Man Charged in $600,000 Produce Fraud Case
Federal authorities say a Florida man has been charged in a $600,000 produce fraud scheme involving the trucking and supply chain industry. Investigators allege the suspect used deceptive business practices to obtain produce shipments without proper payment. The case highlights how food and freight cargo remain attractive targets for fraudsters due to speed, perishability, and resale value. It also underscores the growing financial risks facing suppliers beyond traditional cargo theft.
Former Ace Hardware manager accused of $8K refund fraud scheme
Authorities in Polk County say a former Ace Hardware assistant manager is accused of stealing nearly $8,000 through a refund fraud scheme. Investigators allege the suspect processed fraudulent returns and manipulated transactions while employed at the store. Internal fraud remains one of the toughest forms of shrink for retailers to detect because it often involves trusted employees with system access. The former employee now faces criminal charges as the case moves forward.
Apple Spent $1.2M Hiring Police to Guard San Francisco Stores
Reports say Apple spent approximately $1.2 million hiring off-duty police officers to guard its San Francisco retail stores. The move reflects ongoing concerns around theft, vandalism, and employee safety in high-traffic urban locations. Retailers in several major cities have increasingly turned to law enforcement partnerships and private security to protect flagship stores. The story shows how public safety challenges can directly increase operating costs for major brands.
Third “Swatting” Incident with Costco – Anonymous Caller Disrupts Saturday Shoppers
A reported swatting threat disrupted shoppers at a Costco location, prompting a police response and temporary disruption to store operations. Authorities say the threat came from an anonymous caller and appears to have been false. Even when hoaxes, swatting incidents can create fear, interrupt business, and divert emergency resources. The event highlights a growing modern risk retailers face beyond traditional theft and violence.
Body camera video shows police officer allegedly kidnapped by armed robbery suspect in roadside showdown
Newly released body camera footage shows a police confrontation tied to a retail incident, drawing renewed public attention to how these encounters unfold. The video reportedly captures the tense interaction between officers and an individual during the response. Incidents like this often raise questions around use of force, de-escalation, and the challenges of responding in busy retail environments. The case is another reminder that routine store calls can quickly become high-profile events.
Oh Tariffic
Tariff refunds begin soon. These retailers are due big paydays
Importers shift supply chain strategy ahead of July tariff deadline
Feds have rejected 15% of businesses' tariff refund claims
The President pursues new import taxes to replace the tariffs the Supreme Court rejected
A big thank you to Flock Safety for supporting APEX 2026 in Nashville. Your commitment to helping organizations strengthen safety, improve visibility, and make smarter decisions continues to make an impact across the industry. We appreciate your partnership and your investment in bringing top asset protection leaders together for meaningful conversations. Events like APEX are stronger because of solution providers who show up, engage, and help shape what comes next.
Join us for the Retail Crime Legal Briefing Q&A Southeast in partnership with ALTO, where we’ll get into the challenges retailers are facing and the legal strategies that matter most right now. Featuring insights from attorney Charles Bowling, Esq., and Ops Lead Counsel Simon Isham from ALTO, this session will explore the topic from multiple angles to give you a well rounded perspective.
Join the Interactive Live Discussion on May 7, 2026 at 2:00 pm to gain actionable insights on navigating retail crime in today’s landscape.
The Biggest Face Matching Myths in Retail are it’s too expensive. Too risky. Too biased. Too hard to scale. Face matching in retail has been buried under myths for years, and many decision-makers are still operating on outdated assumptions.
In this webinar with SAFR, we’ll separate fact from fiction, tackle the biggest misconceptions head-on, and explore what modern, responsible face matching actually looks like in today’s retail environment. Register now and see what the industry may be getting wrong.
Teen mall 'takeovers' prompt former public official to ask 'What do we owe our young people?'
Videos of kids gathering and, in some cases, fighting at Bayshore Mall in Glendale went viral this spring as hundreds of young people met up for a so-called "teen takeover."
It was part of a national trend on social media where users shared AI-generated posters encouraging kids to show up at the mall during the popular week of spring break.
In Glendale, police showed up to the event and ultimately arrested 14 people between the ages of 12 and 19 years old. It's hard to track whether the minors who were arrested were charged or instead just released to their parents.
DC Duo Pepper-Sprays Beauty Store Workers During Robbery Spree
Two women from DC with an eye for beauty products have been arrested and released after traveling into Maryland and pepper-spraying employees during a robbery.
Amonie Lashawn Anderson, 23, and Diamond Markevia Shepard, 31, tried to get away, but were ultimately apprehended by officers from the Charles County Sheriff's Office following an investigation into a wild armed robbery.
Officers were called shortly after 6:15 p.m. on Friday, April 24, to investigate a reported theft in progress at a beauty shop in Waldorf, though the two suspects had already fled by the time they arrived.
Vehicle crashes into Antelope Walgreens in suspected burglary attempt; suspects flee
A vehicle crashed into a Walgreens store in Antelope early Tuesday morning in what authorities believe was an attempted burglary, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident happened just after 3:00 a.m. at the Walgreens located at 4331 Antelope Road.
Sheriff’s officials said a vehicle drove into the business and left the scene before deputies arrived. It is not yet clear whether anyone entered the store or if anything was stolen.
No injuries have been reported. The investigation is ongoing, and no information about suspects has been released.
The Next Era of Video Intelligence Starts with Integration
Net Payne
Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, March Networks
As Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at March Networks, I spend a lot of time with customers, partners, and our teams around the world. What I am hearing is clear. The expectations for video have fundamentally changed.
The video security industry is entering a new phase and is now being shaped by two forces at once: the growing demand for integrated, end-to-end solutions and the rising investment required to innovate in AI, analytics, cloud, and enterprise video management.
For years, many organizations built their video environments one layer at a time. Cameras came from one provider, software from another, analytics from somewhere else, and integration became the customer’s responsibility. That model made sense in an earlier stage of the market, but it is no longer aligned with what customers need today, or what they need to prepare for tomorrow.
What we are hearing from customers and partners is clear. They are not looking for more fragmented technology. They are looking for simpler ways to deploy, manage, and scale video systems that deliver meaningful outcomes across security, operations, and business performance.
Customers expect more than visibility. They expect insight. They expect outcomes. And they expect systems that scale across locations, environments, and business needs.
New retail strategy: ‘Please steal responsibly while we fill in the paperwork’
Retail security workers have been advised not to intervene in shoplifting incidents, amid growing fears over violence in stores and a sharp rise in theft across the UK high street.
The Security Industry Federation (SIF) has instructed members to avoid putting themselves “in harm’s way”, advising staff to observe, report incidents, and act as witnesses for the police rather than physically confronting offenders.
The guidance reflects mounting concern over escalating aggression towards shop workers, but has also triggered criticism from parts of the retail sector and political opponents who warn it risks further emboldening criminals.
Supermarket staff terrorized by shoplifters - beatings, guns, knife threats and PTSD
As Keir Starmer vows to crack down on 'disgraceful' shoplifters, retail workers have painted a harrowing picture of life on the front line.
For Ethan, 27, and Annie*, 46, the daily reality of customer service has shifted from simple questions about where to find things to a barrage of threats, verbal abuse, and physical assault. From stabbing threats to guns and workers who have quit on the spot, as the cost of living crisis bites, the shop floor has become a flashpoint for violence.
Two high-profile cases involved retail workers who claimed they were sacked from their supermarket jobs after tackling shoplifters.
Major retail fraud: ghost cooperatives, fake contracts and 166 million false invoices
A EUR 166 million tax fraud in invoices believed to be false. A total preventive seizure of over 30 million. Twenty-nine suspects, including individuals and companies. This is the picture that emerged from the operation conducted by the Nucleo di polizia economico-finanziaria of the Guardia di finanza of Naples, as part of an investigation coordinated by the North Naples Public Prosecutor's Office.
At the centre of the investigation is the large-scale retail sector. According to the investigative hypothesis, the system was allegedly built on a network of simulated contracts, consortia with no real entrepreneurial structure, and cooperatives created to disguise an illegal supply of labour.
Man arrested for impersonating FedEx driver, selling counterfeit goods: Hamden police
A man was arrested for impersonating a FedEx delivery driver and selling counterfeit merchandise, Hamden police said Monday.
Gioacchino Esposito is facing charges of forgery of a trademark or label, criminal impersonation and criminal attempt to commit larceny in the first degree. He was held on a $25,000 bond.
Police said they responded on April 24 to a report of "suspicious activity." Investigators learned that Esposito impersonated a FedEx driver while selling "high-quality counterfeit merchandise."
From Incident to Accountability
Retail crime doesn’t end at the arrest—and neither should loss prevention efforts. ALTO connects in-store incidents to legal outcomes, helping retailers reduce repeat offenses and improve overall safety. By partnering with law enforcement, legal teams, and local specialists, the platform ensures cases are followed through to resolution. This end-to-end approach strengthens accountability, supports store teams, and drives measurable reductions in recidivism across retail environments.
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