Robert LaCommare, CFI promoted to Vice President Asset Protection & Safety for Ascena Retail Group, Inc.
Robert was previously the AVP Asset/Profit Protection & Risk Management for Justice for over five years, and prior he was their Director of Loss Prevention. Robert has also held other loss prevention, detective and investigator roles including Senior Regional Manager, LP for Limited Too & Justice, RLPM - Director of Loss Prevention for Structure, Senior Investigator for ACO Hardware, and Store Detective for Kroger, TJ Maxx and Quality Dairy. Robert earned his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University. Congratulations Robert!

Submit Your New Corporate Hires/Promotions or New Position

ORC is Rising & More Violent & Still Top Shrink Risk
The NRF's 2017 Organized Retail Crime Survey
The annual Organized Retail Crime Survey focuses on the scope of current ORC activity, retailers' resources for fighting it, and the overall impact on the industry.

Organized retail crime includes anything from professional shoplifting to cargo theft or other loss from organized crime gangs and return fraud.

● Organized retail crime continues to pose a serious threat to retailers. Over 9 in 10 responding retailers have been a victim of ORC in the past 12 months.

● The financial impact of ORC is considerable. ORC costs retailers an average of $726,351 per every $1 billion in sales.

● Aggression shown by ORC gangs continues to rise. More than a quarter of responding retailers say these gangs are exhibiting much more aggression compared to last year.

It remains the top source of inventory shrinkage for the second year in a row

While significantly more retailers are altering point-of-sale policies and 29.4% are adjusting refund policies to help fight ORC, top management isn't as focused on it or aware of it's significance as much as just last year.
With a 33% reduction in top management fully understanding the complexity and severity of ORC over last year according to the respondents. Going from 30.5% in awareness and understanding the problem in 2016 to 20% in 2017.

With resources down as other areas of the business need greater attention, LP/AP executives must be creative in deploying resources. nrf.com

Organized Retail Crime On the Rise

WASHINGTON, November 17, 2017 - Organized retail crime is continuing to grow, with 67 percent of retailers surveyed reporting an increase in the past year, according to the 13th annual ORC study released today by the National Retail Federation.

The survey of retail loss prevention employees found that 96 percent of responding companies had experienced ORC in the past year. Losses averaged $726,351 per $1 billion in sales, an increase from $700,259 last year.

"Organized retail crime continues to be one of the biggest challenges to retailers of all sizes," NRF Vice President for Loss Prevention Bob Moraca said. "These crimes happen across the country every day, with criminals getting smarter, more brazen, more aggressive and sometimes even attacking store employees and shoppers. Fighting ORC is a full-time job, and retailers must learn how to stay a step ahead of these thieves."

The survey found six in 10 retailers had recovered merchandise from physical fencing locations including pawn shops, flea markets kiosks and temporary "pop-up" stores, about the same as last year. Criminals often turn to the internet for the anonymity it offers in fencing, but only 56 percent of retailers had found stolen goods online, down from 75 percent. And 28 percent had found their stolen merchandise exported illegally outside the United States.

ORC criminals look for items that can be stolen and quickly resold. Some of the top items this year include designer clothes, denim pants, razors and designer handbags.

With the help of state retail associations, 34 states now have ORC laws in place - but with criminal operations often crossing state lines, 69 percent of retailers support passage of a federal ORC law.

The survey found that 40 percent of retailers were victims of cargo theft - merchandise stolen on its way from distribution centers to stores or elsewhere along the supply chain - down from 44 percent last year.

Los Angeles continued to be the hardest-hit area for ORC in the nation, a position it has held since 2012. Following in order were New York City, Houston, Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, Orlando, San Francisco/Oakland, Orange County, Calif., and Northern New Jersey.

Return Fraud Continues to Rise
Return fraud continues to pose a serious challenge for the retail industry. Retailers expect 11 percent of purchases to be returned this year, and that 11 percent of those returns are likely to be fraudulent. The return rate for items purchased online but returned to a store is the same, but with a lower fraud rate of 9 percent. Of items returned without a receipt, 17 percent are believed to be fraudulent. During the holiday season, 13 percent of purchases are expected to be returned, with 11 percent believed to be fraudulent.

Of retailers that have experienced return fraud, the most common method is the return of stolen merchandise (68 percent), followed by employee return fraud (65 percent), returns of merchandise purchased on fraudulent or stolen tender (57 percent), returns made by ORC groups (54 percent), wardrobing (40 percent), returns using counterfeit receipts (29 percent) and returns using e-receipts (19 percent).

The survey of 63 loss prevention retailers representing department, big-box, discount, drug, grocery and specialty retailers was conducted September 11-October 18.

Click here to read the D&D Daily's 2016 ORC Report

The USS Foundation Holiday Merrython Program Returns for 2017
The USS Foundation, a charitable, non-profit organization dedicated to helping children in need, announced the return their Annual Holiday Merrython, a multi-day program that will provide warm holiday meals and festivities to underprivileged families, for the 2017 holiday season.

Adel Sayegh, USS Foundation founder, expressed his gratitude to the Foundation's support system; its sponsors and donors who contribute throughout the year and make all the charitable events and endeavors possible.

"At USS, we are dedicated to giving back and serving those in the communities where we live and operate," said Sayegh. "Especially during the holidays, it is vital to give back to the community, and our volunteers and employees eagerly anticipate this event every year." Read more in today's Vendor Spotlight below.

Walmart Puts Aside $283M For Potential FCPA Settlement
Spent $900 Million on Compliance Program - Investigations - Law Suits
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Thursday it expects to pay $283 million to resolve long-running U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigations into the retail giant's possible violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Walmart disclosed it has recorded an accrual in that amount as part of its third-quarter earnings, noting that discussions with the government remain ongoing but have reached a point where the company "can now reasonably estimate a probable loss."

The announcement comes six years after Walmart disclosed to the DOJ and SEC in November 2011 that it was conducting a voluntary, global review of its policies and internal controls for compliance with the FCPA, which prohibits companies from making or offering improper payments to officials of foreign governments in order to secure business.

Subsequent reporting by the New York Times drew attention to allegations that bribes were paid to facilitate the expansion of the retail giant's Mexico unit, and in May 2012, the company acknowledged that it was the subject of FCPA probes by the DOJ and SEC. Later that year, Walmart said that it had broadened its own FCPA investigations beyond Mexico to include China, Brazil and India.

Walmart said in its last quarterly filing with the SEC at the end of August that it has been cooperating with the U.S. and Mexican government probes and is engaging in "strengthening its global anti-corruption compliance programs through appropriate remedial anti-corruption measures."

According to its regulatory filings, the company has spent close to $900 million on legal fees and other expenses from 2012 through July in connection with overhauling its compliance program and handling the government investigations, investor suits and internal reviews. law360.com

Steinhoff Risk Solutions Enters North America and Expands with PCG
Steinhoff Risk Solutions (SRS), a leading international provider of specialized insurance and risk solutions, announced today its expansion into North America and an enhanced suite of full enterprise risk offerings. The expanded model bridges the gaps between Risk Financing, Risk Advisory, and Asset Protection allowing clients to streamline operations, and reduce costs associated with insurance and risk.

The unique service model is driven by newly appointed president, Maurice Edwards, and the recent acquisition of PCG Solutions, Inc., a prominent US firm focused on retail loss prevention and asset protection.

"Historically, the companies in our industry have focused on one to two areas of the enterprise risk spectrum. By leveraging all three pillars of Risk Financing, Risk Advisory, and Asset Protection into one company, we can offer our clients a holistic approach to risk," said Edwards. "From cybersecurity assessments to insurance servicing to retail loss prevention assessments and everything in between, we provide a single point of contact for a seamless experience that helps our clients build a long-term and sustainable growth model."

He is joined by, Walter Palmer, the founder and President of PCG Solutions. Recognized as one of the leading experts in retail loss prevention, Palmer's 30 years of experience include 16 years as a practitioner in loss prevention, operations, inventory control, and supply chain. businesswire.com

Axis Communications to integrate 2N's operations in the U.S. and Canada
To expand 2N's position in the North American intercom market, 2N's U.S. and Canadian operations will be integrated with Axis' North American operations come the new year.

Axis Communications, the market leader in network video, today announced the integration of 2N's North American operations with Axis North America will be completed as of January 1, 2018. In 2016, Axis acquired 2N, the global market leader in IP-intercom and this integration will help further expand 2N's leading position in the U.S. and Canadian intercom market. Additionally, aligning with 2N will help Axis accelerate growth in the quickly converging IP-Intercom market. axis.com

ICE teams with industry to fight IP theft
IPR Center holds collaborative symposium
WASHINGTON - The crackdown on counterfeiting intensified this week as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) welcomed Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC) industry representatives from multiple sectors, and IP enforcers from across the federal government, to exchange intelligence and develop new strategies in the fight against IP crimes that support transnational criminal organizations and threaten the health and safety of American consumers. ice.gov

Trump Authorizes PASS Act, Exempts Security Systems From DoE Energy Restrictions
President Donald Trump signed into law the Power and Security Systems (PASS) Act, P.L. 115-78, culminating a year-long effort led by the Security Industry Association (SIA) to preserve an important provision in federal energy efficiency requirements critical to the operation of security and fire alarm systems.

"The PASS Act provides much-needed certainty to manufacturers, installers and service providers who are among thousands of Americans that work in the security industry," SIA Director of Government Relations Jake Parker says. "But ultimately it benefits the millions of American consumers that depend on such security and life safety systems." securitysales.com

Rite Aid Manager's $9M Award In Retaliation Suit Trimmed
Says he was fired because of disabilities stemming from '06 robbery beating
A California appeals court on Wednesday wiped out $5 million of a nearly $8.8 million wrongful discharge award a jury gave to a former Rite Aid manager it found was fired because of disabilities stemming from a store robbery, saying the company shouldn't be punished for low-level leaders' mistakes.

A panel majority tossed the jury's finding that Rite Aid owed Robert Leggins $5 million in punitive damages, saying the evidence did not show the regional managers and a human resources officer who mistreated him were Rite Aid "managing agents." The majority also said the jury was wrong to find Leggins was harassed because of his disability, but upheld $3.77 million in compensatory damages.

Leggins suffered serious injuries to his neck and shoulder when he was beaten during a robbery in 2006, and has since suffered from debilitating pain and physical ailments that affected his work, forcing him multiple times to take leave, according to the ruling. He claimed district managers Nick Gauger and, later, Jilbert Shahdaryan harassed him because of his race, age and disability, and that HR officers ignored his complaints. Rite Aid fired Leggins in early 2013, ostensibly for closing his store five hours early on New Year's Day. law360.com

Gaming the System
Michigan Lottery cracks down on retailers who cheat customers
269 Michigan lottery retailers - out of a total of nearly 11,000 - have had their licenses suspended or revoked since 2016, records show. Most suspensions result from retailers getting behind on money they owe the Michigan Lottery from ticket sales, which just set a record of $3.3 billion for 2016-17, resulting in a $920-million boost to the state's School Aid Fund.

Another major concern is a prohibited practice known as "discounting" - retailers buying winning tickets at a discounted price from players who want to prevent the state from seizing all or part of their prize to pay debts such as back child support. freep.com

Toys R Us Asks For $100M In Incentives For Execs, Workers

Source: Payless plans to move out of Topeka - Cuts 170 at HQ Thursday

Bon Ton Closing 40 Stores in 2018 of it's 260 Stores

China's Jeff Bezos:
Billionaire Alibaba CEO Jack Ma is the star of an ultra-popular kung fu film


Quarterly Results
The numbers overall look better than they've looked all year in the report below.


Quarterly Results

Ace Hardware Q3 comp's up 7.1%, sales up 9.1%

Shoe Carnival Q3 comp's up 4.4%, net sales up 4.7%

Ross Stores Q3 comp's up 4%, sales up 8%

Abercrombie & Fitch Q3 comp's up 4%, net sales up 5%
   Hollister comp's up 8%
   Abercrombie comp's down 2%
   Direct to consumer up 24%

Gap Q3 comp's up 3%, net sales up 1%
   Old Navy Global comp's up 4%, excluding an est. negative impact - Fishkill DC fire - approx. 1%
   Gap Global comp's up 1%, excluding an est. negative impact - Fishkill DC fire - approx. 4%
   Banana Republic Global comp's down 1%, excluding est. negative impact - Fishkill DC fire - approx. 2%

Williams Sonoma Q3 comp's up 3.3%, net sales up 4.3%
   Pottery Barn comp's down 0.3%
   Williams Sonoma comp's up 2.3%
   West Elm comp's up 11.5%
   Pottery Barn Kids comp's up 0.1%
   PBteen comp's up 3%

Stage Stores Q3 comp's down 3.9%, sales up 12.6%

Birks Group mid year results - comp's down 10%, sales down 9.3%

LPRC Research Update

Episode 4

Stuart Strome, PhD, Research Scientist, Loss Prevention Research Council

The Loss Prevention Research Council continues to work on ways to help retailers sell more while losing less using in-store and supply chain innovation efforts, interviewing offenders, shoppers and employees, while analyzing large data sets and conducting randomized controlled trials in active locations.

A major LPRC research focus is better understanding the psychology of how LP/AP efforts actually affect human behavior in stores and distribution centers. They look at how and where LP should place deterrent treatments to make the most positive impact with the least negative shopper and employee effects.

In this 22-minute episode, Dr. Stuart Strome of the LPRC explains why the offender interviews they conduct are so crucial to their research, what data they collect when studying solutions, and how they help facilitate research collaboration among retailers.
 

Sponsored By:

The USS Foundation Holiday Merrython Program Returns for 2017

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. (November 16, 2017) - The USS Foundation, a charitable, non-profit organization dedicated to helping children in need, announced the return their Annual Holiday Merrython, a multi-day program that will provide warm holiday meals and festivities to underprivileged families, for the 2017 holiday season.

Adel Sayegh, USS Foundation founder, expressed his gratitude to the Foundation's support system; its sponsors and donors who contribute throughout the year and make all the charitable events and endeavors possible.

"At USS, we are dedicated to giving back and serving those in the communities where we live and operate," said Sayegh. "Especially during the holidays, it is vital to give back to the community, and our volunteers and employees eagerly anticipate this event every year."

The 2017 USS Foundation Holiday Merrython activities kickoff with the Thanksgiving Care-A-Van, a program that provides at full Thanksgiving meals to at least 200 families in need each year, Tuesday, November 21. This year, the USS Foundation has partnered with the City of Fontana Police Department to help select the families and distribute the meals.

The additional Holiday Merrython events will take place in December and include:

● December 12, 2017: 150 to 200 deserving students selected by the Fontana Police Department will be gifted with brand new bicycles, locks and helmets.

● December 13, 2017: The Foundation and its volunteers collaborate again with the First Lutheran Church of Ontario to provide a warm spaghetti meal, catered by USS Foundation volunteers, and an evening of fun and fellowship to families facing financial hardship in the community.

● December 14, 2017: Santa Claus, along with his crew of elves and USS Foundation volunteers, will return to Casa Colina Children's Hospital in Pomona, to visit with the children, provide a pizza lunch, and, of course, pass out presents donated by USS Foundation volunteers, partners and friends.

This is the fourth year the USS Foundation has brought its Holiday Merrython program and these activities to local communities and families in need. Learn more about the USS Foundation and the Holiday Merrython program at http://ussinnovate.com/uss_foundation/.

AlphaBay Marketplace Shutdown:
Former Public Relations Specialist Indicted By Feds
A 24-year-old man from Illinois was charged in federal court in Atlanta this week for his alleged role as spokesperson for AlphaBay, a now-defunct dark web marketplace known primarily for its drug trade.

Ronald L. Wheeler III of Streamwood, Illinois was charged Wednesday by federal prosecutors with "conspiracy to commit access device fraud," according to the Associated Press. Wheeler, who prosecutors say was also known online as "Trappy" and "Trappy-Pandora," is believed to have served as a "public relations specialist" for the AlphaBay. ibtimes.com

The EU's - General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
How will Europe's New GDPR affect physical security systems?
Is this in America's Future?
Much has been written about the EU GDPR which was adopted on 27th of April, 2016 and becomes enforceable on 25th May, 2018. Yet, given the unique challenges involved, surprisingly little has been devoted to the process of ensuring compliance for the operation of video surveillance, access control and other physical security systems.

Any public or private organisations using CCTV to monitor public accessible areas, for example, should be concerned. Under the terms of the GDPR, monitoring the public on a large scale is by default considered a high-risk activity. Per several market research studies, many organisations have not yet taken the steps of reviewing the new regulations and making the changes required to meet the obligations. Over the years, we have seen organisations defining corporate standards for their physical security systems based around IT standards and technologies. These should be in a better state of readiness as the regulations calls for standardised processes, common organisational approach and technology.

The UK's Surveillance Camera Commissioner, Tony Porter, should be commended in recent months for his vocal efforts to make security system operators aware that their activities will be subject to the GDPR and to signpost them to relevant guidance from the ICO.

Get Involved and start evaluating your current systems
Adopt Privacy by Design
Consider cloud-based services as a short cut to compliance

By Jean-Philippe Deby, Business Development Director, Europe, Genetec Inc. gdpr.report

Amazon: We're fixing flaw that leaves Key security camera open to Wi-Fi jamming
Amazon is rushing out a fix for a flaw in the security camera that monitors couriers delivering parcels into the homes of Key customers.

Amazon Key is the recently launched service that allows Amazon couriers to place goods inside Prime customers' homes. The service works alongside Amazon's new Cloud Cam security camera, a smart door lock and the Key app that remotely unlocks the door and displays a live video feed.

But, as Wired reports, Seattle-based security firm Rhino Security Labs has discovered a flaw in the procedure that would allow a devious courier to freeze the camera. Though the Amazon camera is offline, it continues to display the last frame the camera captured when it was connected, leaving the home owner unaware that the view in their app is not live.

The attack can be launched within Wi-Fi range, which is exactly where a hacker courier would be positioned. Using a computer, the attacker sends a volley of 'deauthorization' packets to the target Cloud Cam, which stops it from using an access point as it attempts to reauthenticate. It's a well-known technique for Wi-Fi jamming and is not specific to Cloud Cam. zdnet.com

Crooks Turn to Delivering Ransomware via RDP
In a new twist to an old attack, threats actors are increasingly using the remote access protocol to install ransomware, Sophos says.

Unlike typical ransomware campaigns in which the malware is mass distributed via phishing and other means, the crooks in these attacks are breaking into Windows systems one at a time and running ransomware on them manually using RDP access.

The trend highlights the need for organizations to ensure that RDP is turned off on all computers on the network on which it is not needed, to use VPNs for external connections and to implement strong authentication where possible, Sophos said. darkreading.com

A top 10 online retailer shares how holiday fraud starts well before the season
Criminals tried to create thousands of accounts in the months ahead of the holiday season so they would seem less suspicious, an executive for a major retailer says.

Heading into the holiday season, one retailer ranked in the top 10 of the Internet Retailer 2017 Top 500 agreed to discuss its approach to preventing online fraud with Internet Retailer on the condition that it not be identified.

"Bad guys can hide within that increased traffic on an e-commerce platform, and it can be more difficult to detect the outliers," says the head of fraud and investigations for the top 10 online retailer. A number of high-profile data breaches occurred this year, including a massive one at credit data services company Equifax Inc. These hacks have compromised millions of consumers' personal data, and that identity information can be used by criminals to attempt fraudulent purchases on retailers' e-commerce sites, the executive says.

No one fraud prevention tool or tactic will work. An online retailer, regardless of size, needs to take a layered approach, the executive says.

The top 10 retailer, for example, monitors how a shopper interacts with a website and her browsing pattern, and it verifies that identities match with delivery addresses. The retailer also monitors product volume and order velocity to detect patterns that might be caused by fraudulent bots that are using fake identities to try to place orders.

Criminal organizations, many of them overseas-that's how most fraud is done, not by a lone person at a computer-load thousands of IDs and credit cards at a time into their computer system and use programs that place a multitude of orders with the hope that even a fraction slip past e-retailers, the executive says.

About three to four months before the holiday shopping season kicks off, the retailer will see criminals start to test and probe its system, usually by creating a large number of new customer accounts because the perpetrators want to let the account age and become less suspicious than if they were created during the holiday season, the executive says. digitalcommerce360.com

Strong growth: US e‑commerce sales jump 15.5% in Q3 - 12.4% of Total Retail Sales (minus gas & automobiles)

Barclays Warns UK Faces Most Fraudulent Online Christmas Ever

Amazon set for 'record-breaking' holiday season with nearly half of online sales: Analyst

Study: Digital strategies top retailers' holiday wish lists

Alibaba selling counterfeit Brooklyn Nets gear as co-founder buys stake in the team

Walmart Serial ORC Thief in Santa Cruz, CA., Gets 3 Terms of 2.5 yrs in prison
Martinez, 29, was sentenced Oct. 30 by Judge Thomas Fink of Santa Cruz County Superior Court for convictions on two counts of organized retail theft, a Class 4 felony, and one count of shoplifting with an artifice, a Class 4 felony. The judge gave him 2.5 years in prison for each count, with the sentences to be served concurrently.

During a pre-sentencing interview on Oct. 5, Martinez reportedly told a probation officer that he steals to pay for an addiction.

"I did commit the crime, so therefore I deserve punishment," he told the officer. "As for 2.5 years in prison, I think it's outrageous."

Caught multiple times hitting Walmart stores throughout Santa Cruz county. nogalesinternational.com

Falls Church, VA: Thieves distract jewelry store owner, stealing roughly $200K worth of items
When Tony Nguyen opened his jewelry store on Friday, it was business as usual. He was being friendly to people he believed were customers. "They asked me to get 24k from that showcase," said Nguyen. "Two come in first and then another and then another two come in and block my view."

When Nguyen wasn't looking, one woman snuck away. She then found Nguyen's unlocked safe, where she uses a bag to grab jewelry and cash. Afterwards, the woman then returns to the main part of the store; where she sat and pretended nothing happened. Nguyen says back in February someone also stole roughly $70,000 of jewelry in a similar manner, from behind the counter while he was distracted. Falls Church police say the case is similar to other cases in California and Pennsylvania. wjla.com

Livonia, MI: Home Depot employee embezzled $60K worth of merchandise
Donte Griffin, 39, of Detroit was arrested and charged with several criminal counts after his fellow employees discovered evidence he had stolen tools and other merchandise from Home Depot, 13500 Middlebelt, where he was employed. Police say Griffin, a flooring associate at the store, began taking items from the store as early as June. It's believed he would select several items, including power tools and other equipment for sale at the store, and later place them into a large item for sale and buy that item with the tools inside it. Police say Griffin was seen purchasing items such as garbage cans and roof turbines in the store, though employees said the seals on those items looked tampered with. Footage later showed him removing tools in his car that were not paid for from the containers that were purchased.

Footage later showed him removing tools in his car that were not paid for from the containers that were purchased. Other store associates became suspicious and later contacted police. It's believed about $60,000 worth of merchandise was taken from the store, police said. Griffin was arrested within the last week by police and was charged with two criminal counts: one count of embezzlement of more than $1,000 but less than $20,000 and one count of receiving/concealing stolen property more than $1,000 but less than $20,000. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison. hometownlife.com

Boca Raton, FL: Microsoft Store employee accused of stealing $43000 to pay IRS
Gary Troy Peacock, a former employee of the Microsoft Store at Town Center at Boca Raton is facing charges that he stole more than $43,000 in order to pay his IRS bill, according to an arrest report. The thefts allegedly occurred in 2014.

A Microsoft investigator found the company sustained a loss of $43,165.58 as the result of Peacock's thefts. In June, 2015 Peacock allegedly admitted to Boca Raton detectives that he processed fraudulent returns by re-printing sales receipts, entering the items returned as defective and then using his own credit card so that the returned amount would be credited to him, the report said.

Peacock, 27, said he committed the thefts to pay the Internal Revenue Service as well as to pay living expenses and provide for his family. The report does not indicate why Peacock was not arrested until Tuesday. Peacock plead not guilty to both counts during a court appearance on Oct. 25. palmbeachpost.com

Great Falls, MT: Sears Hometown employee busted for $4,000 Refund fraud;
had prior Felony record
According to charging documents, Sears loss prevention had discovered seven items had been returned to the store that had never been sold at any Sears Store with the names listed on the return slip. The returns totaled $3,782.69. Michelle Amato's was the only employee working at the store at that time. Amato was reportedly terminated from Sears before the seventh return was done because of a failed background check. She has prior convictions for Felony Criminal Distribution of Dangerous Drugs, Felony Theft, Felony Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Misdemeanor Theft of Labor or Services, and Misdemeanor Criminal Possession of Dangerous Drugs. Amato is charged with one count of Theft (Embezzlement Common Scheme). kfbb.com


Update - Columbia, SC: Police identified 2 of 3 S in Armed Robbery of Victoria's Secret
Officers say armed robbery and conspiracy warrants have been issued for Ryelynn Sanders, 27, and Ramanda McMillan, 28. Sanders, McMillan, and another unidentified suspect were caught on surveillance stealing thousands of dollars' worth of products from the Victoria's Secret store inside the Columbiana Centre mall. Investigators believe Sanders was armed with a gun and threatened an employee during the robbery. wistv.com


Oak Brook, IL: Oak Brook Police Investigating multiple Felony Thefts
Seven items priced at $2,035.85 were reported stolen at 12:44 p.m. Nov. 12 from the Apple Store. Three women take six pairs of boots from DSW Shoe, valued at $1,019. Miscellaneous merchandise priced at $983.34 was reported stolen at 4:35 p.m. Nov. 16 from Victoria's Secret. chicagotribune.com

Sarasota, FL: Opioid Addict who turned to Organized Retail Crime,
now wants to help others with recovery
Brett Ramsden spent 14 years battling opioid addiction. He racked up felonies that landed him in jail and prison, all to fund his habit. Ramsden became involved in an organized retail theft scheme to pay for his drugs. "It turned to the point where we were getting orders from people, like special orders, and we'd go fill it and get our money for it," Ramsden said.

But one day, he had enough of living this life. "I literally broke down in tears in that moment on the back porch and I told my girlfriend and my friend at the time, 'I can't do this anymore. It's literally killing me,'" said Ramsden. He finally gave up and got clean. He enrolled in an intensive therapy program and turned his life around. He later wanted to pay it forward and help other addicts, but he was stuck in a catch-22. That's because DCF has strict requirements to prevent former addicts from working with current addicts. Ramsden believes changes need to be made. wfla.com

Merced, CA: Police investigating $1,000 Kohl's Theft, LP Agent pepper sprayed

Springfield, IL: Sunglass thief facing Felony charges

Meriden, CT: $3,000 worth of merchandise stolen from Victoria's Secret at Meriden Mall

Shootings & Deaths

Bridgeport, CT: Suspect In Armed Robbery Arrested After Shooting At Police Officer
The suspect in a violent armed robbery at EbLens clothing store was arrested after exchanging gunshots with a Bridgeport police officer on Thursday morning. As the officer gave chase, the suspect, who was wearing a mask, turned and fired at him, police said. The officer returned fire, and with the help of other responding units, apprehended the suspect, identified as Jachim Brown, 27. dailyvoice.com

West Des Moines, IA: Juvenile accidentally shoots himself at Valley West Mall
Around 6 p.m. on Thursday, Police located a male juvenile who accidentally shot himself at Valley West Mall. Witnesses say he was in possession of a firearm when it discharged, possibly striking him in the leg. The juvenile male and another person left the mall in a vehicle, possibly an SUV, in an unknown direction. The gun was not left at the scene. The juvenile was brought to a local hospital to be treated for his injury, police said. desmoinesregister.com
 

Robberies & Thefts

Suspect in State Police cruiser theft stole jackets from Macy's in Warwick Mall
Warwick police said Thursday that a suspect they were looking for in a theft at Warwick Mall is the same man accused of stealing a state police cruiser. Surveillance pictures show a man who they say stole two women's North Face jackets from the Macy's store on Nov. 7. When confronted by a loss prevention representative, he allegedly pulled out a knife before running off. Police said the thief is Donald Morgan, the same man who stole the cruiser two days later. Morgan will be charged with shoplifting. The manhunt for Morgan led to a high-speed chase that ended on Interstate 95 in Providence, where police shot and killed a different man who rammed cars trying to get away from them. turnto10.com



Louisville, KY: Party City robbed of $500 in merchandise
The general manager at Party City on Dixie Highway said two women walked in the store last Wednesday and walked out with $500 worth of merchandise. Christine Robinson said they suspected the pair would try to run so workers manned the front door, but the women ran out the back. wdrb.com



Dallas, TX: Effectiveness of Dallas Police 'Crime Control' Initiative questioned; Officers are asked to stop in businesses once per shift
The business robberies appear to be happening across the city and all of the businesses that have been hit in the past 48 hours have police officer sign-in sheets and officers are supposed to go in once per shift. Dallas police have been on the street as part of the South Dallas Crime Initiative since the murder of Dollar General clerk Gabrielle Simmons last week. The hope is their presence is a visible deterrent to daylight business robberies. fox4news.com


1 man now suspected in at least 11 robberies, attempted robbery cases in Lake County, IN

Murfreesboro, TN: Arrest made in Gun Store burglary; 24 firearms stolen

Fountain Valley, CA: Over 1000 stolen bicycles found hidden underground

St John's, NL, Canada: Charm Diamond Centre the victim of an Armed Smash & Grab Robbery; 2nd Village Shopping Centre Jewelry Store hit in a month

UK: Llanelli, Wales: A gang of teens is 'running riots' in a town centre, shoplifting and breaking windows

Paris, France: 27 Gang members arrested in Paris on Property Theft charges as a result of Georgian, French police cooperation
 

Sentencings & Arrests

Colorado Springs, CO: Boy, 13, sentenced in fatal shooting of liquor store owner
A 13-year-old was sentenced Thursday to 6.5 years in the Department of Youth Services for his role in the slaying of a Colorado Springs liquor store owner. Donat Herr, 68, was fatally shot Feb. 15 in his store, Empire Liquor, during an armed robbery right before closing time. The 13-year-old's sentence was the result of a plea bargain. The teen pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of felony murder. Herr was shot by Phinehas Daniels, 19, after the store owner maced him and two accomplices carrying airsoft guns. gazette.com

Woodland, CA: Thomas Phillip Lee, getaway driver in Vancouver robbery-slaying sentenced in fatal crash
Calling the defendant a "danger to society," a Superior Court judge sentenced a Washington man to 25 years, 8 months to life in state prison Wednesday for his role in a crash that killed his girlfriend as the couple fled from police. columbian.com

Bel Air, MD: Man sentenced to 29 years in Pharmacy Armed Robbery of nearly 2000 Oxycodone pills with a BB Gun

2 Miami men get 4 1/2 yrs prison - hijacking truckloads of copper wire from Southwire, others

Brooklyn, NY: Defendants Charged in Armed Robbery of Jewelry Store

Atlanta, GA: Gunman sentenced to 32 years in prison for serial commercial robbery spree

Montgomery, AL: Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison For C-Store Shootout
 

Arson & Fire

St Cloud, MN: Suspect arrested in Arson fire at Adult Bookstore; employee fled to safety, $380,000 in damages

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Employee Engagement: The Gift that Keeps Giving
 

7 Great Reasons to Focus on Employee Engagement  If you really want long-term success, you should put your people first, then your customers or clients, then profits. There are benefits to be had by engaging your employees, are here are seven wonderful ones. Less stress, higher productivity

The Manager Who Has Engaged Employees  Organizations and mangers often hold the key to employees' well-being and their engagement. There's been a lot of research into what leadership behaviors engage employees, and thus lead to higher performance, and here's what's been discovered. Promote autonomy

5 Engagement Tips for Black Friday
Black Friday is rough for employers and employees both, but managers can ease the stress some and engage employees so that everyone has a positive experience. Just use these five tips to show your appreciation. Spread your support

How to Efficiently Ensure Employee Engagement  As a leader, it can be hard to find the time to properly give your team one-on-one face time to provide feedback, but their engagement depends on it. Try using this solution to keep them engaged, give them advice, and show your support. Use online to your advantage

There is no second chance for the first impression. Whether it's an interview, a new management member, a new company, a new job or a new boss, the first impression can last a long time and it's something most don't give the thought, the time or the effort that it warrants. A first impression leaves a long-lasting mark in every situation and how you manage it can and will make a difference. So the next time you're in that position, gather your thoughts, your energy and your best performance and see the difference it makes.

Just a Thought,
Gus

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