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 3/13/19 LP, AP & IT Security's #1 News Source D-Ddaily.net









 


 
 




 












































 

 

 



ZKTeco USA


Quick Take 1


The Zellman Group


Quick Take 2


Sensormatic Solutions


Quick Take 3


Gatekeeper Systems


Quick Take 4


Axis Communications


Quick Take 5


See Episode Release Schedule

View Event Recap & Pics Here

 













 














 

LPRC Supply Chain Protection Summit
Mar. 12

IAI Elite Training Day
April 3-4

ISC West
April 9-12

RILA AP Conference 2019
May 5-8

RLPSA Connect
May 14

CNP Expo 2019
May 21-24

The D&D Daily 'Live at NRF Protect'
June 11-13

OROCC Conference
June 20

RFID Journal Live! Retail
June 25-27

GA Retailers ORC Alliance Retail Crime Conference
Aug. 22

IAFCI Training Conference
Aug. 26-30

Global Security Exchange
Sept. 8-12

CLEAR 10th Annual Training Conference
Oct. 28-31

NJFC LP Conference & Exhibition
Oct. 30

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2019 GLPS - Group LP Selfies
Your Team - Your Pride - Our Industry
Building Industry Pride - One Team Selfie at a Time

SSP America LP Team at their National LP Meeting

"The Food Travel Experts"



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FaceFirst

Face Recognition: Do You Know Who's In Your Store?

Peter Trepp, CEO, FaceFirst

 

FaceFirst is the global market leader in facial recognition systems for retail stores, including superstores, grocery, pharmacies and other retail environments. FaceFirst helps retailers create safer stores, great customer experiences and personalized service through face recognition and AI. Peter Trepp, CEO of FaceFirst, talks about the increased adoption of face recognition by retailers, the many ways the technology can be used in stores, and what sets it apart from other retail security solutions.



Quick Take 6 with Axis Communications
 

Hedgie Bartol, Retail Business Development Manager,
Axis Communications

with MCs Joe LaRocca
and Amber Bradley

 

Amber and Joe meet up with a familiar face - the one and only Hedgie Bartol of Axis Communications. With LP departments being tasked with doing more in the store, learn how Axis is helping retailers leverage network enabled technologies to create a truly connected store. Also, hear Joe LaRocca do a southern accent.



 

 
Cathy Langley promoted to Vice President, Asset Protection
for Rite Aid

Cathy previously held the role of Senior Director of Loss Prevention for over eight years before this promotion. Throughout her thirty plus years at Rite Aid, she's held various positions in loss prevention including Director of Loss Prevention Analytics, Corporate Director of Loss Prevention and Office Manager where she managed the corporate staff in loss prevention. Congratulations Cathy!
 
Dikaios Mihalitsis promoted to Director of Asset Protection & Inventory Control for Rent the Runway
Dikaios was previously the Director of Inventory for the online retailer for over a year before this promotion. Prior, he also held various roles in shortage control and finances for Bloomingdale's including Shortage Control - Director of Compliance, Shortage Control - Regional Controller, Financial Control - Manager of New Store Construction, Travel Business Office, Competitive Bidding and Properties Accounting Supervisor. He earned his Bachelors degree in Finance from Baruch College. Congratulations Dikaios!
 

Submit Your New Corporate Hires/Promotions or New Position







Crime Alert - Chicago's Retail Violence Makes the News

Chicago: Violent Encounters in Retail Happening at Alarming Rate
Thefts Up 55% - Robberies Up 108% - Aggravated Batteries Up 262% -
Overall Since 2015
Chicago Aldermen Call For More Police Patrols After Spike in Violence, Thefts
& Robberies in Streeterville


"We are seeing an overall increase in the number of street crimes, the number of armed robberies, snatch and grabs, and violent encounters in retail stores along Michigan avenue; all these things are happening at an alarming rate," Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) said.

Local aldermen say two robberies reported in Streeterville overnight are just the latest in a spike in crime there, as they call on police to increase their presence in the downtown neighborhood.

Chicago police issued a community alert over the weekend, warning of multiple incidents in the Streeterville area where people were being robbed of their cellphones and purses. The two alderman who represent the region say they need more beat cops and more cooperation between CPD and Northwestern University Police and more aggressive police response.

The most recent CPD CompStat report from the area covering Streeterville shows robberies are down two percent from this time last year, but are up 108 percent since 2015. Aggravated batteries are up 38 percent from last year, and up an alarming 262 percent since 2015. Thefts are also up five percent from last year, and 55 percent overall since 2015.

Last year, Reilly used a half million dollars from his aldermanic menu fund to install new high definition cameras in the area. wgntv.com


Failed Walgreen's Sale Impact
Rite Aid Announces Leadership Transition and Organizational Restructuring
To Generate Annual Cost Savings of $55M through Organizational Restructuring


Almost the entire senior management team including the Group VP, Asset Protection, is leaving the company.

In addition, the Company announced actions that will reduce managerial layers and consolidate roles across the organization, resulting in the elimination of approximately 400 full-time positions, or more than 20% of the corporate positions located at the Company's headquarters and across the field organization.

These cost savings will serve to offset an expected reduction in income associated with its diminishing obligations under the Transition Services Agreement with Walgreen Co., which related to the prior sale of stores. Rite Aid expects to incur a one-time restructuring charge of approximately $38 million to achieve the targeted cost savings.

"The Board believes that now is the right time to undertake a leadership transition." businesswire.com

Watch Bob Oberosler's LPNN Interviews Over the Years:

Want to be a
Senior Leader?
There's a Price

Filmed in Jan. 2015

 

The Armed Robbery Epidemic: How to Stay Safe
Filmed in June 2017

 

Digital Loss Prevention: Harnessing the Power of Social Media
Filmed in Jan. 2018


A city in fear:
How Police, Federal agents took down the Austin bomber after 19 days of terror
Home Depot Organized Retail Crime Division played major role


Watch the full story on "Nightline" TONIGHT at 12:35 a.m. ET on ABC.

For 19 days, a bomber held Austin, Texas, hostage - residents of the city paralyzed by the fear of unpredictable strikes. By the time authorities caught up with the suspect, six bombs had detonated, two people were dead and five were injured.

A year has passed, but for the first time, ABC News' "Nightline" takes you inside the investigation that brought down one of the most prolific bombers in American history, through the eyes of law enforcement on the ground - the Austin police, the bomb squads, FBI and ATF agents - and by revealing never-before-seen details on how they found him.

"In the history of this country, we haven't had a serial bomber that planted this many devices in a 19-day period," said Fred Milanowski, the ATF special agent in charge of the Austin probe.

Authorities reached out to Home Depot, where they believed the bomber might have purchased his supplies. The Home Depot's Organized Retail Crime Division works in tandem with law enforcement for these situations.

Jeremy Greenleaf, Home Depot's corporate manager of investigations, said when his team received the suspicious packages, they were "able to identify those gloves, come up with the product identification number, and... the sign" reading "Drive Like Your Kids Live Here" that was used at the tripwire scene.

Then, his team was able to "generate the one receipt purchased here" in Round Rock, Texas.

After scouring hours of surveillance footage, Home Depot security located the suspect.

"He walked into the building, he asked the door greeter some questions...you could tell he was kind of asking where certain items were," said Home Depot organized retail crime investigator Terry Pruse. "The greeter directed him to that area, and minutes later, he came back with some of the items that we were looking for."

According to the Home Depot investigators, the suspect was seen on surveillance purchasing the red sign and gloves he later wore to drop off the packages at FedEx, then he exited the Home Depot and got into his vehicle - a red Ford Ranger.

As that information was being called into the command center, a team of FBI analysts immediately started searching for the person who might have both purchased those supplies and owned that red truck. abcnews.go.com


 


 


Agilence and Omnivore Announce Partnership to Bring Restaurants Advanced Analytics and Simplified POS Integrations
Agilence, Inc., the leader in vertical business intelligence for restaurant operators, today announced a partnership with Omnivore, provider of the universal POS API and digital marketplace that helps to optimize the digital restaurant experience. The Agilence 20/20 Data Analytics platform is now integrated with the Omnivore API, giving more restaurant operators access to advanced analytics regardless of their point of sale (POS) system of choice. This new partnership drastically decreases integration times, leading to a greater impact on results and a faster ROI.

"We are very excited to be partnering with Omnivore," said Raoul Ricard, VP Strategy & Business Development at Agilence. "Their expertise in integrating various restaurant systems and ours in data analytics will help provide actionable insights for any restaurant with the goal of growing and providing customers with the best experience." prnewswire.com


OpenEye Recognized by Hanwha for Commitment to Open Cloud Platform
OpenEye, a leading provider of cloud managed video surveillance solutions, was recognized by Hanwha Techwin with the new STEP Partner of the Year award for their commitment to an open cloud platform. The OpenEye Web Services open standards allow OpenEye to easily work with other leaders in the industry to meet customer needs with products that they trust.

The Hanwha STEP membership program supports their partners using Hanwha Techwin products to provide a truly differentiated solution and offering. openeye.net


Maryland retail, restaurant industries join national push to hire former inmates
A coalition of trade groups - including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Retail Federation and the National Restaurant Association - have backed a national initiative to include people with criminal records in their recruiting and hiring. The organizations say they represent employers of more than half of the U.S. workforce.

The "Getting Talent Back to Work" pledge, unveiled earlier this year with practical tips for employers, stemmed from passage of the First Step Act, bipartisan legislation passed by Congress in December to expand re-entry opportunities for incarcerated men and women. The nearly 700,000 people released from prison in the United States each year should not be "re-sentenced" by employers, the pledge says. One in five job seekers in the Baltimore region reported in a Greater Baltimore Committee study in 2016 that their criminal record was a barrier to employment.

Many Maryland retailers hire people with records, especially amid low unemployment and worker shortages, said Cailey Locklair Tolle, president of the Maryland Retailers Association.

In Maryland, private employers can ask about an applicant's criminal record or history, though the state is among 33 with "ban-the-box" statutes affecting state hiring. That means agencies can't ask whether someone has a criminal record until later in the application process. A bill before the General Assembly, opposed by some business groups, would prohibit employers with 15 or more full-time workers from running a records check or requiring an applicant to disclose a record before a conditional job offer is made. baltimoresun.com

Tulsa, OK: QuikTrip using armed 'hybrid employees' to deter crime in c-stores
The first of QuikTrip's armed hybrid employees are in some Tulsa stores and already exceeding the convenience store chain's expectations. QuikTrip spokesman Mike Thornbrugh said the company has hired 11 full-time employees in Tulsa to fill a unique role both working at the store and providing armed security.

Hybrid employees' presence has "significantly" lowered thefts and other incidents at those stores, Thornbrugh said, though the spokesman could not provide any specific number to that claim. He said the program's community policing approach has often deterred habitual offenders at the door.

Thornbrugh said the employees carry weapons openly and are clearly identified apart from regular clerks. Security officers won't work behind the counter and though they may assist in stocking and cleaning in some cases, they will primarily function in the same way the store previously used off-duty law enforcement and security guards. tulsaworld.com

FDA Sets Limits on Retail Sales of Flavored E-Cigarettes
Fruity flavors that appeal to teens prohibited from most c-stores, gas stations

The new directives for retailers and manufacturers, first proposed by the FDA in November, are aimed at limiting access to the e-cigarette flavors most popular among children and teens, whose use of the devices surged last year. Market leader Juul Labs Inc. sells nicotine liquids in flavors such as mango and cucumber. Others sell strawberry shortcake, gummy bear and cotton candy flavors.

Under the proposed restrictions, expected to be finalized and implemented within the next few months, brick-and-mortar stores will be barred from selling e-cigarettes in flavors other than tobacco, mint and menthol unless they prevent minors from entering the store altogether or create a separate section of the store that minors can't enter. Meanwhile, websites that sell flavored vaping products must curb bulk purchases and use third-party age-verification services. wsj.com

4 More Fast-Food Chains Vow To End No-Poach Agreements
Four national fast-food chains have agreed to end so-called no-poach agreements preventing employees from working for competing restaurants, ending a portion of a July 2018 investigation that spanned 14 states.

Dunkin' Donuts, Arby's, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, and Little Caesars will stop including the no-poach provisions in their franchise agreements, stop enforcing any existing agreements including those provisions and request that franchisees remove any such provisions from their agreements, according to statements issued Tuesday by several attorneys general.

The chains join a number of other fast-food chains who've already agreed to end the practice, including Carl's Jr., Buffalo Wild Wings and McDonald's. law360.com


Dick's Sporting Goods will remove guns from 125 stores amid slumping sales
Dick's Sporting Goods announced Tuesday it will remove firearms from 125 of its stores, according to news reports. The move follows the company's ban on assault-style weapons last year in the wake of the Parkland shooting.

CEO Ed Stack said Tuesday that Dick's will pull hunting gear from 125 stores starting in around August in response to its slumping sales in those stores, Bloomberg reported, a move that may spread to more stores next year. usatoday.com

'Vertical retail palace' rises on New York's skyline
Please don't call it a mall. Hudson Yards is a multi-billion dollar "vertical retail palace" that offers New Yorkers and visitors to the city a wide variety of upscale dining, entertainment and shopping options. retailwire.com

Two Years in the Making: Organic Trade Association Launches Anti-Fraud Program

More Than 12,000 Cases of Pillsbury Flour Recalled Over Salmonella Worries

Claire's recalls makeup after regulators warn of asbestos


Quarterly Results
Casey's General Stores Q3 comp's up 3.4%; revenue up 8.2%
Weis Markets Q4 comp's up 0.9%, total sales up 1%; full-year comp's up 0.7%, total sales up 1.2%
Neiman Marcus Q2 comp's up 0.7%, revenue down 6%
Christopher & Banks Q4 comp's flat, net sales down 8.6%; full-year comp's down 2.6%, net sales down 4.6%

Express Q4 comp's down 6%, net sales down 10%; full-year comp's down 1%, net sales down 2%
Build-a-Bear Workshop Q4 revenue down 13.5%; full-year revenue down 7.5%

 

Register Today!
eBay's Connect & Collaborate Conference
April 10th, 2019 in Draper, Utah

Please join eBay's Global Asset Protection team for Connect & Collaborate 2019, our biennial opportunity to host some of the nation's leaders in combatting organized retail crime at the eBay facility in Draper, Utah, just fifteen minutes south of Salt Lake City. The event provides retailers, law enforcement, and eBay an opportunity to "Connect and Collaborate" on challenges, strategies, tools, and solutions related to organized retail crime.

More details to follow, including an agenda and suggestions for travel accommodation. Please feel free to send the invitation to any Law Enforcement or Retail Investigator that would be interested in attending!

Please send your RSVP by April 1st, with number and names of attendees, to: proact@ebay.com


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



 





 


 




 

Legislation for Cybersecurity of Internet-of-Things Introduced
Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the Senate and the House of Representative to improve the cybersecurity of Internet-connected devices. The Internet of Things (IoT) Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2019 would require that devices purchased by the U.S. government meet certain minimum security requirements.

The legislation is being introduced in the Senate by U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Cory Gardner(R-CO), co-chairs of the Senate Cybersecurity Caucus, along with Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Steve Daines (R-MT), while Reps. Robin Kelly (D-IL) and Will Hurd (R-TX) are introducing companion legislation in the House of Representatives. securitymagazine.com

Cyber-Attacks Increasing for Canadian Orgs
Cybersecurity threats are intensifying in Canada, with a large majority (76%) of organizations saying they have been the victim of a cyber-attack in the past 12 months, according to a new report.

"Of these, 33% have seen up to a 25% increase, 19% have seen an increase of between 26-50% and 15% have seen a 51-100% increase in attack volumes. 10% have witnessed increases of more than 100%."

According to the report, the
average number of breaches per surveyed organization was 3.42, with more than three-quarters (76%) of companies experiencing an increase in attack volumes. Given that 81% of surveyed organizations said that attacks have become more sophisticated, it's not surprising that 85% of participating organizations plan to increase spending on cyber-defense. infosecurity-magazine.com

Cyber Criminals Have Turned Social Media Cyber Crime Into a $3 Billion Business
The same social media platforms that you use to keep up with friends and family - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube - have given rise to a vast global cyber criminal network, according to a new report by cybersecurity firm Bromium. The report on social media cyber crime, carried out as part of a six-month academic study by a criminology expert at the University of Surrey in the UK, detailed all of the various tactics - ranging from cryptojacking to botnets for hire - used by cyber criminals around the world to earn nearly $3.25 billion annually by exploiting popular social platforms. cpomagazine.com

North Korean hackers net $670 million in foreign currency through crypto-attacks, reports UN Security Council panel
A report detailing North Korea's evasion of economic embargos using blockchain technology was revealed by a Tokyo-based media outlet, Nikkei Asian Review. The report published by the United Nation Security Council [UNSC] panel cited that North Korean hackers carried out a series of cyber attacks on overseas financial institutions. The controversial East Asian country had leveraged blockchain technology in a bid to conceal its trail and allegedly hoarded nearly $670 million in foreign currency. ambcrypto.com




 





 

Never, Ever Use Duplicate Passwords

It feels like every week some major hotel chain, online service or health care provider has some type of breach. The most common information compromised is username and password data. Oftentimes hackers take your usernames and passwords and use them to try and get into your other accounts. For example, if your Netflix password is the same as your Amazon password, if someone gets your Netflix password, now they can shop with your Amazon account as well as watch movies. To make using a different password for each account simpler, you can use a password manager.






 

The Debate Continues:
How to Curb Rising Liquor Thefts Across Canada


Why Some Canadian Retailers Use A Hands-Off Approach to Prevent Shoplifting
'Seeing nothing done does not mean nothing is being done.'

By Stephen O'Keefe
President, Bottom Line Matters


The one thing I can tell you after 30 years in the retail LP world with 3 major companies and several expat roles is that there are no 2 Loss Prevention programs the same.

People often ask me when there will be some kind of standardization for the trade, and my response is the same: "Probably never".

The most successful LP programs are those that adapt to their environment. That means taking the lead from the merchants and operators. Conducting the risk assessment, getting their commitment to risk appetite, and paving the way for a unique loss prevention program to absorb the bumps along the way makes them all different. In fact, I even used "Loss Prevention" as the general title for the function; sorry to those who are Asset Protection, Resources Protection, Enterprise Risk Management, Corporate Security, Profit Protection...you know I basically mean all of you who do "that job."

Recently, some Canadian retailers have been in the spotlight (see coverage below), pressed by the media to explain why they seem to have a "hands-off" policy whereby they let shoplifters get away with major thefts. "Why don't they stop them?" is a question asked by onlooking customers concerned about their tax dollars (the retailer recently highlighted our government-owned liquor stores).

And in many cases the retailers are silent. That's okay, it's their prerogative. And we don't want to share too much with the public on exactly what are systems are, as the nefarious actors will use that information to try to beat the system.

The "Hands-Off" approach has been more widely used by many retailers with the increase in technology allowing them to collect evidence digitally and build a case against the shoplifters. You may already know this, but the public doesn't and at times some mid-level LP management may not know the method to the madness of the LP Executive.

Click here to read O'Keefe's "5 Key Talking Points" to explain this approach.

Staff making arrests not a solution to liquor thefts, security analyst Stephen O'Keefe says
Despite calls for Winnipeg Liquor Mart staff to react more aggressively in response to ongoing daylight booze thefts, a loss prevention consultant says there are a number of reasons why that's unlikely to happen.

Retail security analyst Stephen O'Keefe told 680 CJOB that staff - including security guards - at retail stores aren't necessarily given free rein to make arrests if they witness a theft, and typically do not engage.

"The liquor stores are not standalone unique when they tell regular employees not to arrest," said O'Keefe.

"First, under the criminal code, they may not have all the elements to be able to execute a proper arrest. Second, there's been a lot of new legislation around the licensing of private investigators. Thirdly, and probably the most important, is the safety aspect in order to make a safe arrest."

O'Keefe, who does not have Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries as a client, said in many cases, security guards are also told not to make arrests, but rather to collect evidence for police.

"With the amount of technology that's now available, you really don't have to arrest people on the spot," he said. "You can work with police and execute an arrest after the fact.

O'Keefe said there are a number of preventative measures Liquor Marts could conceivably take - from controlled access doors, to security tags, to alarms that go off as soon as a thief exits the building - to help reduce liquor thefts.

The idea of keeping all of the products behind the counter, however, is something he doesn't think will fly in a liquor store. globalnews.ca

Thieves treating LCBO like personal 'ATM machines'
Toronto officer says more cops won't help

A veteran Toronto police officer says thieves are treating vulnerable LCBO stores like their personal "ATM machines" but he doesn't think more paid duty officers is the answer. Neil Corrigan, Unit Commander at 14 Division, says he's seen first-hand the startling spike in thefts at LCBOs across the city.

"Unfortunately the reality is that street people, persons with drug dependencies, alcohol dependencies, have come to believe that LCBOs are simply their ATM machines. They can go in there without harassment, take alcohol, go out and either consume it or sell it for drugs ... and it's adding, quite frankly in my opinion, to some of the disorder issues that we are experiencing."

While he acknowledges that the presence of officers can be an effective deterrent, he believes the costs are unsustainable. He puts much of the onus on the LCBO to find more cost-efficient ways to prevent theft. citynews.ca

3 Sixty Secure Corp. announces security guarding contract with LCBO
Security service provider 3 Sixty Risk Solutions Ltd., which operates through its wholly-owned subsidiary, 3 Sixty Secure Corp., has been selected to provide security guarding services to the Liquor Control Board of Ontario for stores located in the Northern, Eastern and Western Regions. The initial term of the contract is two years with the option to renew annually for up to five years. canadiansecuritymag.com

Brazen daylight liquor store thefts continue around Winnipeg


Mr. Sub owner in Saskatoon lays out rules of retail to prevent armed robberies
Restaurant has gone two years without a robbery

Shailesh Patel says the night staff at his Mr. Sub restaurant on the west side of Saskatoon ask only one thing of customers: Show your face. Patel says that's not the only reason the restaurant has gone two years without a robbery, but that it's an important element.

The remote location makes it a tempting target for thieves. Police reported 12 armed robberies in the city over the past month. Four of them happened at the strip mall where Patel's Mr. Sub is located.

Patel invested in a remote lock system on the restaurant's second door. A customer comes through the first door into an anteroom. The night staff can see the customer, both in person and on camera. If their face is covered, they don't get in. If they give off a vibe that unsettles the staffer, they don't get in. Further, every corner inside the store is visible on the store's surveillance cameras.

Patel isn't certain what can be done to reduce the robbery rate for the strip mall overall. Bigger and brighter lighting in the parking lot could help, as would a regular police or security presence. Until then, he's staying with what works. "Open your face, we open the door." cbc.ca

Former Walmart LP Officer Accuses Police of Playing Up His Arrest for Cameras
The Edmonton PD Was Filming Online Video Series During Arrest

In 2013, Edmonton police launched an online video series following a group of officers as they patrolled city streets. The hope was that the weekly show, called The Squad, would attract recruits and give Edmontonians an idea of what it's like to be a cop in the city. A man whose arrest was filmed for the short-lived YouTube series was granted permission last month to appeal his complaint against seven officers to the Court of Appeal of Alberta.

Christopher Conlin, a former loss prevention officer at a local Walmart, said he was injured and humiliated during an arrest at his home in 2013. In his disciplinary complaint, as well as a lawsuit filed in 2015, he claims his arrest was played up for the benefit of the cameras.

Conlin, now 35, was arrested in April 2013, after police were told he had assaulted someone while arresting them at Walmart a few days before. Officers claim they also suspected he was impersonating a police officer because he was carrying a baton and what they described as an RCMP ID.

Conlin went to a lawyer the day after. The episode featuring his arrest was never posted. edmontonjournal.com

Register Today
RCC's Retail Cannabis Forum coming March 26 in Toronto
Retail Council of Canada's Retail Cannabis Forum will inspire attendees to explore retail opportunities and innovation in this new market, as well as discuss the challenges associated with industry regulations. This is a must-attend event for anyone who is interested in learning about the opportunities and challenges for retailers in this highly regulated market. Supplier and industry partners will want to hear from Canada's leading cannabis retailers and distributors to learn how they can better engage with this sector of the retail industry. Click here to register and learn more. retailcouncil.org

Canada Store Openings & Expansions
L.L. Bean Announces Location of 1st Store in Canada
"Korean" Variety Retailer 'Ximivogue' to Enter Canadian Market
Grocery Concept 'Market 63 by Coppa's' Opens 1st Downtown Store, in Toronto
BeaverTails set to open store in downtown Kingston
Canadian Tire mega store set for March 21st opening
The Detox Market Opens Impressive New Canadian Flagship
Donnelly Group to launch nine-store Hobo cannabis retail chain
Quebec cannabis stores to open in Montreal, Brossard and other areas
New Look Eyewear's first Western Canadian store opens in Courtenay

Retailers receive rebate returns of nearly $500,000 in 2018 as part of RCC/WSIB safety group

Equifax Canada finds Canadians taking fewer steps to protect personal information

Vancouver Police Department awards officers, civilians for acts of bravery

Hamilton, ON: Employee shot during armed robbery at illegal pot dispensary
The City's 15th Shooting of 2019

Hamilton Police say the man who was shot Saturday night at an illegal marijuana dispensary downtown is an employee at the store. Constable Jerome Stewart says the shooting happened during a robbery at the pot shop. One man was injured and taken to hospital. There are reports that he was shot in the leg. The victim is expected to survive. Hamilton Police say they are working in conjunction with the Provincial Cannabis team that enforces pot legislation. The dispensary was closed all day Sunday, with police officers parked out front. It's unclear whether the illegal store will reopen. chch.com

Abbotsford, BC: Two teens try to taser a mall cop after being caught stealing $700 sunglasses

Windsor, ON: Police believe 5 c-store robberies are connected

Saskatoon, SK: 4 arrested after armed robbery, attempted robberies in 3 communities

Bloor-Annex, ON: Police ID suspect wanted in rash of thefts at restaurants, stores

Airdrie, AB: Man caught on camera stealing liquor from Sobey's

St. John's, NL: Two alleged shoplifters arrested in metro area

Vancouver, BC: Police lay charges after theft of wigs made for cancer patients

Barrie, ON: Two men sought in drug store theft
 








 

Mystery Amazon deliveries likely fake review scheme called 'brushing'
The scam inflates the number of good reviews a product has which moves that item up on Amazon's website.

Portlanders are getting mysterious packages in the mail from Amazon that they never ordered and never paid for. Since our story first aired Sunday, we have heard from many people who have had the same thing happen. In some cases, consumer advocates say this is happening to generate fake online reviews for products.

The scam is called "brushing". The more reviews a product has, the more likely you are to see it on Amazon's website and buy it. Items with good reviews are moved closer to the top of the page.

Here is how it works in a nutshell. The seller will buy their own product and then either ship that product or a cheap trinket out to an unsuspecting person. Then, because it looks like someone actually bought the product, the seller can go online and write a fake positive review.

"At the end of the day, the goal is to sell whatever product it is you want and make sure you're not looking at their competitor," says Jason Brown, a consumer advocate who works for a company called Review Fraud.

The company specializes in exposing businesses that are faking online reviews to make money. Brown said he is all too familiar with these mysterious Amazon packages.

"It happens so often and people are just completely bewildered, why did I just get all these packages from Amazon and the problem is you can't send the stuff back, you're stuck with it," Brown said.

Amazon said it is constantly working to detect fake reviews, pull them off the website, and hold offenders accountable. Amazon also said it has safe guards in place to try to ensure only real customers are writing reviews. kgw.com

Amazon quietly ends its third-party pricing parity policy
Amazon.com Inc. has removed a clause in its contracts that had required third-party marketplace sellers to set their prices on Amazon at the same price, or lower, than their prices elsewhere online.

Amazon has long leveraged that clause, which is known as a price parity agreement, to ensure that consumers wouldn't be able to find lower prices for marketplace sellers' items on the sellers' websites or other marketplaces such as Walmart, Jet or eBay.

Amazon quietly made the change amid an environment that's increasingly hostile to the outsized influence of large technology companies. For example, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in December sent letters to the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission demanding investigations into Amazon's contracts with marketplace sellers. The letters referenced British and German investigations conducted a few years ago into its use of pricing parity agreement (those investigations led the retailer to drop the clause in Europe). digitalcommerce360.com

Dick's Sporting Goods e-commerce sales up 17% in Q4 2018

eMarketer: Amazon Prime memberships to reach more than half of U.S. households



 




 






 

Gwinnett County, GA: Man steals $30,000 worth of items from Target
Police are searching for a suspect who they say stole thousands of dollars in merchandise from Targets all over Gwinnett County over the course of two weeks. According to Gwinnett police, the suspect usually entered the Targets near closing time. He then picks up electronics, vacuums, calculators, and other expensive items, and then runs out through the fire exit, where a black Hyundai car is waiting for him. In total, police say the suspect has stolen over $30,000 in merchandise. fox5atlanta.com

Champaign, IL: Woman gets 2 years probation for theft in $10,000 Target
gift-card scheme

A Dolton woman has been sentenced to two years of probation in connection with a gift-card scheme at Target. Asia Neely, 22, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a felony charge of theft over $10,000. In addition to the probation, Judge Tom Difanis also ordered her to pay restitution to her victim. Neely was one of four women that police said were responsible for the theft of several thousand dollars worth of merchandise and gift cards from Target, between Dec. 13 and Jan. 3. The report said security officials at the store became aware that Dejujuana Poke of Savoy, who was employed as a cashier over the holidays, had accepted counterfeit bills from four unknown people on two occasions between Dec. 13 and 27. news-gazette.com

Seal Beach, CA: Two Arrested for Robbery at Ulta Beauty;
attempted Grab & Run turns to Robbery/Assault

Two Long Beach men in their early 20s have been arrested in Seal Beach on suspicion of robbing an Ulta Beauty. The suspects, identified as Isaiah Gurley, 22, and Nicholas Ray, 20, were arrested soon after the robbery, which occurred about 3:05 p.m. Monday, according to Seal Beach P. According to Police, one suspect entered the store, selected some fragrances and other items from the shelves and attempted to leave without paying. The store manager confronted the suspect, and a struggle ensued. The suspect fled and got into a waiting vehicle. Seal Beach officers located the vehicle and arrested the suspects. nbclosangeles.com

Salina, KS: 4 Arrested in Theft Scheme at Walmart and Target

Fresno, CA: Video Released: Man pepper sprays T-Mobile employees, steals $8,000 worth of merchandise

Newtown, PA: Police seeking suspect in $1,200 theft of Medicine and Vitamins from CVS

Peoria, IL: JC Penney Shoplifter flees Store Detective, gets in her car then gives back the $620 in merchandise; ""Forget it. You can have the clothes back"

Update: Cedar Rapids, IA: Two Arrested in $200,000 Theft of Motorcycles, Dirt Bikes and ATV's
 

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Shootings & Deaths

Chicago, IL: Man, 27, fatally shot inside McDonald's
A27-year-old man was fatally shot inside a South Side McDonald's Tuesday afternoon. Police were on the scene at the McDonald's near 47th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue around 4:15 p.m. after a man was shot in the stomach. The man was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in serious condition, and later died. No one was taken into custody. It is unclear what led to the shooting. wgntv.com

Philadelphia, PA: Man Armed With Butcher Knife Fatally Shot By Security Guard inside Cellphone store
A man armed with a butcher knife was shot and killed by a security guard at the My Philly Wireless store in North Philadelphia on Tuesday afternoon, police say. The shooting happened at the store located on the 2700 block of North Broad Street, around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. According to police, the man armed with the knife ran behind the counter and that's when the security guard on duty fired his weapon. cbslocal.com

Queen Creek, AZ: Man seriously injured in parking lot shooting at Walmart
According to Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, the shooting is believed to have happened around 7:45 p.m Tuesday. at the Walmart located near Ocotillo and Ellsworth roads. At this time, no other injuries have been reported, and no suspect information is available. abc15.com

Benton Township, MI: Shooting at Orchards Mall under investigation

Houston, TX: Armed gunman attempt to rob Pharmacy inside Rehab Clinic; one person shot and wounded


Robberies, Incidents & Thefts

Victorville, CA: Police looking for suspects who attacked Walmart employees
Police are searching for multiple subjects who physically fought with employees at a Victorville Walmart Sunday night. It happened at about 10:00 pm, on March 10, 2019, at the Walmart. Sheriff's spokeswoman Mara Rodriguez told Victor Valley News deputies responded to a report of approximately four unknown males causing problems and fighting with store employees. Rodriguez said a physical altercation took place before the suspects left the location and one victim was transported to a local hospital for his injuries. vvng.com

Murfreesboro, TN: Wild video of Criminals make a bad decision robbing a Gun Store
A video shows a bizarre crime where thugs tried to rob a gun store and were surprised the employees at the store knew how to use their merchandise. The group went into the store and pretended to be shopping when they suddenly ran out of the shop without paying for the merchandise. The workers from the shop chased them down and detained them. The four individuals, two of whom are minors, were allegedly charged with theft. nypost.com

Louisville, KY: Man Accused Of Stealing $900,000 from Armored Truck extradited back to KY
Mark Espinosa is faces five felony charges including theft and money laundering. Prosecutors say he stole money from the truck in Louisville back in December. He then fled to Connecticut, where he was arrested three weeks later with $850,000 in cash. Espinosa is also accused of using more than $21,000 of the stolen money to buy a car. If convicted he faces up to 30 years in prison. lex18.com

Cleveland Heights, OH: Woman rams several people with car after Wendy's drive-thru altercation
A dispute police said started in a Wendy's drive-thru ended with at least one teen being taken to the hospital and a mother of two being arrested on felonious assault charges. Police said the incident happened just before midnight Sunday in a Wendy's parking lot in Cleveland Heights. They said Jamila Sloan was in the drive-thru lane with her two young children when a car behind her honked at her. wtkr.com

UK: Blackburn, England: A Man incurred debts to pay for his dad's funeral went on a shoplifting spree in an attempt to pay off his creditors

Wichita, KS: Police release photos of suspect in 1 of 3 Dollar General robberies

Traverse City, MI: Criminal who went behind Walmart's Subway counter, made himself a sandwich, helped customers and then stole $20

Female Sheetz employee arrested for theft over 4 month period


 

Auto Parts Store - Riverhead, NY - Burglary
Boost Mobile - Alexandria, VA - Armed Robbery
C- Store - Swanton, VT - Armed Robbery
C-Store - Elyria, OH - Burglary
C-Store - Tonawanda, NY - Armed Robbery
C-Store - Salisbury, NC - Armed Robbery
C-Store - Brooklyn, NY - Armed Robbery
Gun Store - Murfreesboro, TN - Armed Robbery
Hair Salon - Pawtucket, RI - Armed Robbery
Liquor Store - Madison, WI - Armed Robbery/ Assault
Pharmacy - Houston, TX - Armed Robbery
Sprint - Fairview Height, IL - Armed Robbery
Ulta Beauty - Seal Beach, CA - Robbery
Walgreens - Genesee Township, MI - Robbery
Walgreens - Greensboro, NC - Robbery
Walmart - Traverse City, MI - Burglary
7-Eleven - Apple Valley, CA - Armed Robbery
7-Eleven - Lanham, MD - Robbery
 

 

Daily Totals:
15 robberies
3 burglaries
0 shootings
0 killed



 


 

Chip Bentzel promoted to Regional Director of Loss Prevention for Gabes
Tyler Mason promoted to Regional Asset Protection Director for Walmart
Christian Ibbott promoted to Regional Investigator for H&M
Tara Balkcom named Loss Prevention Specialist for Amazon

Saundra Smith named Market Asset Protection Manager for Walmart


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Featured Job Spotlights

 



Director, Asset Protection (Investigations)
Mason, OH

Works with Asset Protection leaders, Internal Audit, IT Security, Finance, Brand Managers, and Operational Retail brands to ensure investigations and business intelligence is compliant, and effectively managed through asset protection, risk assessment, and training. Responsible for the development, training, execution, and management of investigation programs and tactical strategies focused on fraud and/or loss directed against company assets and/or other misconduct involving integrity...
 


 

Area Loss Prevention Manager -
Seattle, Portland or Salt Lake City

Seattle WA, Portland OR, Salt Lake City UT

Our Area Loss Prevention Managers ensure safe and secure stores through the objective identification of loss and risk opportunities. Our Area Loss Prevention Managers plan and prioritize to provide an optimal customer experience to their portfolio of stores...
 

District Loss Prevention Manager
Eastern PA/NJ

The District Loss Prevention Manager ensures shrinkage control and improves safety in the stores through proper investigation and training. This position is responsible to provide feedback, guidance and protection for our Team Leaders and Associates. This role has oversight and responsibility for approximately 15-20 store locations...
 

Field Manager, Asset Protection (Northeast & Midwest)
New York, NY| Poughkeepsie, NY | Parsippany, NJ

Recruiting a Field Manager, Asset Protection to support our Northeast & Midwest HD Supply Construction & Industrial locations. This role will be based in the Greater New York area...
 

 

Asset Protection Officer
Chicago, IL

We're looking for dynamic individuals as an Asset Protection Associate, who is committed to maintaining a safe environment for American Girl customers and employees, as well as, safeguarding company assets. The individual we seek should be able to multi-task, have outstanding communication skills, and exhibit a high level of compassion and understanding...
 


Loss Prevention Analyst
Richmond, VA

Protects company assets and increases profitability through the analysis, response and management of various data across a broad spectrum of internal financial and technology resources such as Exception Reporting, Sales Audit, FP&A, IT and Loss Prevention. The Loss Prevention Analyst works cross-functionally in a dynamic, fast paced and demanding environment providing critical guidance to the organization's asset protection and profit improvement initiatives...
 

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