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3/1/19 d-ddaily.net







 

The Zellman Group
The State of Civil Recovery

Stuart Levine, CEO, The Zellman Group

The civil recovery business saw more change in 2018 than in the preceding 30 years combined, says Stuart Levine, CEO of The Zellman Group, an LP services and consulting company that offers retailers a suite of solutions including Civil Recovery, ORC Recovery, Analytics and more. In this LPNN interview, Stuart talks about the state of civil recovery, where he sees it going over the next few years, and how Zellman Group’s dedication to customer service, client culture and ethics, together with state-of-the-art technology, keeps them at the forefront of recovery solutions.


Joe & Amber Discuss
Organized Retail Crime

Quick Take 2

Joe LaRocca, VP & Senior Advisor, Loss Prevention, RetaiLPartners

Amber Bradley
, Owner & Brand Strategist,
Calibration Group, LLC

According to the latest NRF ORC Study, 92% of retailers report being a victim of Organized Retail Crime, with 71% saying the problem is getting worse. Joe and Amber discuss the outlook for a federal ORC law, the progress state laws and ORCA’s have made, and what a regional or district LP manager can do to help the problem on a local level.



Moving Up
Sponsored by Agilence
 

In Case You Missed It

February's Moving Ups

37 New Senior LP's - 20 Appointments - 17 Promotions

ADT named David Smail Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer
Ascena Retail Group promoted Albert Metuge to Director, Fraud Management & Analytics
Auror named Bobby Haskins Director of Market Development - North America & Retail Asset Protection
BJ’s Wholesale Club promoted William Peters to Senior Director, Safety and Asset Protection Operations
BJ's Wholesale Club promoted Isaac Whitaker to Vice President Asset Protection & Field Audit
Bloomingdale’s named Gary Novello, CFI Director of AP Investigations
Centric Brands, Inc. named Ian Dill Vice President, Store Operations and Asset Protection
Conn’s HomePlus named Rick Mitchell Director of Loss Prevention, Inventory Control and Fraud
Duluth Trading Company promoted David Homolka to VP of Human Resources, Store Operations & Asset Protection
FaceFirst Names Dara Riordan Executive Vice President of Sales and Chief Revenue Officer
iHerb Inc. named Katie Walker, CFI Director of Safety and Security
InstaKey promoted Cita Doyle to Vice President of Sales and Marketing - National Accounts
J.Crew promoted Leigh Kohlhaas to Loss Prevention Operations Director
J.C. Penney named Mark Stinde Senior Vice President, Asset Protection
Levi Strauss named Garrett Petraia VP of Global Security
Lord & Taylor promoted Greg Purwin to Corporate Manager of Investigations
Loss Prevention Research Council promoted Mike Giblin to Director of Research
Loss Prevention Research Council promoted Jordan Burchell to Innovation Specialist
Lowe's named Dilsia Coronoa Senior Asset Protection, Operations & Safety Manager
Lowe's named Charles Pankey Sr. Asset Protection, Ops & Safety Manager
Lowe's promoted Todd Isenhour to Division Director Assets Protection, Operations & Safety - North Division
Lowe's named Leo Cabral, CFI Director SC Safety & Asset Protection
Lowe’s promoted Kate Early to Director of Asset Protection Process and Strategy
Lowe's promoted Laura Westfall to Divisional Asset Protection, Operations & Safety Director
Lowe’s promoted Jennifer Byford to Senior Asset Protection, Operations and Safety Manager
Luby’s Fuddruckers Restaurants promoted Liz Cody to Executive Director of Loss Prevention
OpenEye named Scott Spencer National Accounts Manager
Peet’s Coffee named Andrew Perry Senior Director, Retail Operations
Security Resources, Inc. named Taylor Valdez Operations Manager
Staples named Mark Mellor, CFCI Senior LP Manager
Target promoted Jacob Oney to Operations Director – OH, IN, KY, WV, PA
TJX Companies named Omar Reyes, CFI Sr. Investigations Report Analyst
Topgolf named Ken Gladney, CFI Sr. Security Manager
Walmart promoted Travis Shipley to Market Health & Wellness Director
WG Security Products named Chad McIntosh VP of Innovative Product Solutions
WKS Restaurant Group named Christopher Magana Senior Manager of Risk Management & Asset Protection
99 Cents Only Stores promoted Larry Carroll to VP of Asset Protection, Inventory Analytics & Compliance


Hector Erazo, LPC, CFI named Senior Manager, Retail Security for Oportun
Previously, Hector held field leadership roles as an Asset Protection Multi-District Leader for Rite Aid, Market Asset Protection Manager for Walmart, District Asset Protection Supervisor for Northgate Market, and Senior Asset Protection Investigator for Target Corporation. Hector earned his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix and is currently completing his Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) degree at the University of the People.

Based in the Silicon Valley, Oportun is a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), with over 300 retail locations, doing business in 12 states. Oportun was recently named one of Time’s “50 Genius Companies”, “One of the Fastest Growing Companies in North America” on Deloitte’s 2018 Technology Fast 500, and 2018 American Banker’s “Best Places to Work in Financial Technology”. Congratulations Hector!

Submit Your New Corporate Hires/Promotions
or New Position
 


Top Industry News
 
JCP SVP AP Urgently Needed For High Shrink Problem
'J.C.Penney -- Will The Battleship Turn Around?'

In her first major earnings conference call Jill Soltau, the new CEO of J.C.Penney, spoke about her first four months at the helm of the troubled company. She spoke with pride about the new executives who have joined the company and some of the actions that have been taken to reduce inventory and eliminate unprofitable classifications and stores.

The company just announced the appointment of three key executives who will add leadership strength.

And, lastly, Mark Stinde joins the company as senior v.p. asset protection. With the high shrink problem, this man is urgently needed. He has over 23 years’ experience in loss prevention with leading retailers including Toys “R” Us, The Home Depot, Sears, and Circuit City. Certainly, these new hires will strengthen J.C.Penney in the future.

Jill Soltau is assembling a strong team. The new J.C.Penney team will work hard – and I think they will succeed in a very tough environment. forbes.com

Editor's Note: In the earnings call this week their CEO listed the three critical new hires Penney's just made and included Mark Stinde's new position as Senior Vice President, Asset Protection. A rarity to hear AP mentioned and J.C. Penney's first ever Senior Vice President level Asset Protection executive.

Couple that with Forbes author, Walter Loeb's comments about J.C. Penney's high shrink problem and the urgent need for this position and you have a real challenge, major exposure, and an opportunity to make a huge impact on the success of J.C. Penney. Certainly not for the weak at heart.

Of special note as well is the rumored shrink number last summer was around 5%, according to sources.


LPF Board Member Receives LPC
Rick Peck, Senior Vice President, The TJX Companies, Inc.

We are pleased to recognize and congratulate our most recent LPF Board Member who has obtained their LPCertified credential: Rick Peck, LPC, Senior Vice President, The TJX Companies, Inc.

Despite his demanding schedule, Rick still recognized the importance and made the time to obtain the industry-leading LPC credential.

Certification is an investment that we make in ourselves, not simply a commitment to learning more but also to achieving a higher standard. Those that get certified have clearly demonstrated their devotion to their career, to the growth of our profession, and to all LPC certified professionals. To learn more about the LPQ/LPC courses, visit the LPF website.

Retail Industry Leaders Association
Retail Product Safety Pros Meet for Day of Benchmarking

This week, RILA hosted over 70 members of the Association's Consumer Products Committee for a meeting in Washington, DC. The committee, comprised of quality assurance, sourcing, legal, and government affairs professionals from RILA member companies, meets twice a year for peer-to-peer benchmarking and discussions around shared product safety compliance challenges and industry trends. This year's event brought attendees from Five Below, Home Depot, J. Crew, Starbucks, Target, and more. rila.org

National Consumer Protection Week 2019 Kicks off Sunday, March 3
The Federal Trade Commission and its federal, state and local partners, together with consumer groups and national advocacy organizations, will participate in the 21st annual National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) from March 3-9, 2019. NCPW is a nationally coordinated campaign to help consumers understand their rights while giving them access to free educational materials. ftc.gov

Editor's Note: With customer trust being such a priority in today's environment it might be wise for retailers to acknowledge the week and use the FTC resources to distribute to their loyal customers in a simple public service type email. As all the data shows how Millennials value corporate responsibility.

Is a Wave Coming?
South Carolina Wants to Abolish Civil Asset Forfeiture - Unless Convicted

According to the non-profit libertarian public interest law firm, Institute for Justice, from 2009 to 2014, law enforcement in South Carolina seized an estimated $22 million of forfeiture proceeds.

The bill has more than 100 sponsors and bipartisan support. H.3968 wants to abolish civil asset forfeiture in South Carolina. The bill requires a criminal conviction before property can be seized. wistv.com

Cuomo - Amazon not coming back
Andrew Cuomo Speaks With Jeff Bezos, Furiously Trying to Win Back Amazon

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who was staggered by Amazon’s decision to pull out of its plans to come to New York City, is working intensely behind the scenes to lure the company back, even connecting with Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder, to make a personal pitch. Mr. Cuomo did not offer a new location but rather guarantees of support for the project, one person said. Amazon executives gave no sense the company would reconsider. nytimes.com

Huawei Pleads Not Guilty To Smartphone Trade Secret Theft
Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. pled not guilty Thursday in Washington federal court to charges that it stole trade secrets from T-Mobile and was deceptive about its dealings with Iran.

Matthew Whitaker, at the time acting attorney general, had unveiled charges in two cases brought in Seattle and Brooklyn accusing Huawei of stealing information from T-Mobile about a phone-testing robot and misrepresenting its relationship with the Chinese smartphone maker's Iranian affiliate. Huawei’s not guilty plea sets up a jury trial that will begin March 2, 2020, U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez said.

Emails between Huawei’s Chinese and U.S. units “clearly show a determined Huawei doing everything it could to get what it was told it could not have,” including offering cash to employees who turned in information from other technology companies, said Annette Hayes, first assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington. law360.com

Walmart faces backlash for marketing video featuring gay men on a blind date
The American Family Association is taking aim at Walmart after the superstore released a promotional video featuring two gay men. After the company produced the second episode of a series called “Love is in the aisle: A dating show at Walmart,” which follows couples going on blind dates through Walmarts across the country, AFA president Tim Wildmon called on people to ask Walmart to remove it.

The post goes on to explain the “betrayal” that the AFA feels, saying it would expect this from a company like Amazon that has been “liberal from the outset.” “This seems more like a betrayal from a well-known friend. Sam Walton is probably turning over in his grave,” the post reads. yahoo.com

H-E-B hit with patent infringement lawsuit over self-checkout app
A Canadian technology startup alleges that San Antonio-based H-E-B LP is infringing on its patents related to the mobile checkout application that the grocery retailer debuted near its headquarters last year, according to a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas Waco division.

Toronto-based Digital Retail Apps Inc., founded in 2012, sells software and hardware used for self-checkout in retail stores under the brand SelfPay. It also had Silicon Valley offices at one time. Digital Retail Apps claims that H-E-B representatives saw its sales presentation during a trade show in October 2014 and was courting the startup for a potential white-label deal but backed out, according to the lawsuit.

“We worked with H-E-B in good faith, but their interest in our product was dishonest,” Digital Retail Apps CEO Wendy MacKinnon said in a news release. “They took our ideas for themselves, violating our patents and their contractual obligations to us.”

In November 2015, two information technology department employees at H-E-B ordered a trial kit from Digital Retail Apps, which included a beacon that communicates to ensure a shopper is inside the store, in addition to downloading its software. By downloading the software, H-E-B agreed to the tech startup's license terms, according to the lawsuit. Those terms involved restrictions about copying Digital Retail Apps' software and patent infringement.

The lawsuit alleges that MacKinnon spoke with an H-E-B employee afterward and was led to believe the grocery company was interested in a pilot program.  bizjournals.com

Amazon to Open New Grocery Store Chain Separate from Whole Foods
The new stores would be distinct from the company’s upscale Whole Foods Market brand, though it is unclear whether the new grocery chain would carry the Amazon name.

Amazon is planning to open dozens of grocery stores in several major U.S. cities, according to people familiar with the matter, as the retail giant looks to broaden its reach in the food business.

Amazon is now in talks to open grocery stores in shopping centers in San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, the people familiar with the matter said. wsj.com

Old Navy goes it alone in Gap breakup - Makes sense
Gap Inc. to Separate Into Two Publicly Traded Companies

Old Navy, and a yet-to-be-named company (“NewCo”), which will consist of the iconic Gap brand, Athleta, Banana Republic, Intermix and Hill City.

The company announced a plan today to restructure the specialty fleet, including the closure of about 230 Gap specialty stores over the next two years.

NewCo, with approximately $9 billion in annual revenue and a strong balance sheet

Old Navy, with approximately $8 billion in annual revenue. businesswire.com

Neiman Marcus Gets 3 Year Financial Reprieve
The company has nearly $5 billion in debt. With lenders approving a turnaround plan dubbed "Project Rolex" and centers around a "ignite to win" strategy that the new, less than one-year old, senior management team was brought together to pull off. To do that, the company is banking on three big things: deeper customer loyalty relationships, more seamless experiences and the creation of "magic" (which refers to laying out a relevant service model and the store of the future). retaildive.com

Director Loss Prevention reposted for Movado Group in Moonachie, N.J.
The Director of Loss Prevention is responsible for the development and execution of the Company’s security processes with focus on the protection and security of the Company’s employees, property and assets. This includes corporate offices, distribution and service facilities, data center, retail locations, and a few satellite locations. This role may also provide support to our international locations in Europe, Asia, Latin America and Middle East.  movadogroup.com

We currently own and operate more than 35 Movado Company Stores. With premier locations nationwide, this retail division serves to build image, move product and increase sales and profitability for our company. A successful global corporation, Movado Group employs over 1,100 people worldwide. Our offices extend from the United States to international waters, with manufacturing facilities in Switzerland and the Far East, and regional offices in Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, China and Singapore. Our corporate headquarters are in Paramus, New Jersey. movadogroup.com

Director of risk intelligence & crisis management, Legal & Asset Protection, SSC - Posted for Starbucks, Seattle, WA
As director of risk intelligence and crisis management, you will work as a leader in the Global Security & Resilience team in the Law & Corporate Affairs Department. You will lead teams responsible for anticipating, preparing for and responding to global events and strategic trends which may put Starbucks partners, operations or reputation at risk, significantly impact consumer behavior or present unique opportunities for the organization. The director heads GS&R’s efforts to provide Starbucks’ leaders with decision advantage through a holistic approach to enterprise-level risks and opportunities. This includes incorporating timely analysis of relevant world events with the tools and guidance necessary to respond effectively to those events. The director leads a team dedicated to producing geopolitical analysis, informing senior leadership and stakeholders, and facilitating crisis planning, response and recovery actions. starbucks.taleo.net

Global Senior Director of Information Security and Risk Management Posted for COTY, New York, NY

The D&D Daily’s Exclusive 2018 Retail Robbery Report Coming Monday, March 4
 



Quarterly Results

Foot Locker Q4 comp's up 9.7%, total sales up 2.8%, full yr comp's up 2.7%, total sales up 1.7%

Gap Inc Q4 Global comp's down 1%, net sales down 7%
   Old Navy Global: flat versus positive 9% last year
   Gap Global: negative 5% versus flat last year
   Banana Republic Global: negative 1% versus positive 1% last year

Gap Inc 2018 Global comp's flat, net sales up 1%
   Old Navy Global: positive 3% versus positive 6% last year
   Gap Global: negative 5% versus negative 1% last year
   Banana Republic Global: positive 1% versus negative 2% last year

Nordstrom Q4 full-price comp's down 1.6%, off-price comp's up 4%, net sales up 0.1%
Nordstrom full year full-price comp's up 0.9%, off-price comp's up 3.5%, net sales up 3.8%
 
 

Register for the 2019 LPRC Supply Chain Protection Summit

This year’s theme: Beyond Retail Supply Chain Security

The Supply Chain Protection Summit, taking place March 12 – 13 in Sunny Isles Beach, FL, is a chance for supply chain security professionals to come together and review LPRC research on supply chain protection issues, hear from industry experts on how to improve supply chain protection operations, and to collectively form & discuss the research agenda for the next year.

This year’s focus will be advancing retail supply chain security by adapting insights from other sectors, and fostering closer cooperation with manufacturers, distributors, and law enforcement. View our agenda and register today!

Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Please contact jessi@lpresearch.org for more information!

 

All the News - One Place - One Source - One Time
The D&D Daily respects your time
and doesn't filter retail's reality
  







Spotlight on All-Tag
 

ALL-TAG Develops Customizable 31x32 mm SuperLabel Combines Security with Omni-Channel Marketing

BOCA RATON, Fla. - ALL-TAG, an American manufacturer of RF Labels, and a leading supplier of AM Anti-theft Security Tags, Security Labels, and other loss prevention products, announces the development of a customizable 31x32 mm SuperLabel®, a multi-purpose security label that will increase source tagging compliance by allowing Consumer Goods Manufactures (CGM) to promote their brand and enhance merchandising.

ALL-TAG’s customizable security label offers many printing options, such as brand logos, slogans, and QR Codes. CGM’s and other retail merchandise vendors that are required to source tag their merchandise for various retailers can now use the security label as an additional tool that will keep shoppers informed and ultimately increase sales of their products.

Our 31x32 mm SuperLabel is also equipped with patented technology that boosts the detection performance of the label. Therefore, users of this smaller label will not be sacrificing performance. The smaller footprint allows it to fit on more retail product packaging, does not conceal important printed content on the outside of the packaging.

“We’re thrilled to have added new machines in our South Florida factory that enable us to produce this product in the US,” commented ALL-TAG’s Vice President of Sales, Andy Gilbert.

“Source taggers can now satisfy their source tagging requirements, but also make the security label work for them as well.” Gilbert continued, “This is a win for everyone because it will increase source tagging compliance, decrease shrink, and increase sales all at the same time.”

To find out more about the product listed in this release, please visit all-tag.com.

About ALL-TAG
ALL-TAG is an American manufacturer of 8.2 MHz Radio-Frequency (RF) Labels, and supplier of Accousto Magnetic (AM) labels that are used to source tag retail merchandise. ALL-TAG also supplies RF and AM Hard Tags, Ink Tags, and other Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) solutions that are fully compatible with Checkpoint® and Sensormatic® brand products. ALL-TAG has been manufacturing its RF Labels for source-taggers and retailers throughout the world since 1992. Our manufacturing facility is located in Boca Raton, Florida. The company also has subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, Mexico City, and Hong Kong, to service our customers throughout the world.





Closer to a Data Breach Bill Then Ever Before
Breach notification and digital privacy: Two issues, one piece of legislation?

In the House, the Energy and Commerce Committee is expected to move first in the larger debate on data privacy, and will try to fold in the perpetually intractable issue of breach notification. The House Financial Services Committee, which has produced competing breach-notice bills in recent years, appears ready to hang back and work on other priorities while Energy and Commerce gets the process rolling.

In the upper chamber, a bipartisan group of senators is advancing on privacy -- and at least one key GOP committee chairman wants to address that issue separately from breach notification.

Amid the political and policy complexity, sources from various industries say the chances of advancing a national data security and breach-notification standard are better than they have been at any time in the last decade. They are all eager to see legislative text -- on privacy and breach-notice -- which is still in the works on the Hill.

The looming Jan. 1, 2020 implementation date for California's landmark digital privacy law “creates an imperative” for congressional action on that issue, the source said, adding lawmakers probably have the first half of 2020 to actually finish a bill before the 116th Congress' legislative work comes to a halt because of the elections. Other sources cautioned that the window of opportunity may be shorter than that.

“The California privacy law and [the European Union's] General Data Protection Regulation are changing the narrative -- the new legislative and policy reality is that California could be the floor [on privacy],” the source said. “But I still don't see a multi-industry scoping framework on privacy that's as strong as California's passing before 2020.” insidecybersecurity.com

Cloud Adoption on the Rise, IT Pros Unsure of Risk
Even though misconfigurations in public clouds create risks to enterprise security, a new study found that more than half of IT professionals do not really understand the risks inherent in public cloud misconfigurations as well as they understand risks within their traditional IT environments.

The 2019 State of Enterprise Cloud and Container Adoption and Security report published by DivvyCloud found that despite the reality that cloud adoption is on the rise, IT professionals are unaware of the security risks associated with their organizations’ adoption of cloud and container services. In fact, less than half of participants could accurately identify that the risk of misconfiguration in public cloud is higher than the risk in traditional IT environments, the study found.

Overall, the study results indicated a lack of understanding of the security challenges associated with protecting data in the public cloud. More than one-third of respondents admitted they are uncertain which governance standards are most relevant to their organization’s cloud and container environments. infosecurity-magazine.com

Where Are the Retail Industry’s Software Security Strengths and Weaknesses?
SecurityScorecard’s 2018 Retail Cyber Security Report concluded that “although hackers have become increasingly clever with stealing credit card data, the retail industry is no better prepared to deal with the threat.” Of 18 industries analyzed, retail was “the second lowest performer in terms of application security, indicating a decrease from 2017’s Retail Report when it was the fourth lowest performer,” the report said.

The two practices where the retail industry came in below average were compliance and policy as well as security testing. The first is extremely important because it involves securing personally identifiable information (PII) of customers and demanding security from third-party vendors or partners

Other practices where retail tracked close to the average included training, code review, security testing, strategy and metrics, security features and design, attack models, standards and requirements, and penetration testing. mytotalretail.com

Forty Percent of Malicious URLs Found on Good Domains
While tried-and-true attack methods are still going strong, new threats emerge daily, and new vectors are being tested by cybercriminals, according to the 2019 Webroot Threat Report.

40 percent of malicious URLs were found on good domains. Legitimate websites are frequently compromised to host malicious content. To protect users, cybersecurity solutions need URL-level visibility or, when unavailable, domain-level metrics, that accurately represent the dangers.

Phishing attacks increased 36 percent, with the number of phishing sites growing 220 percent over the course of 2018. Phishing sites now use SSL certificates and HTTPS to trick internet users into believing they are secure, legitimate pages

Nearly a third of malware tries to install itself in %appdata% folders.

Devices that use Windows 10 are at least twice as secure as those running Windows 7. securitymagazine.com

Microsoft's new cloud security tools aim to reduce alert fatigue
In an announcement ahead of the RSA Conference, Microsoft released details of two cloud-based security tools for large organizations. The new tools use AI and machine learning to help security professionals reduce "alert fatigue" and respond to actual threats more quickly.

Azure Sentinel is a new service offering within Azure that Microsoft bills as a "cloud-native Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tool." It's designed to pull in vast amounts of data from other cloud-based services, including Office 365 and third-party solutions, and then use AI to reduce the noise and identify actual threats.

The second offering,
Microsoft Threat Experts, is a new service within Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) designed to "address the cybersecurity skills gap" by providing expert help for security operations teams who are existing ATP customers. zdnet.com





e-commerce
Sponsored by The Zellman Group
Amazon is Risking Customer Trust
In Pursuit of Being "The Everything Store"

As Amazon’s megastore grows and becomes more popular, so does the risk that it blows itself up.

What happens as Amazon gives more and more third parties access to its global store? The number of opportunities for bad actors to plot nefarious things multiplies. Trust from customers and merchants alike is at risk — and Amazon knows it. The biggest threat to Amazon’s future success isn’t some imaginary antitrust case; it’s Amazon itself.

Amazon says it invests more and more each year in trying to stay ahead of the bad guys, by combining the best of what “machines” (translation: computers) can do with monitoring and evaluation for which “humans” (translation: people) are still best suited.

The company says that, for every listing that slips through and is flagged by a brand after the fact, it is now catching 100 suspected counterfeit product listings before a brand points them out. That is thanks in part to a new automated system backed by machine learning that the company formally announced Thursday morning, February 28, 2019.

Amazon introduced two additional anti-counterfeit initiatives on Thursday, but both require a brand to do more on its end: one is a tool that lets brands take down suspected counterfeit Amazon listings themselves, while another would likely require brands to alter their packaging design to add an Amazon-specific serial code.

Separately, for the last three-plus years, Amazon has made a practice of publicizing lawsuits against fake-review farms, signaling to merchants, the press, the government, and shoppers that they take customer trust seriously. Fake reviews are still a big problem, and the Federal Trade Commission has started to take action. recode.net

Shady Sellers Are Damaging Brands Online — but There’s a Way to Fight Back
Before the proliferation of online marketplaces, brands could be confident in knowing exactly who was selling their products, on what platforms and at what prices. Now, with unauthorized sellers trying to hawk items at reduced — and unapproved — rates, brands are risking damage to their corporate reputations. What’s more, retailers are seeing reduced margins as they’re forced to stay competitive.

Fortunately, there’s a solution: a rigorous and updated distribution agreement, coupled with a thoughtful MAP (minimum advertised price) policy.

An open policy leaves a brand vulnerable to integrity damage, as consumers question why the brand is pushing for higher prices than the ones displayed on Amazon and other online marketplaces. Brands also might see their valued retail partners choosing not to sell their products if they can’t make enough profit at the lower pricing. Introducing a comprehensive agreement protects the brand, retailers and customer by ensuring a universal price.

But overhauling distribution strategy is a large task that requires looking at dozens of data points. That’s where companies like Trackstreet and ORIS Intelligence come in, using their software platforms to collate the data into an actionable format. By assessing which products are being undermined by reduced price points — and which have just decreased in market value over time — a company can find out where to target their price protection efforts. footwearnews.com

US ecommerce sales grow 15.0% in 2018

Marshalls Set To Launch eCommerce Business In 2019

JD.com Beats Q4 Sales Forecast as Online Accounts Top 305 Million

Macy’s Still Makes Top 10 In Mobile Payments / ECommerce Shopping...Barely

Lowe's beats Home Depot in the percentage of online orders picked up in stores

Rakuten Super Logistics To Open 6 New Ecommerce Fulfillment Centers

Online retailers reimagined as bricks & mortar stores
 
"Fraud is not a person - it is a dynamic grouping of statistics that deviate from the norm."
Stuart B. Levine, CFI, CFCI
CEO, The Zellman Group & Zelligent





ORC News
Sponsored by Auror
 

4 Suspects Arrested in $300,000 Zales smash & grab at Willowbrook Mall
The four suspects accused of a smash-and-grab heist inside a Willowbrook Mall jewelry store have been identified. Police say that Trevione Terry, 21; Lance Ethridge, 28; Damarcus Carter, 22; and Cary Nimmons, 26, were all arrested after allegedly stealing more than $300,000 worth of jewelry and other items from a Zales jewelry store inside the northwest Houston mall Monday. Carter is also identified as a suspect in another smash-and-grab heist at a Zales jewelry store in northwest Harris County. chron.com

Rockford, IL: Meijer Employees charged with stealing roughly $100K worth of merchandise
Three women are charged with stealing roughly $100,000 worth of merchandise from the Rockford Meijer. Rockford Police were called to Meijer for employees stealing from the store. Loss prevention workers discovered that three employees worked together to steal merchandise from the business. Poluice say they took the merchandise between November 2018 and January 2019. Lindsey Smallwood, Helena Washington and Vanessa Horvath are all charged. Smallwood and Washington face one count of retail theft. Horvath faces one count of theft and one count of retail theft. wrex.com

Union County, NJ: Man Admits Role in Credit Card Fraud Gang & Aggravated Identity Theft
A Union County, New Jersey, man today admitted his role in a conspiracy to hijack the credit card accounts of multiple victims in order to fraudulently purchase hundreds of thousands of dollars in high-end products,  Members of the conspiracy then opened new accounts or ordered replacement cards to be shipped to them without the account owners’ knowledge or authorization. Jato and others used the compromised credit card accounts to purchase high-value items, including smartphones, tablets, and other electronic devices. Jato admitted receiving 25 percent to 30 percent of the illegal proceeds from more than 10 victims. Co-defendants Alexus Omowole and Henry Abdul previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft and are awaiting sentencing. justice.gov

New Orleans, LA: 2 Hibbett Sports employees traded shoes for drugs: totaling nearly $24,000
Two employees of a Franklinton sporting goods store were arrested Wednesday (Feb. 27) in connection with the theft of $23,146 in merchandise, including 212 pairs of shoes, which were traded for drugs or sold, authorities said. Arrested were Jenna Cosse, 25, the manager at Hibbett Sports, and Elizabeth Reedy, 25, who had been a store employee for about four months, the Franklinton Police Department said. nola.com

Simi Valley, CA: Police make arrest in retail theft spree
Woman linked to multiple retail thefts at Macy's, Old Navy and other clothing stores

A two-month investigation by Simi Valley police detectives resulted in the arrest of a Los Angeles woman accused of a retail crime spree, authorities said Thursday. Clothing stores from Ventura to Orange counties have been targeted, including a Macy's department store in Simi Valley that was hit twice, according to Simi Valley Police Department Sgt. Patrick Zayicek. In at least one other jurisdiction, Old Navy stores were targeted.

On Thursday, detectives served a search warrant at the Los Angeles residence of 23-year-old Danielle Graham. They allegedly found evidence linking her to numerous thefts. A dollar amount of purported stolen merchandise was not available Monday night. Graham was arrested on suspicion of six felony offenses, including grand theft, conspiracy, and organized retail theft. The department's investigation remains active, Zayicek said, with detectives following up on three to five more suspects. Conspiracy and organized retail theft offenses both involve acting in concert with at least one other person, he said. vcstar.com

Las Cruces, NM: LCPD seeking two women in $6,000 shoplifting crime spree
Las Cruces Police said they learned the two women shoplifted merchandise from several stores in Las Cruces on Sunday, Feb. 10. The merchandise stolen was valued at approximately $6,000. The same two women are suspected of shoplifting an unknown amount of merchandise from a store in Socorro, New Mexico, sometime after Feb. 10. lcsun-news.com

North Ridgeville, OH: “Turn yourself in before your mothers see this”; two accused of $4,000 theft
These two have opened up at least three different credit accounts in the name of a resident and have managed to rack up over $4,000 in stolen merchandise from stores like Walmart, Target, and Best Buy. fox8.com

Vero Beach, FL: Suspect sought in $2,000 theft of merchandise from Target
Loss prevention officers for the Target told Indian River County deputies an unknown suspect entered the store about 8:30 p.m. Sunday and left a short time later with over $2,000 in merchandise. Among the stolen items: a Nest Hello doorbell camera worth $230; a Ring VD2 doorbell camera worth $199; two Dyson vacuum cleaners, worth $500 each; and an iRobot-branded robot worth $500. tcpalm.com

Boise, ID: Man arrested after walking out with over $1,000 of merchandise during multiple thefts
Boise Police, working together with loss prevention officers at the business, identified the suspect as 32-year-old Andrew Hollo of Boise. Hollo is charged with four counts of felony burglary and felony grand theft. Hollo was arrested on Feb. 27th without incident and booked into the Ada County Jail. The Organized Retail Crime Association of Idaho contributed to the arrest of Hollo. the association helps law enforcement and retailers effectively communicate criminal activity in real-time, putting a stop to crimes as soon as possible. idahonews.com

Glenview, IL: Police seek serial thief focused on allergy medicine and teeth strips
A staffer at Mariano's reviewed surveillance video on Feb. 18 and discovered that a man known for shoplifting at other stores had stolen nearly $878 worth of allergy medicines and teeth whitening strips around 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 17 after hiding them in his clothes. patch.com

Suffolk County, NY: Police seek two suspects in $1,000 theft of electrical wiring from Lowe’s in Riverhead

Cudahy, WI: Police catch serial shoplifter after he tried to steal 17 bottles of shampoo from a local CVS; multiple warrants


Retail Crime News
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Shootings & Deaths

Lone Tree, CO: Police Officer shoots, kills armed shoplifting suspect at Park Meadows Mall
A Lone Tree police officer shot dead an armed shoplifting suspect at Park Meadows Mall on Thursday night.
The incident happened at 8:19pm. Officers responded to the Macy’s store and a short foot pursuit ensued, Coffman said. The suspect, a man, pulled a gun and officers fired, hitting the man and killing him. A second suspect, believed to be a woman, fled the scene and has not been captured. Officers involved in the incident suffered minor injuries, but no bystanders were hurt. thedenverchannel.com

Albuquerque, NM: Woman Arrested for Family Dollar Murder is no stranger to Police
Police have arrested a woman who they say shot another woman twice in the head following an argument outside a discount store in southeast on Wednesday afternoon. Maiah Madrid-Schleicher, 26, faces an open count of murder in the death of 25-year-old Amanda Madrid. Officers responded to the shooting at the Family Dollar store on Central, east of Louisiana, around 2:15 p.m. and found Madrid dead in the passenger’s seat of a black car. abqjournal.com

Fresno, CA: Innocent woman killed after burglary suspect runs red light during police pursuit
Police say a 28-year-old woman allegedly involved in connection with a robbery led them on a chase that killed an innocent victim. Police estimate Ruby Garcia's car hit the other vehicle at 50 miles an hour. Fresno grandmother 56-year-old Debbie Criado was killed by the impact. Her daughter, brother and 6-year-old grandson were all seriously injured and remain hospitalized. Garcia not only refused to pull over but ran two red lights before she t-boned another car. Undercover Fresno Police officers had just arrested a suspect in the 10-day-old robbery of a liquor store, when they spotted someone driving the getaway car used in the holdup. abc30.com

Garner, NC: Man accused of shooting Walgreens employees faces upgraded charges
The man accused of shooting two employees at a Walgreens store in Garner last month is out of the hospital, police say. Stephen Allen Denning, 60, now faces two counts each of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. He was initially charged with one count of attempted murder and one count of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. Denning was in jail Thursday after he was released from WakeMed, the Garner Police Department said Thursday on Twitter. newsobserver.com


Robberies, Incidents & Thefts

Loss Prevention Agent charged with Kidnapping,
A
ttempting to make a Citizen’s Arrest at Gunpoint
A man accused of an attempted kidnapping has been taken into custody in Fairfield. The suspect told detectives he witnessed a crime at a local business and followed a woman to her apartment, attempting to make a citizen’s arrest. The suspect, 19-year-old Josiah Washington, approached a woman in the driveway of her apartment complex on Feb. 3, reportedly claiming he was a security officer from a local business, telling the woman she was being accused of a crime. Washington allegedly told the woman to return to the business with him, attempting to pull her toward his car and pointing a handgun at her when she refused. Detectives with the Fairfield Police Department took Washington into custody on charges of false imprisonment, attempted kidnapping, and a weapons violation. cbslocal.com

Whatcom County, WA: Man pleaded guilty to 14 felonies related to 12 knifepoint robberies of area motels and marijuana shops

Norfolk, VA: 5 plead guilty to charges in series of violent grocery store robberies

Plano, IL: Woman Charged in $90K Radio Shack Burglary in 2017

Lady Lake, FL: Liquor Store burglar arrested after leaving DNA at the scene

UK: Carlisle, England: Police make 9 arrests in one day, “ Operation Noble”


Arson & Fire

Seattle, WA: Businesses react after man is charged in string of area Arsons
Months after a series of fires damaged or destroyed five businesses in Seattle over a four-week period, police now have a suspect. Now business owners in the Queen Anne, Ballard, and Fremont neighborhoods are relieved. Police believe Matthew Hooper, 38, is responsible for the five arsons last fall, including a massive fire at the Gascoigne Lumber Co. The fires caused millions of dollars in damage. Hooper has been charged with four counts of second degree arson, prosecutors said. He's being held on a $275,000 bond. komonews.com

Newark, NJ: Firefighter hurt battling 2-alarm blaze that damaged restaurant, apartments


Sentencings

Dover, DE: Board recommends commutation for convicted liquor store owner killer after 37 years in prison
A man serving life in prison without parole for the 1982 robbery and murder of a Dover liquor store owner should have his sentence commuted and be made immediately eligible for parole, Delaware's Board of Pardons ruled Thursday. The recommendation came after board members heard from Tyrone R. Baxter, his supporters and the son of murder victim James E. Feeley.

The recommendation now goes to Democratic Gov. John Carney, who led the pardons board more than a decade ago as lieutenant governor. Even if Carney grants commutation, Baxter would still have to go through the parole process. The request marks Baxter's third attempt at commutation. The board voted to recommend commutation in 2013, but then-Gov. Jack Markell denied the application. wboc.com


 


Robberies and Burglaries
Sponsored by
Scarsdale Security Systems

C- Store – Walker County, TN – Armed Robbery
C-Store – Redding, CA – Robbery
C-Store – Pittsburgh, PA – Burglary
C- Store – Lincoln, NE – Armed Robbery
Coin Shop – Seymour, CT – Burglary
CVS – Chico, CA - Armed Robbery
Day Spa – Davenport, IA – Armed Robbery
Family Dollar – Leesburg, SC – Armed Robbery
Gun Store – Murfreesboro, TN – Burglary
Jewelry Store – Overland Park, KS – Robbery
Liquor Store - Seekonk, MA – Robbery
Restaurant – Baltimore County, MD - Armed Robbery (McDonald’s)
Restaurant – Brockton, MA – Robbery
Sprint – La Grange, IL – Armed Robbery
Verizon – Lakewood, OH – Armed Robbery
7-Eleven – Denton, TX – Armed Robbery
7-Eleven – Salt Lake City, UT – Robbery

Daily Totals:
14 robberies
3 burglaries
0 shootings
0 killed

 

Weekly Totals:
94 robberies
19 burglaries
1 shooting
1 killed





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JOB TITLE COMPANY CITY/STATE
     
AP Supervisor ascena retail group Greencastle, IN
Area AP Leader Big Lots Lexington, KY
Market AP Leader Big Lots Woodstock, GA
Asset Control Manager BJ's Wholesale Club Monroe, NY
Safety & Security Manager Cabela's Wheeling, WV
LP Leader Dick's Sporting Goods Davenport, IA
Senior Manager, Security International Hershey Company Hershey, PA
AP Manager Kmart Frederiksted, VI
AP Manager Kmart Kingston, PA
AP & Safety Manager Lowe's Hixson, TN
AP & Safety Manager Lowe's Springfield, MA
Assistant Manager AP/LP Macy's Massapequa, NY
AP/LP Manager Macy's Staten Island, NY
Assistant Manager AP/LP Macy's Stamford, CT
Store AP Coordinator Menards Milwaukee, WI
LP Lead Old Navy Memphis, TN
Area LP Manager Ross Stores Pleasant Hill, CA
District Inventory and Asset Lead Sears Home Services Rochester, NY
AP Manager Sears Kahului, HI
AP Manager Sears Tukwila, WA
AP Manager Sears Antioch, CA
AP Manager Sears Greenville, SC
ETL Assets Protection Target St Matthews, KY
ETL Assets Protection Target Buena Park, CA
ETL Assets Protection Target San Bernardino, CA
ETL Assets Protection Target Santa Fe Springs, CA
ETL Assets Protection Target Coon Rapids, MN
Regional LP Manager - Central East ULTA Beauty Chicago, IL
Regional LP Manager - South Central ULTA Beauty Nashville, TN
Sr Manager Corp Investigations US Foods Chicago, IL
Area Manager AP (All facilities) WalMart Laurens, SC
AP ASM Walmart Mobile, AL
AP ASM Complex Store Walmart North Miami Beach, FL
Fraud Audit Specialist West Marine Watsonville, CA
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Tip of the Day
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Selecting the companies you want to work for is harder than you think. It may not be the obvious list when you take into consideration geography, organizational structure, and success of the retailer, growth plans and growth opportunities for your own career. Do some research on each company and open your mind to the small companies. They have just as many opportunities as the rest. They're harder to get in and communicate with, but if it's done right, you may be surprised. One executive years ago sent a letter to a company president who didn't have an LP program and made some bold commitments. He went on to build a very successful LP program there. Be aggressive!

Just a Thought,
Gus
Gus Downing

 

 

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