Axis Communications launches inaugural Axis Perspectives report on intelligent video’s evolving role

CHELMSFORD, Mass. -- Axis Communications, the industry leader in network video, today announced the release of its first annual Axis Perspectives report, a research-based publication examining the evolution of intelligent video and its expanding role. Backed by proprietary global research, expert insights, and real-world use cases, the report quantifies how intelligent video is enhancing security while increasingly driving safety, operational efficiency, and business intelligence across industries.

The findings reveal a clear inflection point: while security remains foundational, organizations are rapidly adopting intelligent video as a powerful business sensor, unlocking insights that improve performance, reduce costs, and enable automation at scale. Based on firsthand research and data analysis, the report provides a strategic roadmap for how cameras are evolving into active contributors to enterprise decision-making, delivering measurable results in high-impact environments. For example, the report highlights BMW Group’s use of cameras to power AI-driven quality inspection (AIQX). This application enables precise, automated inspections that enhance product quality and operational efficiency.

“Intelligent video is undergoing a fundamental shift—from monitoring what happens to actively informing how organizations protect people, operate and make decisions,” said Fredrik Nilsson, VP, Americas, Axis Communications. “With Axis Perspectives, we take a strategic, research-driven view of that evolution, bringing together global data, real-world deployments, along with a practical maturity model to help organizations understand where they are today and how to unlock the full value of video as a connected, data-driven business capability.”

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Lowe's vs. Theft
Lowe’s confirms ‘invisible’ rule for shoppers at checkout in fight against theft

LOWE’S has an “invisible” rule for all shoppers at the checkout.

Known as ‘Project Unlock’, the system is an alternative to locking up some of the most commonly stolen items behind lock-and-key, which can be infuriating for shoppers.

Instead, Lowe’s uses Radio Frequency Identity (RFID). When shoppers want to buy an item tagged with an RFID chip, a member of staff will need to scan the item at checkout.

“It’s our job to make sure customers experience as little friction as possible — that’s why we’re so concerned about retail theft and committed to preventing it,” said the company.

“We see a future where technologies like Project Unlock can help the entire retail ecosystem create a great environment for our customers.”

They added: “Only products that are legitimately purchased are activated. If a power tool is stolen, it won’t work, which makes it less valuable to steal.”

Once it is implemented fully, Lowe’s hopes that criminals will see that stealing tools in this way is “not worth it”, Lowe’s Chief Digital and Information Officer Seemantini Godbole told FOX Business.

For the system to work, manufacturers must embed a wireless RFID chip into the product itself, meaning this would only work on electronic items, such as power tools.

For paying customers, the process of buying a power tool with an RFID chip will be seamless.

“They should not even know that there’s anything extra happening,” said a Lowe’s spokesperson. the-sun.com


Combating Cargo Theft and Organized Crime:
Strategies for Trucking and Logistics Companies
Members of the House Judiciary Committee recently voted to pass the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA), a bipartisan bill seeking to unify the federal government and agencies’ response to organized crime, where often fraudsters operate across state and international borders.

As CORCA makes its way through the congressional process, trucking companies and logistics providers must take proactive steps to protect their operations and cargo and minimize risk. Consider these five techniques:

Strategically plan for your surroundings. “Straight theft” occurs when cargo is physically stolen from a location where it sits. Thus, if your shipment is to be stopped in a high cargo theft area, do not leave the shipment unattended and utilize high security door locks and air cuffs.

Coordinate and communicate. “Strategic cargo theft” occurs through deceptive practices using identity and cyber security fraud. To combat potential scammers, work closely with the shipper, broker, or carrier assigned to transport the load to confirm identification of drivers, pick-up points, and verify tractor and trailer identifications.

Bolster cyber security measures. The majority of businesses are aware of cyber attacks, often aimed at stealing sensitive data or compromising systems. Now cargo thieves attempt to access internal software to obtain shipping information of unsuspecting shippers, brokers, and carriers.

To combat against these potential attacks, review your company’s online presence to ensure that the information on display cannot be used to compromise your data security. Consider instituting cyber security training to ensure your company is able to spot and report attempted breaches. Have an internal protocol for employees to report suspicious emails, also known as phishing emails.

Report unusual activity to law enforcement and investigators. In the event of any suspected fictitious pickup attempts or incidents, contact law enforcement immediately as time is of the essence. Provide law enforcement and investigators working with the transportation supplier or insurance company with all the relevant information.

Seek trusted legal guidance. Consult with legal counsel on cargo safeguarding, reporting compliance, and potential exposure to liability as well as strategies to mitigate damage caused by cargo theft. jdsupra.com


Self-Checkout Theft
Walmart confirms ‘freeze’ tactic used by workers at checkout in effort to stop rampant theft
Walmart has confirmed a frozen self-checkout register tactic to stop rampant shoplifting. The anti-theft tech was alluded to in an arrest report in Florida.

William Monroe Houst Parks, 53, was arrested for theft on February 4, according to a report from the Leesburg Police Department. The man had allegedly skip-scanned $50 worth of items at a self-checkout register from a Walmart in Leesburg, Florida, about 42 miles outside of Orlando, said Leesburg-News, citing court documents.

The skip-scan trick is when a self-service checkout customer deliberately avoids ringing up every item in their basket before leaving the store with their stolen goods. Staff spotted him proceed to the self-checkout lane at about 7:10pm, where he did scan some of his goods.

However, he also put unscanned merchandise into bags, according to the arrest report. An employee tried to stop him by pausing the register, it added. But he allegedly continued to skip-scan items before paying for just some of them.

While he was en route to the exit, the staffer guided him to the Asset Protection office, which protects Walmart stores from theft, fraud, and damage. It’s estimated that Walmart loses as much as $3 billion every year due to thefts, according to Reuters.

Theft tactics have even included lighting fires as a distraction. Both Walmart and Target have resorted to locking some items in cabinets at their stores to combat shoplifting offenses. the-sun.com


The Story Behind the Data
Why violent crime is dropping in US cities
Violent crime fell dramatically in 2025, in what experts expect to be the year with the sharpest drop in homicides in recorded history.

The decline, detailed in two recent reports of major U.S. cities, follows a trend that began in 2022, after the COVID-19 pandemic saw a record-breaking spike in homicides.

“This is the fourth year in a row of declines, and each year has gotten a little bigger than the year before. And this is the first time that we’ve seen it in all of the categories, I think seven of the eight categories fell by close to a record amount,” said John Roman, director of the Center on Public Safety and Justice at NORC at the University of Chicago, in a Monday interview, referring to the eight major crime categories that the FBI tracks.

It’s difficult to pinpoint a single reason for the decline in crime over the past few years, but members of the Trump administration often tout President Trump’s aggressive approach to crime and immigration. His supporters also point to his tough rhetoric as a deterrent to would-be criminals.

“Nearly 200% more arrests. Violent gangs crushed. Fugitives hunted down,” Patel wrote on the social platform X in late January. “Media gymnastics can’t hide the reality that this administration brought law and order back, and Americans are safer because of it.”

Many experts, however, say the primary driver of plummeting crime rates is the sharp increase in crime in 2020 and 2021.

“The No. 1 reason why crime is falling now is because it was sort of artificially high because of COVID. COVID had all kinds of consequences that led to there being more violence,” Roman said. thehill.com


Crime Drop in LA
Mayor Bass to discuss significant drop in violent crime across LA
Mayor Karen Bass is expected to announce a significant decrease in violent crime in Los Angeles on Tuesday, highlighting new statistics that show sharp declines in homicides both citywide and in neighborhoods historically affected by gang violence.

Bass will join members of the city council and community leaders to release the updated crime data, which includes a 27% drop in homicides in areas known as Gang Reduction and Youth Development zones - or GRYD zones. Those are areas long recognized as among the hardest hit by gang-related violence, according to the city.

Citywide, homicides fell nearly 20% last year, reaching their lowest level since 1966. Bass attributes the progress to the work of her Office of Community Safety and the city's violenceprevention programs. abc7.com


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