Best in Class Leadership

ADT/Protection 1 - The Owners Club at ISC West

ADT/Protection1 hosted The Owners Club during ISC West 2017 at The Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas celebrating the owners of companies that have been acquired during the past 5 years by Protection1.

All these former owners have stayed on and are helping ADT/Protection1 grow to one of the largest full service security integration companies in the country.

SSP America Builds LP Department and Program

Editor's Note: Garth Gasse, National Loss Prevention Manager, has rebuilt the program at SSP America - kind of a bright spot as he builds an LP program vs. all the news about LP cuts. The SSP America LP team is led by Dan Horowitz, Director of Risk and Garth runs the day-to-day LP operations.

About SSP America
While travel and consumer demands have evolved into the 21st century, the food business in many airports has remained in the last millennium. At SSP America, we are changing the status quo. We base our work on a true understanding of the traveling consumer, a passion for great food and unrivaled expertise, taking the industry to a new level. SSP America's restaurants can be found throughout the United States and Canada, with over 30 airports and 200+ restaurants featuring an array of national, international and local cuisine.


Bert Rushton named Corporate Loss Prevention Manager for SSP America Support Center, Lansdowne, VA
Bert joined the SSP America Support Center Loss Prevention team after working for 6 years at Kohl's Department Stores, first as a LP Manager and then as a District LP Manager in the Northern Virginia / Washington, DC / Baltimore markets. Prior to Kohl's, Bert was a Loss Prevention Manager at JC Penney in Baltimore. At SSP America, Bert is responsible for investigative and analytical processes, leads the investigative efforts throughout US and Canada, and supports all waste and loss efforts of the company. Congratulations Bert!


John Morris named Loss Prevention & Safety Manager for SSP America - JFK International Airport, Jamaica, NY
John joined SSP America as the Loss Prevention & Safety Manager in the JFK International Airport in metropolitan NYC, the flagship location of SSP America. John had been working at CVS Pharmacy as the Regional LP Manager, and previously had positions of Area LP Manager at Staples, Inc. and Regional LP Manager at Kids R Us. At SSP America - JFK International, John is responsible for all elements of the LP program - investigations, analytics, safety, waste & loss, physical security and so much more. John is also currently in the search for another individual to build his team. Congratulations John!


Bill Freedman named Loss Prevention & Safety Manager for SSP America (Canada) - Toronto - Pearson International Airport, Toronto, ONT, Canada
Bill joined SSP America (Canada) as the Loss Prevention & Safety Manager in the Toronto - Pearson International Airport. Bill had been working at IKEA Canada as the Safety & Security Manager, and previously had positions as the Compliance Inspector for the Government of Ontario and LP Manager for The Home Depot. At SSP - Toronto Pearson International, Bill is responsible for all elements of the LP program - investigations, analytics, safety, waste & loss, physical security, etc. Congratulations Bill!

Elena Mencos, CFI, CFE named Loss Prevention & Safety Manager for SSP America - Chicago Midway International Airport, Chicago, IL
Elena joined SSP America as the Loss Prevention & Safety Manager in our newest airport, Chicago Midway International Airport, where we are opening 30+ restaurants this month. Elena previously had been working at Ulta Beauty as an Area LP Manager, being internally promoted from the LP Analyst role. Elena's prior positions were Regional LP Manager at LP Innovations and Senior Regional Internal Investigator at Nordstrom. At SSP - Chicago Midway International, Elena will be responsible for transitioning the 30+ units and for all elements of the LP program - investigations, analytics, safety, waste & loss, physical security, etc. Congratulations Elena!

Janelle Holloway named Loss Prevention Cash Manager for SSP America Support Center, Lansdowne, VA
Janelle joined the SSP America Loss Prevention team as the National Cash Manager. Janelle was an internal promotion from the San Diego International Airport where she was the Airport Controller since 2012. In her new role, Janelle is responsible to lead the Loss Prevention and Operations departments in standardizing all financial procedures and policies, developing, implementing and training cash management operations, and to lead implementation of cash management security. Janelle is responsible for all SSP Airports in the US and Canada, and is based in San Diego, CA. Congratulations Janelle!

Is facial recognition a viable solution for reducing shoplifting?
As identification accuracy improves and costs come down, more stores are installing facial recognition security cameras to reduce shoplifting, according to a report from Loss Prevention Media. But their use is largely being kept a secret from shoppers.

Commonly, the way the process works, stores enroll known shoplifters into a database. Shoplifters who are caught often readily agree to have their face scanned to avoid being prosecuted. A national database is in the works, which will be used to alert loss prevention personnel within seconds of a known shoplifter entering a store. Authorized staff can then tell the shoplifter they've been banned from the location.

A report from NBC Los Angeles indicated that the technology has been proven to reduce shoplifting by 25 percent. For store staff, quick detection also reduces the time spent following potential shoplifters around the store as well as detaining and processing them if caught stealing.

While the legal implications of facial recognition haven't been fully vetted, stores tend to keep the system invisible to shoppers due to privacy concerns.

"We shouldn't be having the equivalent of our fingerprint being taken without our consent. It's not right," Pam Dixon, executive director of the World Privacy Forum, told NBC Los Angeles last December.

Privacy concerns about facial recognition are perhaps more widely heard in reference to potential marketing applications. The technology promises to identify and reward loyal customers as well as track what individuals may have looked at but didn't buy while shopping in stores.

Security advocates point to facial recognition technology already being widely used by casinos, the military and law enforcement. Moreover, because retailers keep scanned images only of identified shoplifters, shopper's privacy is not invaded.

Jennifer Lynch, an attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, an international digital rights organization, told Loss Prevention Media, "A system that is designed to look only for people who have been convicted of shoplifting in the past is not going to be a threat to privacy for the vast majority of shoppers." retailwire.com

U.S. Asks Wal-Mart to Pay $300 Million to Settle Foreign Bribery Probe
Penalty far less than Obama administration sought
Spent $840M So Far & Largest Compliance Dept. in World
U.S. authorities have asked Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to pay $300 million to settle a five-year investigation into foreign bribery, according to a person familiar with the talks, a penalty far less than what the Obama administration had sought.

The settlement offer comes after Wal-Mart spent nearly $840 million on its internal investigation of the bribery allegations and upgraded compliance operations, according to financial filings.

Wal-Mart hasn't yet agreed to the offer, this person said, but negotiations are in the final stages. Spokesmen for Wal-Mart and the Justice Department declined to comment. Bloomberg News earlier reported Wal-Mart was close to resolving the probe for $300 million.

As the Obama administration prepared to leave office late last year, the Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission attempted to reach a settlement with the world's largest retailer of as much as $1 billion.

Those talks stalled over several issues beyond the amount Wal-Mart would pay, including the retailer's ability to accept food stamps in its 5,300 U.S. Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores. A company can lose its right to government contracts after pleading guilty to a federal crime.

Wal-Mart is one of the country's largest recipients of food-stamp spending, taking in about 18% of the money disbursed through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It is unclear how the government's current offer would resolve this issue.

The Justice Department launched its investigation as a series of New York Times articles described alleged bribes Wal-Mart paid in Mexico to obtain permits to build stores there, potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. That spurred a wide-reaching investigation of Wal-Mart employee behavior across the globe, including in Brazil, China and India.

Wal-Mart now employs about 2,300 workers in ethics and compliance operations, according to a company report. wsj.com

Register for Agilence's May 16th Webinar:
Improving Pharmacy Operations with 20/20 Rx
Join Agilence for "Improving Pharmacy Operations with 20/20 Rx." During this webinar, they'll be unveiling 20/20 Rx - a new product specifically designed to support the needs of retail pharmacies and grocers with pharmacy departments.

Learn how Agilence and one of the largest drugstore chain's in the U.S. partnered to develop a data analytics solution designed to ensure regulatory compliance, identify & prevent drug diversion and reduce labor, chargebacks, and fines. Register here!

Highland Park, Texas Goes Live with the Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP)
The Town of Highland Park, Texas, became the 22nd public-safety answering point (PSAP) in the United States and the fifth PSAP in Texas to join the Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP) program, a technology that automates communication between alarm monitoring central stations and 9-1-1 centers, resulting in improved accuracy and speed of emergency response. Highland Park went live with Vector Security on April 19, 2017. Within hours, other alarm monitoring companies also went live with Highland Park, including Affiliated Monitoring, Central Security, Guardian Protection Services, Monitronics, Protection One, Rapid Response, and Vivint. vectorsecurity.com

Separate Group of Plaintiffs Urge Judge To Reject $142M Wells Fargo Deal
A separate group of plaintiffs with potential future claims are objecting to the deal said they have not yet quantified the damages in fee payments or in hits to their credit scores resulting from the actions of Wells Fargo employees who created unauthorized accounts without their knowledge, arguing that they will not be able to make any recoveries from the settlement because they are not included in the single class that would be certified if the settlement is ratified by U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria. law360.com

Office Depot shores up profit on cost-cutting moves
Overall net sales in the quarter fell to $2.68 billion from $2.88 billion, largely due to the loss of business through shuttered stores and the loss of its overseas business, which it sold off last year. 

Eventually, though, those sales and even high-octane cost-cutting measures may not be enough. Both Office Depot and rival Staples must find a way to thrive in a retail environment that, for office supplies, has increasingly seen sales go to less specialized retailers like Target, Wal-Mart's Sam's Club and, increasingly, Amazon.

Amazon has indeed muscled its way into the office supplies space. Amazon is in fact seeing success in its business-to-business retail side in recent months, an area thought to be more protected than the retailers' consumer retail sales. 22% of buyers buying for businesses over 250 employees indicated they use Amazon 'frequently.' retaildive.com

22 companies defying the retail meltdown by opening hundreds of new stores
The list, which includes plans for nearly 3,000 new stores this year, is dominated by discount stores and grocery chains, including Dollar Tree, TJ Maxx, Ross Stores, Hobby Lobby, Lidl, Aldi, and Costco. US shoppers started gravitating toward discount stores during the recession, and most never returned to shopping full price.

This shift coincided with a seismic change in how Americans spend their money. Shoppers are now devoting a smaller share of their wallets to clothing and accessories, and instead spending more on big-ticket items like cars and travel, as well as food, technology, and health care. Shoppers are also purchasing more online. At the same time, mall visits have dropped precipitously. businessinsider.com

Winn-Dixie parent to shutter 20 stores and consider layoffs

Ralph Lauren cuts 107 jobs under turnaround plan

'Don't treat us like a pariah': Sears CEO blames media for company's downward spiral

Abercrombie & Fitch fields takeover interest, sources say

Retail ATM Skimming Survey: 9 in 10 report never having encountered a skimmer

Bumble Bee tuna agrees to pay $25 million fine for seafood price-fixing scheme

With demand down, assault rifles are piling up at stores


Quarterly Same Store Sales Results
Party City Q1 comp's up 1.7%, total sales up 4.2%
Vitamin Shoppe Q1 comp's down 5.8%, total sales down 5.9%

Industry Veteran William H. Cafferty Passes Away

William was formerly Deputy Director of LP for AAFES (The Exchange)

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of former Deputy Director of LP for the Exchange, William H. Cafferty, this past Sunday at the age of 79. Mr. Cafferty was the senior ranking civilian in Safety and Security back in the day when an active duty O-6 was our senior official.

Mr. Cafferty was a true visionary for the LP Directorate. Among his many accomplishments, standing up the electronic surveillance program (ESP) and reshaping the way LP was perceived within the company. He understood that LP's future would be more reliant on technology and solid partnerships across directorates. This belief led to the company-wide expansion of CCTV technology giving LP a crucial tool that protects our inventories and personnel to this day.

Mr. Cafferty was the "glue" that held the directorate together between the ever-rotating Colonels who oversaw Loss Prevention years ago. He has left a legacy of excellence for all to follow. His professionalism and untiring devotion to the Exchange will not soon be forgotten.

Funeral/viewing details:

Visitation will be held 5-7 PM, Thursday, May 11 at Grimes Funeral Chapels in Kerrville, TX, and services will be held 10 AM, Friday, May 12 at First United Methodist Church in Kerrville, TX. Sympathy Cards can be made out to Jeanette Cafferty, 638 Oak Hallow Drive, Kerrville, TX 78028

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Operation Home Front, 1355 Center Pkwy. S., Suite 100, San Antonio, TX 78232; Kerrville Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association, PO Box 290629, Kerrville, TX 78029; Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, PO Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202; or please donate blood and platelets to your local blood bank.

New IoT Botnet Discovered, 120K IP Cameras At Risk of Attack
Researchers at Trend Micro have discovered a new Internet of Things (IoT) botnet that leaves than 120,000 Internet Protocol (IP) cameras vulnerable to attack.

The botnet, dubbed Persirai, was discovered targeting more than 1,000 different models of IP cameras. Persirai hits IoT devices a few months after the Mirai botnet, which wreaked havoc by compromising DVRs and CCTV cameras to fuel a massive DDoS attack in October 2016. darkreading.com

Fatboy Ransomware Matches Demands to Economic Realities
Adjusts Demands Based on Where You Are - GEODEMANDING
A ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) offering called Fatboy may be the first financial malware that adjusts its demands on a sliding scale.

Fatboy automatically adjusts ransom demands based on the victim's location by using the Economist's Big Mac Index, meaning victims from wealthier countries will have to pay more than others. The Economist invented the Big Mac Index in 1986 as a tool for explaining exchange-rate theory. infosecurity-magazine.com

Cyber Insurers Using "Security Scores" to Assess Client Risk
Many insurers conduct their own diligence to evaluate whether to underwrite a risk and, if so, at what premium price point. Risk managers and CFOs should be aware that insurers are using a new type of metric to assess their companies' cyber risk exposure. It's called a "security score" - a concept akin to a credit score.

For example, BitSight Technologies is a risk assessment vendor that analyzes companies for breach risk and response preparedness and assigns a security rating. According to its website, BitSight gathers data on security breaches from sensors deployed across the globe and uses algorithms to assess a company's records management, encryption methods, and security vulnerabilities.

The firm then assigns a security rating and provides benchmarking information to demonstrate where the company falls short on the risk assessment spectrum. Companies on the lower end of the spectrum may not receive a quote for cyber insurance, while companies on the higher end may receive such better terms as lower premium or lower retentions. Companies looking to buy cyber coverage need to know that, in an important sense, they are not alone. cfo.com

89% of retailers will arm associates with mobile tech in next 3 years
Retailers are focused on significantly expanding the use of mobile technology for customer identification, customer engagement, associate training and task management, point of sale (POS) and payments. The BRP Special Report: The Mobile World of Retail assesses how mobile devices are completely changing retail operations and the shopping experience for today's consumers.

The report emphasizes how mobile devices are impacting retail in five key areas:

CUSTOMER IDENTIFICATION - Identifying the customer and then delivering a personalized experience is identified as one of this year's top priorities by 70% of retailers

CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT - 31% of retailers plan to implement mobile tools for customer engagement within the next 12 months

ASSOCIATE TRAINING AND TASK MANAGEMENT - 89% of retailers plan to offer mobile solutions to associates within three years

MOBILE POS - By 2020, 84% of retailers will utilize mobile POS in their stores.

MOBILE PAYMENT - Mobile payment acceptance is increasing rapidly with fewer retailers taking a wait and see approach

To download the complete BRP Special Report: The Mobile World of Retail, visit:
https://brpconsulting.com/2017-brp-special-report-mobile/ prweb.com

Register Now: Security Summit Canada Coming Next Month
If you make your living in Canada's security industry, don't miss Security Summit Canada this June. The inaugural Summit leaves no stone unturned - touching on hot button issues in video surveillance, the power of integration, a security market forecast with John Mack, and even a presentation on President Donald Trump's influence north of the border.

A unique security conference, Security Summit Canada is presented by Canadian Security and SP&T News, and brings together security professionals to learn, network and work together to map out the future of Canada's security industry. The inaugural event runs June 14-15, 2017, in Toronto. securitysummitcanada

Mac's Crime Prevention Success in Canada
Part 5 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: Last year we spoke about Mac's tobacco tracker that tracks cigarette cartons stolen from Mac's c-stores. What results have you seen?

SS: The Tobacco Tracker initiative continues to be a huge success for us at Mac's, with a 100% success rate. Since the program's inception in June 2014, we have had 25 robbery incidents where the tracker was deployed, with 37 suspects being arrested-resulting in full asset recoveries.  cstoredecisions.com

It's Starting to Happen in Canada As Well
How neighbourhood malls are struggling to survive
The ripple effects of the retail apocalypse that swept across the U.S. after the financial collapse of 2008 continue to emanate through Canada.

While top-tier malls, including Yorkdale and Toronto Eaton Centre are by all accounts flourishing, many neighbourhood malls appear to be an anchor away from a potentially fatal downward spiral. Others are clinging to their original retail purpose while waiting for redevelopment.

No one is predicting the kind of retail apocalypse in Canada that swept across the United States after the financial collapse of 2008, leaving even large malls across the country abandoned

The single most important difference is that the U.S. had too much retail to begin with and still does. Industry estimates peg the amount of mall space in the U.S. at 25 square feet per person, whereas in Canada it's closer to 15 square feet per person.

But the sector is in upheaval.

The retail industry is the single largest jobs category in the country, employing 1.96 million people in 2016. Most retail workers - 1.7 million - are employed in shopping centres.

Editor's Note: Great article about the shape of retail in Canada. Very similar to what's happening here. So the question here is - is the Canadian Push over?  thestar.com

Employee theft in Canadian businesses 'is a pretty big deal'
The majority of crimes against businesses are committed by their own employees, according to a lead private investigator and former federal agent in the U.S.

Thomas Martin, president of Martin Investigative Services said his company's investigations show 75 per cent of workplaces with 100 employees or more are victimized by employee theft.

On average, employees steal about $2,500 in cash or goods from their employer before they're caught, says a report from the Retail Council of Canada. The most recent numbers from the council suggest employee theft is on the rise.

A 2012 report shows more than 33 per cent of unaccounted merchandise in the workplace is the result of employees who steal, a hefty increase from the 19 per cent in 2008. The council estimates more than 500,000 employee thefts go undetected annually. mississauga.com

Indigenous people say racial profiling most often felt in stores: Human Rights Commission report
The constant and unwarranted scrutiny of store clerks, police and public servants leaves many racialized and Indigenous people in Ontario feeling mistrustful and unsafe, according to a new report from the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

The report, released on Wednesday, and titled Under Suspicion, includes social science research and survey results from more than 1,600 individuals and organizations about their experiences of racial profiling.

Indigenous people who took part in the survey said they most often experienced racial profiling at private businesses and retail settings. cbc.ca

Outlet Malls Still a New Concept in Canada
Thousands line up to shop at new outlet mall
Thousands of eager bargain hunters lined up this morning for the grand opening of Winnipeg's first and only dedicated factory outlet mall.

The 400,000-square-foot Outlet Collection Winnipeg mall opened its doors to the public at 10 a.m. sharp, but some people began queuing up at midnight, hoping to be among the first 1,000 to get in and receive a $30 gift certificate.

The mall's developer - Ivanhoe Cambridge - expects the $200-million complex will draw shoppers from the northern United States, Saskatchewan and northwestern Ontario.

The Outlet Collection Winnipeg features more than 100 stores - some are slated to open later this year - offering clothing and other consumer goods at 25 to 65 per cent off regular retail prices. winnipegfreepress.com

Express to close all 17 stores in Canada
"The challenging Canadian retail environment, coupled with unfavorable exchange rates prevented us from meeting the expectations we had when we entered the market in 2011," said David Kornberg, president and CEO, Express. chainstoreage.com

Census 2016: The growing age gap, gender ratios and other key takeaways

'Mystery shopper' job scam defrauds Brantford woman of $6K

PayPal Study Reveals Less Than One in Five Canadian SMBs Accepts Online Payments

Update: Louis Vuitton's argument for landlord liability gaining traction in Canada

Louis Vuitton lawsuit against Toronto flea market could help anti-counterfeiting fight

Toronto, ON: $10-million fraud ring busted
Hundreds of thousands in high-end merchandise found
Some retailers may have "looked the other way"
A group of fraudsters were living it up as they stole people's identities and bought luxury goods, Toronto Police allege. Two men have been charged and two are being sought in an alleged $10-million fraud ring.

The cross-border investigation -- dubbed Project Royal -- involved Toronto police, the RCMP, several provincial ministries and U.S. agencies.

Police said they raided a condominium in Yorkville, a high-end Toronto neighbourhood, where they seized more than $300,000 worth of goods, some of which they displayed at a news conference Tuesday morning. Crocodile skin boots ($10,000), Italian suits and a watch made from actual moon dust ($150,000) are just some of the items Toronto Police have seized, but there's much, much more.

Investigators seized $15,000 worth of cologne, $10,000 in sunglasses and $2,000 in skin moisturizer, along with watches, jewelry, and about 90 pairs of shoes valued at more than $100,000.

Identity information of 5,000 GTA residents was also discovered, along with dozens of fraudulently obtained credit cards and hundreds of pieces of stolen mail. It is believed the fraud ring had connections to individuals who had access to people's identities and served them up for a fee. They used that information to fund their luxurious lifestyles.

Investigators also believe one of the suspects had connections with people working at financial institutions who may have helped him access "sensitive information." Police are asking the public to help identify those people.

The accused did most of their shopping in the Yorkville area, and in some cases, merchants may have known fraud was taking place or at least "looked the other way" when luxury goods were purchased on credit. cbc.ca torontosun.com cp24.com ctvnews.com

Toronto, ON: Mississauga man charged in double shooting at shopping plaza
Toronto police have charged a Mississauga man in a double shooting that took place outside a Scarborough retail plaza on Friday afternoon.

Police said Friday that the suspect had fled the scene following the shooting, which took place near Ellesmere and Kennedy roads in the city's east end before 12:40 p.m. on May 5. Two men were treated in hospital for gunshot wounds.

Bilal Haq, 22, was arrested on Monday. He faces 18 charges in total, including two counts of attempted murder as well as several weapons and drug-related charges. He was scheduled to make a court appearance on Tuesday. globalnews.ca

Police catch man connected to $1,800 in baby formula theft
Second theft in two weeks
A loss prevention officer observed a male at a south end grocery store filling his shopping cart with baby formula. The male left the store and made no attempt to pay for the merchandise in the cart. The loss prevention officer approached the male outside of the store who fled to a waiting vehicle.

Several boxes of baby formula were located in the vehicle. The loss prevention officer informed police that approximately two weeks ago a male had stolen $1,800 worth of baby formula. Police reviewed video surveillance footage and determined the same male had stolen the baby formula two weeks ago. barrietoday.com

Norfolk County, ON: Police investigating theft at Real Canadian Superstore; large quantity of merchandise stolen

Update: Ottawa: Smash-and-dash suspect charged 16 months after jewelry store robberies

• Esso - Innisfail, AB - Robbery (fuel)
• Mac's - Barrie, ON - Armed Robbery
• Petro-Canada - Innisfail, AB - Armed Robbery
• Undisclosed convenience store - Winnipeg, MB - Armed Robbery (Autumnwood Dr.)
• Undisclosed convenience store - Winnipeg, MB - Armed Robbery (Cavalier Dr.)
• Undisclosed store - Windsor, ON - Robbery (Cash drawer stolen)
 

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From Across the Pond
Happening in UK, Just Like Here
Online Identity Hacking Soars in UK
The number of online accounts to have been hacked by criminals has soared by almost half over the last year, according to figures published today.

As advances are being made in securing online access to accounts, criminals are targeting customers directly.

Fraud prevention service Cifas analysed data from 387 organisations including many major UK brands.

The annual report found that the number of so-called facility takeovers - when a fraudster poses as a genuine customer to gain control of an account - rose to 22,525 in 2016, up from 15,497 in 2015 across the UK.

The types of accounts taken over by criminals include bank, credit card, telephone, email and other services, Cifas warned.

Victims often find money has been transferred out of their account or products have been ordered in their name.

More than 50% of the facility takeovers recorded were carried out over the phone, typically to call centre staff.

For the fraud to be successful over the telephone, criminals must have obtained enough of their victim's personal and security information to convince a call centre worker they are the account holder.

The report said the increase of 45% in facility takeovers shows more fraudsters were collecting personal data and identifying targets through data breaches and social media and even contacting victims directly to manipulate them. itv.com

Amazon trounces rivals in battle of the shopping 'bots'
Earlier this year, engineers at Wal-Mart Stores Inc who track rivals' prices online got a rude surprise: the technology they were using to check Amazon.com several million times a day suddenly stopped working.

But a new tactic by Amazon to block these programs - known commonly as robots or bots - thwarted the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer.

The previously unreported incident offers a case study in how Amazon's technological prowess is helping it dominate the retail competition.

Dexterity with bots allows Amazon not only to see what its rivals are doing, but increasingly to keep them in the dark when it undercuts them on price or is quietly charging more.

A spokeswoman for Amazon said the company is aware of competitors using bots to check its listings and denied any "campaign" to stop them. "Nothing has changed recently in how we manage bots on our site," she said. Still, she said, "we prioritize humans over bots as needed." reuters.com

Charlotte, NC: Burglars with hammers steal $24,000 of Apple merchandise
from Target
Burglars armed with hammers stole more than $24,000 of Apple products from a Charlotte Target late Monday night, police said. The merchandise was stolen just before the store on Walker Branch Drive in Steele Creek closed Monday night. Three men with hammers grabbed 29 iPads and 19 Apple watches, police said. Target officials said they are partnering with local law enforcement to beef up security. wsoctv.com


Thorntown, IN: C-Store Manager arrested for theft of $66,000 of cash and merchandise; 12 other people involved
A dozen people were allegedly involved in the systematic looting of a Thorntown convenience store that went on for two years, an Indiana State Police detective said in court documents charging Charlotte K. Wethington with level 5 felony theft. Wethington is accused of stealing $66,460 from an ATM machine and either stealing or condoning the theft of thousands of dollars worth of items - including gasoline, cigarettes, soda pop and food - from Fast Lane Foods, where she was a manager. reporter.net

Yorba Linda, CA: Slow Speed Chase of Kohl's Shoplifters; unfortunately still at large
Police are searching for two people - a male and female - after suspected shoplifting and a short chase in the Savi Ranch shopping center on Tuesday night. Two people who allegedly stole items from the Kohl's department store earlier Tuesday, May 9, returned to the store hours later. Employees at the store reported at around 8:45 p.m. that the suspects were back and deputies arrived. Deputies spotted the suspects in a U-Haul truck in the shopping center parking lot. When deputies approached the vehicle the suspects were driving at 8:48 p.m., they were led on a slow-speed chase, which ended 2 minutes later when the suspects fled the truck. Deputies sought the suspects with a helicopter and on foot. Police called the search off just before 10:30 p.m. and the suspects remain at large. ocregister.com

Commack, NY: Police Seeking Two Men Who Made Off with $700 in Breast Pumps from Commack Target
Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Fourth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public's help to identify and locate two men who stole merchandise from a Commack store earlier this year. Two men stole two Medela breast pumps, with a combined value of approximately $700, from Target, located at 98 Veterans Memorial Highway, on March 23 at approximately 2 p.m. longisland.com

Shootings & Death

Casselberry, FL: 1 dies in shooting, crash at strip mall
One person died late Tuesday after a shooting and crash at a strip mall in Casselberry, police said. Police said two vehicles were in the Market Square Shopping Center behind 7-Eleven, near Semoran Boulevard and Howell Branch Road around 11 p.m. Investigators said there was some type of exchange between two men and a shot was fired. The gunshot victim drove across the parking lot and crashed in front of a store. The driver was found dead in the car, police said. The victim, a black man in his 20s, was killed by a single gunshot wound, police said. wesh.com



Longview, TX: One taken to hospital in shooting at Brookshire's Grocery
One person has been taken to a local hospital after a shooting at Brookshire's on Gilmer Road in Longview. An actor in the incident has been detained, according to Longview police spokesman Shane McCarter. Police had closed entrances to the gas station and grocery store and police tape had been strung up near the gas station area. Witnesses said two people were arguing near a truck at the gas station and that gunshots were heard. news-journal.com

Robberies & Thefts

Visalia, CA: Robbery suspect caught after 8 Hours Standoff inside the attic of Domino's
The search started at around 4:30 Tuesday morning after Visalia police responded to a business alarm at Don Taco, it ended just before 1 p.m. The restaurant's alarm went off, Visalia police officers responded, and when they arrived, they saw the suspect trying to get out the way he came in. Police said the suspect saw them, and then tried to get out the front door. When the suspect was unsuccessful, police said he threw a fire extinguisher through the window, and then climbed into Domino's attic. Police, assisted by fire crews and a K-9, conducted a thorough search of the strip mall. abc30.com

Alvin, TX: Gun Store Smash & Grab; 15 to 20 Weapons stolen,
second hit in 16 months
For the second time in 16 months, an Alvin gun store is cleaning up after a smash and grab burglary. Police are at R&G Guns gathering evidence after burglars made their way inside the store. Detectives say around 3 a.m. someone backed a stolen truck into the door of the gun store. At least 15 to 17 pistols and AR-15s were taken, according to investigators. abc13.com

Kay Jewelers stands up for Customer in theft of engagement ring; offers free replacement after insurance company denied the claim

Kay Jewelers in the Gresham Station, Gresham, OR reported a Grab & Run on 5/8, item valued at $2,249

Kay Jewelers in the Northtown Mall, Spokane, WA reported a Distraction Theft on 5/8, items valued at $2,118

Pagoda in the Southcenter Mall, Tukwila, WA reported a Merchandise Switch on 5/8, item valued at $2,289

Zales in the Midway Mall, Elyria, OH reported a Grab & Run 0n 5/9, items valued at $948

Wausau, WI: C-Store Employee pleads Guilty to $6,200 Felony Theft; Restitution and probation

Visalia Police Arrests Suspect in $10,000 Check Fraud Scheme

Paris, France: Thieves steal nearly $1M haul in raid on luxury watch shop near Champs-Élysées

Skimming

Albany, NY: Romanian Man who stole $127,000 from ATM's to be sentenced today

Cargo Theft

Chicago, IL: Norfolk Southern Railroad addresses Security Concern of Rail yards
Norfolk Southern says it has implemented new security measures at a Chicago rail yard where thieves in recent years have stolen about 150 guns. Norfolk Southern wrote in a May 4 letter to U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin that among the measures it put in place at its 69th Street Rail Yard as of April 1. The letter does specify half-a-dozen new procedures that took effect April 1. They include requirements for stronger locks on train-cargo and for shippers to notify the railroad in advance if they will be shipping guns on its trains. newson6.com

Credit Card Fraud

Springfield, MA: Lithuanian man facing potential deportation following arrest in Springfield on credit card fraud

None to report. 

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 Individual growth is an overly used phrase for something that is extremely difficult to truly accomplish. Corporate America tends to force it faster than many can absorb. Out of necessity or by design it requires a mental investment and a conscious effort on the part of the executive to truly grow beyond their current capabilities. Consequently, growth is oftentimes as a result of direct force or life-changing events. But it is a necessity if one expects to advance and stay current with the industry. Technology represents the Loss Prevention industry's biggest opportunity for growth and if one expects to be a leader tomorrow it would be wise to grow your technology education.

Just a Thought,
Gus