Matt Palmer named Senior Manager of Loss Prevention
for The Fresh Market
Matt was previously the Zone Loss Prevention Manager for the retailer since April 2016 before earning this promotion. He's also held other loss prevention and safety positions for Horizon Services Inc - Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning as Manager Risk/Safety/Loss Prevention and Wakefern Food Corp. as Regional Retail LP & Safety Supervisor and Distribution LP Supervisor. Matt earned his Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice Adminstration from Delaware Valley University. Congratulations Matt!

Sears Holdings and USS Foundation Partner to Surprise
50 Chicago Area Students with Bikes

Hoffman Estates, Illinois (March 29, 2017) - Sears Holdings, a leading integrated retailer, recently partnered with the USS Foundation and its Adopt-a-Bike program to provide bikes and helmets to 50 deserving students at Lowrie Elementary School in Elgin, Illinois. The bikes were presented to the students on March 15 during Sears Holdings' Asset & Profit Protection National Conference.

"Sears Holdings and the Asset & Profit Protection team are active participants in our member's lives and are dedicated to enriching the lives of children in our communities," said Scott Glenn, Chief Security Officer. "Our partners at the USS Foundation provided us the opportunity to reward 50 deserving students for their stewardship, academic efforts and outstanding behavior. Nearly 200 Sears Holdings Asset & Profit Protection leaders worked together with many others to make this day a success."

In addition to the bicycles, Sears Holdings' Sporting Goods Business Unit also donated helmets and locks for each student, encouraging safe riding and obeying the rules of the road.

"Sears Holdings' generous gift of bikes and helmets to Lowrie Elementary will help these children feel a sense of accomplishment and responsibility for all their academic efforts and good citizenship," said Adel Sayegh, founder of the USS Foundation. "We hope this reward and celebration will help them continue on a bright road ahead."

Lowrie Elementary School Principal, Kelly O'Brien, encapsulated the school faculty and student's gratitude for the incredible event. "Best day ever at Lowrie Elementary School," she remarked. "Thanks so much for everything!"

Since its inception, the Adopt-A-Bike program has reached more than 2,500 children, from 25 elementary schools, across 12 states.

About The USS Foundation
The USS Foundation is a charitable, non-profit organization dedicated to helping less fortunate children to have the tools, skills and knowledge to build a better life with a hope for a brighter tomorrow. Visit the USS Foundation at www.ussfoundation.org.

2017 LPRC Robbery Summit
The FBI and retailers alike report violent crime, like armed robbery, is increasing across the country. In order to better deter and incapacitate violent offenders, asset protection executives from over 20 US retail chains met with University of Florida and Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC) research scientists and over a dozen local and federal law enforcement officials to map and dissect Baltimore/DC retail robbery events for actionable patterns.

The 2017 LPRC Robbery Summit participants discussed over 40 anti-robbery solutions slotted in 8 robbery stages from pre-event planning to post-event actions. The stages were used to more precisely focus solutions to make offending harder, riskier or less rewarding for would-be robbers. The solutions are further concentrated on cash robbers, opiate robbers, and take-down offenders. Many of these solutions are being tested at the UF/LPRC Innovation Lab in Gainesville, FL, or in LPRC member stores.

Summit participants made valuable contacts, and plan to participate in the LPRC Violent Crime Working Group to conduct, discuss and share research results and implications. Interested retailers may contact stephanie@lpresearch.org for more information on anti-violence research and other LPRC activities.
 
 
Stock Dropped 58% During Class Period
Signet Jewelers Hit With New Suit Over Harassment Accusations
Investors claim Signet did little but "deny and downplay" the underlying discrimination suit until accounts of worker harassment became public.

Signet Jewelers is facing a new lawsuit over accounts of gender discrimination and harassment by female employees, but this time by investors.

Pension fund Irving Firemen's Relief & Retirement System filed a proposed class action in Texas federal court late Tuesday claiming that Signet, its chief executive officer Mark Light and his predecessor Michael Barnes misled them on the extent of discrimination claims in long-running arbitration against affiliate Sterling Jewelers, that includes 69,000 women and dozens of accounts of sexual harassment.

The investors pointed to about 250 individual declarations made by male and female Sterling employees from hundreds of stores that "paint a nauseating, and stunningly consistent, picture of a company in which sexual harassment, including sexual assault, is not just tolerated but modeled at company functions by top executives, starting with the company's chief executive officer, defendant Mark S. Light."

While the declarations were under seal until late February, the investors said the accusations came to light in 2013 but Signet "has steadfastly denied and downplayed the allegations" in public comments and company filings and continued to issue regular securities filings assuring investors that everything was fine, according to the suit.

"Behind closed doors, however, '[f]or the most part, Sterling has not sought to refute this evidence,'" the investors said quoting an interim arbitration ruling from 2015.

Signet, which also operates Kay Jewelers, Zales and Jared, has repeatedly denied the harassment allegations.

After the Washington Post published a 3,000-word article wading into claims by the class of employees that they were denied raises and promotions as part of a male-dominated executive culture that openly harassed women, Sterling pointed out that the arbitration is not formally considering the harassment claims and said an internal investigation left the allegations unsubstantiated.

During a subsequent call with Wall Street analysts going over the jeweler's financial results, Signet chairman Todd Stitzer said the "board and management team have absolutely no tolerance for discrimination or harassment and we have had strict antiharassment policies in place for decades."

But investors pointed to the publicity generated by the claims, and said the day of the Post report, Signet's stock fell 13 percent to a closing price of $63.59, purportedly the company's biggest one-day drop in eight years.

Moreover, the investors said by misleading the public on the discrimination litigation, Sterling's stock traded at "artificially inflated priced between 2013 and 2017" and the recent drops have caused them economic harm.

After the workers' attorneys were permitted to release a slew of filings from the arbitration to the public, the company's stock dropped 58 percent from its high during the proposed class period from Aug. 29, 2013, to Feb. 27, 2017, the investors claim.

Signet's vice president of corporate affairs, David Bouffard, stated: "We believe the allegations are without merit and we will vigorously defend ourselves."

The private arbitration of claims by current and former female Sterling employees that they were denied pay raises and promotions is ongoing.

Claims were first brought in 2008 by about a dozen employees in a New York federal court, but the case was moved to arbitration as a result of employment agreements. law360.com wwd.com
 
Wells Fargo Agreement in Principle to $110M Settlement
Class Action Lawsuit Regarding Opening Fake Accounts
The settlement class will consist of all persons who claim that Wells Fargo opened an account in their name without consent, enrolled them in a product or service without consent, or submitted an application for a product or service in their name without consent during the period from January 1, 2009, through the date the Settlement Agreement is executed. businesswire.com

High Court Says NY Credit Card Disclosures Regulate Speech
The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday asked a federal appellate court to determine whether a New York law that restricts the disclosures retailers can make to customers about credit card surcharges violated retailers' First Amendment rights, vacating the lower court's ruling that upheld the law.

The high court in a unanimous decision asked the Second Circuit to take another look at the case, which challenges a New York law prohibiting retailers from disclosing a surcharge on purchases to cover the cost of credit card processing while allowing them to show customers making a cash purchase that they are not being charged that extra fee, because the lower court did not rule on free speech claims raised by the retailers. law360.com

41% of cargo theft involved food & beverages
Taking No. 1 spot in cargo theft for the six years
Many thieves made the switch to food and beverage from electronics in 2010 when the economy took a downturn.

Since then, they have learned a few key things that keep them coming after these products. Food can be consumed quickly, giving law enforcement or industry investigators a relatively short amount of time to make a recovery. Once removed from their packaging, many of these products have little or no identifying information, such as bar codes or serial numbers. These products can be sold quickly and for a profit. But the gap between food and beverage and electronics has narrowed, particularly in Southern California. 

Internet of Things (IoT) impact: We are seeing an increased use of technology in committing cargo theft. Over the past few years we've seen the use of 3-D printers to duplicate security seals. We've seen the use of "sniffers" (devices that can detect covert tracking devices) and jammers to jam those tracking devices. There also have been cyber methods used to commit cargo theft. There are a variety of methods thieves can use to gain access to a company's server, and from there they have all the information they need: what is being moved where, on what days and for whom. This information can be used to enhance some of the methods we discussed such as fictitious pick-ups and identity theft. foodlogistics.com
 
Drug-testing employees who've just been injured can have harmful side effects
The Occupational Safety and Health Act (the OSH Act) prohibits employers from discriminating or retaliating against employees for reporting fatalities, injuries, or illnesses. This helps ensure that injury and illness reporting is as accurate as possible.

In the preamble to its recent recordkeeping rule (effective December 1, 2016), OSHA indicated that blanket post-injury drug testing programs can be a form of retaliation since employees who know that reporting an injury will result in a drug test may be discouraged from doing so.

OSHA says post-injury/post-illness drug testing should be used only when drug use is likely to have contributed to an employee's injury or illness. If the employee didn't cause the accident the employer shouldn't require a drug test. Likewise, when the cause of an injury or illness is generally known a drug test probably isn't appropriate. Employers must consider individual situations rather than conduct an automatic post-incident drug test.  oshatoday.com
 
First time ever in 2016, U.S. restaurant sales eclipsed grocery store sales
The amount of space dedicated to food in retail centers has grown from 5% in 2007 to 15% today.  And the trend is expected to increase to 20% by 2025, according to a study, "The Successful Integration of Food & Beverage within Retail Real Estate," from the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC).

The two main factors driving the growth are technology advancements and the rise of an experience economy, which was fueled by millennials and adopted by all generations. chainstoreage.com

Gold's Gym Director of LP Search Update
Over the last year Gold's has posted a Director of Loss Prevention position a couple of times on job boards and it's been rumored they were indeed filling this position, according to our sources. However the company is now looking to fill a Director of Loss Prevention - West position as they recently posted and is not filling a corporate Director of Loss Prevention position.

Retailers Could Get Slammed by Slowing International Tourism

Walmart going on the offense as German grocery giant Lidl
Launches New prototype - Neighborhood Market grocery-store concept

At Home to open 25 Stores this year

 
Quarterly Same Store Sales Results
 
RH Q4 comp's down 18%, net revenues down 9%, full yr comp's down 7%, net revenue up 1%
Sonic Q2 comp's down 7.4%

Retailers Efforts Paid Off in 2016
Retail Breaches Down 10% - Records Stolen Down 18%
1.4 Billion Data Records Exposed in ALL 2016 Breaches
The number of data records breached soared in 2016 over the previous year, with the technology sector facing the brunt of the attacks. Once again North America dominated in the regional breakdown of data breaches, accounting for 80% (1,433) of all breaches and 73.3% of all records stolen (1B).

Cybercriminals infiltrated some 1.4 billion data records last year - a whopping 86% increase over the previous year, according to a new report released today by digital security firm Gemalto.

This bounty of information was snagged in 1,792 incidents worldwide, which yielded a larger haul with fewer attempts, according to the report. The number of data record breaches fell 4% in 2016, compared with year earlier figures.

The retail sector has taken significant steps to stop cyber attacks-particularly at the point of sale-and perhaps it's paying off. Retailers had 215 data breaches in 2016, down 10% from 239 the year before and accounting for 12% of the total. Also down was the number of records stolen-to 32.5 million from 40.1 million in 2015. That was a decrease of 18.8%.
 

Identity theft accounted for 59% of the data breach incidents, a 5% increase from 2015. Account access-based breaches was next in line as the most prevalent type of data breach, even though this form of attack fell by 3% over the previous year. Account access-based attacks accounted for 54% of the 1.4 billion breached records, and the number of affected records rose by 336% over 2015.

"This highlights the cybercriminal trend from financial information attacks to bigger databases with large volumes of personally identifiable information," the report states.

Outside malicious attackers accounted for 68% of the breaches, an increase of 13% from 2015. The most targeted industries included technology, which incurred 11% of the breaches and suffered the largest increase in attacks, with a 55% jump over last year. Healthcare was hit with 28% of all data breaches, financial services, 12% of data breaches, and retail with 12% as well.

The biggest long term decline was seen in identity theft records theft which over the last four years has declined 67%. Which is another testament to the retailers efforts. darkreading.com breachlevelindex.com

Retailers offered new, free online course to prevent racial profiling
The Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission has launched a new online course aimed at preventing racial profiling at retail outlets.

The free, 20-minute education program -- described as the first of its kind in Canada -- has already attracted attention from businesses in other provinces and the United States.

The commission says racial profiling is a serious issue in Nova Scotia, where visible minorities are significantly more likely to be followed, searched and ignored than other customers.

Called "Serving All Customers Better," the course is for front-line security and service staff. Christine Hanson, CEO of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, says the goal is to promote inclusive and welcoming environments for consumers.

The course was developed with the help of the Retail Council of Canada, and is meant to complement existing training. ctvnews.com

Toronto, CN: 'Troubling incident' with campus Shoppers Drug Mart loss-prevention officer leaves man's leg badly hurt
A student group at York University is "outraged" after it says after an interaction with a loss prevention officer employed by the Shoppers Drug Mart store on campus sent a student to hospital on Friday with his leg badly twisted. Video of the incident, posted to the York University Black Students' Alliance Facebook page Saturday, begins with a man lying on the ground outside the store's entrance, screaming in pain, surrounding by a group of onlookers with multiple security guards nearby. "Help me!" the man yells repeatedly, his leg appearing limp and resting at an awkward angle. "Yes, an ambulance is on the way," someone can be heard saying in the just over two-minute-long video. "I saw him being tackled," a person can be heard saying off camera. cbc.ca

Canadian Convenience Stores Association Opposes Fed. Bill S-5
'Plain Packaging' of Tobacco Products Will Feed Underground Economy
Canada remains a safe-haven for the sale of illegal tobacco products, which continue to rise in Canada's biggest province (Ontario) as outlined in a 2016 report by the Ontario Convenience Stores Association. The sale of 'contraband' not only deprives governments of tax revenue, but more importantly it has the potential to affect the health and safety of our communities, which the CCSA fears will only grow in concern if the proposed federal legislation to implement 'plain packaging' of tobacco products is passed. "By making it even harder for law enforcement to distinguish between legal and illegal tobacco products, Bill S-5 will give criminals an even easier ride to sell cigarettes to minors," said Chera. marketwired.com

Purolator stops accepting new parcels as threat of strike looms

Federal Gov't To Announce Pot Legalization in April
Marijuana legalization: What will happen to Vancouver's pot shops?

Counterfeit credit cards now have chips on them?

Freshii aims to add 150 to 160 restaurants this year

Survey: Canadians believe businesses working to protect personal information, but cybersecurity concerns linger

Burnaby, BC: Officer fatally shoots man in grocery store
Man was out of control and armed with knives
A young man who was stabbing himself in the stomach at a grocery store in Surrey, B.C., lunged at transit police officers with knives in both hands before he was shot.

Constable McKinnon testified that she and Sargeant Lee Ezra were driving to Surrey Central transit station when they heard over the police dispatch that a man had jumped over the counter of a nearby convenience store and demanded a knife. Before arriving, they heard a second call that said the man had gone inside a Safeway store and was stabbing himself.

When they entered the store, Mr. Woods was jogging on the spot with knives in both hands and mumbling incoherently. She said she and Sgt. Ezra drew their firearms and repeatedly yelled at Mr. Woods to drop the knives. Mr. Woods suddenly lunged at Sgt. Ezra. She fired but missed. Mr. Woods appeared surprised, but he lunged at Sgt. Ezra again. Constable McKinnon said she fired a second time, hitting him in the torso, ultimately killing him. theglobeandmail.com

Edmonton, ON: Police break up identity theft, counterfeiting operation
130+ victims were targeted
Four people have been charged after an investigation into an identity theft and counterfeiting operation that police say snared over 130 victims with fake Canadian and United States currency.

Police found driver's licences, passports, birth certificates, social insurance cards, healthcare cards, credit cards, bank cards and assorted membership cards. Two of the stolen driver's licences had been altered to create new fake identification, police say.

Police also found stolen mail, cheques, money orders, vehicle access codes, counterfeit $20 and $50 US bills, and Canadian bills in $5, $10 and $20 denominations. They also found counterfeiting materials including printers, scanners, a laptop, external hard drives, memory sticks and a debit terminal. cbc.ca

Edmonton criminals cashing in on Magic playing cards
Magic: The Gathering - Limited edition cards worth $16,000+
'It's kind of like an inflated value. There are only so many of them left in the world' Jeremy Brandy, the manager of Wizard's Comics and Collectibles in Edmonton, scammer used fake credit cards to snatch up a few boxes from his store last year, and other businesses across Alberta have been targeted. That's created a very lucrative underground market, said Brandy.

A shopper targeted Brandy's store last year, using an Interac "override card" to make three separate purchases on stolen credit cards. The same man stealing Magic cards from Red Claw Gaming in Edmonton. Thieves are reselling the cards online. cbc.ca

Two men hailed as heroes after Calgary strip mall fire rescue
Police still investigating whether blaze was arson
Flames burst through the roof of the Urban Square strip mall on Macleod Trail on Saturday. Staff and a client from the nearby Calgary Dream Centre saw the flames through their window. Mackie Martineau, who is a counsellor at the centre, sprang into action. Martineau was joined by his client, Kaden Clouston.

"I was about to go down the stairs and then I realized there was a second floor. I knew I had to run up there, because I just had a feeling someone was up there."

After rescuing others, Martineau and Clouston became trapped by the fire and had to jump off the balcony to safety. District Fire Chief Wayne McQueen told reporters afterward that the fire could have been deadly and that Martineau and Clouston's quick thinking saved lives. Investigators are looking into the cause of the fire. ctvnews.com

5 robberies, 3 grab and runs, and 2 break and enters reported by Jewellers Vigilance Canada in March
Jewellers Vigilance Canada reported five robberies, three grab and runs, and two break and enters during the month of March in their monthly recap. See more info on the robberies below and read the full report here.

Dauphin, MB: Shoppers forced from Dauphin mall by bomb threat

Halifax police issue alert about fake American money

Brantford, ON: Suspects wanted for convenience store credit card fraud

Police raid Cannabis Culture store; 4 people charged

Toronto, ON: Police warn of multiple occurrences of debit card fraud in taxis

Massive Canadian gold coin worth millions stolen from German museum

• Antler Creek Outfitters - West Kelowna, BC - Armed Robbery
• Graziella Fine Jewellery - Durham, ON - Robbery
• Ron Galbraith Jewellers - Ajax, ON - Armed Robbery
• Undisclosed business - Saskatoon, SK - Armed Robbery
• Undisclosed convenience store - Petersborough, ON - Armed Robbery
• Undisclosed convenience store - Calgary, AB - Armed Robbery
• Undisclosed convenience store - Calgary, AB - Armed Robbery
• Undisclosed jewelry store - Durham, ON - Robbery
• Undisclosed jewelry store - Aurora, ON - Robbery
• 7-Eleven - Etobicoke, ON - Armed Robbery
• 7-Eleven - Etobicoke, ON - Armed Robbery
• 7-Eleven - Regina, SK - Armed Robbery

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

XOR Data Exchange Helps Online Retailers Fight Fraud For Free
Data and analytics startup XOR Data Exchange announced it will provide a free resource to online retailers to help businesses identify and mitigate the risk of identity theft.

The company's Compromised Identity Exchange Basic platform will enable eCommerce retailers to access valuable information concerning the risk of identity theft associated with a customer based on the number and types of data breaches the individual's personal data has been compromised by. The platform also distinguishes if those particular breaches produced fraud and if the individual's stolen personal information is available for sale on the dark web.

Participating online retailers will also have access to recent data breach activity and the format of any compromised account passwords via the platform. Harnessing this type of information can empower retailers to implement authentication measures when needed to confirm that a customer is who they say they are.

The company's Compromised Identity Exchange was initially launched at the request of a large bank that had customer records compromised.

The two sides of the platform - at-risk entities and compromised organizations - are stakeholders that XOR, the matchmaker, brings together and who derive value from being part of its data exchange. The compromised entities share the breached customer information. The at-risk companies - those who are the likely targets of those compromised identities - benefit in different ways.

The breached organization is able to assure 100 percent of its consumers whose identities were comprised that they are being monitored to prevent fraudulent activities. pymnts.com

Romanian Man Pleads Guilty to $873k Online Sales Fraud
A Romanian man has pleaded guilty in an international scheme to list fake ads for vehicles on eBay and other websites, spurring would-be buyers to send his group $873,000.

A U.S. Department of Justice news release says 36-year-old Vlad Diaconu, of Bucharest, Romania, pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud.

Diaconu was indicted in middle Tennessee on June 2015 and was extradited from Romania to Tennessee in August 2016.

The release says Diaconu admitted his co-conspirators fraudulently listed vehicles on eBay and elsewhere online. They directed prospective buyers to wire payments for vehicles that weren't actually for sale to bank accounts opened by Diaconu and others with false identities and fraudulent documents.

The release says Diaconu and others sent most of the money to co-conspirators overseas. usnews.com

Amazon to open 1M sq.-ft. DC in Clear Brook, VA. - 1,000 full-time jobs

Calhoun County, SC: Three employees of Southeast Food Distribution Center busted for 'diverting' over $10k in merchandise
Three men have been charged with diverting goods from the frozen food distribution center where they worked. The 3 employees have been charged with breach of trust with fraudulent intent, value of $10,000 or more, according to the State Law Enforcement Division. The men allegedly diverted pallets and stock from Southeast Foods Distribution in Calhoun County over the course of six months. SLED says the men have confessed, plus they have video evidence. The case was investigated by SLED at the request of the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office. If convicted, the men face up to 10 years in prison and a fine. thetanddd.com

Update: Somerset Township, MI: Second member of Wal-Mart $10,000 theft ring sentenced
Tyler Lamar Walker, 19, of Flint, Michigan, was sentenced Tuesday to 93 days to 23 months for retail theft, a third-degree felony. He was given credit for time served and was paroled immediately. State police said Walker and three others were part of a retail theft ring that used a fraudulent Citibank cash card to purchase more than $10,000 worth of gift cards and two ski masks at the Somerset Township Wal-Mart on Sept. 14. Authorities said the group also hit Walmarts in Cambria and Blair counties. dailyamerican.com

Baytown, TX: Three identified in $2,600 ORC Baby Formula theft from Walmart; $4,000 in baby clothes and products recovered
Baytown police have identified three suspects and are seeking two more in a suspected crime ring organized to steal and resell Walmart baby formula. None of the five suspects are in custody at this time in a string of six incidents at the Baytown Walmart. The group is accused of using lookouts and props such as diaper bags and real babies to enter the Walmart baby section and steal thousands of dollars in formula. About $2,600 in formula has been stolen in all. After information on the thefts was broadcast several weeks ago, police received tips as to the possible identity of the suspect. Detectives identified a home and vehicle involved in the case and identified three of the suspects. Detectives also recovered about $4,000 in stolen baby clothes, adult clothes and other baby products that were traced back to Walmart. The three suspects who have been identified have been charged with engaging in organized crime. chron.com


New York, NY: Serial Duane Reade Thief Steals Meds from 8 Stores in 2-Months
Police are looking for a serial shoplifter who stole over-the-counter medication from a string of Duane Reade stores across the city during a spree that stretched over two months, according to the NYPD. From Jan. 9 to Feb. 23, a man in his 30s visited eight Duane Reade stores on the Upper East Side, Midtown East, Gramercy and the Upper West Side - each time taking medicine or hygienic items from the store and then fleeing in an unknown direction, police said. dnainfo.com

Milford, CT: Macy's at Connecticut Post Mall bust $500 shoplifter with toy stroller; adding charges of risk of injury, interfering with arrest and failure to appear (Sept 12 larceny)

Shootings & Deaths

Update: Newark, NJ: Closing arguments set in 2013 deadly carjacking at Short Hills Mall
The first trial stemming from a carjacking at an upscale New Jersey mall in which a man was gunned down in front of his wife for their Range Rover has gone to the jury. Prosecutors say Basim Henry of South Orange was among four men involved in the December 2013 carjacking at The Mall At Short Hills in Millburn and served as the getaway driver. Defense lawyer Michael Rubas argued in his closing statement Tuesday that Henry wasn't responsible for the shooter's actions. abc7ny.com

B&T C - Store in Omaha, NE: Shooting/ one man killed, two others wounded in parking lot

Robberies & Thefts

Kenton County, KY: Home Depot Loss Prevention hit and dragged by car
A Home Depot employee in Kenton County is in the hospital after being struck by a car driven by an accused shoplifter at the store. Police say the man hid a toolbox he was planning to steal behind a large piece of plywood. After grabbing a cup of coffee, he goes for it. The man is seen on camera dashing out the front door with the stolen merchandise in hand. In the parking lot, police say he struck an Asset Recovery Team employee with his car. You can see her clinging to the hood of the car as it drags her across the parking lot. He finally stops and she falls off. The man then backs the car up and takes off. lex18.com

Albuquerque, NM: Police Warn Loss Prevention personnel NOT TO DETAIN suspected thieves
Albuquerque Police said they've warned companies over and over not to let their employees get in the way of someone suspected of stealing from their stores, but it continues to happen. This past weekend, the Albuquerque Police Department said a man pulled a knife on an employee when he tried to keep the suspected thief from leaving. Police said that man is accused to trying to steal a $64 pair of shoes. "He never cut anybody, luckily, but it could have turned pretty serious, pretty quickly if he'd decided to carry those actions out," Officer Fred Duran said.

That's one of the reasons Officer Duran said APD continues to warn loss prevention personnel not to take action if they catch someone in the act. "It's just not a good idea," Officer Duran said. "They don't have the rights that law enforcement officers have in order to detain people, arrest people and take people to jail." Officer Duran referred to a case last year in which APD said loss prevention workers at K-Mart detained a suspected shoplifter and held him face down until police got there. That man died. APD said, in that case, detectives completed their investigation and forwarded it to the District Attorney's Office. Still no word if the state will press charges against the loss prevention workers. "It's not worth them trying to detain somebody for that," Officer Duran said. "Or them getting hurt or maybe the offender getting hurt." krqe.com

Midvale, UT: Police looking for possible serial robber
Unified Police were looking Tuesday for a possible serial convenience store robber. About 1 a.m., a man entered 7-Eleven at 8002 S. State with a knife and demanded money. The man went behind the counter to grab an undisclosed amount of money, then took the clerk to a back room, possibly to look for additional money. He then jumped over the counter and ran out the door. On March 22, the 7-Eleven at 6852 S. State was robbed by a man with a similar description, who was also armed with a knife, Lohrke said. Neither clerk was injured in the incidents. deseretnews.com

Twin Falls, ID: Bed Bath & Beyond employee stole $20,000 in cash, merchandise
Diana Gabriela Iniguez, 21, was charged Monday in Twin Falls County Magistrate Court with a felony count of grand theft. The official charge accuses her of stealing more than $1,000 from the store, but the company's loss-prevention manager believes she stole about $20,700 between March and September. Video evidence showed her stealing $2,900 worth of merchandise and cash, the store manager said, and police said Iniguez admitted to more than 100 thefts. Iniguez was cooperative with the investigation last year and promised to appear, but then avoided police detection until her arrest Monday on a warrant. She's being held in lieu of $25,000 bond. magicvalley.com


Butler County, OH: CVS Percocet robber wants out of jail due to high risk pregnancy

Sedgwick County, KS: La Tienda Del Ahorro employee robbed of $20K bank deposit

Olmsted County, MN: Store employee arrested for $11,000 in Deposits and Company Credit card Theft

Bomb Threats

Pelican Rapids, MN: Bomb threat reported at Family Dollar

Fire/Arson

Los Angeles, CA: Strip mall fire kills Husband and Wife Owners of a 99 Cent Plus store
The fire was reported shortly after 5:30 a.m. at a 99 Cent Plus store at 4709 S. Broadway, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Firefighters arriving at the scene saw flames bursting from the front entrance of the business. "Access to the unit was hampered by three security devices," said LAFD spokesman David Ortiz. "There was a scissor gates with a padlock, steel doors and two front doors chained up." He said firefighters had to use a rotary saw while flames were still blowing out of the front entrance. As about 30 firefighters extinguished the flames, a man and a woman were found in the back of the building and pulled from the structure. The two were taken to a local hospital, where they later died. latimes.com

Credit Card Fraud & ID Theft

Kootenai County, ID: Mail theft ring busted; 400 victims, 70 separate cases

Trenton, NJ: U.S. Postal office Janitor stole coworkers' identities, was found with 50 fake IDs; $14,000 in purchases

Milburn, NJ: Attempted $5,170 Credit card fraud at Prada in Short Hills Mall

Counterfeit

Three million counterfeit products seized in Dubai, among them MAC make-up

Mercedes Seized 1.6 Million Counterfeit Parts Last Year

Cargo Theft

Poland: PKP Cargo has expanded its drone fleet with Dron House's Bielik 3·5 kg carbon fibre design
Last year it began using DJI Phantom 3 and Eagle drones to monitor its trains, and has reported a 50% reduction in cargo theft. railwaygazette.com

Skimming Thefts

Jackson Heights, NY: Shopper Spots Skimmer at 7-Eleven

Caln, PA: Police arrest man for credit card theft using a skimming device

Baton Rouge, LA: Credit card 'skimmers' found at Louisiana gas stations

Send in your picture and tell everyone about your New Job or Promotion! Click here

To apply to any of today's Featured Jobs, Click Here

To apply to today's Internet Jobs, Click Here