LinkedIn Says Cease and Desist
Analytics Firm Wants To Sell Your Data
Tech startup hiQ Labs, which analyzes openly available data from LinkedIn user profiles, has asked a federal court to prevent the professional-networking website from blocking its access to that data.

The startup asserts that LinkedIn has hurt its ability to make money, trampled its free-speech rights and unfairly limited competition, which has imperiled hiQ's existence. LinkedIn contends that it must protect its users from what it considers hiQ's unlawful and potentially career-damaging data misappropriation.

The San Francisco-based startup collects publicly available information from LinkedIn profiles and uses it to provide its own Fortune 500 clients with analyses on which employees are ripe for poaching by a competitor. The firm also analyzes the data to show employers the scope of employees' skills.

The two companies are headed for a July 27 hearing in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Editor's Note: A rather stunning development actually. As a former headhunter, I must admit I never thought of taking that personal data and applying it to the job market from the employer's prospective and selling it back to the employers.

Raises a number of privacy issues and certainly changes it for each executive. But then again, it is an open public candidate database and with the right analytics applied could be valuable.

Shame on LinkedIn's part for not thinking of it, and who would have thought that it would create an entirely new business model? The issue is how much privacy did we expect? Like they say, once it's out there you can't take it back.  shrm.org

Fashion retailer Brownie chooses Nedap's !D Cloud RFID software solution
Nedap has signed an agreement with the fast-growing Spanish fashion retailer Brownie for the supply of its Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) software solution !D Cloud. Brownie uses !D Cloud to raise the in-store stock accuracy of its stores. The roll-out took place from May to June 2017.

Insights into actual stock data
Nedap's !D Cloud software suite is specifically developed for retail applications to raise a retailer's stock accuracy. Detailed insights into the actual stock levels also make it possible to connect the stock of physical stores with the retailer's online platforms and offer services like Click & Collect. See full press release below.  nedap-retail.com

Amphion Honored at California Small Business Day 2017
Amphion was honored by Assemblyman Marc Steinnorth at California Small Business Day as Small Business of the Year in AD 40. Amphion was celebrated for their hard work and dedication to the community.

"I'm honored to recognize Scott Denton and Amphion as the 2017 Small Business of the Year for AD 40," Assemblyman Marc Steinnorth said. "It's companies like Amphion that help this great community thrive."

Amphion is a security integrator delivering unmatched service to national restaurant and retail customers across the country. Specializing in loss prevention and security products and services such as CCTV systems, lock and keying systems, access control, safes, and cash handling consulting. Amphion is the one-stop-shop to safeguard your business assets.

Giving back is a vital part of the Amphion mission. To that end, Amphion provide monetary support to a variety of charity and non-profit organizations such as the USO, Just Fore Kids, Crime Stoppers, American Heart Association, Panda Cares, Future Farmers of America, and California Highway Patrol Scholarship Fund. Other donations through our clients and partners' organized events support the United Way, American Cancer Society, and various metropolitan food banks. Read full Press Release

Facial Recognition Patent Making the Rounds in News World
"Walmart aims to monitor shoppers' facial expressions"
All the 'C' Level Exec's Will Be Watching This
Walmarts Facial Recognition Patent making the rounds in the news - FYI. This could be a unique opportunity to start discussions once it's made the round the 'C' level executives nationwide. As they monitor such developments very closely. Published Friday in Retail Customer Experience publication. retailcustomerexperience.com

2nd Circ. Disbands Massive Sterling Jewelers Sex Bias Class
The Second Circuit on Monday decertified a class of about 69,000 women claiming that a Sterling Jewelers Inc. unit cheated them out of pay and promotions, saying that an arbitrator may not have had the authority to certify a class that included employees that opted into the class.  law360.com

Amazon's $13.7 billion acquisition of Whole Foods
Should "raise a red flag for all retailers."
Amazon Positioned to Use Data to Dominate Where It Wishes
In a quick report issued shortly after Amazon's announcement of the Whole Foods deal last month, Forrester analysts illustrated how the acquisition of a minor U.S. grocery chain may overturn the shopping cart in supermarkets. Groceries amount to an $850 billion business and it's ripe for disruption

Not many people order their groceries online for home delivery just yet - about 12% of existing online shoppers, according to the report by analysts Brendan Miller, Brendan Witcher and Fiona Swerdlow. But another 11% order electronically and go to the store to pick up their orders themselves, their report said. It's available here with registration.

It's that combined 23% that Amazon threatens to rapidly expand with Amazon Fresh and the Whole Foods acquisition. Whole Foods gives it 450 business points with an existing culture of healthy food offerings, and the same number of package pickup locations.

Thinking about Amazon expanding into groceries is beside the point. What it does with Whole Foods, it could repeat across almost any sector of retail it chooses.

What's more, it's shown that it's skilled at mining customer data and reading customer intentions as they arrive at its website. If Amazon affinity engines already know a lot about you from your book and clothing purchases, for example, think how much more depth of knowledge they'll gain by watching your food purchases. And that puts Amazon in a better position than anyone else to offer drugs and pharmaceuticals, vacation travel, movies and music and other goods.

In 2-3 years, Amazon will take "your purchase history, your credit card history, these (Echo) dots you have around your house and say:

'Tell you what, we'll be your only retailer. You don't ever need to go shop anywhere else.

We're going to send you two boxes, twice a week.... One's going to have the stuff in it we think you want, and the second box is going to be empty for you to just put the stuff you don't want back in and send it back." informationweek.com

Brick-and-mortar retailers feel Prime Day fallout
32% Drop in Foot Traffic on Prime Day Amazon App Consumers
7% Drop in Shoppers Without App
The shopping marathon took a significant toll on brick-and-mortar traffic.

Overall, retailers saw a 32% decrease in traffic among shoppers that have the Amazon app installed. They also had a 7% decrease in traffic among shoppers that don't have the Amazon app. Ten retailers - Walmart, J.C. Penney, Macy's, Barnes & Noble, Home Depot, Lowe's, Sears, Kohl's, Target and Best Buy - saw an average 24% decrease in traffic on Prime Day compared to averages during the prior 17 Tuesdays.

Among the companies experienced the biggest drop in visits were Sears (-36%), J.C. Penney (-34%), and Kohl's (-31%). The three retailers that weathered the storm the best were Macy's (-9%), Barnes & Noble (-11%) and Best Buy (-19%), according to the data.

Walmart specifically, saw a 23% drop in traffic. Unlike 2016 however, the discount giant did not run a dedicated sale promotion to rival Prime Day.  wwd.com

Big, bold ... and broken: is the US shopping mall in a fatal decline?
Top Line Sales & Economic Development - Now We're Paying the Price
It has been three years since a major new shopping mall opened in the US, leading even some mall operators to speculate that the last one has already been built. Of the roughly 1,200 spread across the country, less than half are expected to be in operation five years from now.

As usual, the internet gets the blame. The shift to online shopping has taken its toll on traditional mall anchors, such as Macy's, JC Penney and Sears. But there are other issues. America has too much retail space and too many crappy malls. "It's much less about technology than it is about overbuilding."

Editor's Note: In the eighty's and ninety's it was all about opening stores for the retailers, economic development for city's and county's officials, real estate deals for the developers, construction jobs for the construction industry, and manufacturing all the hardware for the manufacturers. Top line sales, increased tax revenue, and billions for the builders. Nobody ever even talked about overbuilding or what the country could support. Now we're all paying the price, including everyone mentioned above. As it always comes back on those who fueled it.

With the rate of store closures and with next years first and second quarter announcements we'll see entire malls close. Not slowly but rather quickly. Faster then we've ever seen before. theguardian.com

Kohl's CEO: While Competitors Are Closing Stores, We Are Investing In Ours
Kohl's has a reputation as being grouped within the troubled "mall store" category but in fact around 95 percent of stores are not located inside traditional malls.

Almost every single location is operating at a profit cash which doesn't add any stress of making the difficult decision of closing stores. In fact, over $1 billion was spent in the past three years to improve and modernize its store base and from a technology standpoint over $2 billion was spent in stores. benzinga.com

8.6% Overall Drop in Manhattan Retail Rents Has Retailers Looking
Soho Rent Down 16% - Flatiron District Rent Down 22%
Fifth Avenue Between 42nd & 49th Highest Availability - 32.8%
Lower rents and generous tenant incentives persuaded more Manhattan retailers to check out potential shop space in the second quarter, but leasing remained slow as merchants wait to see just how good a deal they can secure, brokers and analysts said.

Asking rents for ground-floor spaces dropped in 11 of 16 prime Manhattan shopping corridors from a year ago, with some falling as much as 22% on stretches such as Spring Street and Broadway in the Flatiron District, according to real estate services firm CBRE Group Inc. wsj.com

$500M in Paintings Stolen in Biggest Art Heist in History in 1990
Fraudster Indicted Pretending to Sell Them on Craigslist
West Virginia man tried to fetch millions for two oil paintings he did not have access to and falsely claimed were stolen in the largest art heist in U.S. history, federal authorities said Monday.

Desper, 47, solicited buyers on Craigslist for two of the most valuable paintings stolen from Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990: "Storm on the Sea of Galilee" and "The Concert." He used a digital image that was a purported close-up of one of the paintings, Kelly said.

The actual paintings were among 13 stolen in the still-unsolved heist. The FBI told The Associated Press in August 2015 that two suspects who masqueraded as police officers and tied up the guards to rob the museum of $500 million worth of masterpieces are deceased. The 13 pieces are still missing.

Desper sought $50 million for "The Concert" and $5 million for "Storm on the Sea of Galilee," authorities said. wpri.com

Former Art Handler Pleads Guilty - Selling $600K of Stolen Art at Manhattan Flea Market
From July 2010 to April 2012, Zinder was employed as an art handler by a New York-based company stealing 70 pieces. From September 2015 through October 2016, Zinder was selling the stolen art through a dealer at an outdoor flea market in lower Manhattan, falsely claiming that he obtained the art from an elderly widow in Phoenix, AZ, and from storage unit close-out sale.  justice.gov

Trucking Industry Looks to Felons to Plug Driver Shortage
Hiring ex-convicts to drive trucks and valuable cargo might seem like a bad business decision on the surface, but some trucking companies are giving such candidates a second look. With estimates pointing to a shortfall of as many as 175,000 drivers by 2024, some in the trucking industry are looking to an unlikely source for workers - convicted felons who have served time in prison. The U.S. is home to millions of nonviolent felons seeking meaningful employment. The Sentencing Project reports that more than 70 million U.S. adults have some sort of criminal record. An estimated 600,000 people are released from federal and state prisons annually, according to the National Employment Law Project. trucks.com

This Week on the Daily:
The TOP 10 'Your Career' Articles First Half of 2017

Envysion's Loss Prevention Expert featured at RLPSA Annual Conference

FedEx closing all 24 retail office stores in Canada - 214 people lose jobs

Apple Retail Creates Two New Jobs at All Stores


Quarterly Same Store Sales Results

Luxottica Group first half North America sales up 1.9, Europe up 13%, Asia-Pacific down 2.1%, Latin America up 13.5%, revenue up 4.2%

Last week's #1 article --

Sears Will Still Die an Ugly Death, Despite Just Getting $200 Million From Its Best Friend 

SIGNET JEWELERS ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
OF KEVIN VALENTINE

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF INTERNAL AUDIT, LOSS PREVENTION AND ENTERPRISE RISK MANAGEMENT FOR NORTH AMERICA AND INTERNATIONAL

HAMILTON, Bermuda, July 24, 2017 - Signet Jewelers Limited, the world's largest retailer of diamond jewelry, announced the retirement of industry veteran Kevin Valentine, Senior Vice President of Internal Audit, Loss Prevention and Enterprise Risk Management for North America and International.

As communicated in recent months, Signet continues to adapt to changing market conditions and is committed to building an organization of the future, designed to enable execution of key business priorities including strengthening customer service, enhancing digital capabilities and driving profitable growth.

Valentine has demonstrated leadership with commitment to improving crime prevention and in recognition and appreciation of the extraordinary contributions to the safety and security of the jewelry industry. He is respected in the industry as one of the most knowledgeable in his field and having the ability to solve issues and add value to the business.

"We greatly value Kevin's many contributions to our organization since he began his career at Signet more than 30 years ago," said Lynn Dennison, Signet Chief Legal, Risk & Corporate Affairs Officer. "I want to sincerely thank Kevin for his faithful service to Signet over the many years and celebrate the significant impact he has had on our Company as we have grown to become the largest retailer of diamond jewelry in the world."

Valentine began his career as Director of Loss Prevention in 1984 before becoming the Vice President of Sterling's Loss Prevention department, where at that time he started the Internal Audit Department and assumed responsibility of the Inventory Control Department. He then went on to be named Vice President of Signet Internal Audit & Risk Management, where he assumed additional responsibilities leading the Company's Sarbanes Oxley Compliance, Signet's Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) processes in the U.S. and U.K. Valentine also at that time took on additional responsibilities of heading up the U.K. Loss Prevention and Internal Audit functions, before being named to his current position in August 2015.

Currently, Valentine serves on the Board of Directors for the Jewelers Security Alliance, Board of Directors for the Loss Prevention Foundation where he chairs the Audit Committee, Board of Advisors on the Loss Prevention Research Council, Advisory Board for the International Association of Interviewers. He holds certifications as a Certified Forensic Interviewer, and LP Certified also a member of American Society Industrial Security and Institute of Internal Auditors.

The Daily Salutes One of the Industry's Best
We at the Daily would like to congratulate Kevin Valentine on his retirement and wish him the absolute best in his future endeavors.

Having known and worked with him at his first multi-unit LP position, long ago, I can say without hesitation that there's never been a better representative of what truly defines a leader, a true professional that has always stayed true to his profession, his company, his team, and his unwavering commitment to always doing what's right.

It's been my honor to have worked with him and there aren't many like him. He made the industry better and he helped expand the horizons of many not just at Sterling but also industry wide as he was engaged throughout it and made a huge impact with his quiet reserved demeanor.

As always Kevin, I'll see you on that 13th floor sometime soon.

Fashion retailer Brownie chooses Nedap's !D Cloud RFID software solution

Groenlo, The Netherlands, 20 July 2017 - Nedap has signed an agreement with the fast-growing Spanish fashion retailer Brownie for the supply of its Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) software solution !D Cloud. Brownie uses !D Cloud to raise the in-store stock accuracy of its stores. The roll-out took place from May to June 2017.

Albert Puyol, CEO at Brownie: "The implementation of Nedap's RFID software is the first step in our digitalization process. This technology gives us the stock accuracy level that we need to be a real omnichannel player. Using !D Cloud, we have more insight in our operations than ever before. We now know the product availability and stock depth for each store and even per location within each store."

Insights into actual stock data
Nedap's !D Cloud software suite is specifically developed for retail applications to raise a retailer's stock accuracy. Detailed insights into the actual stock levels also make it possible to connect the stock of physical stores with the retailer's online platforms and offer services like Click & Collect. During the pre-rollout in three stores, Brownie evaluated the user-friendliness and effectiveness of the solution. Puyol adds: "We now have an RFID solution that not only gives us a better stock accuracy, but is also easy to use for our store staff. This significantly increases its effectiveness."

RFID in the cloud
At Brownie, all items are source tagged with an RFID label on the hangtag. In the stores, staff members perform a weekly cycle count using an RFID handheld reader and the !D Cloud app on a mobile device. !D Cloud then translates the collected data into comprehensive lists that highlight the differences between Brownie's Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system and the RFID count. Consequently, the causes of stock differences, through losses or administrative errors, can be identified and dealt with more quickly. Puyol concludes: "With the implementation of !D Cloud, we have access to structured and up-to-date information that allows us to make better decisions and significantly increase our sales."

The Domino Effect is Starting
Three U.S. Sellers/Vendors on AlphaBay Dark Wed Marketplace Indicted
Two in Atlanta one in Florida. All three of which are tied to overdose deaths of fentanyl an herioin.
Editors Note: It'll be interesting to see if any of the upcoming arrests tie back to any crimes committed against retailers. With 250,000 listings there's a good chance a few retailers were impacted. 11alive.com

What's next for online black markets?
Europol Director: "We're Already Seeing Reaction in Criminal Underworld"
According to Emily Wilson, director of analysis at dark-web intelligence firm Terbium Labs, vendors and buyers are in shock. "One of the things that continues to pop up is the concern that these aren't the only markets that have been compromised," by law enforcement.

There is some speculation that Dream Market, another major market, might be controlled by law enforcement, Wilson said.

While it's likely new dark web markets will crop up, smaller markets are currently trying to recruit new members. These markets include Valhalla and House of Lions.

The downfall could also lead to a splintering of users across smaller sites. Wilson says the small markets can absorb the drug trade, as some only sell drugs. But it's unclear where the vendors for fraud, firearms, or software exploits will wind up.

"The question on everyone's mind right now is, 'Is anything going to happen with the markets that are left?'" Wilson said

"My gut feeling tells me that some Russian forums are also operated by law enforcement, it's a perfect cover up," Barysevich said. "Imagine you have access to these communities and you can sit back silently building cases, profiling all the actors, and then launch a massive police operation."

International officials are increasingly collaborative when going after cybercrime, and Barysevich said that this year's global cyberattacks, WannaCry and NotPetya, have further pushed governments to make cybercrime a priority. The tools used in those attacks were available on the dark web.

Barysevich predicts cybercrime will slow for a few months after the AlphaBay and Hansa fallout, but, while scared now, criminals will eventually be back.

"Criminals will almost never stop before they are caught," he said. "He might pause for a while, he might hide for a while, but he'll change username and contact information and he'll be back." cnn.com

One Simple Error Led to AlphaBay Admin's Downfall
Compartmentation Fail Analysis: Darknet Admin Reused Personal Hotmail Address
It seems like cops often find their suspects not because they've had to throw the cybersecurity equivalent of a Sherlock Holmes at a case, but because the crooks screwed up.

Just one error is all it takes. And Alexandre Cazes, 25, the accused administrator of the seized AlphaBay site - described by authorities as the world's largest online criminal marketplace - appears to have made more than one such error.

He reused for official AlphaBay communications an email address he'd previously used for personal matters, according to the Justice Department's AlphaBay complaint.

"Once new users joined the forums and entered their private email accounts, they were greeted with an email directly from AlphaBay welcoming them to the forums. The email address of 'Pimp_Alex_91@hotmail.com' was included in the header information for the AlphaBay welcome email," according to the government's complaint against Cazes. It said the email address had been included on all such communications since December 2014.

In December 2016, according to the criminal complaint, law enforcement learned that the email address belonged to Cazes, who was a "self-described independent website designer affiliated with a company called EBX Technologies" and listed his skills as including programming, email hosting, web development, network and server administration, network security, database administration, graphic design and cryptography, among others.

After that, law enforcement apparently had their man. For example, Cazes had registered a PayPal account - tied to Canadian bank accounts held in his name as well as the EBX Technologies business name - using the "Pimp_Alex_91@hotmail.com" email account.

Likewise, a 2008 post to a French-language online tech forum called "www.commentcamarche.com" by a user named "Alpha02" included the name "Alexandre Cazes" and the aforementioned Hotmail address.

The administrator of AlphaBay, notably, had used the username "Alpha02" before changing it to "Admin."

In a clever move, the FBI and Drug Enforcement Agency appear to have timed the AlphaBay takedown so Thai police could catch Cazes in the process of attempting to restore the site.

He knew they were coming for him.

When Thai police, aided by the FBI and DEA, raided Cazes's home on July 5, they said he was using a PC that was logged into AlphaBay as "Admin." A digital forensic investigation of the laptop - found open and unencrypted - revealed that Cazes had been communicating with an AlphaBay data center - day-to-day operations were managed by a team of 8 to 10 individuals - about an apparent law enforcement takedown of the site, as well as with AlphaBay users, according to the complaint. Investigators also recovered numerous passwords to AlphaBay servers and other infrastructure.

The irony is that Cazes was identified thanks to his having reused an email address obtained for free, when other, unique ones could have instead been used, also for free.

"A mistake made in December 2014 was reported to the police in December 2016," the operational security expert who calls himself the Grugq says in a blog post. "This single minor error was enough to bring him down. The internet is forever. Mistakes, once made, can resurface at any time. The real error was to not create a compartmented persona to handle all things AlphaBay."

Authorities say Cazes amassed about $23 million from AlphaBay, thanks to the site charging a commission of 2 percent to 4 percent on every transaction, and he spent the money freely. govinfosecurity.com

Microsoft Rolls Out AI-based Security Risk Detection Tool
Microsoft is rolling out Security Risk Detection (SRD), a cloud-based tool built to catch software vulnerabilities before companies release or use it. A preview version is available for Linux users. darkreading.com

JCPenney accepts Apple Pay at stores nationwide
 

Next Leap for Robots: Picking Out and Boxing Your Online Order
Robot developers say they are close to a breakthrough-getting a machine to pick up a toy and put it in a box.

It is a simple task for a child, but for retailers it has been a big hurdle to automating one of the most labor-intensive aspects of e-commerce: grabbing items off shelves and packing them for shipping.

Several companies, including Saks Fifth Avenue owner Hudson's Bay Co. and Chinese online-retail giant JD.com Inc., have recently begun testing robotic "pickers" in their distribution centers. Some robotics companies say their machines can move gadgets, toys and consumer products 50% faster than human workers.

Retailers and logistics companies are counting on the new advances to help them keep pace with explosive growth in online sales and pressure to ship faster. U.S. e-commerce revenues hit $390 billion last year, nearly twice as much as in 2011, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Sales are rising even faster in China, India and other developing countries.

That is propelling a global hiring spree to find people to process those orders. U.S. warehouses added 262,000 jobs over the past five years, with nearly 950,000 people working in the sector, according to the Labor Department. Labor shortages are becoming more common, particularly during the holiday rush, and wages are climbing.

Picking is the biggest labor cost in most e-commerce distribution centers, and among the least automated. Swapping in robots could cut the labor cost of fulfilling online orders by a fifth, said Marc Wulfraat, president of consulting firm MWPVL International Inc. wsj.com

Online Credit Card Fraud Risk Increases Due to Russian Online Carding Course
Credit card fraud and carding are accessible to anyone and everyone, especially now that we have a dedicated course in place to teach the basics. It will be interesting to see what kind of effect this course has on online payment fraud over the next few years. The total amount of financial damages will probably continue to rise. themerkle.com

Retailers must adapt to Millenial shopping trends: Speed, Value & Experience 

Bayone, NJ: Jersey City Duo Used 7-Year-Old Girl in $3,000 Diversion Theft; hit 6 stores
Two women used a child to do their dirty work in robbing multiple Hudson County stores. One chatted up the store employee and got her to leave the cash register, then the 7-year-old girl races in. Police said she grabbed the wallet out of the employee's purse, then moved on to the cash register, which she clearly knew how to use. Cops say the trio hit up a total of six stores along Broadway. Early last week the due was spotted by an Off-Duty Police Officer and later arrested. cbslocal.com


Trenton, NJ: Update: Woman who ran Organized Theft Ring sentenced to 5 years in prison
Chiara K. Pender, 30, of Millville, was sentenced Friday by Superior Court Judge John Kelley in Camden County, officials said. She must pay for the losses sustained by the targeted stores, Attorney General Christopher Porrino said. Pender pleaded guilty in March to a second-degree charge of leading an organized retail theft enterprise. Authorities have said Pender ran an operation that stole more than $20,000 during a six-month period in 2016, recruiting members and driving them to targeted stores including Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Target, Walmart, Home Goods, Lowes, Kohls, Burlington Coat Factory and Rite Aid. A member would steal clothing, electronics and other items from the store and then either return them at the same store or another location of the same chain, according to police. They would often receive gift cards with store credit for the returns, selling them at a discount to pawn shops, authorities claim. State Police arrested Pender on June 3, 2016. Other members of her theft ring were arrested in June and July of 2016. Seven of them have pleaded guilty. nj.com



Shreveport, LA : Police trying to ID two JC Penney shoplifters; assaulted Loss Prevention
Shreveport police are trying to identify two people who allegedly shoplifted from a JC Penney Department store and assaulted a store employee. Police say it happened just before 6 p.m. on May 28 on Youree Drive. Officers took 66-year-old Minnie Davis into custody at the store. Store management told police that the two unidentified people created a distraction while Davis put items in her purse, and then got away. ksla.com


Update: Plaistow, NH: Thief who posed as Home Depot worker to steal air conditioners apologizes
Bernardo Calana says he was out of work and desperate for cash when he made the decision to put on an orange Home Depot apron and pose as a worker to steal two air conditioners from the Plaistow store. "I regret I did that and I apologized," he told the New Hampshire Union Leader after pleading guilty Friday to a theft charge. Calana, 53, was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, half of which was suspended, and won't be allowed inside a Home Depot store for the next year. He recalled that on the day of the theft he was in the Plaistow Home Depot parking lot and said he found the apron on the ground. The name "Shannon" was written on it. Calana figured he would throw it on and nobody would notice that he wasn't a real employee. Calana walked out of the store with two air conditioners and was about to take off with them in a truck when other workers noticed that he wasn't an employee and that he hadn't paid for them. Police were called and eventually arrested him. unionleader.com

Boston, MA: Trio hits Stop & Shop for over $500 in Razors
A trio of shoplifting suspects may have had a lot of shaving to do. Police say the suspects, including a woman with an infant car seat, stole $500 worth of razors from Stop & Shop on Route 106. The theft occurred Saturday, July 15, but police are looking for help in identifying the culprits. Before stealing the razors, police say two bearded men walked down the razor aisle while the younger of the pair used his cellphone to photograph the razors. The men then left without stealing or purchasing anything. About two minutes later, a young woman pushing her sleeping baby in a car seat set atop the grocery carriage went directly to the razor aisle with the older man. The pair used the infant car seat to hide the stolen Gillette razor cartridges and left the store, according to police. The trio is also suspected of similar thefts in the Providence area, police said. thesunchronicle.com

Dublin, Ireland: Man who stole guitars worth $7,000 is linked with International Crime Ring; Romanian Gypsy gang with ties to U.S. and Canada
The 'distraction' thief who helped his wife steal high-performance electric guitars from music shops is an alleged member of an international crime gang. Veniamin Raducanu (23) and his wife Madelina Iancu (19) stole two guitars, worth $7,000, in two visits to Dublin city centre shops on consecutive days in early July. They were charged and given a six-month suspended sentence. The couple, from Romania, had been in Ireland since February and neither had any previous convictions. It is the first time that Raducanu had come to the attention of the Gardai but he is well known to police in Canada. In 2012 Raducanu was named by police as an alleged member of an international Roma gypsy gang based in Canada. The multi-million euro crime ring targeted shops and the elderly across Ontario and Quebec. Investigators "seized $85,00 in cash and stolen goods and identified more than $1m in suspicious wire transactions to foreign locations" during a major sting operation in 2011. The investigation started in Durham, Ontario but later spread across Canada and the United States. independent.ie

India: Crude Oil Theft: Gang busted after 50 million litres heist over 6 years 

Shootings, Stabbings & Deaths

New Hampshire man charged with killing pizza delivery driver & raping a convenience store clerk in Massachusetts
Authorities say the 22-year-old Brito shot and killed a pizza delivery driver in Lynn on March 27, then drove to North Andover where he sexually assaulted the clerk and robbed the store.Brito was held without bail after pleading not guilty in those cases. usnews.com

Jacksonville, FL: Search for killer in double shooting at C-Store/ gas station
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is searching for a killer after a double shooting at a local gas station left one man dead and another man injured Sunday night in Duclay. Police were called to a Mobil gas station at about 9 p.m. Sunday. Police say a man got into an argument inside the store, then waited outside for one of the victims. He shot that victim and a second person was hit by gunfire inside the store. actionnewsjax.com

Culver City, CA: Man shot in the arm outside Marshall's
A man was shot in an arm outside a store behind the Westfield Fox Hills Mall in Culver City. It happened about 9:30 p.m. outside the Marshalls at 6221 Bristol Parkway, according to Culver City police Sgt. C. Dominguez. The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment and one suspect was arrested. lawestmedia.com

Greenwood, SC: Police charge man who accidentally shoots himself at Walmart, charged with unlawful carrying of a weapon, drug possession
Greenwood police have charged a man who accidentally shot himself with his own gun at a Walmart. Officers were called to the Walmart on Bypass 25 shortly before 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Police said 27-year-old James Elliott Johnson had the pistol in his back pocket when it went off and shot him in the leg. Johnson told officers he was trying to turn on the weapon's safety when it fired. Police found Xanax and marijuana in Johnson's pockets while trying to help him with injury.

Johnson is charged with unlawful carry of a pistol, possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana. Johnson was transported by EMS to Self Regional Hospital. Authorities said he was in stable condition and will be treated before being taken to the Greenwood County Detention Center. wyff4.com

Two men charged with shooting Chicago Police Officer after T-Mobile store robbery
Two men have been charged with shooting a Chicago Police officer in the leg and robbing a T-Mobile store Friday afternoon, police said. Donzell Grant, 20, and Cortez Harrington, 24, each face seven felony charges, according to Chicago Police. They allegedly shot the officer near 43rd Street and Ashland in a chase that followed the robbery, police said. After they got out of their squad car, "one or more offenders" opened fire on the two officers. The female officer - who has been with the department for about 2 1/2 years - was shot in the left leg. The injured officer was treated for her injuries. chicago.suntimes.com

Off-duty Deputy's swift action Saves Life of Walmart Loss Prevention Agent, stabbed trying to stop a robbery
An off-duty deputy was in the right place at the right time Saturday afternoon when his swift action possibly saved a Walmart Loss Prevention employee's life. Authorities were dispatched to a Walmart just before 1 p.m. Saturday for a report of a stabbing. An officer at the scene said a plain-clothes Loss Prevention crew member was following the shoplifter when he confronted him as he tried to leave the store. The employee was stabbed in the stomach during the confrontation. Police said an off-duty deputy got a tourniquet on the Loss Prevention crew member's stab wound and that move is what "probably saved his life." Authorities dispatched a police helicopter, K-9s, officers and detectives to find the robber who ran from the scene. ksat.com

Fresno, CA: Update: Dramatic video shows customer take on Armed Robber at Starbucks
Newly released surveillance footage shows the moment a customer takes on an armed robber at a Northwest Fresno Starbucks. The incident happened just after 5:30 p.m. Thursday near Herndon and Golden State. Investigators said the suspect, Ryan Flores, walked in with a knife and a toy gun demanding money from a barista. That is when Cregg Jerri saw what was happening and hit Flores in the back with a metal chair. The two then began fighting on the ground, where Jerri was stabbed in the neck. Fortunately, he is expected to be OK. abc7.com

Macy's LP Officer arrested - Didn't Report Gun Seized During Shoplifting Arrest in Harrisburg, PA
According to the Swatara Township Police Department, Brandon Jovon Osswald stopped two juveniles in the store and requested Harrisburg Mall Security's assistance. Police said Osswald removed a handgun from one of the juveniles during the stop, but did not disclose that he had removed the firearm. According to police, the firearm was previously stolen from a neighboring jurisdiction.

Osswald, who was arraigned on Wednesday, was charged with receiving stolen property, obstruction of justice, tampering with physical evidence and obstructing administration of law or governmental function. pennlive.com

Johnson City, TN: C-Store Armed Robber tells the Cashier to Call Police, He will Wait outside
Police in Johnson City said a man allegedly told a convenience store clerk he had a gun and was committing a robbery. He then asked her to call police and went outside to wait for officers to arrive. Jay Payne, 55, was charged with attempted robbery Saturday. Payne was being held on $50,000 bond. newschannel5.com


Prince Williams County, VA: Warrant Issued for Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Lucky Whitehead for Failure to Appear/ Shoplifting
The 25-year-old was busted in Prince William County, VA on June 22 for shoplifting/petit larceny under $200. Whitehead allegedly took stuff from a convenience store. He was ordered to appear in court on July 6, but according to court records he didn't show up -- so a warrant was issued for his arrest. He's since been charged for failure to appear. tmz.com



Standoff Ends in Dollar General Robber's Capture, Arrest in New Castle, PA

Harrisburg, PA: Macy's Loss Pevention accused of stealing a handgun from Juvenile Shoplifter

Anchorage, AK: Reports of shots fired at Eagle River Walmart; no injures reported

Kay Jewelers in the Palisades Mall, West Nyack, NY reported a Grab & Run on 7/21, items valued at $5,490

Kay Jewelers in the Dublin Shopping Center reported a Grab & Run on 7/21, items valued at $6,998

Zale Jeweler's in the Lakewood Center, Lakewood, CA reported a Grab & Run on 7/22, item vlaued at $5,719

Jared in the Fashion Mall at Keystone, Indianapolis IN reported a Burglary on 7/21, items valued at $7,300

Counterfeit

ICE- International Counterfeit Gang Member Gets 37 Months in Prison
Smuggling 40,000 Counterfeit iPhones, iPads & iPods into US from China
An Italian national who smuggled counterfeit electronics, including Apple iPhones, iPads and iPods, from China for sale in the United States was sentenced Friday to 37 months in prison.

La Marca, Andreina Becerra, 32, a Venezuelan national, Roberto Volpe, 35, an Italian national, and Jianhua Li, 42, a Chinese national currently residing in California, were originally charged in an eight-count indictment in April 2015 with importing and trafficking 40,000 fake iPhones, iPads and iPods bearing counterfeit Apple trademarks, and fake camcorders bearing counterfeit Sony trademarks, as well as smuggling, structuring and international money laundering. ice.gov

Bomb Threats

Marion, IL: Marion Kroger reopened Saturday after bomb threat

Cranston, RI: Stop & Shop re-opened after bomb threat

Retail Fire/Arson

San Antonio, TX: Firefighters cut through burglar bars to battle flames at herbal products store

Pete Dominguez PI named Regional Loss Prevention Manager for Little Caesars Pizza 





Lisa McCarrick named Divisional Director of Loss Prevention for Dollar General





Joel Pulizzano named Regional Loss Prevention Manager for Family Dollar

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Having a strategy or a plan about everything you do is important if you expect to win long term. Daily victories are nothing without a long-term plan. They fade quickly and leave the audience expecting more, which only a plan and strategy will satisfy. So after your next victory, ask yourself what am I going to do next?

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