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CAL-ORCA Annual Training Conference
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Introduction with
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Sensormatic - Supporting the LPRC Industry & Development


A Solution Provider's & Manufacturer's View

New Solution Providers' Expectations

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North America

Taking a selfie on top of the UK's tallest building, while attending Sekura's Global Summit

Left to right: Donna Gudridge, Jay Cantrell, Pete Henry, Cheryl LeBar, Karen Hearn, Carina Lewis - part of Sekura Global NAM Team


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Jason Alexander promoted to Director of Field Asset Protection for
BJ's Wholesale Club

Jason joined BJ's Wholesale Club as a Regional Asset Protection Manager in April of 2018. Prior to that, he was a Regional Director of Asset & Profit Protection at Sears Holdings Corporation. In his 18 years supporting Sears and Kmart stores, Jason held numerous other roles including District Manager of Retail Services, Regional Loss Prevention Manager and District Loss Prevention Manager. Congratulations, Jason!

Submit Your New Corporate Hires/Promotions or New Position







In California, Criminal Justice Reform Offers a Lesson for the Nation
California Prop 47 - The Debate is Heating Up

Over the last decade, California has been at the forefront of the nation's efforts to reduce mass incarceration, in part because the state was forced by the courts to lower the population of severely overcrowded prisons.

Overall crime rates, meanwhile, are at historic lows, with levels not seen since the 1960s. Yet some categories of crimes, like theft, have ticked up, feeding into a narrative by opponents of criminal justice reform that California's new measures have gone too far.

Now that President Trump has signed into law a federal criminal justice reform bill, California's experience, and the political fallout, is especially instructive. Experts are finally starting to study the effects on crime rates.

At the same time, powerful forces are lining up in an attempt to roll back some of the changes and, supporters of the new laws fear, return California to its get-tough-on-crime days.

Police unions have put up hundreds of thousands of dollars to support a ballot measure to expand the category of crimes that can be charged as felonies. And the grocery store chain Albertsons has also contributed to the effort, blaming the changes for a rise in shoplifting. Big bail companies have raised $3 million to overturn a recent California law that ends the cash bail system, which critics have long said unfairly targets the poor.

The data on crime, and what it says about reforms, has been contested. Small upticks in some types of crime in some areas has muddied the picture. And Californians may well be confused about what to believe: One day, headlines say that crime is up; the next, that crime is down. For instance, violent crime rose in California in 2012 and between 2015 and 2017, allowing opponents of the laws to point to increases, even as scholars say arguments about criminal justice policies should not be based on short-term fluctuations - and that overall crime rates are declining.

The liberal perspective at the New York Times. nytimes.com

OSHA Workplace Fatalities 2017:
Unintentional Overdose Deaths at Work Up 25% - 5th Consecutive Year of 25% Increases
Statement from OSHA Regarding Decline in Workplace Fatalities in 2017

There were a total of 5,147 fatal work injuries recorded in the United States in 2017, down slightly from the 5,190 fatal injuries reported in 2016, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See chart 1.) The fatal injury rate decreased to 3.5 per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers from 3.6 in 2016. (See table 1.)

Fatal falls were at their highest level in the 26-year history of the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) accounting for 887 (17 percent) worker deaths. Transportation incidents remained the most frequent fatal event in 2017 with 2,077 (40 percent) occupational fatalities. Violence and other injuries by persons or animals decreased 7 percent in 2017 with homicides and suicides decreasing by 8 percent and 5 percent, respectively. (See chart 2 and table 2.)

Unintentional overdoses due to nonmedical use of drugs or alcohol while at work increased 25 percent from 217 in 2016 to 272 in 2017. This was the fifth consecutive year in which unintentional workplace overdose deaths have increased by at least 25 percent. osha.gov

NRF Big Show Takeaways: Predictive Weather Analytics - The New Buzz
One specific type of AI/machine learning capability kept coming up in conversations with vendors across the retail IT spectrum: predictive weather analytics.

Retailers can take reliable advance information on how weather will disrupt customer demand and supply chain patterns and apply it to optimize everything from how end caps are arranged in the store to how much stock of a specific SKU is allocated to an individual DC. With machine learning, predictive weather analytics solutions can analyze the results of previous recommendations and make better suggestions the next time a similar weather event emerges.

Whether solution providers are developing their own weather modules, baking predictive weather technology into existing applications, or partnering with third-party specialists, they are making sure retailers will be able to stand the weather.

Other Takeaway's: Omni what - that's a has been term. All retail is one channel and mobile is not just expected it's engrained in everything. Right now it's all about self-checkout, BOPIS, cashierless, same day delivery, frictionless returns and now even automated returns - Amazon - Amazon - Amazon. That's one term that will never go away. Oh we said that about Sears fifty years ago. chainstoreage.com

Starbucks Installing Needle-Disposing Boxes in High-Risk Bathrooms
Drugs & syringes have become such a problem in Starbucks bathrooms that the company is installing needle-disposal boxes in certain locations.

The coffee giant is exploring remedies after employees expressed fears about being pricked by uncapped needles and experiencing related health risks. Starbucks is testing solutions, including installing sharps-disposal boxes, using heavier-duty trash bags to prevent needle pokes, and removing trash cans from certain bathrooms.

"These societal issues affect us all and can sometimes place our partners (employees) in scary situations, which is why we have protocols and resources in place to ensure our partners are out of harm's way," Starbucks representative Reggie Borges said. businessinsider.com

Editor's Note: From blue lights in c-store bathrooms to deter the use by addicts to this development almost inviting them. Another example of the great divide. Just a thought. -Gus Downing

Biggest Robot Deployment - Safety Robots?
Giant Food Stores Deploying 'Marty' Robots Across Chain of 172 Stores

The project is a partnership between Ahold Delhaize USA services company Retail Business Services, Giant and Jabil subsidiary Badger Technologies.

The in-store robots, which move around the store unassisted, are being used to identify hazards such as liquid, powder and bulk food-items spills and provide reporting that enables quick corrective action. The robots' efforts free up associates to spend more time serving customers. They also help stores mitigate risk caused by such spills. theshelbyreport.com

Editor's Note: This is the first time we've seen a roll-out of robots specifically for safety reasons and it happens to be the biggest ever.

Safety Vests
Amazon's Safety Vests Improve Worker/Robot Safety & Interactions

Over the last year Amazon has rolled out new worker safety wearable to 25+ sites.

The Robotic Tech Vest is really more like suspenders attached to an electronic belt. The Amazon Robotics-designed product was created to keep workers safe when they need to enter a space in order to fix a robotic system or retrieve fallen items. Built-in sensors alert Amazon's robotic systems to the wearer's presence, and they slow down to avoid collision

The vest is designed to work in tandem with the robots' existing obstacle avoidance detection.

All of our robotic systems employ multiple safety systems ranging from training materials, to physical barriers to entry, to process controls, to on-board," Amazon Robotics VP Brad Porter told TechCrunch. "In the past, associates would mark out the grid of cells where they would be working in order to enable the robotic traffic planner to smartly route around that region. What the vest allows the robots to do is detect the human from farther away and smartly update its travel plan to steer clear without the need for the associate to explicitly mark out those zones."  techcrunch.com

Mexican Fuel Thieves Cause Explosion - Kills 79 People
TLAHUELILPAN, Mexico - Mexico's president vowed on Saturday to redouble his fight against an epidemic of fuel theft after thieves punctured a pipeline north of Mexico City, causing an explosion that killed at least 79 people and injured 81 others.

The blast underscored the deadly perils of the fuel-theft racket, which has cost the government billions of dollars a year and has been the target of a weekslong crackdown by the administration of Mexico's new president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Friday's explosion, which occurred in a rural, impoverished part of the state of Hidalgo, was particularly deadly because the breach in the pipeline created by criminals had also lured hundreds of villagers from the municipality of Tlahuelilpan, drawn by the promise of free gasoline. nytimes.com

FedEx pays $35.4 million to end NY lawsuit over illegal cigarettes
FedEx Corp will pay $35.4 million to settle three lawsuits in which New York state and New York City accused the company of shipping millions of untaxed cigarettes to residents over a decade

The settlement came after a judge ruled last Oct. 15 that FedEx had knowingly violated a federal anti-cigarette trafficking statute, and a 2006 agreement with the state not to ship cigarettes to people's homes. They said FedEx knowingly shipped cigarettes on behalf of such companies as Kentucky-based Cigarettes Direct To You and Long Island-based Shinnecock Smoke Shop. New York officials said FedEx's conduct undercut their efforts to protect public health by curbing smoking, and cheated the state and city out of tax revenue from cigarette sales. reuters.com

Hottest Retail Tech's At Adoption Tipping Point?
Two of the Five Top Retail Tech To Watch in 2019 - Impacting LP The Most

Automated checkout/Cashierless stores: This year is likely to witness much more movement on smart/automated/cashierless checkout schemes. Amazon may be poised for a more rapid expansion of Amazon Go if reports are correct that it's seeking airport space and mulling a plan to open 3,000 stores by 2021. But other technology companies, like Standard Cognition, are saying deployment of their solutions by other retailers will begin to ramp up this year.

Evan Shiue, head of strategy at Standard Cognition, said its automated checkout platform will be in "thousands of stores" by the end of this year. "Our early customers span the pharmacy, convenience and grocery segments."

BOPIS moves beyond mass market: Buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS) could be set for a mass-market breakout in 2019. Several large retailers adopted BOPIS early on, and have continued to refine their approaches and develop new ideas for how stores should be designed and store operation transformed around the concept.

More than two-thirds of more than 1,300 shoppers surveyed said they planned to use BOPIS services for holiday shopping needs.

That is likely to influence greater adoption and leveraging of the enabling technologies that support BOPIS this year. These include platforms, devices and mobile architectures linked with inventory and supply chain data that allow store websites and in-store associates to coordinate online orders, in-store available stock and shipping between stores. Ultimately, BOPIS and the technologies that enable it offer the most obvious proof points that retailers' omnichannel visions finally are becoming reality.

Still, retailers need to be step-wise in their BOPIS rollouts. If they rush to market with BOPIS without adequately supporting it, it could end up being a sales killer. retaildive.com

America's Department Store Era May Be Over
Analysts Say Macy's Will Close More Stores

The department store's November/December comparable sales on an owned plus licensed basis rose 1.1% (owned merchandise rose 0.7%) and e-commerce grew in double digits, but the real problem was that it couldn't sustain momentum after strong Black Friday sales.

Macy's wasn't the only retailer that saw traffic fizzle in the holiday months; Nordstrom also reported lackluster crowds at its full-line stores, especially compared to its off-price Rack unit. What that means to some analysts is that the department store model itself - Americans' most prized shopping destination for much of the 20th century - may be over.

"The C and D malls are definitely going to be going away, or at least look markedly different, and Macy's is still anchoring some of those tougher malls,"

Editor's Note: In 1984, the LP leaders of this group ruled the NRF LP conference with the specialty stores almost like the step children. The likes of Federated, May Company, Carter Hawley Hale, Dayton Hudson, Abraham & Strauss, Foley's, Macy's, and a host of others pre-industry-meltdown in the 90s - all in powerful influential positions steering the industry outside of the discount world who reined at IMRA, today's RILA. retaildive.com

Penney tries to come up with Hail Mary plan
Declining Sales & Executive Vacancies; 'A Broken Business'

J.C. Penney saw its same-store sales fall 3.5 percent during one of the strongest holiday seasons in recent years. The department store chain is looking to fill key positions, close underperforming stores and come up with a strategy that will make it relevant to modern consumers.

Three months after the embattled retailer hired a new chief executive, a handful of senior positions remain vacant. The series of events are prompting analysts and other industry experts to question whether Penney can avoid the fate of fellow department-store operator Sears Holdings Corp., which filed for bankruptcy and barely staved off liquidation.

Last week, Penney disclosed it has failed to restock any of the other open positions in its executive ranks. Penney said it is searching for a chief merchant, chief customer officer and head of planning and allocation. Its principal accounting officer will leave March 31, and it is looking for a successor to its chief financial officer who left in October.

"There is uncertainty around the company's strategy given the changes in the top ranks," said Monica Aggarwal, a Fitch managing director. "We need more clarity in terms of how they plan to position themselves." "Penney has some serious challenges to overcome, and gaps in the senior leadership aren't helpful to the changes they have to make." wsj.com

"You Can't Put the Icing Before the Cake"
Ellison's Plan is Back to Basics

Marvin Ellison might be new to Lowe's, but the strategies he's focused on are old.

One of the main things he wants to improve? How Lowe's caters to its customers, which vary from ambitious do-it-yourselfers to customers who want nothing to do with the building process to professionals who know exactly what they want. According to Ellison, the challenge is making sure staff know how to interact with each of these customers and can provide them with the level of service that makes sense for them.

"It starts with retail fundamentals first. As the old saying goes: you can't put the icing before the cake," he said. "We talk a lot about, we've been serving a lot of icing lately, but the fundamentals - or the cake - has not been baked nearly effectively as it could be. So as a management team, we're trying to be disciplined to focus on the fundamentals and not get distracted by all of the other things that we could be spending time on because we have to get this stuff first."  retaildive.com

*Not a bad message for the LP industry as well.

Judge rules U.S. law enforcement cannot compel biometrics to unlock device
A California judge has ruled that American cops can't force people to unlock a mobile phone with their face or finger. The ruling goes further to protect people's private lives from government searches than any before and is being hailed as a potentially landmark decision.

Previously, U.S. judges had ruled that police were allowed to force unlock devices like Apple's iPhone with biometrics, such as fingerprints, faces or irises. That was despite the fact feds weren't permitted to force a suspect to divulge a passcode. But according to a ruling uncovered by Forbes, all logins are equal.

The order came from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in the denial of a search warrant for an unspecified property in Oakland. The warrant was filed as part of an investigation into a Facebook extortion crime, in which a victim was asked to pay up or have an "embarassing" video of them publicly released. The cops had some suspects in mind and wanted to raid their property. In doing so, the feds also wanted to open up any phone on the premises via facial recognition, a fingerprint or an iris.

While the judge agreed that investigators had shown probable cause to search the property, they didn't have the right to open all devices inside by forcing unlocks with biometric features. forbes.com

Traveling This Week? Better Plan on 3 Hours for Security
TSA workers calling off doubles & hits record high
More Checkpoint Closures Likely

The number of airport security workers failing to show up for work hit an all-time high over the weekend, straining checkpoint lanes at several major hub airports.

The number of unscheduled absences was 8 percent nationally, compared with 3 percent a year ago, as the Transportation Security Administration conceded that many of its workers could no longer handle the financial hardship of working without pay during the government shutdown.

At Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport, one checkpoint was shut down at 5:35 p.m. Saturday due to a shortage of workers. At various points during the shutdown, airports in Atlanta, Houston and Miami also have operated under contingency plans to address the shortage.

"There is an increasing percentage of the TSA workforce that is calling out predominantly for financial reason," TSA spokesman Michael Bilello said. "This is isolated now to a number of our largest hub airports

Bilello said the agency had sent special agents from its National Deployment Force to supplement checkpoint agents. NDF members normally are dispatched when an event - like the Super Bowl - or a crisis - like a major hurricane - takes place.

"We're exposed," added Vincent, co-chair of the Transportation Research Board's subcommittee on commercial aviation. "Somebody is going to get hurt." journalgazette.net

Asset Protection Operations Manager Job Posted for BJ's Wholesale Club in Westborough, MA
The Asset Protection Operations Manager supports the field and Home Office Asset Protection teams, Clubs, and Distribution Centers, focused primarily on identifying and predicting trends through data analytics; implementing enhancements and solutions to solve business problems; and managing vendor relationships. bjs.com

Director Loss Control Posted for Murphy USA in El Dorado, ARK.
The Director Asset Protection is primarily responsible for providing direction, developing, overseeing and validating all security, theft reduction and asset protection procedures within the field and home office. The Director interacts continuously with the Regional Vice-Presidents, Division Directors, Home Office Partners, and his/her team to directly impact enterprise shortage control, security awareness, and program compliance for all MUSA retail locations. brassring.com

Murphy c-stores and gas stations operating over 1,400 stores in 26 states.

Stop & Shop pilot to offer cashier-less shopping on-demand

Stage Stores Ramping Up Off-Price Conversions

Reinventing the Fitting Room Focus at NRF Big Show


Closures - Cuts - Chapter 11's - Liquidations

Payless ShoeSource Strategic Alternatives - May Close 1,000 Stores

Signet Jewlers to Speed Up Closing Stores

Save-A-Lot Laying Off Staff 100 at New Corporate Headquarters

Mattress Solutions (142 stores) Files for Bankruptcy



Quarterly Results

VF Q3 Vans up 25%, North Face up 14%, Timberland up 1%, Wrangler down 2%, Lee down 9%,
total revenue up 8%
Costco holiday sales up 7.9%
Target holiday comp's up 5.7%
Urban Outfitters holiday comp sales (two months) up 5%, wholesales up 3%
Game Stop holiday comp sales up 1.5%, US comp's up 3.6%, International down 3.1%, total sales down 5% Barnes & Noble holiday sales comps up 1.3%
Nordstrom holiday comp sales up 1.3% Rack comp's up 3.9%, digital sales up 18%
Kohl's holiday comp sales up 1.2%
L Brands Victoria's Secret five week holiday comp's flat while December comp's down 6%
Signet Jewelers holiday comp sales down 1.3%
Tiffany two month holiday sales - worldwide comp's down 2%, Americas comps flat, Asia Pacific comps down 4%, Japan up 4%, Europe down 5%, worldwide net sales down 1%
J.C. Penney holiday comp sales down 3.5%


Last week's #1 article --

Macy's marks worst day ever on Wall Street, will shut eight stores in 2019
 


All the News - One Place - One Source - One Time
The D&D Daily respects your time & doesn't filter retail's reality



 



 




 

Stop crime in your stores.

Helping retailers report, solve, and prevent crime.

"Auror is the best thing that has happened to crime prevention since CCTV was invented." National Loss Prevention Manager, Farmers, Department Store Chain.

Learn how our retail crime intelligence platform can help your organization today by visiting www.auror.co.

         



 





Game of Thrones: Not Enough Watchers On The Wall
"The U.S. is under siege by Chinese, Russian & North Korean cyber spies"
Government Shutdown: Experts Fear Deep Cybersecurity Impact

The shutdown is affecting agencies that have a key hand in the nation's cybersecurity readiness, such as the Department of Homeland Security. That is generating anxiety over whether it could impact the U.S.'s defenses and whether opportunistic adversaries may seize the moment.

Kellermann says that when the government returns to normal, the "first order of business will be to immediately conduct compromise assessments and suppress the adversaries who have infiltrated government systems."

The disruption to day-to-day operations means that actions such as log review are likely being deferred in order to focus on more critical issues.

"Nation state attackers know that security is weakened right now and are likely stepping up their attacks," "It's easy for the government to truthfully claim they have no evidence of this, but with non-essential workforce furloughed, it's impossible to measure anything against your normal network activity baselines - they simply don't have baselines for this type of event."  govinfosecurity.com

WSJ's Cyber Daily: And You Thought GDPR Was Bad Enough
In data privacy and security regulations, countries in Asia are giving the European Union a run for its money. Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and other Asian nations are rolling out strict regulations for companies that handle their citizens' information, reporter Adam Janofsky writes. New mandates sometimes include requirements that companies turn over data to law enforcement upon request. How are you preparing?

Early signs suggest that Asian regulators will adopt stricter regulations, followed by aggressive enforcement, in 2019, said Guillermo Guerra, chief information security officer at Prudential PLC. cybersecurity.cmail20.com

PCI Security Standards Council Publishes New Software Security Standards for DevOps Era
The PCI Software Security Framework will eventually replace PCI DA-DSS when it expires in 2022.

This past week the PCI Security Standards Council released a new software security standard that is designed to help it validate the security of payment ecosystems in the face of newer software architectures and modern development methods like DevOps and continuous delivery. The new standard would ultimately replace the PCI Payment Application Data Security Standard (PA-DSS).

The PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) published new requirements for the secure design and development of modern payment software. The PCI Secure Software Standard and the PCI Secure Lifecycle (Secure SLC) Standard are part of a new PCI Software Security Framework, which includes a validation program for software vendors and their software products and a qualification program for assessors. pcisecuritystandards.org

US Retail Executives Think AI Will Have Biggest Impact in '19
Of all technologies AI is expected to have the biggest impact in retail in 2019 withy IoT coming in second in three survey's.

According to an August 2018 Capgemini survey of 400 retail executives worldwide, AI could save retailers $340 billion annually as soon as 2022, with most of those savings resulting from supply chain and return improvements.

AI is revolutionizing the retail industry by making it cost-effective to deliver a completely personalized, immersive and optimized experience for every consumer at massive scale," said Daniel Druker, CMO of Instart. retail.emarketer.com

"Do YOU want to get Rich? Come work for us!"
Cybercrime Gangs Advertise Fresh Jobs, Hacking Services

Calling all hackers for hire: Do you have what it takes to send "violent and graphic" emails and text messages to schoolchildren's parents, blackmail healthcare organizations, manufacturers, technology companies and law firms, or leak unaired episodes of "Orange is the New Black," preferably while also being fluent in Arabic, Chinese or German?

Or in the words of a November 2018 job offering from the international hacking group that calls itself The Dark Overlord: "Do YOU want to get Rich? Come work for us!"

The Dark Overlord is a notorious online extortion gang that regularly steals data and then attempts to ransom it back to victims. Anyone who doesn't comply gets threatened with the full data set being leaked, with the group often trying to increase the pressure on victims by trickling out the stolen data (see: Ransom Moves: The Dark Overlord Keeps Pressuring Victims).

The Dark Overlord's November 2018 job advertisement said it was looking for four individuals who had at least 10 years of experience in a specified area, including Windows application design, Windows network management, Linux application design, systems administration or "programming (any useful languages)," according to a copy of the job advertisement Digital Shadows found. govinfosecurity.com

Director of Global Security Posted for HP in Palo Alto, CA
HP's highest priority is the safety and security of our employees. The Director of Global Security will design, implement and manage a full range of security policies, programs and resources across the globe. This position will be responsible for crisis management planning, travel safety, executive protection, location security and emergency response (both HP sites and major off-site events) with a focus toward continuous improvement and innovation to deliver a 'best in class' global security program. This role will manage and oversee contracted security resources in order to provide the most cost effective, world class program. hp.com

Austrian Non-Profit Files GDPR Suit Against 8 Tech Giants




 


 

'Inside the LPRC IMPACT Conference' 2018
An Eight-Episode Series Presented by Sensormatic

Assessing The Real-World Impact of LP Efforts
The LPRC Delivers Evidence-Based Solutions and Actionable Results


New Retail Members

The Value - Expectations - Benefit - Why They Joined

Perry Resnick, Director, Loss Prevention, Boot Barn
Lincoln LeFebvre, Senior Manager - Field Asset Protection, The Home Depot
Aaron Hancart, Director of Asset Protection, TCC, Verizon Premium Wireless Retailer

In our 7th episode, hear from one LP executive who's been involved in the Loss Prevention Research Council for quite some time but with a recent move is getting his new company and team involved in the LPRC; and two AP executives who have been involved for a relatively short time but are engaged and adding value.

Long-term LPRC member Perry Resnick shares what factors went into his decision to invest part of his operating budget in the LPRC, and how the group's evidence-based research helps him in selling programs and obtaining capital from his senior leadership.

Lincoln LeFebvre explains how LPRC's scientific approach takes emotion out of the equation and gives you plausible solutions you can measure immediately.

And Aaron Hancart talks about the importance of staying at the forefront of industry research and results, and how LPRC's violent crime working groups have been especially useful in his retail environment.
 

Exclusive Sponsor:

See more of our 2nd LPRC series here. Watch our 1st series here.
Take the time to learn. As this is the LP/AP academic "Think Tank".



 





 

Chinese sellers of fake goods turn to WeChat, Instagram and Tik Tok to evade online crackdown
Counterfeit Dior, Hermès, Gucci and St Laurent wares continue to be sold despite new law in China aimed at curbing long-standing practice

China has come down hard on its world-renowned counterfeit industry. Bazaars lined with fake watches, shoes and bags have been demolished in recent years. A new law effective from January 1 promises to slap online retailers with up to 2 million yuan (US$296,000) in fines for bogus goods sold on their platforms..

But Chinese counterfeiters - still the most prolific in the world - have already reshaped their businesses by retreating to even more private spaces online. Many of the country's best fakers are now hawking their wares via social messaging networks like Tencent Holdings' WeChat. First they market their offerings at home and globally on platforms like Instagram or ByteDance's Tik Tok. Buyers then order and pay through private messaging apps. Such transactions are arguably "friend-to-friend" and not e-commerce as defined by the new law.

These days a knock-off black Dior saddle bag can go for about US$255 on a Chinese social media network. That's 10 per cent of the US$3,250 price tag on the real thing, but still pricier than the average high-street bag. The skill of the counterfeiters and their growing ability to leverage global social networks has left Beijing playing whack-a-mole as it attempts to stamp out fake luxury goods. scmp.com

Amazon pilots traffic management system for drones
Amazon Prime Air researchers are developing a traffic management system designed to create safe airspace for drones. The system is intended to support safe low-altitude airspace operations, enabling collaboration and communication between drones regardless of who is operating them. Amazon Prime Air is working with NASA and Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) to test the system, and also spearheading an industry standards group to create drone traffic management standards.

According to an Amazon blog post, a set of automated functions both on and off the drones will ensure safety and reliability. For additional safety, drones will fly at low altitudes below 400 feet, making it unlikely they would be in the same airspace as airplanes or helicopters. chainstoreage.com

Global e-commerce sales grew 18% in 2018
Global e-commerce grew at a faster clip last year-18.0%-than online sales in the more saturated U.S. market, which Internet Retailer expects to increase 15.3% from 2017. Consumers worldwide purchased $2.86 trillion on the web in 2018, up from $2.43 trillion the previous year, according to our early projections. digitalcommerce360.com

New eCommerce Platform Locks Horns With Flipkart & Amazon

How Retailers Can Best Meet Consumers' Ecommerce Delivery Expectations



 






 

San Francisco, CA: $500,000 Worth of Golden State Warriors Jerseys, T-Shirts Stolen From Warehouse
The team late Thursday confirmed a warehouse was ripped off of jerseys and T-shirts, but said the merchandise was old and slated to be given away.  nbcbayarea.com

Beaverton, OR: Police arrest serial burglary suspect, seek owners of $15,000 of stolen property
The Beaverton Police Department arrested a serial burglary suspect and is now trying to find the owners of thousands of dollars-worth of unclaimed stolen property. Detectives arrested 40-year-old Timothy Vandehey on Jan. 14. They suspect he committed 20 or more burglaries in the Washington County area. On the day of Vandehey's arrest, Beaverton police detectives served four search warrants in connection with the investigation and recovered enough stolen property to fill three vans. The police department has already returned $15,000 in stolen construction materials to companies. Beaverton Police officer Jeremy Shaw said investigators started tracking Vandehey in October.  kpic.com

Portage, MI: Sleight of hand artist steals $10,000 in Gold Coins
Scott Hocevar, owner of Scott's Sports Cards and Jewelry, said he was working at the store about 2:25 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14, when the theft occurred. "It was a good chance they were professionals at what they did," Hocevar, 56, said. "It was almost like a quick change type deal. I've been in business 40 some years and I've never had anything like that happen. "Between getting distracted a little bit and moving around, doing different things, I got caught off guard a little bit." A male suspect distracted store staff while a female suspect placed American Eagle gold coins in a pocket and later left the store with the male suspect.  mlive.com

Calgary, AB, CN: Smash and grabs drain $100K from Alberta retailers
A group of teens have smash-and-grabbed about $100,000 in merchandise from Alberta retailers like Walmarts in Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge, police say. Calgary police believe it's the same group of offenders. Staff Sgt. Guy Baker says the group is made up of five to seven teenagers. They rush into a store, cause a commotion - often smashing display cases - and make off with stolen merchandise during the resulting confusion.  cbc.ca

Theft ring targets iPhones, Apple Watches from Walmarts in NJ, PA
Police are looking for two suspects who they say have carried out an operation that stole more than $40,000 worth of iPhones and Apple Watches from WalMart locations in as many as four states. According to PennLive, the operation involves the two thieves entering the store late at night with suitcases and placing the merchandise in them.
The ring, police said, have already fenced many of the stolen items overseas. They face charges of of participating in a corrupt organization, receiving stolen property and retail theft and a misdemeanor conspiracy charge.  appleinsider.com

Wayne, NJ: Women charged with shoplifting $1,000 in JCPenney merchandise at Willowbrook Mall

Barboursville, VA: Three arrested for Grand Larceny at Macy's at Huntington Mall

Greenwich, CT: Crooks target Greenwich Ave, with new way to sell stolen goods

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Shootings & Deaths

Renton, WA: Teen dead from gunshot wound at Walmart
Renton Police are looking for the passenger who opened fire on a driver -- killing him -- in the parking lot of the Renton Walmart. Police say the victim was a 16-year-old boy and the driver of a black Mercedes. The suspected shooter, one of two passengers in the car, is still on the run. Police say the shooting unfolded around 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon in the Walmart parking lot on Rainier Ave. S.. Witnesses reported hearing two gunshots. Bullet casings and shattered glass were found near a restaurant.  komonews.com

St Ann, MO: Suspect killed in crash during police pursuit after shoplifting at Menards
A man police say was involved in a shoplifting case at a Menards was killed Saturday afternoon when the vehicle he was driving crashed as a patrol car pursued him. According to Fox2, police were called to the Menards store on St. Charles Rock Road about 4:15 p.m. A store security officer saw a man and woman stealing items and confronted them. The couple ran to the parking lot. The store officer followed and tried to detain them. St. Ann Police Chief Aaron Jimenez told the TV station that the male suspect threatened the employee, telling him he had a gun. The couple got into a car and fled, heading east on St. Charles Rock Road. Officers responding to the call saw the suspect vehicle and turned around to give chase. Less than a minute later, the getaway car collided with another vehicle at Lynn Town Drive. The driver of the car fleeing the store died. Two of his passenger were injured as was the driver of the other vehicle.  fox2now.com

Fort Worth, TX: 2 men dead after shooting in parking lot of Home Depot
Police say two men have died after being shot while in the parking lot of a North Texas home improvement store. Fort Worth police on Friday tweeted that officers were searching for at least one person who was inside a vehicle that drove away following the shootings. Police didn't immediately say who was believed to have opened fire or a possible motive for Thursday's night's gunfire in the parking lot of a Home Depot. Police say the two men who were shot had approached a parked vehicle, then gunfire broke out and the vehicle drove off.  cbsaustin.com


Robberies, Incidents & Thefts

Tallahassee, FL: Video Shows Toddler Raises Her Hands While Police Arrest
Two Shoplifters
The Tallahassee Police Department released body cam footage of a recent traffic stop in order to quell criticism that erupted online over a passerby's video that appeared to show police aim their guns at a 2-year-old girl. The video, released Friday, first starts with the bystander's video, which is shot from across the street. A toddler can be seen exiting a blue pick-up truck with her hands up, and continues moving toward a group of officers until she is eventually scooped up. The women filming the video say the cops are pointing a gun at the child, though a tree branch blocks the view. Chief Michael DeLeo, however, said his officers' body came footage shows a different perspective of the same incident, explaining that the truck was stopped because of a report of a theft by an armed suspect at a nearby store. A Loss Prevention officer from the store reported that one of the suspects had a gun in his waistband, and provided the suspects' description and vehicle to police.  thehollywoodunlocked.com

Shopper sues Whole Foods, Security Firm over supermarket spat; seeking $10M
Lena, a loyal customer at the East Village supermarket for five years, is seeking $10 million in damages from Whole Foods, Elite Security Personnel and the unidentified assailant. She said she first encountered the security guard when the woman accused her of shoplifting a bottle of juice in April 2017.  nydailynews.com

Alleged Gang Members Arrested In Millbrae Pancake House Armed Robbery
The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office has arrested four people in connection with a 2018 armed robbery at the Millbrae Pancake House. Taisia Fauolo, 21, of Vallejo, Miani Pon, 18, of San Francisco, Deviante Jackson, 20, of San Francisco, and Michael Pon, 21, of Daly City were arrested on suspicion of various crimes including robbery, conspiracy, possession of a firearm and a gang enhancement, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. cbslocal.com

Beaver Falls, PA: Save-A-Lot employee accused of stealing more than $16,000
Beaver Falls Police charged 31-year-old Dorothy Grier, 31 with felony counts of theft and receiving stolen property on Thursday. According to the police report, Save-A-Lot's loss-prevention officer contacted police on Jan. 14 about the possibility of theft by an employee. The loss-prevention officer told police that Grier, had been stealing money from the store at 400 Ninth St. since July 2018. Save-A-Lot estimated that Grier had stolen about $16,078 between July 2018 and Jan. 14, according to the police report.  ellwoodcityledger.com


Palm Harbor, FL: 80-year-old Publix employee charged with grand theft
It should have been a normal Friday morning trip to the grocery store for Travis Bernitt, but his day shopping at Publix took a turn when he lost a money clip containing five $100 bills. He alerted store management who contacted the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. Upon review of store surveillance video, it appeared that a Publix employee found the money clip inside the store. Further review of the video showed that employee take the clip outside of the store and conceal it behind the license plate of his car. Publix staff asked the employee, 80-year-old Joseph Casola, about the missing money clip but he did not admit to having seen it. When interviewed by Sheriff's Deputies, Casola admitted to having the clip and having concealed it behind his vehicle tag. Casola was arrested and charged with one count of grand theft.  fox13news.com


 

UK: Dublin, Ireland: Aldi assisting Gardai in 'shoplift probe' after video of security guard tackle in Dublin store goes viral
The video, which was taken at a Dublin branch, shows a man being held on the ground by a security worker who grips him by the neck. Shouting can be heard from members of the public as the security worker detains the man on the ground. Gardai (Police Service of the Republic of Ireland) arrived at the scene and arrested the man, according to an Aldi spokesperson who said they will assist with the investigation.  dublinlive.ie
 

Perth, Australia: Perth shopkeeper brutally attacked in retaliation for detaining child thief
Security footage has captured a violent mob storming a Perth grocery store, attacking staff and ransacking shelves, after the shop's frustrated owner detained a nine-year-old shoplifter. The citizen's arrest has landed the owner of the Kelmscott IGA with a serious deprivation of liberty charge, but those behind the retaliation attack are yet to face any consequences.  9news.au

Arka Design Fine Jewelry reported an Armed Robbery on 1/18, 1 employee injured

Daniel's Jewelers in the Pico Rivera Towns Center, Pico Rivera, CA reported an Armed Robbery on 1/18

Kay Jewelers in the Grand Prairie Premium Outlets, Grand Prairie TX reported a Grab & Run on 1/20, item valued at $8,500

Kay Jewelers in the Findlay Village Mall, Findlay, OH reported a Grab & Run on 1/18, item valued at $3,490

Piercing Pagoda in the Galleria at Sunset, Henderson, NV reported a Grab & Run on 1/18, item valued at $2,500

San Carlos Jewelers in San Diego, CA reported an Armed Robbery on 1/20

Zales Outlet in the Cranberry Mall, Watauga TX reported an External Diamond Switch on 1/18, item valued at $11,000


Los Angeles, CA: Millennium Biltmore Hotel employee wounded during Jewelry store Smash-and-Grab Robbery

Laredo, TX: Stripes employee alleged to steal over $3k in cash

Lacey Township, NJ: Kohl's female Shoplifter flees after pulling a knife on LP

Petaluma, CA: Suspected Shoplifter Flees Target Store After Punching Employee

Thornton, CO: Smash-and-grab thieves hurl rocks into 7 businesses; steal cash and electronics

Charlotte, NC: NoDa business owners say they are victims of growing shoplifting trend
 


Sentencings

Omaha, NE: Man Sentenced to 8+ Years for Baker's and Mega Mart Robberies

Ballston Spa, NY: Couple pleads guilty to felonies for convenience store robbery

9 Indicted On Federal Charges In Grocery Store Robbery Spree In Norfolk, Va


 

Bike Shop - San Diego, CA - Burglary
C-Store - Cleveland, TN - Robbery
C-Store - Gettysburg, PA - Armed Robbery
C-Store - Lumberton, NC - Armed Robbery
C-Store - San Antonio, TX - Armed Robbery
CVS - Tulsa, OK - Armed Robbery
Cell phone store - Colorado Springs, CO - Burglary
Cricket Wireless - Concord, CA - Armed Robbery
Dollar General - Houston, TX - Robbery
Dollar General - Stockton, CA - Robbery
Family Dollar - Greenville, SC - Robbery
Gas Station - Lexington, KY - Armed Robbery
Gas Station - Federal Way, WA - Armed Robbery
Grocery - Bart Township, PA - Armed Robbery
Grocery - San Diego, CA - Burglary
Gun Store - Niles, MI - Burglary
Jewelry - San Diego, CA - Armed Robbery
Jewelry - Los Angeles, CA - Robbery
Jewelry - Pico Rivera, CA - Armed Robbery
Music Shop - Tulsa, OK - Robbery
Pawn Shop - Wytheville, VA - Burglary
Pharmacy - Winchester, VA - Armed Robbery
Restaurant - San Diego, CA - Armed Robbery (Little Caesars)
T- Mobile - Hesperia, CA - Armed Robbery
7-Eleven - Federal Way, WA, - Armed Robbery
7-Eleven - Port Orange, FL - Armed Robbery
7-Eleven - San Gabriel, CA - Armed Robbery
7-Eleven - Olean, NY - Robbery

 

Daily Totals:
23 robberies
5 burglaries
0 shootings
0 killings




 



 


 

Matthew Skalisky promoted to District Asset Protection Operations Safety Manager for Lowe's


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Success can not happen without conflict. Because success always challenges the status quo, regardless, and mandates change. And in order for change to be successful you need commitment - you need everyone to buy in totally. It's not good enough for everyone to merely agree and move forward because they'll be those that merely go thru the motions and don't believe. One can disagree and still commit but for those who don't engage - commitment is a mere phrase not reinforced by actions.

Just a Thought,
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Gus Downing

 

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