What's the Punishment for Theft? Depends On What State You're In
More than three dozen states have increased minimums for felony theft since 2000, adjusting their laws to fit the rising costs of goods. Some states, like Alaska and Louisiana, have hiked thresholds multiple times in the last few years. Advocates say these changes are necessary to make sure that the punishments fit the crimes. for a $300 crime, but it's $2,500 in Wisconsin.

Texas and Wisconsin have the highest thresholds at $2,500, according to data from the National Conference of State Legislatures and a report published by the Public Safety Performance Project at The Pew Charitable Trusts. Most others range from $500 to $2,000.

Of the 13 states that have not altered their statutes since 2000, four - Florida, Massachusetts, Virginia and New Jersey - have the lowest thresholds in the country, at $300 or less. Those four states have not updated their statutes in decades. Virginia has had its $200 minimum since 1980. In June of that year, $200 had the purchasing power of about $600 in today's currency. Still, efforts to adjust the laws have met resistance. Researchers at The Pew Charitable Trusts found that there was no statistically significant correlation between hiking felony theft thresholds and crime rates. themarshallproject.org

Security Associates, LLC based in Baltimore acquired by Vector Security®
Vector Security, Inc., a top 5 integrator of intelligent physical security along with home and business automation solutions, has acquired Baltimore-based Security Associates, LLC, a local "hometown" provider of professional security services in Baltimore and the surrounding area.

The acquisition expands Vector Security's presence in the Metro DC area and existing Security Associates customers will be served out of the Vector Security Columbia, Maryland branch. Read more in today's Vendor Spotlight column below.

The World's First EAS Tag for Small Leather Goods Just Released by CONTROLTEK
CONTROLTEK, an emerging leader in retail product protection, announced the release of the first EAS tag made specifically for small leather goods. The self-alarming tag dubbed the FlatGuard is slim enough to fit inside a wallet and other merchandise too small for classic EAS tags, yet still provides strong visual deterrence and a 90 dB anti-tampering alarm. Read more in today's Press Release column below.

Salt Lake City, UT: Subway store sues after worker cleared of drugging Officer
A Subway shop where a worker was cleared of drugging a Utah police officer's drink filed a lawsuit Wednesday saying police waited two months to publicly disavow the headline-making allegations despite internal evidence the officer had no drugs in his system.

The Subway shop owners said officers in Layton, Utah, knew within hours that blood and urine tests were negative, but a police spokesman nevertheless continued to cite early tests indicating the possible presence of THC and methamphetamine in the officer's lemonade. Those results were never duplicated. "My life has been changed forever. It will never be the same," said co-owner Kristin Myers. "It's always going to be known as the store that drugged the cop." indiatimes.com

Kentucky man, transgender wife sue Amazon for workplace harassment
A Kentucky man and his transgender wife sued Amazon on Wednesday, alleging that they endured sustained discrimination and harassment during a year as co-workers at the mammoth online retailer's warehouse in northern Kentucky.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Covington, Kentucky, alleges that Dane Lane and Allegra Schawe-Lane were targeted with threats, slurs and sexual harassment by numerous colleagues at their shipping facility. Their complaints to superiors led to retaliation in some cases, rather than any effective steps to halt the abuse, the couple contends.

At one point, according to the suit, the brake line of their car was severed while parked in a secure lot at the workplace in Hebron, Kentucky. Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. washingtonpost.com

"Brands are at a crossroads"
To Sell or Not To Sell That is The Question for Every Retailer
Study: One in four retailers feel paralyzed by Amazon
Retailers are eager to combat the force of Amazon, but they lack the strategy, marketing dollars and digital resources to do so.

Specifically, 44% of retailers do not know how to respond to the power of Amazon, according to "A New Path for Retail: Co-Existing with the Force of Amazon." The report is from Bluecore, a commerce decision platform provider.

According to the study, 60% of retailers consider Amazon at least somewhat of a competitor. These companies also continue to grapple with free shipping, email communications and better access to customer data to mimic what Amazon does best: provide highly personalized and convenient experiences for customers.

Specifically, 63% of retailers believe free shipping for loyalty program members is one of Amazon's most impactful consumer-facing technology initiatives. Yet, only 10% of retailers have significantly increased investment in technology to better compete with Amazon. Meanwhile, 29% of retailers haven't even changed their data collection and analysis processes as a result of Amazon's influence.

Some retailers have already embraced this opportunity and are selling products through Amazon - but not a majority. To date, only 30% of the retailers surveyed currently sell their products through Amazon. However, for 9% of those retailers, 50% of their sales come from this channel.

"Brands are at a crossroads. The choice is: compete against a company that spends more than $10 billion annually in R&D or leverage that incredibly powerful distribution channel," said Blank. 

With an increasing number of Amazon Prime customers and more consumers beginning their product searches on Amazon, "it's simply ridiculous to think you're going to succeed alone," Blank added.

Editor's Note: Sears just made their decision. But then again they've got to sell anywhere they can, even if it's from the back of their cars. Just had to say it. chainstoreage.com

Report: Alibaba primed for explosive global growth
Move over Amazon - China's largest online player is looking to take on the world. Now the largest e-commerce company in the world with $430 billion in gross merchandise volume, Alibaba is seeking to become a global company as well with a goal of serving more than 2 billion shoppers, according to a new report by global think tank FGRT (Fung Global Retail & Technology). chainstoreage.com

Retail Risk - New York is back! Save the date...
The world's most popular loss prevention conference series comes to New York on 14th September 2017.

And even better news is that this time Retail Risk is joined by sister conference eRisk - focusing on the online aspects of Retail Asset Protection - at the same venue.

More about the Retail Risk conferences...

In just a few short years, Retail Risk conferences have become "must attend" events for retail asset protection executives across five continents, bringing together top experts from around the globe.

Executives from retailers such as Bloomingdale's, L'Oreal USA, adidas, Walmart, Micro Center, Compass Group and Swarovski, combine with other presenters to provide a rich seam of material for US asset protection professionals.

Click here for full article

Registration is now open, FREE for retailers. Save the date in your diary and be sure to claim your FREE VIP delegate pass by clicking here.

Here we go again! This is all they need
Chipotle closes restaurant after customer posts video of mice scurrying around
Chipotle has shut down a restaurant in Dallas because of rodent problems. The company closed the restaurant on Tuesday, three weeks after a customer posted a viral video of mice scurrying around the store's floor, Chipotle told Business Insider.

The customer claimed that the rodents had fallen from the restaurant's ceiling. Chipotle immediately acknowledged the problem and said it fixed a gap that had given the rodents access to the restaurant.

Now three weeks later, the company is closing the location to further assess the construction of the building, Chipotle spokeswoman Quinn Kelsey told Business Insider. businessinsider.com

Walmart Apologizes for Store Display That Marketed Guns as Back-to-School Items
Walmart has apologized for a display inside of one of its stores that appeared to showcase a collection of guns as back-to-school items.

The company described the display as "truly awful" and said Wednesday that it is "working diligently" to find out which store featured the display and ensure that it is taken down, according to CNN Money.

A photo showing a glass case full of guns with a sign directly above it reading "Own the school year like a hero" went viral on Reddit before making its way to other social media platforms. On Twitter, users demanded the retailer to "explain this" and asked, "What are you suggesting?" fortune.com

Director of Risk Management for Gymboree in San Francisco, CA posted online
The Director of Risk Management will be responsible for strategic development and implementation of loss prevention and risk management programs and initiatives. The Director of Risk Management will lead a team of Loss Prevention Managers to work closely with the field organization and distribution center in the areas of loss prevention, risk management, data analysis, auditing, and the training and implementation of awareness programs. This person will be responsible for leading and conducting investigations related to inventory, cash loss, and breach of company policies and procedures.

The Gymboree Corporation is a specialty retailer operating over 1,200 stores selling high-quality apparel and accessories for children under the Gymboree, Gymboree Outlet, Janie and Jack, and Crazy 8 brands, as well as play programs for children under the Gymboree Play & Music brand. gymboree.com

Macy's run of sales declines reaches 10 straight quarters

Payless CEO retires as the retailer exits bankruptcy

Oregon passes law targeting on-call scheduling

McDonald's, Walgreens, 7-Eleven hit with lawsuits over Cook County soda pop tax

Toys'R'Us Announces Return to Times Square with Temporary Holiday Shop

America's Total Eclipse Floods Market With Fake Sunglasses


Quarterly Same Store Sales Results
Canadian Tire Q2 comp's up 1.2%, sales up 2.5%
Jack in the Box Q3 system comp's down 0.2%, Qdoba system-wide comp's up 0.5%, revenue down 3%
Kohl's Q2 comp's down 0.4%, total sales down 0.9%
Dillard's Q2 comp's down 1%, net sales down 1.7%
Macy's Q2 comp's down 2.8%, sales down 5.4%
Vitamin Shoppe Q2 comp's down 8.3%, total sales down 8.4%
 

Security Associates, LLC based in Baltimore acquired by Vector Security®

This most recent acquisition expands the company's presence
in the Washington DC metro area.

PITTSBURGH, August 10, 2017 - Vector Security, Inc., a top 5 integrator of intelligent physical security along with home and business automation solutions, has acquired Baltimore-based Security Associates, LLC, a local "hometown" provider of professional security services in Baltimore and the surrounding area.

The acquisition expands Vector Security's presence in the Metro DC area and existing Security Associates customers will be served out of the Vector Security Columbia, Maryland branch.

"We are pleased to announce Vector Security as your provider of security solutions effective immediately. With a local presence in the DC, Maryland, Virginia and Delaware areas, Vector Security is a natural and proven leader to manage our valued customers' accounts," says Robert Lepczyk, President of Security Associates, LLC. "Vector Security brings a similar culture and dedicated customer focus that our customers expect from a local hometown security provider."

"We welcome Security Associates customers to the Vector Security family today, and look forward to our team in Columbia supporting customer needs along with the tens of thousands of customers we support locally across this region of the country," says Pam Petrow, President and CEO of Vector Security. "This acquisition further supports our commitment to the markets we serve and we look forward to continued growth opportunities where a local presence is important to providing responsive, quality customer service."

With roots dating back to 1752, Vector Security is committed to the markets they serve and building long-term relationships with homeowners and businesses across North America. Vector Security is actively involved in the security industry, including Ms. Petrow's service as President of The Monitoring Association (formerly the Central Station Alarm Association).

The World's First EAS Tag for Small Leather Goods Just Released by CONTROLTEK

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., (August 10, 2017) - CONTROLTEK, an emerging leader in retail product protection, announced the release of the first EAS tag made specifically for small leather goods. The self-alarming tag dubbed the FlatGuard is slim enough to fit inside a wallet and other merchandise too small for classic EAS tags, yet still provides strong visual deterrence and a 90 dB anti-tampering alarm.

"Small leather goods are notoriously difficult to protect," said Tom Meehan, CONTROLTEK's Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Information Security Officer. "They are easily removed off the shelves and hidden in pockets and under clothes. At CONTROLTEK, we thought it was about time someone tried to solve this problem, so we did it. Our new FlatGuard is exactly what the name says - a very flat tag that easily fits inside wallets, purses and other similar merchandise. Since the tag is so slim, it does not detract from the shopping experience. Inside it has both an EAS ferrite and an anti-tamper alarm. The FlatGuard is very easy to place on merchandise - much like sliding a credit card in the wallet. It detaches with a magnetic detacher, and we made that process also very quick and simple in order to make the cashier's life easy."

"In keeping with our customer-need-driven innovation process, we showed the prototypes of the FlatGuard to some of our retail partners at NRF Protect and got very positive feedback," said Steve Sell, CONTROLTEK's Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing. "The most common comment was that this is finally something original when it comes to tags, since there is really no other tag on the market with a similar design. The anti-tamper switch is so simple yet ingenious. And there are no pins, so no holes are poked in the merchandise. Best of all, we are able to produce the FlatGuard with high quality materials but still at a price point that makes sense."

More information about the FlatGuard, along with pictures and a downloadable data sheet, can be obtained at CONTROLTEK's website.

Five ways Walmart uses big data
Walmart is bullish on big data - especially when it comes to finding ways to better serve its shoppers.
 
Big data volume continues to grow, but Walmart is using it to the company's - and its customers' - advantage. By analyzing the robust information flowing throughout its operations, the discounter has gained a real-time view of workflow across its pharmacy, distribution centers, stores and e-commerce, according to a company blog. 
 
Here are five ways that Walmart is using big data to enhance, optimize and customize the shopping experience:
 
1. To make Walmart pharmacies more efficient. By analyzing simulations, the discount giant can understand how many prescriptions are filled in a day, and determine the busiest times during each day or month. Big data also helps Walmart schedule associates more efficiently, and reduce the time and labor needed to fill perceptions.
 
2. To improve store checkout. While it is still only testing the process, Walmart is using predictive analytics to anticipate store demand and determine how many associates are needed to man registers. The data also reveals the best form of checkout at each store: traditional stations or self-checkout.
 
3. To manage the supply chain. The company uses simulations to track the number of steps from the dock to the store. The result: more optimized routes to the shipping dock. The strategy also pinpoints the number of times a product gets touched along the way to the customer. Big data also reveals transportation lanes and routes for the company's fleet of trucks. This insight helps Walmart keep transportation costs down and more accurately schedule driver times, according to the blog. 

4. To optimize product assortment. By analyzing customer preferences and shopping patterns, Walmart can optimize how to stock shelves and display merchandise. Big data also provides insight into new items, discontinued products and which brands to carry, the blog said.
 
5. To personalize the shopping experience. By analyzing shopper's preferences, Walmart can develop a more consistent, tailored shopping experience. If a customer is shopping for baby products for example, Walmart can use data analytics to anticipate their needs then create personalized mobile rollback deals for these shoppers.
 
Whether it's analyzing the transportation route for a supply chain or using data to optimize pricing, big data analytics will continue to be a key way for Walmart to enhance the customer experience, according to the company. chainstoreage.com

PCI Data Breaches: Keeping High-Risk Employees at Bay
PCI (Payment Card Industry) breaches are everywhere, and they're not necessarily due to external hackers. Many of the top breaches in credit card information have occurred because of internal data leaks due to employee negligence, or malicious insider jobs.

Among the retail industry, a sector-wide security policy known as Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) has been instituted to establish credit card safety best practices. The PCI DDS standards were drawn up by five of the major credit card companies including American Express, MasterCard, and Visa, to ensure that credit/debit card data remains secure in the hands of commerce merchants.

Some of the more important internal security policy points and regulations include:

● Implement tiered access control: Tiered access control allows only those employees who need to access data to see the information. This way sensitive information is only handled by those in higher positions who are more accountable.

● Ensure accountability: Utilize user ID tags for anyone with computer access. This allows company executives to know exactly who accessed what information and when.

● Continuously monitor and track all network activity: Employee monitoring has been shown to be one of the most effective ways of keeping internal threats to an organization under control. Monitoring software allows you to silently track all network activity, so you can see when anyone has connected to your network, as well as what they are doing there. Suspicious behavior is flagged, and managers are alerted immediately.

● Maintain strict security policies within your organization: Employees need to know security protocol, and these procedures must be enforced and taken seriously in order for them to effectively curtail data leaks, intentional or otherwise. customerthink.com

Planes, Trains, Automobiles ... and Drones?
Amazon explores 'mobile' drone launch pad
Amazon has lots of ideas about how drones can improve package deliveries, but they also need supportive facilities and operations. In hopes of getting the ball rolling, the online giant has filed a patent application for "ground-based mobile maintenance facilities for unmanned aerial vehicles." Simply put, these hubs would be dedicated to accommodating, loading, launching, receiving and maintaining the delivery drones.

According to a patent filing, which was recently published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Center, intermodal vehicles could be linked to locomotives, container ships, road tractors or other vehicles, and equipped with systems for loading one or more items onto the aerial vehicle. These hubs could also launch or retrieve drones while the vehicle is in motion. chainstoreage.com

Why HBO hackers demanded payment in bitcoin
The digital currency bitcoin is the payment of choice for HBO's cyberattackers. Bitcoin allows people to buy goods and services and exchange money without involving banks, credit card issuers or other third parties. Although bitcoin isn't widely used, it has strong appeal in some circles because transactions can be made anonymously. The currency is popular with libertarians, tech enthusiasts, speculators - and criminals. houstonchronicle.com

Alibaba's Enhanced IP Protection Platform Now Eliminates Fake Listings in Less Than 24 Hours
At its Brand Rights Holders Day in Beijing, Alibaba Group today unveiled enhancements to its Intellectual Property Protection (IPP) Platform. In the first month since the "express" technology enhancements were made, almost all cases submitted by rights holders were handled and closed within 24 hours, among which more than 80% of the listings were also taken down. Alibaba's IP Protection Platform is used by brands and IP owners to flag and request the take down of counterfeit or IP-infringing product listings.

Key highlights of Alibaba's IP Protection Platform technology upgrades include:

● A single entry point across all Alibaba e-commerce platforms and streamlined process to assess the validity of complaints;
● A more-automated complaints-processing, analysis, and product-authentication system powered by new algorithms and data models;
● A dedicated team of IPR professionals to reduce response time for inbound inquiries, as well as proactive outreach to new IPP users and those with more complicated IPR cases;
● Broader brand-protection technological capabilities, for instance, multi-lingual trademark-recognition; and
● Improved search engine optimization (SEO) for easier discovery of and access to the IPP platform.

Of the complaints received, 96% were handled and closed within 24 hours, among which 83% of the listings were also taken down. The remaining 17% were declined mainly for reasons such as insufficient evidence to prove infringement or a mismatch between the complained listing and IP documents filed.

To ensure continuous improvements to the IPP Platform, Alibaba will conduct regular satisfaction surveys and invite rights holders to provide feedback about their user experience. businesswire.com

Epic Rights and CounterFind Launch Partnership to Combat and Reduce Counterfeit Online Music Merchandise
Epic Rights, a leading music merchandising and branding company, announces their official partnership with counterfeit software leader CounterFind to combat counterfeit merchandise and pave the way for online brand protection within the music industry.

"In the past 5 years, online counterfeiting of artist merchandise has grown explosively worldwide, confusing fans with inferior product and unapproved designs, and with the artist losing sales. Until now, there have been no real tools developed to fight it," said Jesper Poulsen, Epic Rights SVP, Artist & Brand Development. "We are excited to be joining CounterFind in bringing real solutions to this global issue."

CounterFind is the leader in fighting and eliminating counterfeit merchandise for sports and entertainment trademark-holders on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram. CounterFind's software not only finds all ads marketing counterfeit, but also shuts them down in real time. Human intelligence paired with image recognition and a complex filtering formula enable CounterFind's technology to learn counterfeiters' new marketing tactics as they develop. prnewswire.com

E-commerce is expected to grow to 17% of US retail sales by 2022

Birchbox in talks with retailers including Walmart for sale

Most US Consumers Don't Shop Online For Groceries

Rolla, MO: Walgreens LP Monitoring assists in the arrest of 5 men; gang of pharmacy burglars hitting in multiple states
Quick work by Rolla Police and State Troopers seems to have busted five men suspected of being part of many pharmacy burglaries in Texas and several other states. The arrests followed a smash-and-grab break-in at a store in Rolla early Tuesday. The burglary at Walgreens was reported at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday. By the time officers arrived, the burglars had fled. While officers were securing the crime scene, they heard from the Houston, TX Police that this burglary was like burglaries at other Walgreens pharmacies in Texas and throughout the Midwest, including a couple in Springfield last March.

Houston police pin the burglaries on what they call the Settegast Burglary Crew and say they've had it under surveillance for the past month. The Houston Police Department contacted the Rolla Police Department after being notified by Walgreens Corporate Security, which monitors its stores from a central office. Surveillance video from the store in Rolla showed two men with their faces covered striking the drive-through window with large objects like sledge hammers. Two men got inside at 5:33 a.m. while a third man remained outside and continued to hit the glass. The two inside men exited through the window two minutes later and forced a large trash bag through the hole in the window. The trash bag ripped and medication bottles fell to the ground. Rolla police broadcast a description of the men and their two getaway cars.

About an hour after the burglary, troopers stopped one car in Houston. Troopers stopped the other car in Cabool less than 30 minutes later. They arrested five men in the two cars. Investigators believe these five men are part of a large organized crime group based in Houston, Texas, that is under investigation for multiple Walgreens pharmacy burglaries. kspr.com



Houston, TX: Suspect stole over $3,000 in clothing from upscale store
Police are looking for a man they say stole $3,000 worth of clothing from a high-end department store in the Galleria area. According to HPD, the suspect can be seen on surveillance cameras walking around the store in the 5100 block of Westheimer, pretending to be a customer. khou.com



Racine, WI: Three charged with Felony Theft
$675 of merchandise stolen from American Eagle
Three Racine women face felony shoplifting charges after allegedly trying to steal $675 worth of clothing from American Eagle at Regency Mall. The assistant manager who had recognized the three women from a prior theft, found 27 price tags removed from items and hidden behind some merchandise. Two of the women made a purchase, distracting the cashier as the third suspect full with a large bag of concealed merchandise. All three women had been previously banned from the mall. journaltimes.com

Yesway C-Store Employee busted for over $12,000 in Lottery Tickets

Milburn, NJ: Louis Vuitton store at Short Hills reported the theft of 4 wallets valued at $3,185

Beachwood, OH: Akron Couple busted at Dillard; $1400 of merchandise and criminal tools

Shootings

Frisco, TX: Man shot in Stonebriar Centre parking lot
The shooting occurred about 6:15 p.m. in the lot by the Nordstrom, near Gaylord Parkway, Officer Ryan Chandler said. The victim was taken to an area hospital with a gunshot wound. His injuries are not expected to be life-threatening. dallasnews.com

Robberies & Thefts

Hickory, NC: 2 armed men smash displays, steal diamonds from Jewelry Exchange; possible ties to 2 other robberies
Police are investigating after two armed men wearing motorcycle helmets robbed a jewelry store Wednesday in Hickory. Officers were called around 11 a.m. to the Jewelry Exchange. Police are investigating to find out if the robbery is connected to other motorcycle jewelry store robberies in Hickory, Morganton and Asheville earlier this spring. The suspects never removed their helmets and the owner said the men knew which display case to hit, leaving some employees to wonder if they'd been in the store before. wsoctv.com

Hollywood, FL: Thieves steal Famous Footwear employee's keys and vehicle
The theft was reported shortly after 6:45 p.m. July 5 at the Famous Footwear on Oakwood Blvd. Hollywood Police said the thieves, whose ages and identities are unknown, entered an "employee only" backroom area and stole the victim's cellphone and car keys. local10.com

San Francisco, CA: Union Square shoplifters pepper spray three people
Three people were pepper sprayed after trying to confront a trio of teenage female shoplifters in a store near Union Square on Tuesday night. The trio entered a store at 9:45 p.m. near Powell and Market streets and began to steal items. When they left the store, they were confronted by three people. One of the suspects pepper sprayed the three people who were trying to stop the shoplifters. All of the suspects then fled, but police were shown by a witness who the suspects were. Police arrested three 15 year olds. sfxexaminer.com



Fayetteville, NC: Update: Rifle-toting Sprint store robber ID'ed
A Crimestoppers tip resulted in Fayetteville Police identifying a rifle-toting woman who robbed a Sprint store in July. Warrants for robbery with a dangerous weapon and possessing stolen property have been issued for Hillary Cheyenne Carver, 23, a police releases stated. Investigators received the tip within two days of releasing the surveillance video. fayobserver.com



Harris County, TX: Tattooed-face man in court over Walgreens rampage, Armed Robbery
A man accused of holding a knife while stealing food while wreaking havoc inside a Walgreens is being held without bond. Christopher Breaker, 25, was taken into custody Wednesday night in connection to an August 4 armed robbery. Witnesses told authorities Breaker was "acting differently" while walking around the store. A clerk said she saw him take food off shelves and eat it. Breaker then allegedly jumped over a pharmacy counter, pulled out a knife and began pounding on a back door with a fire extinguisher. He eventually left through the front entrance, leaving behind the extinguisher and donuts. abc13.com


Somerville, NJ: Central New Jersey man charged in ShopRite
and Target Robberies
Brian M. Sivetz has been charged in the Aug. 1 robbery of a clerk at ShopRite in Bound Brook. The 26-year-old Bound Brook resident has also been charged for an attempted robbery at the Target located in the Bridgewater Promenade and shoplifting from Macy's at Bridgewater Commons, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said. In both robberies, Sivetz handed clerks a note indicating he had a gun. Sivetz was previously charged in Piscataway Township after robbing a QuickChek on July 30. nj.com


Tulsa, OK: Couple Arrested who Pepper Srayed 80 year old Walmart Greeter; both ex-cons with warrants
A couple wanted in Kentucky for using pepper spray on an 80-year old Wal-Mart greeter is in the Tulsa Jail tonight. The granddaughter of the woman pepper sprayed says her grandma is the sweetest woman. She says when the man started to leave the store with his merchandise and the alarm sounded, her grandmother simply asked him to see his receipt and that's when she was blasted in the face. Police say the man is George Jude, an ex-con who served time for a Tulsa County drug case in 20-10. They say his accomplice is Sandra Yeahquo. She's also an ex-con with convictions in Tulsa County for stolen property and using fraud to get drugs. Police in Kentucky got robbery warrants for the pair and members of the Northern Oklahoma Violent Crimes Task force along with Broken Arrow police, made the arrest and drove the couple straight into the Tulsa County jail for booking and processing. newson6.com

Macon, GA: Same Dollar General store Burglarized 4 times in past two weeks
The Dollar General at 3824 Pio Nono Avenue was burglarized again Wednesday morning. A man busted open a window around 4:30 a.m. and stole candy and cigarettes. On August 6, around 5 a.m., a man kicked in the front door and stole cigarettes and lighters. On July 28 and 29, a man carrying the same style backpack broke into the store by shattering the front door. According to investigators, he stole clothes, prepaid cell phones and cigarettes. 41nbc.com

Lake County, FL: Businesses plagued by Smash-and-Grab Burglaries
In the past few months, Lake County businesses have reported at least 52 smash-and-grab burglaries and investigators said they believe they are connected to the same group of individuals. To help combat the increase in burglaries, Lake County plans to work with law enforcement agencies across Central Florida in hopes of catching those responsible. Hardest hit in Lake County is the city of Clermont, which has seen 35 smash-and-grab burglaries, including three earlier this week. wftv.com



Providence, RI: Man Charged in 6 Armed Robberies in Less Than 2 Weeks

Stockbridge, GA: Police Arrest 5 men in connection to 6 area Burglaries

UK: London: Two men on Trial in $1M Cell Phone Robbery/ Burglary ring; thieves hit 17 Cell Phone store between May and November last year

 

Arson & Fire

Deerfield Beach, FL: Young men throw a firework inside Wendy's, scaring employees
A group of young men threw a firework inside a Wendy's restaurant July 5 in Deerfield Beach, authorities said.
Broward Sheriff's Office deputies said an employee was sitting at a table near the entrance when one of the males opened the front door and threw a firework inside. Authorities said the group of eight to 10 males then ran away through the parking lot. No injuries were reported. local10.com
 

None to report.

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Leadership Lessons for All to Learn

The Single Best Lesson to Learn in Leadership and Life: How to Be Wrong  While there is a multitude of great advice out there for all leaders, there's one majorly important lesson to remember: there will come a point where you'll be wrong. When this happens, be open. Drop your ego

4 Powerful Leadership Lessons from Bruce Lee  When we think of Bruce Lee, we immediately think of his exceptional martial arts skills and as an entertainer, but what we don't realize is his ability to lead and inspire others. Here's what he can teach us about leadership. No substitutes for action

5 Lessons Every Leader Should Learn Early  Becoming a truly effective and successful leader is no easy task, but it starts with a willingness to learn, and a willingness to act. Here are five lessons for everyone in a leadership position, to be the best leader possible. You don't get a playbook

Leadership Lessons from a Ballet Teacher  A leader is someone whom others follow. It's about having charisma, discipline, and self-confidence. A leader can be a corporate executive or a ballet teacher. Here's what this dancer can teach all about leadership. Mind over matter

Perception becomes reality slowly on a macro level and it's difficult to change it if it's incorrect or doesn't portray the truth. It's the same reason law enforcement separates witnesses to ensure clarity and truth. The group mind becomes influenced by opinion and agendas and distorts the true reality. One can only rely on daily vigilance based on doing what's right to hopefully impact the individuals one works with on a daily basis to carry the experience forward and be witness to what is right.

Just a Thought,
Gus

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