A Message from our RLPSA President
Published in the RLPSA newsletter

With Spring now here, it is hard to believe that we are a few months away from our next Annual Conference. The Planning Committee is working hard to put the finishing touches on an agenda that will include some great speakers, engaging topics, and time well spent with peers and solution partners. Our conference is always a can't miss event, and I hope to see many of you in Las Vegas come the end of July.

Are you taking advantage of everything RLPSA has to offer?

The annual conference is not the only place we are engaging with our membership. In February we held another successful RLPSA CONNECT at the Dave & Buster's in Los Angeles. We received great feedback on the event and are already planning our next CONNECT tentatively scheduled for Atlanta in the Fall. We also held our first Membership Discussion Online Chat on the topic of Gift Card, Credit Card and Mobile Fraud. It was great to listen to the interaction amongst members, some members just getting involved with this type of fraud and some seasoned veterans discussing their programs and how they battle against losses in their environment. It was a great 90 minutes of sharing, learning and meeting new peers. Stay tuned as we plan to hold more Membership Discussions in the coming months.

Continue reading here.

4 Tips for Using Social Media to Address Social Division and Civil Unrest
A recently released report out of the Ohio State University's Divided Community Project (DCP) offers new insights as to how government at all levels could be addressing social division and civil unrest through social modern communications tools.

During the 2017 Government Social Media Conference held April 11-13 in Dallas, Texas, DCP Executive Director Grande Lum and Associate Director William Froehlich discussed the vital and expanding role social media plays in not only informing the public, but building consensus between misaligned factions.

The report, released April 11, is meant to serve as an "off-the-shelf guidebook" for community leaders and coordinators in the event civil unrest breaks out in their backyards. The document is the result of roughly a year of input gathering from social media coordinators, civic leaders and remediators to take a deeper dive into anticipating and addressing unrest. masstransitmag.com

ISC West 2017 sees record attendance
More than 30,000 professionals attended, show floor had 200 new exhibitors.

The show had more than 30,000 attendees, a 3 percent increase from previous years and a new milestone for the show, according to Sessa. The show also had more than 1,000 exhibitors, more than 200 of which were new to the show this year. securitysystemsnews.com

ISCPO: New Organization Identity, Web Site, and Newsletter
As we all know, the speed of business, especially ours, is moving at an exponential rate. As professionals tasked with protecting and securing goods and services within the supply chain, we need to stay ahead of the curve, to anticipate disruption, and to prevent loss. With that in mind, ISCPO has evolved its organizational identity and marketing channels.

For ISCPO, the new logo depicts the global flow and they've chosen dark blue to signify protection. Check out their refreshed website at ISCPO.org and be sure to subscribe to the Quarterly Newsletter. This year, we'll be actively increasing our membership base via targeted marketing efforts, partnerships, and social media (previously known as word-of-mouth). 

CargoNet's First Quarter 2017 Cargo Theft Trend Analysis
Toronto Heats Up - Takes #2 Spot
In Q1 2017, CargoNet® recorded 358 supply chain risk incidents across the United States and Canada. Of those 358 incidents, 58% involved theft of a trucking vehicle, 54% involved theft of cargo, and 7% were classified as fraud (often identity theft and wire fraud). In total, 192 cargo theft events were recorded, and the cargo in each theft was worth an average of $149,522, bringing the total estimated loss to $28.7 million for the quarter. There were 339 trucking vehicles reported stolen, including 137 tractors and 143 trailers. Theft of intermodal equipment like chassis and containers dropped just over 50% compared to Q1 2016.

Secured yards were the most common location where cargo thefts occurred in Q1 2017. CargoNet recorded 40 cargo thefts at secured yards, defined by CargoNet as a fully fenced trucking yard where the fence is designed for access control. Warehouse locations were next, with 32 thefts, followed closely by parking lots (like those of major retailers), with 28 thefts.

Food and beverage products were the most stolen items in Q1 2017, and 31% of all reported cargo thefts involved those commodities. Specifically, meat products were the most stolen food and beverage item, with 17 thefts. Nonalcoholic and alcoholic beverages followed with nine and eight thefts, respectively. Household items were the next most common category; 15% of cargo thefts involved this commodity.

California remained the state with the most cargo thefts and reported 51 cargo theft events in Q1 2017. Normally, Texas follows California but in this quarter was displaced by Ontario. Canada's most populous province reported 29 cargo theft events in Q1 2017, an increase of 262% from Q1 2016. Most of the reports were in the Greater Toronto area. In the first three months of 2017, there were ten cargo thefts reported in Brampton, five in Mississauga, and five in Toronto. ajot.com

Eighth Defendant Pleads In $8M Kick-Back Fraud Of MillerCoors
The remaining person charged in an $8.6 million scheme to defraud MillerCoors LLC through falsified invoices for fake marketing events admitted to the crime Tuesday, closing the door on the fraud led by a longtime executive at the beer giant.

Andrew Vallozzi accepted a plea agreement and pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, joining former MillerCoors executive David Colletti and six other vendors Colletti recruited in copping to the scheme. Vallozzi faces up to 20 years in prison and will be ordered to pay $1,163,223 in restitution, according to his plea agreement.

Like his co-conspirators, Vallozzi operated several vendor companies that would contract with MillerCoors to host marketing events for the company's products. Vallozzi would submit invoices to Colletti at MillerCoors for the purported cost of putting these events on. But the invoices were often inflated or entirely falsified, reflecting costs for events that never happened, prosecutors said.

Once MillerCoors paid the invoice, Colletti and Vallozzi or the other vendors would split the proceeds, according to court records. Colletti would collect his cut, either in cash, trips or collectible firearms, prosecutors said. law360.com
 
US Trustee, Creditors Object To RadioShack's $1.4M Executive Retention
Bonus Plan
The bankrupt electronics retailer is seeking court approval for a key employee incentive program for seven executives, but the trustee and the unsecured creditors argue the conditions and performance goals of the program establish it as a disguised employee retention program. Both of whom claim it is a retention program for insiders. law360.com

Harris Poll: The retail brands of the year are
Kohl's earned the top position in the department store category of the poll, in which more than 100,000 U.S. consumers assessed more than 4,000 brands across more than 450 categories

Department Store: Kohl's
Luxury department store: Nordstrom
Off-price: TJ Maxx
Electronics store: Best Buy
Footwear: DSW
Sporting goods: Dick's Sporting Goods
Coffee & quick-serve restaurant: Starbucks
Hardware and home store: The Home Depot

This year's poll revealed that in a country facing a "values chasm," Americans are rallying around brands aligned with their personal values. 2017 Harris Poll EquiTrend® Rankings chainstoreage.com
 
Office Depot Sells businesses in Australia & New Zealand

Axis Takes Home Two Wins at SIA's 2017 New Product Showcase

Security Industry Association (SIA) recognizes AXIS Site Designer and AXIS Q6155-E PTZ Dome Network Camera among top new products at ISC West 2017

Axis Communications, the global leader in network video, announced today that the company secured two wins at SIA's New Product Showcase (NPS) at ISC West 2017 on April 5. Axis secured wins in the "Tools and Hardware" category for its Site Designer and the "Video Surveillance Cameras IP" category for its Q6155-E PTZ Dome.

AXIS Site Designer is a web application for system integrators and installers that reduces the time and effort needed to design a complete security strategy. AXIS Site Designer works online and offline to recommend cameras and recording solutions for small- and mid-sized systems. The app features a selection of templates for common installation scenarios, including a visual camera selector that recommends cameras based on operational requirements, such as required resolution, camera coverage and light conditions.

The AXIS Q6155-E PTZ Dome Network Camera is the industry's first PTZ camera with laser focus, offering a faster and more accurate focus with a 1080p resolution and 30x optical zoom. The technology, combined with high image quality, is ideal for situations when people or objects need to be identified quickly and precisely. AXIS Q6155-E features Sharpdome technology, which allows monitoring of objects as much as 20-degrees above the camera horizon. Read more here.
 

Axis Communications honored with a Security Sales & Integration's Most Valuable Product (MVP) at ISC West 2017

The AXIS P8804 Stereo Sensor Kit was named Security Sales & Integration's 2017 MVP in the video surveillance category

Axis Communications, the global leader in network video, has been recognized by Security Sales & Integration for its AXIS P8804 Stereo Sensor Kit in the video surveillance category of the Most Valuable Product (MVP) Awards. Recognizing groundbreaking suppliers and manufacturers, Security Sales & Integration held the Most Valuable Product Awards ceremony in an evening ceremony at The Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas during ISC West 2017.

The Most Valuable Product (MVP) Awards recognize products that make a substantial impact on integrators and were judged on innovation, functionality, competitive advantages, benefits to the installer or monitoring provider, and benefits to the end user. Read more here.

DHS Secretary Seeks Help from Tech Sector to Fight Cyberthreat
"The Government, God Knows, Can't Do It by Itself," John Kelly Says
John Kelly, in his first speech as the U.S. homeland security secretary, says the American government can't combat the cyberthreat without the active cooperation of the private sector.

"The government, God knows, can't do it by itself," Kelly said in a question-and-answer session following his speech at George Washington University on April 18. "In fact, probably, [we] could do it less capably if it didn't employ ... couldn't do it as well if it didn't have these partnerships with the commercial realm that I think should get better and better and better and better."

Kelly praised his boss, President Donald Trump, for reaching out to Silicon Valley to jointly develop policies to address the cyberthreat: "It's nonstop, relentless, and as I say, President Trump is taking that on, and is organizing, certainly, some internal commission kind of thing to look at it."

The retired 4-star Marine Corps general did not provide details on the internal commission. ISMG queried the White House and DHS media offices about the internal commission. The White House, in an email response, said it would let DHS clarify Kelly's remarks. As of the posting of this article, DHS had not yet replied.

Editor's Note: Let's hope the retail sector is involved and I'm sure the NRF is leading the effort to get involved. govinfosecurity.com

Did You Stay at a Holiday Inn Last Night?
InterContinental Hotel Chain Breach Expands to 1,000 Properties
In February, IHG acknowledged a breach but said it appeared to involve only a dozen properties. Now, IHG has released data showing that cash registers at more than 1,000 of its properties were compromised with malicious software designed to siphon customer debit and credit card data.

Headquartered in Denham, U.K., IHG operates more than 5,000 hotels across nearly 100 countries. The company's dozen brands include Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, InterContinental, Kimpton Hotels, and Crowne Plaza.

According to a statement released by IHG, the investigation "identified signs of the operation of malware designed to access payment card data from cards used onsite at front desks at certain IHG-branded franchise hotel locations between September 29, 2016 and December 29, 2016."  krebsonsecurity.com

Target's $10M Data Breach Deal Hits Snag With Class Objector
An objector to a $10 million deal resolving claims over Target's 2013 data breach on Monday accused the shoppers leading the suit of recycling old arguments instead of addressing the Eighth Circuit's concerns about potential conflicts within the settlement class, saying that lumping everyone into one class isn't appropriate. law360.com

IT Won't Recognize Itself by the End of the Year
IT is at the center of nearly every interaction we have today, every email, phone call, and text, every order placed and filled, every patient cared for, every financial transaction completed. Now more than ever, IT is responsible for keeping the lights on both literally and figuratively. It's no longer a support system. It's the foundation of modern business.

IT will change more this year than it did in the last five years. Everything from the job function, reporting structures, expectations and integrations with business groups will dramatically overhaul how IT operates day-to-day, and the strategic function of IT in driving business outcomes.

"Dev" takes over DevOps. The convergence of IT operations and DevOps will accelerate as the ownership of traditional IT operations functions - maintenance, performance, and availability - come within the purview of those who developed those systems in the first place.

Security is now everyone's job. IT security has spent the past few years moving slowly through the stages of grief regarding perimeter security. From the explosion of ransomware to massive DDoS attacks, the threat is greater than ever. 2017 may be the year that we finally reach the acceptance stage. This means accepting that bad actors, whether employees, contractors, or outside agitators, are already inside the network. It also means involving many more stakeholders in security, working with network, storage, applications, and other teams to understand what "normal" looks like in their world, and how to best identify potential bad actors. To put it simply: To improve security, it must become everyone's job. While dedicated security teams won't go away, other IT teams will be asked to step up in a big way - to have a better understanding of the assets for which they are responsible and detect anomalies sooner. informationweek.com

CISO's, Board Members Have Widely Divergent Views on Cybersecurity
Boards often want a lot more business-relevant reporting than CISOs provide, Focal Point Data Risk study shows.

Research released this week by Focal Point Data Risk shows that CISOs and board members often have different perspectives on the value of cybersecurity, on how to assess the effectiveness of security programs, and how to measure and express risk.

While C-suite members for example often viewed data and brand protection as the primary value of cybersecurity to the organization, CISOs somewhat surprisingly viewed their primary functions as guiding and enabling the business and in ensuring loss avoidance.

One of the key discoveries was that CISOs generally tended to view the security function as having less to do with data and brand protection than board members.

A lot of that, according to the report, may simply have to do with CISOs trying to position cybersecurity as a business enabler rather than a cost center in meetings with board members. While security executives know that protecting data is one of their primary functions, many feel pressured to demonstrate how that helps the bottom line, the report noted.

Board members and CISOs also had substantially divergent views on the effectiveness of their organization's security program. The board's lack of confidence also stems from the continuing habit by security executives to present cyber jargon to board instead of business language. Meetings with security executives often leave board members with the impression that no matter how much they spend, they will still get breached.

Similarly, the metrics that CISOs use to convey the status of the organization's security program to the board tend to be more operational in nature while board members are far more interested in big picture metrics such as peer benchmarking. darkreading.com
 
Advanced, Low-Cost Ransomware Tools on the Rise
New offerings cost as little as $175 and come with lots of anti-detection bells and whistles.

Malware developers keep making it easier for even the most broke and technically inept bad guys to jump on the ransomware craze with cheap and user-friendly tools that are bound to fuel plenty more computer blackmail attacks in 2017. The latest evidence of the trend comes from a report out today of a new variant offered up by Russian cybercriminals through a software-as-a-service delivery mechanism that costs criminals only $175 to get started. darkreading.com

Mac's Crime Prevention Success in Canada
Part 2 of an Interview with Sean Sportun, Mac's Security & LP Manager
Mac's Convenience Stores in central Canada is well known for having a multi-faceted approach to fighting crime and maintaining store security. Convenience Store Decisions spoke with Sean Sportun, ICPS manager, security & loss prevention for Mac's Convenience Stores, about the many initiatives the chain is using to combat crime, and how a Harvard Business Study is assisting its efforts.

CSD: About the video monitoring room-when did Mac's first start this and how does it work?

SS: The Monitoring Room was created back in 2006 and has grown into an important piece of our Loss Prevention Department. We are able to remotely connect to the in-store DVR system to view live real time video. The core function of the Monitoring Room is to identify areas of risk and provide operational support to stores, with the secondary function to provide support to police when it comes to recovering video/images. The Loss Prevention Operators (LPO) who work in the Monitoring Room complete what we call Virtual Inspections, where they will randomly observe a store and the movements of an employee looking for compliance to safety/security standards.

After observation, the LPO will call the store and go through a series of inspection questions with the store employee-after this the LPO will complete the Virtual Inspection by sending the results to the operations team. If the LPO observe suspected dishonest behavior, they will terminate the Virtual Inspection and transition into an active investigation. As a result of the Monitoring Room, we are seeing a decline in internal incidents, but also a decline in employee injury incidents.

Read part 3 of the interview in next week's Canadian Push

ASIS Toronto's Annual Best Practices event coming tomorrow
On Thursday, April 20, ASIS Toronto will hold its 24th Annual Best Practices Seminar, featuring presentations from six speakers. Speakers will address topics including career mobility, unmanned arial vehicles, currency and security, insider threats, and active shooter scenarios.

The event, which will be held once again at the Markham Event Centre. More details are available on the ASIS Toronto chapter website. canadiansecuritymagazine.com

Loblaw and Shoppers Drug Mart to cover $1,500 for Medical Marijuana
Besides the company's efforts to provide financial support for employees with medical marijuana expenses, it applied in fall 2016 for a license to be a licensed producer with the goal of dispensing medical marijuana to patients alongside pharmacist counseling.

"We believe that allowing medical marijuana to be dispensed through pharmacy would increase access, safety, quality and security for the thousands of Canadians who use the drug as part of their medication therapy," Tammy Smitham, VP external communication for Loblaw and Shoppers Drug Mart, told Drug Store News in October. drugstorenews.com

Walmart fined $27,514 over pricing lapses at Montreal store
Quebec's Consumer Protection Office announced Tuesday that Walmart had pleaded guilty to 11 counts of violating consumer protection laws, most notably in the area of following provincial regulations for properly pricing its merchandise.

The Office said the retail giant had failed to place price tags on merchandise that "clearly and readably" indicated their price at its outlet in the borough of St-Léonard. Walmart was also found to have neglected to post its exact pricing policy - which allows consumers to benefit from the lowest price indicated on merchandise - in clear view for consumers at the store's cash registers and price readers. Walmart was fined a total of $27,514 for the violations.  montrealgazette.com

Should more stores be open in Toronto on holidays?
City staff report urges public consultations on whether more retailers should be allowed to open for business, with retailers saying the current system discriminates randomly. Public consultations should be held to consider whether more retailers, including grocery stores, major malls and business improvement areas, should be allowed to remain open on holidays, according to a city staff report to be considered by the city's licensing and standards committee on Tuesday.  thestar.com

Loblaw to open 30 new stores and upgrade more than 500 others
Loblaw said the moves would invest about $1.3 billion into the economy and create an estimated 10,000 retail, trade and construction jobs.

Thursday's announcement comes almost exactly a year since Loblaw said it planned to build 50 new stores and renovate 150 others as part of a $1.3 billion revamp and expansion.

The company later said it would shutter 52 locations across Canada that had fallen short of expectations.

The grocery and pharmacy giant said the investment included the continued roll out of its Click & Collect ecommerce, improved health and wellness services, and the inclusion of fresh food at select Shoppers Drug Mart locations.  canadiangrocer.com

Freedom Mobile sorry for selling an iPhone made with knock-off parts
Company says its retailers are not authorized to sell iPhones, dealer 'made a mistake'.

Freedom Mobile is apologizing after a CBC Toronto investigation revealed the company sold an iPhone that had been refurbished with counterfeit and aftermarket parts. Freedom Mobile salesperson did not indicate that the phone had been refurbished, and his receipt does not indicate the phone's true condition either.

Freedom Mobile - a Shaw Communications company that rebranded from Wind Mobile in November 2016 - does not list any Apple products on its website, and states on an FAQ page that it does "not officially sell iPhone." cbc.ca

Wal-Mart adds to click-and-collect offerings in Canada

The Cheesecake Factory to open its first Canadian location in Toronto

La Ronge, SK: Restaurant owner dies after brutal armed robbery
Simon Grant, the 64-year-old owner of Lousiana's Bar B Que restaurant on Studer Street, died in hospital Monday, less than 48 hours after police responded to an armed robbery and found him seriously injured at the business.

Investigators believe masked men entered the restaurant and assaulted Grant before fleeing the scene with cash. The owner was taken to La Ronge Hospital before he was airlifted to Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, where he died. His death is being treated as a homicide, RCMP say. ctvnews.com


Okotocs, AB: Police searching for three suspects who stole $12,000 in glasses
Police are asking for the public's help in identifying three suspects who stole $12,000 worth of merchandise from Okotoks Eye Care nearly two months ago. The suspects entered the store during the early morning hours of February 20 and got away before police responded.

RCMP said store surveillance video they examined during the course of their investigation showed two women shoplifting in the store three days earlier. They said, however, it's not known at this time if they are the same people responsible for the break and enter and subsequent theft. reportca.net


Calgary, AB: Arsonist caught on camera tossing Molotov cocktail into restaurant
Investigators are looking for a culprit who smashed the front window of a Calgary restaurant last week and hurled what they believe was a Molotov cocktail through the opening. Surveillance video from inside Lê La Vietnamese restaurant shows the incident as it unfolded at about 4:15 a.m. on April 7.

The culprit first breaks the front window and then tosses in an incendiary device, believed to be a Molotov cocktail. "The video shows that the suspect's clothing caught on fire," police said in a release. The culprit would likely have burned clothing and may have suffered burns.  cbc.ca

Scarborough, ON: Man injured in shooting runs to convenience store for help

Woodstock, ON: Man steals cart full of items, $850 welder from Canadian Tire

Red Deer, AB: Purrfect ending - Kitten stolen from pet store returned

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

Amazon Marketplace Fraud Reports Deepen
Amazon's marketplace troubles may be even broader than reported, according to some sellers.

On top of the recent issues with hackers stealing account credentials of legitimate but inactive merchants and selling non-existent items, a report from Inc suggests that fraudsters are also making new accounts.

Dubbed the "just launched" scam, fraudsters take advantage of naive buyers by creating new fraudulent accounts. They search for the most in-demand items and then pretend they too are offering the coveted items for sale - and at a much lower cost than other merchants.

By the time buyers realize they've been scammed, the fraudster has already run off with the cash, leaving Amazon to foot the refund.

Amazon notably withholds payment to sellers until it is confident customers have received their orders. The online retail giant guarantees a full refund if a product doesn't arrive or isn't as advertised.

"There have always been bad actors in the world who try to take advantage of consumers for financial gain," said an Amazon spokesperson. "However, as fraudsters get smarter, so do we." pymnts.com

With Retail Hacks on the Rise, Fashion Cannot Ignore Cyber Security Risks
While the full extent of the recent bout of Amazon hacking is "still unclear," it sheds light on the need for companies to safeguard confidential consumer data (such as customers' social security, credit card and bank account numbers) and other valuable information, particularly given consumers' increasing reliance on e-commerce.

Not only are brands faced with legal requirements when confronted with a cyber hack, they must preemptively consider the damning results that such an event could have on their existing consumer base and potential new customers given the bad press that would certainly come hand-in-hand with such an attack.

Last year, as part of its annual Consumer Loss Barometer report, KPMG - a global network of professional firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services - revealed that 19 percent of consumers would abandon a retailer entirely in response to a hack.

Not just a problem for large organizations, such as TJX Companies, Target, Neiman Marcus, and Yahoo!, which have all experienced breaches, smaller companies are increasingly being targeted. A recent report by Symantec, an American software company, entitled, "Internet Security Threat," detailed the state of threats across an array of industries, noting that retail was the industry sector most heavily exposed to email phishing attacks in 2015. thefashionlaw.com

Gucci Wins $9 Million Judgment Against Group of nearly 100 Knock-Off Sites in China

Walmart and Target could beat Amazon on drone delivery

Airbnb adds multi-factor authentication after account takeover fraud

Update: Fugitive Pleads Guilty in $200 Million Credit Card Fraud Scam
A New York man today admitted his role in one of the largest credit card fraud schemes ever charged by the Justice Department, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.

Habib Chaudhry, 49, of Valley Stream, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson in Trenton federal. Chaudhry had been a fugitive for nearly four years prior to his arrest in January 2017.

Chaudhry was indicted as part of a conspiracy - led by Tahir Lodhi, Babar Qureshi, Ijaz Butt, and others - to fabricate more than 7,000 false identities to obtain tens of thousands of credit cards. Including today's plea, 20 people have pleaded guilty in connection with the scheme.

The scheme involved a three-step process in which the defendants would make up a false identity by creating fraudulent identification documents and a phony credit profile with the major credit bureaus; pump up the credit of the false identity by providing bogus information about that identity's creditworthiness; then borrow or spend as much as they could without repaying the debts. The scheme caused more than $200 million in confirmed losses to businesses and financial institutions.

The scope of the criminal fraud enterprise required the conspirators to construct an elaborate network of false identities. Across the country, the conspirators maintained more than 1,800 "drop addresses," including houses, apartments and post office boxes, which they used as the mailing addresses for the false identities.

Chaudhry admitted that he worked with others to obtain fraudulent credit cards in the names of false identities, that he directed that these fraudulent credit cards be mailed to addresses he controlled, and that he and others made charges using these credit cards with no intention of paying back the debts.  justice.gov
 
From Russia With Love
Russian National Confesses to Major $170M Credit Card Fraud in Letter to US Court
A Russian national has pled guilty to a US District Court in the state of Washington on credit card theft amounting to some $170 million in losses to businesses and individuals, according to a handwritten confession letter to the court obtained by Sputnik.

David Burghardt - Roman Seleznev, a native from Russia's Far Eastern region of Vladivostok, was arrested by US Secret Service agents in the Maldives in 2014 and transported to Seattle, Washington to face court on suspicions of cybercrimes that affected hundreds of businesses and thousands of individuals in Washington. Overall some 3 million credit cards were suspected of being stolen by Seleznev, though the court was able to prove only 1.7 million stolen cards.

Prosecutors in the US District Court in Seattle have demanded Seleznev serve 30 years in prison for his crimes. Seleznev, 32, is set to be sentenced on April 21.

"I do accept full responsibility for everything. I am afraid of my punishment, but I am relieved to have finally got caught as the life of criminal is no good life at all," Seleznev wrote in English. "Nobody or nothing I can blame except me! I did this and now I will answer for my crimes as a man," Seleznev said.

Seleznev's arrest in the Maldives and extradition to the United States was greatly criticized by the Russian Foreign Ministry, which defined Seleznev's detention as kidnapping and against all norms of international law. sputniknews.com

San Antonio, TX: Police say $11K in stolen merchandise linked to man in S.A. Home Depot Scam
A 27-year-old man was arrested Monday accused of stealing items from Home Depot, then returning them in order to obtain gift cards and selling those online for a reduced price, according to court documents. Marquis Anthony Foster faces a state jail felony of theft between $2,500 and $30,000. mysanantonio.com

Publix Clerk who stole $6K in lottery tickets ordered to undergo Psychological Exam
A 34-year-old former clerk at Publix was ordered to get a psychological exam in a sentencing hearing Monday. Brandy Marie Wise of Leesburg entered a plea of no contest to a charge scheming to defraud. Wise admitted that she had made fraudulent returns and then used the money to buy lottery tickets. She said she began doing so in August and would make about $75 in fraudulent returns three times a week to buy lottery tickets. She told a police officer she is "addicted" to lottery tickets and has been trying to move and thought if she could get a winning lottery ticket, she could afford to move. A Publix loss prevention specialist told the police officer that he could document $626.30 in fraudulent returns, but suspected that the total that Wise had taken was closer to $6,000. villages-news.com



Fort Bend County, TX: Vacuum cleaner bandits hit local store
Someone in Fort Bend County recognized the value of Dyson-brand vacuum cleaners by making off with several of them from a store, officials said. The vacuum cleaner bandits struck about 7:30 p.m. on April 8 at a Target store at 23710 Westheimer Parkway in Katy, officials said. The thieves, a man and a woman, pulled six Dyson vacuum cleaners down from the shelf then proceeded out the front door without paying. chron.com

Shootings

Brevard County, FL: Sheriff's deputies shot and wounded a man on Tuesday at Merritt Square mall
According to Brevard County Sheriff's Office, Deputies responded to the Merritt Square Mall, Tuesday at approximately 1:21 p.m. in response to an aggressive subject at the mall. Sheriff Wayne Ivey said that a construction worker was confronted by his employer for his erratic behavior. Merritt Square mall security then called the Sheriff's Office. The subject began advancing on the deputies armed with a long metal fencing post. The suspect refused to comply with the deputy's commands to drop the weapon and was shot by one deputy as he advanced on both deputies. The threat was neutralized and the suspect was transported to a local hospital in serious condition where he is currently being treated." spacecoastdaily.com

Brandon, FL: Thorton's clerk wounded in Shooting

Robberies & Thefts

Update - Laurel, MD: Former Wal-Mart manager charged with staging $400,000 store Robbery in which he was shot
A former Wal-Mart assistant manager was indicted on Federal charges that he took part in the staged robbery of $400,000 from his Laurel store in 2012, a plot that included having him shot in the arm. The indictment unsealed Friday in U.S. District Court in Baltimore alleges that Ansar Ali Younis was part of a group that planned the early-morning robbery on Nov. 14, 2012, of a Wal-Mart. As part of the plan, co-conspirator Mohammed Altashy obtained a van and at around 4:15 a.m. drove to the store and looked for Younis, who was acting as the night manager, and loudly announced a robbery, the indictment alleges. He pointed a gun at Younis, demanding he put cash from the Wal-Mart safe into a trash can, then forced Younis at gunpoint out of the store. oshatoday.com

Moultrie, GA: Dollar General Customer draws a gun to stop a Shoplifter
Two men, one of whom pulled a gun, came to the assistance Saturday of a store employee who was shoved aside by a thief as she tried to block his exit. At about 9:42 p.m. police were dispatched to Dollar General store. The employee told police that a customer reported that a man was shoplifting women's clothing, and as he came toward the register the employee saw several items of clothing sticking out of his jacket. The employee stood at the exit and asked the man whether he was paying for the merchandise. The man told her to move and pushed her away to make his way outside. Two male customers then tried to detain the man. A second man ran outside and got in front of the shoplifter and, when he was pushed aside pulled a pistol. At that time the man ran to a car and left with a woman driving. Some $107 worth of stolen merchandise was recovered. moultrieobserver.com

Ronkonkoma, NY: Subway Shop Latest Target In String Of Knifepoint Robberies On Long Island
Police are investigating yet another knifepoint robbery on Long Island after police said a sandwich shop was targeted in Ronkonkoma in Suffolk County. Police said a man armed with a knife walked into the Subway shop on Portion Road Tuesday night and demanded cash. An employee pressed an emergency alarm and the suspect ran off before police could apprehend him. Investigators believe it's the same suspect who is wanted for other robberies in Suffolk and Nassau counties. He's struck 14 times since February, robbing chain stores like Carvel, Subway and Dunkin' Donuts, while carrying a machete or a knife. cbslocal.com



Conyers, GA: Police Seek to Identify Kay Jewelry Armed Robbers
On April 18, 2017 at approximately 10:20 a.m., a black male and a black female suspect entered Kay Jewelers. The male armed with a black semi-automatic handgun jumped the counter after a short conversation with an employee. An undisclosed amount of jewelry was taken from the glass display case. facebook.com



Riverside, CA: Armed robbery suspects captured; Police pursuit and lock-down of Cal Baptist University
Four out of the five suspects are juveniles, Riverside Police Department said. One of two females involved in the heist and pursuit is 18. Four of the suspects conducted a "takeover-style robbery" of a nail salon about 8:30 p.m., across the street from the Riverside Plaza. During the robbery, one woman suffered a laceration from one of the suspects. pe.com

Redwood City, CA: Serial wallet thief gets one year in jail
A 42-year-old San Jose woman accused of stealing the wallets of nine older female shoppers over a four-month period in 2016 has been sentenced to one year in county jail and five months of supervised probation. mercurynews.com

Minneapolis, MN: Third Sports Memorabilia Shop Burglarized in the Twin Cities in a month; nearly $120,000 in merchandise

Jackson Jewelers in the Old Hickory Mall, Jackson, TN reported a Robbery, items valued at $13,000

Zales in the Atascocita Commons, Humble, TX reported a Burglary on 4/18, items valued at $3,000

Kay Jewelers in the Newton Plaza, Conyers, GA reported an Armed Robbery on 4/18. items valued at over $700,000

Skimming Theft

Rock Hill, SC: Dozens of cards compromised after skimming device found on ATM

Vinton, VA: 2 card skimmers found at Exxon gas station

Aurora, CO: Skimming device found on gas pump

New Jersey: Two members of ATM skimming ring plead guilty to bank fraud

Preston, ID: Card skimmer discovered at gas station

Credit Card Fraud

Pineville, KY: Three indicted on felony fraudulent use of credit card and persistent felony offender

Sean Ross named Regional Asset Protection Manager for HD Supply

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While most people try to avoid risk and corporate America actually labels it to be avoided at all cost ultimately life is filled with it. Risk taking is something everyone is faced with and without it life would become somewhat stagnate. Taking a risk once in a while is a healthy thing. It pushes people to do sometimes their most creative work and reach new levels. The problem becomes the fear of risk and hesitation. It seems like our society has become so risk avoidance driven that people are applauded for not taking it. When in actuality it is those who take risk that pave the road for all others to travel. As Joseph Campbell, a famous American mythologist once said, it is the darkest path in the woods that holds the most treasure. Next time you're faced with taking a risk give it some thought who knows your career may take off!

Just a Thought,
Gus