Changing of the Guard
One Man's Impact On An Industry

This past week, the Loss Prevention industry lost an executive, a man who played a subtle and impactful role in the overall scheme of things and always led with his heart.

As part of the second generation of LP executives, he stood tall and rose to be respected by everyone in the industry. Never flinching from offering advice or his counsel, he spoke from his heart and shared all he could with those who asked. Grounded in honesty and always delivered sincerely, his comments were always meaningful and helpful even if the message was difficult. For those receiving it knew his intentions were always for what was best for the industry, for the person themselves, or for the team or project they were working together on.

Gary Manson, the former Vice President of Loss Prevention for the Neiman Marcus Group who retired nine years ago and who also served on the National Retail Federations LP Council for many many years, helped not only guide this industry but also helped develop hundreds if not thousands of LP executives at Neiman's and through his work with the NRF LP conferences for over thirty years.

A remarkable man that could always see and appreciate what others contributed and took the time to call it out to you and make that special comment that you'd always remember. As he did with me at a conference one year when I was a younger recruiter attending session after session to learn as much as I could, he called it out and thanked me for taking the time to learn the industry, knowing that as a recruiter I really didn't have to. But he pulled me aside and made that brief comment that I remember and appreciate to this day.

For those of you who didn't know him and for those of you who are part of the next generation, the third generation of LP executives, as I'm part of the second myself, take the time to read his column today. For those who traveled before us and helped build this industry have a message that rings clear and gives definition to the role you're playing now, one that you need to hear and one that you should hope you leave when it comes time for the fourth generation to read about your role and departure. As all of us should strive to follow the footsteps of those good men and women who made a difference.

Gary made our industry better and he helped build what you're in today. Take the time to read his column and, if possible, make a contribution to his charity. - Gus Downing


Target Bomb Plot: Wake Up Call or One Off?
LP Industry Experts Weigh In
It's rare, if not unprecedented, for a U.S. retailer like Target Corp. to be the focus of a potentially violent plot like the one revealed by the U.S. Department of Justice last week, and while stores should be on guard, experts said more threats like this are not imminent.

Although retail security and domestic terror experts were disturbed by the recently foiled plans of Mark Burnett to plant explosives in 10 Target locations in New York, Virginia and Florida, with the aim of forcing a drop in the company's stock price so he could buy up cheap shares, the perceived rarity of the conspiracy left them unconcerned about a nascent trend.

Richard C. Hollinger, a sociology and criminology professor with the University of Florida, Gainesville, who specializes in retail crime, said this is the first time he's ever heard a stock drop as motivation for a crime against a retailer and that he simply views Burnett's plan "as an isolated and rare event."

Seth Jones, director of international security and defense policy at Rand Corp., echoed that sentiment, but admitted attacks of this nature, whether or not they are carried out, are generally against restaurants and other, more public and populated locales like airports and hotels, including in instances of domestic terrorism.

"Retail is generally not a target and it doesn't come up a lot in intelligence reporting," Jones added. "There may be some modest exceptions...[but] the vast majority of attacks, hands down, are going to target infrastructure and transportation."

Bob Moraca, vice president of loss prevention with the National Retail Federation, compared Burnett's conspiracy to the "Chicago Tylenol murders" of 1982, which saw a string of people die after taking potassium cyanide-laced Tylenol and led a suspect to try and extort Johnson & Johnson to the tune of $1 million.

He added that the retail industry knows it's considered a "soft target" for a plan like Burnett's, which would have seen the DOJ's unidentified source walk into Target stores and simply place an explosive on a shelf, but said retailers defend themselves best when they work with law enforcement and their patrons. "See something, say something is so important." wwd.com

Calif. Prop 47: A Retail Industry Call To Action
Send Your e-Mails & Get Corporate Counsel Involved Immediately
Retailers and law enforcement officials want lawmakers to increase penalties for repeated theft on businesses
Retailers and law enforcement officials want lawmakers to amend parts of a 2014 voter initiative that reduced drug possession and some theft crimes to misdemeanors in order to increase penalties for repeated theft on businesses.

Assemblyman Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove) says the measure, Proposition 47, has spurred organized crime rings to target retailers and hurt consumers. Assembly Bill 1326.

His legislation would make it a felony to steal $950 worth of property in a year. Currently, under Proposition 47, a theft crime would have to involve $950 worth of property in a single incident to rise to the level of a felony.

The bill is sponsored by the California Grocers Assn., the California Police Chiefs Assn. and Crime Victims United California. If approved by the Legislature, it would have to head to the ballot for approval by voters as it seeks to amend the state Constitution.

The reduction in theft crimes "has emboldened and encouraged a culture among career criminals to participate in coordinated and deliberate acts of repeated theft," Cooper said in a news conference Tuesday. "To put it another way, a repeated offender could steal $950 [worth of] property in one day and come back the next day, and do it again, again and again."

Editor's Note: If you have stores in California you should immediately get your corporate counsel involved and even your CEO to send letters and emails in support of this Bill with a sense of urgency. Find the address of your legislator here. We certainly hope the NRF, RILA, and FMI send letters as well.  latimes.com

Macy's to close 34 More stores on top of the 100 already announced
Macy's is committed to its plan to close down 100 stores to help deal with a slump in sales, the company said in a press release on Tuesday.

The retailer said it will close 34 more stores over the next few years, but did not give any information about the locations.

The closure would cut more than 250 jobs in the state and was part of a plan to shutter about 66 stores nationwide. The company said it was forced to restructure as same-store sales began to dip, with competition from online retailers like Amazon taking away market share.

Macy's said it plans to open 30 new Backstage outlet stores inside existing retail locations. nj.com

Lowe's plans 70 job cuts in Wilkesboro; more than 500 overall
A major operational restructuring within Lowe's Companies, Inc. has produced more workforce churn. The retailer confirmed Tuesday plans to cut 70 support jobs in Wilkesboro and about 525 corporate office and support positions overall. There will be 430 positions eliminated at its headquarters in Mooresville - about 10 percent of the staffing there - and 25 corporate support in other facilities.

The announcement comes six days after Lowe's said it was adding 1,700 customer-support jobs, including 600 in Wilkesboro and 500 each in Albuquerque, N.M., and Indianapolis, all by October.

In January, Lowe's said it was eliminating 2,400 positions as part of changing its store-staffing model, as well as cutting jobs in contact and distribution centers. Those job cuts represented less than 1 percent of its overall workforce total of more than 285,000.

In October, the retailer eliminated 95 positions in its information technology department. journalnow.com

Retailers Beware
Protesters Ready for Trump's First Visit to New York as President
The distaste for President Trump in his hometown has convulsed into near daily protests across the city. Summoned by a Facebook post or cellphone alert, New Yorkers have taken to the streets to object to his policies, appointments and executive orders.

All this, however, could merely be a prelude to the moment yet to come - Mr. Trump has still not set foot in New York City as president, puzzling and emboldening some protesters who see his weekend visits to his Florida estate as something of a retreat to friendlier ground.

City officials would not discuss details of security plans that will be used when Mr. Trump returns to the city or how much protecting him will cost. Between his election in November and his inauguration in January, the city spent $37 million for the more than 200 police officers on patrol each day in and around Trump Tower. The federal government has reimbursed the city about $7 million. Large protests would most likely require a bigger police presence.

"Demonstrations do have an impact on operations because we have to get those cops from somewhere," the police commissioner, James P. O'Neill, told reporters at a news conference in response to questions about how the city would manage Mr. Trump's return. "Short term, we can handle it, but if it continues to go on, it could have an impact on our operations."

There have been student walkouts, disruptions at Trump-linked businesses, mass same-sex kiss-ins in front of Trump Tower and Muslim prayer vigils in airport arrival halls. For some the protests have served as beta tests for the main event: Mr. Trump's homecoming.  nytimes.com

Retailers Ask Supreme Court Not to Revive Disputed Credit Card Swipe Fee Settlement
The National Retail Federation and the Retail Industry Leaders Association asked the U.S. Supreme Court this week to let stand an appeals court ruling that struck down a controversial 2012 settlement of a class action lawsuit over Visa and MasterCard's credit card swipe fees. nrf.com

Director of Loss Prevention posted for Harbor Freight in Calabasas, CA on company website today officially
The Director of Loss Prevention is responsible for setting and leading the Loss Prevention strategy for the enterprise, including retail stores, distribution centers, corporate offices and quality assurance labs. The Director of Loss Prevention will lead a diverse team of remote field and office based staff in the development and implementation of strategies to reduce shrink and controllable losses including reducing both internal and external theft and ensuring the safety and physical security of all stores, distribution centers and offices across the enterprise. The Director of Loss Prevention utilizes all available information to effectively and efficiently deploy resources and to pro-actively identify and address areas of greatest opportunity.

We're a 40 year-old, $4 billion company - on pace to $8 billion in the next few years. We have over 750 stores nationwide and are opening a new one every three days. If your ego is in check, you are an open-minded partner, aren't afraid to get into the weeds to learn and understand our culture and have a desire to join our history making enterprise, then we'd love to talk to you.  brassring.com

Director, Facilities and Loss Prevention posted today for The RealReal
Authenticated Luxury Consignment in San Francisco, CA
The RealReal is the leader in authenticated luxury consignment. We offer the largest selection of pre-owned and authenticated luxury items including men's and women's luxury fashion, fine jewelry and watches, and fine art. The RealReal sells pieces from designers such as Chanel, Hermes, and Louis Vuitton; jewelry and watches from Cartier, Roles, and Van Cleef & Arpels; and blue-chip art from Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Sam Francis, and hundreds of others.

Reporting directly to the Sr. Director of Workplace Services and Facilities, this role will be responsible for managing all aspects of our facilities, safety, and security strategies. The ideal candidate will possess a blend of strategic vision and pragmatism, will be the unquestioned expert on all things relating to the location, function, quality, compliance, safety and cost of the places where our employees work, and will be able to translate who we are as a company and a brand into our workplace experience. This position will reside in our San Francisco, CA location. Lead all Facilities, Safety, Security and LP activities for the Company's 4 west coast facilities.

Base salary $130,000/yr. Range $89k - $184k. Total Compensation $135,000. Range $89k - $216k. workable.com linkedin.com
 
NRF Says Consumers Plan to Save Their Tax Refunds for Later

East Coast Transport Joins CargoNet

Zales To Pay $1.8M Settles Wage Suit Over Time-Rounding Policy

 
Quarterly Same Store Sales Results
TJX Q4 comp's up 3%, net sales up 6%, full yr. comp's up 5%, full yr. sales up 5%
   MarMaxx Q4 comp's up 3%, sales up 6%, full yr comp's up 5%, sales up 4%
   Home Goods Q4 comp's up 5%, sales up 7%, full yr comp's up 6%, sales up 8%
   TJX Canada Q4 comp's up 4%, sales up 14%, full yr. comp's up 8%. sales up 12%
   TJX Inter. Q4 comp's up 2%, sales up 1%. full yr. comp's up 2%, sales up 4%
Papa John's Q4 North America comp's up 3.8%, Inter. comp's up 5.6%, sales up 7%, full yr NA comp's up 3.5%, Inter. comp's up 6%, sales up 6.8%

Gary Manson - An LP Industry Icon
Leadership - Honesty - Sincerity - A True Gentleman

Henry Garrard Manson III, "Gary" of Arlington, Texas passed away Friday, February 17, 2017, at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas at the age of 73 years.

For more than two decades, Gary was responsible for the loss prevention program at one of the most prestigious, luxury retailers, Neiman Marcus Group. As Vice President of Loss Prevention for the retailer, he enjoyed incredible success, making an impact on his company, the industry and those who knew him best.

Early in his life, Gary attended Brunswick High School, where he was well-known for being an outstanding basketball player. He attended the University of Missouri in Columbia and graduated from Missouri Valley College in Marshall, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business and History.

Gary also served as a patrol officer with the Marshall, Missouri Police Department until joining the United States Army in 1968. He proudly served his country in Vietnam and Korea for two years in the Criminal Investigation Division. In 1970, he returned to the Marshall Police Department where he later became Sergeant.

Seeking other career opportunities, he was offered a position with the FBI as well as a Regional Manager with Montgomery Ward. Gary wisely chose a career at Montgomery Ward in retail, where he excelled in the area of security and safety. Neiman Marcus later recruited him to join the company where he was employed for 25 years as Vice President of Loss Prevention, until his retirement in 2009.

As a result of his years of dedicated work and contributions to the industry, Gary is one of the few recipients of the National Retail Federation "Ring of Excellence" award. When he received the award in 2009, the NRF said Gary was "the true epitome of leadership." Read the full NRF write-up here.

Gary's leadership is a quality that many in the loss prevention community have recognized over the years, and it has made him a guiding light for the many associates who have had the privilege of working with him.

The following are a few thoughts from industry leaders who worked with Gary and knew him well.

Jon Philips, VP of Loss Prevention at Neiman Marcus
"Gary was a mentor to many people and was mine throughout my entire career. He was always there to guide me and encourage me or give me a nudge when needed. He had an incredible memory for all those little details that he was able to personalize with everyone and truly make them the center of attention. When he retired, he had his daughter, Hannah, make a bracelet for me as a reminder and guiding light, with the initials WWGMD (What Would Gary Manson Do). I see that bracelet every day, because I have it attached to my phone. Gary was my mentor, my friend and my second father. He will truly be missed."

Chad McIntosh, VP of AP & Risk Management at Bloomingdale's
"Gary Manson taught me several things that I still carry with me today. He was an example of the ultimate professional, had an amazing work ethic with an attention to detail second to none. More than a boss - a dear friend. I have tried to live up to his example everyday of my career. Those of you that have worked with him understand, those of you who didn't, you missed something special."

Joe LaRocca, VP and Senior Advisor, Loss Prevention at RetaiLPartners
Former VP & Senior Advisor, Loss Prevention at the National Retail Federation
"Gary always had a smile and laughter that just came from deep inside and you couldn't help but just join in! He truly had a heart of gold. In 2009, Gary was recognized not only within Neiman Marcus, but the entire loss prevention community as the recipient of the NRF's Ring of Excellence award. I was fortunate, like so many others to spend time with Gary talking about leadership, strategy and family."

Richard Mellor, Former VP, Loss Prevention at the National Retail Federation & Former Sr. LP Leader
"Gary Manson's towering stature and strength of conviction to always do the fair and right thing was only overshadowed by his even bigger heart. He was the personification of a good and caring person which guided him in everything he did and everyone he encountered. If you only met Gary one time you would surely remember him for his professionalism and kind demeanor. We have all had mentors who have changed our lives but Mr. Manson was a mentor who changed the loss prevention industry."

Ed Wolfe, Former Industry Leader and Current VP at WG Security Products
"There weren't any executives in our industry, in the 80's and 90's, that had as much passion, pursued their responsibilities and demonstrated the talent that Gary offered Neiman Marcus every day. I am proud to have worked with him."

Lew Shealy, Former VP of Loss Prevention for Marshall Fields and Eckerd Drugs,
Past Chairman of the National Retail Federation LP Advisory Council
"As the Security industry leaders on the NRF 'Security Board of Directors' began the challenge of crafting the transition from security to loss prevention we identified Gary Manson as a security leader who was way above the average thinker and a man of integrity. We sought him out time again for his thoughts and relied on him for his wisdom and advice. We were confident in his perspective as to how things should be structured to meet the future demands of the Loss Prevention. When Gary spoke you could count on it and take it to the bank."

Dave Myers, Former Senior Industry Leader (now retired) and Former Member of the NRF LP Advisory Council
"Gary was a complete class act in all ways. A real family man, he radiated love and pride for his children and he adored his wife Joan. Gary was always polite, showed respect when deserved, was helpful to others and thoughtful about challenging issues. He was a real man and a true gentleman. When I found myself on the vendor side of the business, he took the time to meet with me and listen to my spiel despite the fact that it was unlikely that he would ever need what I was selling. He was one of the few peers that kept in touch with me after I retired and that was much appreciated. I will miss him and the retail business has lost a true professional."

Shelley Connors, Former Chairperson of the National Retail Federation LP Advisory Council
& LP Industry Leader
"I met Gary when he was first elected to the NRF board. He was always impeccably honest and didn't "play games." When he told you something, that was that. He was kind, thoughtful and always a gentleman...which was very much appreciated, especially when i was the only female on the board!"

Gary is survived by his beloved wife "Joanie" (a fellow leader in loss prevention); daughter, Monique Bullock of Belton, Missouri; son, Henry G."Hank" Manson IV, and daughter, Hannah Manson of Arlington, Texas.

Gary's family received friends yesterday evening at the Breshears Memorial Chapel in Brunswick, Missouri and funeral services were held earlier today at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Brunswick, Missouri. If you would like to make a memorial contribution in memory of Gary, the family has chosen Father Flanagan's Boys' Town, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, or St. Boniface Catholic Church. Memorials may be brought to or mailed to 207 W. Broadway Brunswick, Missouri 65236.

If you'd like to share a comment or memory about Gary Manson, send it to us and we'll be glad to publish it in tomorrow's Daily.

Social Media Impersonators Drive Security Risk
The number of social media impersonators grew 11x between December 2014 and December 2016, a sign of a trend threatening businesses and individuals as fake accounts become easier to create.

This finding comes from new research by social media security firm ZeroFOX, which spent two years digging into impersonators using machine learning, natural language processing, image recognition, and other techniques to gauge similarities between fake and legitimate accounts.

The creation of successful fake accounts takes time and expertise. Many impersonators set up their accounts long before they attack, garner followers, then change their information before they weaponize the account. They continue adopting new names over time to avoid getting caught.

"We saw a lot of impersonator accounts were set up weeks or months in advance," says Raggo. "A lot of accounts had been set up for some time to build a following. Then they change multiple times, transcending multiple accounts or companies over time."

There are several ways impostors try to trick unsuspecting users. They employ link shortening so unsuspecting victims have no idea they're getting phished. They use cropped, flipped, or altered images from legitimate brands to make their false advertising seem real.

This research highlights an interesting challenge for businesses as they figure out how to stay secure in the age of social media. Most organizations are equipped to handle phishing, malicious links, and malware in email -- but how are they positioned to handle social media?

"This is a problem within the cloud, outside the business networks." Perimeter and endpoint security can help squash some of these threats, but they can't tackle all attacks from social media impostors.

Businesses should be monitoring for impersonators, watching for instances of brand hijacking or ads selling counterfeit goods. darkreading.com
 
Director IT Security posted for Lowe's Companies, Inc. Company
Location Mooresville, NC, US
The Director, Information Security, serves as a leader within the Lowe's Information Security team. This position has responsibility to maintain the enterprise cyber security threat management program as well as drive direction on a risk reduction strategy, establish a governance program based on leading standards and policies, monitor cyber security compliance and regulatory considerations, establish cybersecurity and risk metrics for reporting, and lead the overall management of cyber and technology risk for the enterprise.

The Director, Information Security is responsible for leading a technical security team (Blue Team), penetration testing team (Red Team), Security Operations Center (SOC) and a security governance team.

The Director, Information Security works closely with the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), IT, and Business Executives, to determine acceptable levels of information security risk for the company.

Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE 50 home improvement company serving more than 17 million customers a week in the United States, Canada and Mexico. With fiscal year 2015 sales of $59.1 billion, Lowe's has more than 2,355 home improvement and hardware stores and 285,000 employees. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C. lowes.com
 
Stolen Health Record Databases Sell For $500,000 In The Deep Web
Electronic health record databases proving to be some of the most lucrative stolen data sets in cybercrime underground. darkreading.com

'Smart Mirrors' Come to the Fitting Room
Oak Labs, a startup founded in 2015 by former EBay executives, is focused on fixing what's wrong with brick-and-mortar retailing. Oak Labs' first product is a dressing-room mirror that can offer an experience like this: A woman enters with jeans and a blouse. Sensors read the radio-frequency ID tags on the clothes and display the items on a touchscreen embedded behind the glass. A recommendation engine-like those ubiquitous online ones - suggests complementary pieces such as shoes and a belt. The customer can choose a language other than English and adjust the lighting (options might include "dusk" and "club"). If an item doesn't fit or the color isn't right, she taps the mirror, which triggers a request on store clerks' mobile devices. The technology isn't designed to replace salespeople, says Healey Cypher, Oak's chief executive officer and a co-founder: "We want to make their jobs easier, make them more effective." bloomberg.com

We offer a range of security services to fit any large retail operation.
Find out why it's worth the switch.

LPNN Season 7 Premiere

'Live in NYC' 2017 Kickoff
Quick Take #1

LPNN is back for another LIVE industry-only digital conference, with over 20 information-packed episodes discussing and debating the hottest topics facing the retail LP industry today.

From the CCTV IP conversion, source tagging, RFID, merchandise protection to the increased violence we're seeing, how terrorism is impacting us domestically, how we should all be focused on increasing diversity, redefining ORC and understanding it's a global problem, to how technology and the Omni evolution is literally changing all of our jobs, these sessions are a must-watch if you want to be in the know and stay up-to-date.

LPNN's dynamic duo, MC's Joe LaRocca and Amber Bradley, help kick off the event with the first video here. Stay tuned to the Daily in the coming weeks as we re-broadcast the entire "Live in NYC" at the NRF Big Show 2017 shoot from start to finish!

Solution Providers: Have a video or commercial you want to publish? Contact us

New Zealand Court OKs Piracy Kingpin Kim Dotcom's Extradition To US
Pirated Over $500 Million in Movies-Music-TV Shows & Other Protected Works
A New Zealand court on Monday ruled that Megaupload Ltd. founder and accused online piracy kingpin Kim Dotcom can be extradited to the U.S., saying while Dotcom's alleged copyright offenses don't warrant removal to the U.S., he can still be extradited for fraud.

Nearly five years after Dotcom and six other individuals connected to the now-shuttered file-sharing website were charged with an array of copyright infringement, wire fraud, money laundering and racketeering offenses.

U.S. prosecutors contend that Megaupload illegally copied and distributed pirated movies, music, television shows and other protected works, racking up over $175 million in illegal profits and causing more than $500 million in harm to copyright holders. The U.S. Department of Justice shut down the site in January 2012 and seized approximately $50 million in assets. law360.com
 
Online Retailers Beware
Sneakers are the hottest online fraud target
A new eye-opening report from e-commerce fraud prevention platform Riskified, compiled from data collected from many online retail customers, shows that sneakers are the hottest new trend of CNP fraud. Online retailers should pay special attention to handling transactions that involve sport shoes if they want to avoid damage to their business and customers.

In general, fraudsters valuate their target commodities by resale opportunity and ease of handling. In this respect sneakers are a very attractive target. Demand is constantly on the rise and the global market is slated to grow north of $200 billion by 2020.

According to the Riskified report, Sneaker purchases are three times more likely to be fraudulent than any other sportswear.

This means that online retailers should be more careful when vetting sneaker orders. However, as 80 percent of sneaker sales are still legitimate, mishandling the vetting process can create the risk of generating false declines on real transactions, which can result in customer frustration and the eventual loss of good customers.

Riskified data shows that trendiness is more of a decisive factor than retail pricing. Fraudsters are looking for shoes that have more demand on the market and will get sold much quicker.

Basketball shoes are the type of sneakers that are the most at risk, Riskified finds, and topping the list of fraud targets with a low 67.7 percent approval rate are Nike's Kyrie Irving sneakers, which have grown extremely popular thanks to the top-notch performance of the Cleveland Cavaliers' point guard in the 2016 playoffs.

Running shoes, on the other hand, are less susceptible to fraud. For instance, the Adidas NMD line, which averages at $256 a pair, has a 92 percent safe approval rate.

Risks and targets will shift with trends however, and retailers should look to their sales data to forecast which types of shoes will be the next possible target of online fraud. thenextweb.com

Survey: Hacking incidents, security concerns not derailing online spending
While the retail sector has become increasingly sensitive to security concerns and the potential harm they could do to customer relationships, only 19% of internet users surveyed by Blumberg Capital said fears about hacking episodes and stolen data had forced them to cut back on online spending, according to an eMarketer report.

The study goes on to note that only 4% of those surveyed took the drastic step of not shopping online altogether, though perhaps that was always pretty unlikely to happen anyway.

While the vast majority of customers say they aren't letting security concerns affect their online spending, the notion that at least a third of them shop without saving their credit card details on e-commerce sites is not exactly reassuring. If their credentials aren't saved, doesn't that suggest they are less likely to pay with one of the many digital wallet formats that retailers are embracing to enable faster checkouts and higher conversion rates? And if they aren't saving credentials, how many times do they add items to online shopping carts and then abandon the purchase later because they have second thoughts during the lengthy process of inputting their card data?

It might be helpful to know that security failure aren't affecting customer spending just yet, but that shouldn't distract online retailers and payments firm from what should always be their top aim: Making sure customers have positive - and secure - experiences on their shopping sites. retaildive.com

Cheyenne, WY: Police seek suspect in a Menard's felony theft
The Cheyenne Police Department needs your help to find a suspect wanted for felony shoplifting from a popular store. The suspect is a white male driving a white GMC Safari with a tan stripe across the bottom. Police say the suspect made off with several items from Menards. kgwn.tv



Eldersburg, MD: Two arrested in $1,400 Baby Formula theft at Walmart
Two men are facing theft charges after allegedly stealing $1,435.98 worth of baby formula during six separate incidents at Walmart. A Carroll County Sheriff's Office deputy responded to the Eldersburg Walmart on Feb. 20 for a report of a shoplifting in progress. Deputies reviewed the Walmart's security cameras and observed Miller and Johnson also stealing baby formula on Feb. 6, Feb. 8, Feb. 13, Feb. 16 and Feb. 19. baltimoresun.com

Stevensville, MD: $100 bill Counterfeiter busted at AutoZone; arrest and search lead to Booster Bag
The Queen Anne's County Sheriff's Office arrested Dawand Daughtery for allegedly purchasing items from Auto Zone and Big Lots with counterfeit $100 bills. Deputies chased Daughtery and with assistance from Maryland State Police and the K-9 Unit from Centreville Police Department, the man was located hiding in the yard of a residence. A second suspect (female) got away. A search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of auto products, cosmetics, a coffee maker, bedding, and other items along with several questionable drivers' licenses and a "Boost Bag," a pocketbook altered to avoid store security tags. myeasternshoremd.com

Lockport, NY: Serial Walmart shoplifter pleads guilty to third felony
A woman who repeatedly shoplifted at Walmarts in four counties pleaded guilty Tuesday to her third felony in recent weeks. Her attorney blamed the thefts on drug addiction. Shentelle Gagnon pleaded guilty before a Niagara County Judge, she could go to prison for as long as four years when she is sentenced April 19. The Assistant District Attorney said Gagnon had signed a pledge barring her from all Walmarts because of shoplifting. That made her theft of $1,015 in merchandise June 10 at the Lockport Walmart a felony. Gagnon had previously pleaded guilty to felonies for Walmart thefts in Clarence and Batavia, as well as a misdemeanor in Rochester. buffalonews.com

Newhall, CA: ORC Suspect charged; fled Police in High Speed chase across AZ
A California man who was arrested last December when he was the passenger in a high-speed traffic pursuit through Lake Havasu City now faces felony charges for organized retail theft. John Aguirre, 51, of Newhall, California was arrested Feb. 17 after he reportedly stole several items from a retail store and returned them to customer service earlier that month. He was given a $219 gift card that he used to purchase various items with. havasunews.com

Franklin, TN: Nashville Men Ignore Walmart's Lifetime Ban, Steal Computers and Clothes
Two Davidson County men were arrested in Franklin Tuesday afternoon, charged with stealing more than $1,000 in merchandise from the Mallory Lane Walmart. patch.com

Randolph, MA: Man arrested at McDonald's following an Armed Bank Robbery

Shootings & Death

High Point, NC: 3 Arrested in Army Navy store Shooting Death
Three people have been arrested in the shooting death of a man at a High Point store earlier this month. Police said that Shirley Harrington and brothers Kemione Grady and Larento Grady are all charged in the death of Jack Little. Police say the 66-year-old man was found by a customer behind the counter at his Whetstone Army Navy Store around 2 p.m. Feb. 11. Kemione Grady faces charges of first-degree murder. Larento Grady and Shirley Harrington face charges including accessory after the fact to murder. usnews.com

UPDATE: San Antonio, TX: Good Samaritan shot dead in Kay Jewelers Armed Robbery
One man is dead and five others were injured after two robbery suspects opened fire inside a San Antonio, Texas mall on Sunday. According to NBC, two suspects had just robbed a Kay Jewelers store inside Rolling Oaks mall, and were fleeing when they were stopped by two bystanders. One man tried to intervene, but was shot dead by one of the robbers. In response, the other bystander, who had a concealed carry license, pulled out his weapon. He fired at the robber, wounding him. The second robber fled the scene, firing his gun along the way and injuring one man and one woman. Police have the injured robber in custody, but are still on the lookout for the second suspect. sfgate.com

Robberies & Thefts

San Diego County, CA: 2 Arrested In San Diego Metro PCS Robbery; month long spree of heists
Two men who allegedly robbed a cell phone shop in Pacific Beach Tuesday were arrested a short time later, leaving investigators to determine if the suspects also might be responsible for a series of nine other holdups at the same company's storefronts in various San Diego-area communities. What appeared to be firearm being brandished by one of the perpetrators during the crime turned out to be an airsoft pellet gun. nbcsandiego.com




Southaven, MS: COACH store burglarized at Tanger Outlet Mall
Southaven Police responded to a Burglary at the Coach store of Tanger Outlet Mall on Tuesday morning in Southaven, Mississippi. They discovered the glass display windows had been broken out and a few unknown display items were taken. fox13memphis.com



Peoria, AZ: Man leaves children behind as he flees following Walmart robbery
A man is facing child abuse and shoplifting charges after allegedly leaving his young cousins behind while he robbed a Peoria Walmart. Peoria Police arrested 18-year-old Jourdyn Ford when he was spotted just a half mile from the store, after the February 13 robbery. Police say they located the stolen merchandise, worth about $100, in a nearby desert field. When police returned to the Walmart, they were told that employees had found three children left alone in the store. abc15.com




Fairfax County, VA: Suspect images released in $4,200 Kay Jewelers theft
Fairfax County detectives are hoping surveillance images of two suspects will help solve a $4,200 jewelry heist at Springfield Town Center recently. The two men entered the Kay Jewelers location on Jan. 22 and made off with unspecified merchandise. insidenova.com




Corpus Christi, TX: Man sentenced to federal prison after Armed Robbery of Walgreens
U.S. District Judge John Rainey ordered Mark Garcia, 25, to 4 years and 9 months in prison. Anthony pleaded guilty to robbery involving controlled substances on Nov. 14. On Sept. 11, Garcia walked into a Walgreens Pharmacy and pointed a gun at two employees. Garcia left the store with nearly $3,000 worth of Xanax and codeine. caller.com




Akron, OH: Liquor Store Burglar knocked himself out cold
A liquor store burglary took a turn when one of the thieves hit his head on the counter and knocked himself out. The 10-second surveillance footage from the Leprechaun Liquor Store in Akron shows two men kicking in the store door. Later in the video, while the men are leaving the store, one falls over the counter, knocking himself out cold. The burglar stays face-down on the floor until his partner comes back and drags him out of the building, into a waiting car. mydaytondailynews.com

Lafayette, LA: The Lafayette Police Department, COPS stands for the Community Oriented Policing Section
This team of four officers is making a big difference in our city. When we think of crime, we usually think of the big stuff like murder, gangs and rape. But more common crimes like shoplifting take a toll. Corporal Bridgette Dugas and her team are making a big impact no matter how small the crime! Cpl. Dugas says, "Our thefts are down 6% our statistics from 2015 to 2016 came in and they're down!" katc.com

Skimming Thefts

Seaford, NY: Video Shows Police Dismantling ATM Skimmer at 7-Eleven
An ATM skimmer attached with super glue was found inside a 7-Eleven in Seaford. Along with the card reader, investigators found a pinhole camera with a transmitter placed right above the key pad, used to capture an unsuspecting victim's fingers entering their personal identification number. Once that information is transmitted to the person who installed the skimmer, they'll have everything they need to access and drain your account. Ryan Francis, the man who found the skimmer earlier this month, posted a video on Facebook showing a police officer prying away at the device. cbslocal.com

Spring, TX: 2 men accused of placing skimming device on ATM

Baltimore, MD: Police Investigating ATM Skimming Device Found At 7-Eleven

Glens Falls, NY: 20 Victims of a Skimming device contact Police; Glens Falls National Bank

Arson

Hong Kong: Metro Transit Stations halt sale of lighters due to Arson on a commuter train
The MTR Corporation has said it will no longer permit convenience stores located within stations to sell lighters beginning on March 1, citing safety reasons. The change in policy comes after an arson attack on board a train on February 10, which injured 19 people. hongkongfp.com

Blasdell, NY: Fire crews at McKinley Mall
Fire crews responded to the scene of a store evacuation at the McKinley Mall Tuesday. Hamburg Fire Department Dispatch said the Bon-Ton at the McKinley Mall was evacuated after an electric panel produced smoke inside the mall. No injuries were reported. wgrz.com

Tallahassee, FL: Lighthouse Children's Home Thrift Store destroyed by Arson

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