail theft is the focus of what leaders with the city and state say is a partnership dedicated to “quality of life” crimes in Anchorage.

In his final State of the State address last month, Gov. Mike Dunleavy spoke about what he and others have taken to calling the “Quality of Life Initiative.”

“The goal is to put the resources where the data says the resources are needed. The data says the focus needs to be in Anchorage, and that’s why we’ve partnered with the municipality on these initiatives,” Dunleavy said.

ADN

Woman arrested for attempted murder after stabbing colleague in a retail store

A 39-year-old woman was arrested for attempted murder after allegedly stabbing a 40-year-old colleague multiple times at a retail store in the Namakgale policing area.

Limpopo provincial police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the victim was on her way to work when she received a call from a colleague informing her that a woman was looking for her at the store.

On arrival, the victim went to the storeroom to retrieve stock and began packing shelves when the suspect approached her, exchanged greetings and then allegedly attacked her with a knife, stabbing her repeatedly.

IOL

In 2026, consumers will remain price sensitive, but intolerant of friction

Shoppers are increasingly unforgiving of out-of-stocks, inconsistent promotions, substitutions and a mismatch between a brand’s promise and the on-shelf reality, he explains.

“The retailers that win will be those that reduce uncertainty – through better availability, clearer execution, and fewer surprises – not those shouting the loudest about price,” Bartlett told Inside Retail.

“As loyalty becomes conditional, earned and tested weekly, consumers will not be asking just: ‘Is this cheap?’ They’ll ask: ‘Will this work – and can I trust it?’.”

Insider Retail

Masked thieves smash into Calgary jewelry store, flee with $200K in gold

Two masked men shattered their way into a Calgary jewelery shop in the middle of the night, making off with an estimated $200,000 in gold pieces, and leaving the owners shaken.

The brazen break‑in at Treasure Mountain Jewellery along Centre Street near 16 Avenue was caught on CCTV just after 1 a.m. on Feb. 2.

The footage shows the pair smashing through the front door, heading straight for a locked gold showcase, and clearing it out within minutes.

The thieves left behind empty necklace busts, overturned boxes, and shards of glass scattered across the floor.

CityNews

Footwear retail comes with its own set of LP challenges, and this session is all about talking through them openly. Join Amber Bradley and footwear industry peers for an informal, peer-driven discussion focused on the realities loss prevention teams are facing on the ground.

Bring a topic, compare notes, and walk away with practical insight from people who live the same environment every day.

Save your seat now! Register HERE to join the conversation.

Only 8% of LP teams say they're NOT involved in new initiatives beyond traditional security. That means 92% of your peers are expanding their influence across operations, compliance, analytics, and more. If you're still fighting to prove ROI with shrink numbers alone, you're already behind.

Join us 2/19 at 12:30pm EST as Frank Patercity (Director, Crisis & Security Consulting, Control Risks), Steve Lindsey (Co-Founder and Chief Strategist, LVT), and I break down what 75% of LP leaders already know: this profession is evolving fast, and the teams that adapt are the ones getting budget, headcount, and C-suite attention. Register HERE

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Executive presence isn't a mysterious "it factor"—it's seven specific skills you can learn and practice.

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What You Need to Know About Exit Routes: A Guide to Compliance and Safety

Exit routes and egress paths aren’t just building code checkboxes — they’re critical to keeping people safe in an emergency.

This Detex guide breaks down what you actually need to know about compliance, from door hardware requirements to accessibility, labeling, and maintenance best practices.

Whether you’re prepping for a fire marshal inspection or checking internal safety protocols, understanding exit route standards helps protect employees, customers, and your business.

If safety and compliance are on your risk radar this year, this article is a practical resource you won’t want to skip.

Learn more from DETEX

Employees say compliance training is ‘disconnected’ from real life

Despite the advantages workers say they see in training, access is limited, the survey found.

One in 5 workers said they didn’t receive any compliance training in the last year. Similarly, only a third said they received diversity, equity and inclusion training in the past year, and 31% said they feel less protected as their company distances itself from DEI efforts.

A quarter of workers said they witnessed retaliation for speaking up about misconduct at work, and a fifth said they experienced it firsthand.

Yet more than three-quarters of employees said they would think about leaving their job if they didn’t feel protected at work, “directly linking employees’ sense of safety to retention,” the survey found.

HR Dive