A Smarter Approach to Crime Prevention
How AI and Facial Recognition Are Transforming Retail Loss Prevention

By the D&D Daily staff

Retail crime has surged in recent years, with organized retail theft and in-store violence becoming more common. Businesses are now turning to cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and facial recognition to combat these threats, improving both security and customer safety.

A Smarter Approach to Crime Prevention

Traditional loss prevention methods-such as security cameras and in-store personnel-are no longer enough to keep up with increasingly sophisticated retail criminals. AI-powered surveillance systems offer a more proactive approach by analyzing live video feeds in real time, identifying suspicious behaviors, and alerting store staff before theft or violence occurs.

Facial recognition technology takes this a step further by helping retailers identify known shoplifters or individuals with a history of violent behavior. When integrated with security systems, facial recognition can instantly compare live images to databases of repeat offenders, allowing security teams to respond swiftly before a crime is committed.

Reducing Retail Violence

Beyond theft, AI-driven systems also help prevent violent incidents in stores. By detecting signs of aggression-such as raised voices, erratic movements, or even weapon detection-AI can alert security personnel to de-escalate situations before they turn dangerous. This capability is especially crucial in an era where retail employees are facing increased threats from hostile customers.

Protecting Privacy While Enhancing Security

To balance security and consumer rights, many retailers are adopting ethical AI guidelines, ensuring transparency in how data is collected and used. Additionally, laws and regulations are evolving to set clear boundaries on when and how facial recognition can be deployed.

The Future of Retail Security

As AI and facial recognition technology continue to improve, they will become even more essential tools in retail loss prevention. With real-time crime detection, predictive analytics, and automated alerts, these innovations are not just reducing theft but also creating safer shopping environments for customers and employees alike.

Retailers investing in AI-driven security solutions are taking a proactive stance against crime, ensuring that their stores remain safe and profitable in an increasingly challenging landscape.


Shielding Stores from Gun Violence
The ZeroEyes Gun Research Center has analyzed nearly 1,200 gun-related incidents in retail environments this year alone.

The Need for Smart Security Measures
Gun violence is an escalating crisis that extends beyond headlines - it's affecting everyday shopping experiences. The ZeroEyes Gun Research Center has analyzed nearly 1,200 gun-related incidents in retail environments this year alone. Major retailers like Walmart and CVS have experienced events ranging from armed robberies to violent altercations, contributing to a culture of fear in environments meant for shopping and community interaction. This surge in violence demonstrates why retail spaces need enhanced security measures now more than ever.

The Ripple Effect of Gun Violence

Gun violence in retail settings goes beyond the immediate physical danger. There's a ripple effect that hits hard, both economically and socially. Businesses suffer from property damage, inventory loss and fewer customers, all while trying to navigate the aftermath. Stores that become the site of violent incidents often see a drop in foot traffic, as people no longer feel safe shopping there. Fear spreads quickly, and that fear can be enough to keep customers away for good.

Beyond financial losses, gun violence affects a company's ability to retain employees. Workers don't want to feel unsafe in their place of work, and when these incidents happen, it can be hard to keep good staff. Also, if insurance premiums skyrocket, or worse, a store faces potential lawsuits, the financial strain only deepens. In some cases, the economic pressure becomes so intense that businesses are forced to close their doors. Additionally, when a retail store becomes associated with gun violence, it can tarnish the reputation of the entire shopping area, discouraging new businesses from moving in.

While the financial consequences are significant, we can't overlook the human toll. Gun violence leaves lasting emotional and psychological scars on survivors, witnesses and the larger community. In some cases, people may develop PTSD, anxiety or other mental health challenges as a result of their experiences. Substance abuse issues also have been linked to individuals trying to cope with the trauma of these events. This invisible burden creates a cycle of stress and fear that's difficult to break.

Why Investing in Security is Non-Negotiable

Given the growing threat, retailers can no longer afford to view security as an afterthought. It needs to be a top priority. A layered security system - one that incorporates physical security, technology, lockdown systems, communication infrastructure and training - can help mitigate these risks and protect both employees and customers. These solutions can mean the difference between a close call and a tragic outcome. retailtouchpoints.com


San Francisco's 'Major Shift in How Crimes Are Prosecuted'
Charges for petty theft increased significantly between 2023 and 2024

Here's what prosecution data tells us about how S.F. officials are treating crime
In 2022, San Francisco voters supported a recall campaign against District Attorney Chesa Boudin that argued his progressive policies made the city less safe. Almost three years later, it's clear that the recall was the beginning of a major shift in how crimes are prosecuted in San Francisco, as key statistics under current District Attorney Brooke Jenkins are trending back to where they were a decade ago.

Before the pandemic upended life in the city and the country, Boudin, a former public defender, narrowly won the 2019 race for district attorney. Boudin, who followed another progressive DA, George Gascón, campaigned on promises to reduce jail populations, divert more cases away from the criminal justice system and prosecute more police officers - putting San Francisco at the center of a nationwide progressive prosecution movement.

But critics - as they did with Gascón - characterized such policies as too lenient and blamed them for deteriorating street conditions, particularly around public drug use, retail theft and car break-ins. Soon, Jenkins, then a prosecutor in the district attorney's office, quit her job and became the face of the recall movement. After the recall, then-Mayor London Breed appointed her to Boudin's seat, and voters elected her to the post the next November.

Jenkins, who has long described herself as progressive, promised to crack down on crimes like drug dealing and to hold repeat offenders accountable, while arguing that doing so was not incompatible with reform.

Today, prosecution data in San Francisco looks much more like it did in the early 2010s, before many statewide and local progressive policies were enacted, particularly in terms of the numbers of people prosecuted for lower-level crimes.

In 2024, under Jenkins, the district attorney's office prosecuted more misdemeanors than in any year since 2011, a Chronicle analysis found. It's also the first time since data is available that more misdemeanors were prosecuted than felonies.

Of those misdemeanors, charges for petty theft and for drug possession increased significantly between 2023 and 2024. Charges for assault and battery, which refers to a person using unwanted force on another but without serious injury, also went up, though not as sharply. sfchronicle.com


Retail Crime Hits 'Crisis Levels' in Canada
Fashion Retailer Fights Back Against Rising Retail Crime
Retail crime is reaching crisis levels in Canadian cities, with retailers struggling to protect their businesses against increasingly brazen thefts. While mainstream media has reported on some high-profile incidents, the true extent of retail crime remains largely unspoken-many retailers opt not to report incidents, either due to lack of faith in the police response or concerns about escalating the situation. The growing problem is putting immense pressure on independent business owners, who are often left to fend for themselves.

One retailer taking a stand is Sunan Spriggs, owner of CityLux Boutique, a women's fashion retailer with locations in Toronto's upscale Yorkville area at 101 Yorkville Avenue and in downtown Vancouver at 1015 Howe Street. Frustrated with the rising tide of thefts at her stores and the lack of meaningful action from law enforcement, Spriggs has begun posting photos of shoplifters online in an attempt to deter crime and recover stolen goods.

Retail Crime: A Growing but Underreported Crisis

According to Spriggs, theft has become a daily occurrence at both of her locations, but the nature of retail crime varies between the two cities. In Toronto, her store is frequently targeted by well-organized shoplifting rings that scout items in advance and then send in highly skilled thieves to execute the theft. "These people are professionals," she explains. "They come in, they stand around talking, looking like regular shoppers. They wait for the perfect moment and, within seconds, an item is gone without a trace."

In Vancouver, she faces a different challenge. "There, it's more of an issue with addicts and street crime," she says. "It's harder to deal with because you don't know what they're capable of. You don't know if they have a weapon or if they're going to become aggressive." retail-insider.com


Facial Recognition & AI is Being Used to Fight Crime Worldwide
How Mohali police are integrating AI into day-to-day crime detection and resolution

From facial recognition to AI chatbot, the Punjab Police are already using technology for real-time cybercrime reporting and resolution.

With Mohali growing as a commercial and residential hub in the state, the Punjab Police are implementing innovative and far-reaching tools for crime detection using Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a key tool.

The flagship initiative of the state police is being implemented in the initial stage through the Integrated Command and Control Centre (IRCC), which was inaugurated by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on March 6 in Mohali.

Chief Minister Mann has already announced plans to introduce AI technology in partnership with multinational companies like Google to modernise the Punjab Police. This initiative aims to update the force with cloud computing, machine learning, and AI tools, positioning the Punjab Police as a frontrunner in tech-driven policing in India.

Punjab Police leadership, including Gaurav Yadav, Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, has emphasised AI's role in addressing challenges like crime detection, fraud identification, and resource allocation. The force aims to use AI to maintain law and order in Punjab, a border state facing unique security threats, by equipping it with scientific tools and best practices. indianexpress.com


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Cybercriminal Tactics Targeting Retail
Stolen credentials emerge as top concern in global retail sector

KnowBe4 research shows 38% of retail sector compromises now involve credential theft, surpassing payment card data breaches.

KnowBe4 today released its "Global Retail Report 2025," revealing a notable shift in cybercriminal tactics targeting the retail sector. The report finds that credential harvesting, which is often orchestrated through phishing attacks, has become the predominant threat, accounting for 38% of all compromised data in 2023, while payment card data theft dropped to 25%.

The research shows an alarming increase in cyberattacks in the retail sector, with attack frequency rising by 56% in 2023 compared to the previous year. This puts retail in the top five industries targeted by cybercriminals. The average cost of a retail data breach reached $3.48 million in 2024, an 18% increase from 2023.

Key findings from the report include:

• Credential theft now accounts for 38% of all compromised data, while payment card theft dropped to 25%, making credential harvesting the leading threat in retail cyberattacks.

• North America's retail sector experienced the highest percentage of attacks (56%), while Latin America saw the second most at 32%, and Europe experienced 11% of attacks.

• The U.S. retail sector accounted for 45% of global ransomware attacks despite representing only 28% of market share, making retail the second most targeted sector.

• Conducting security awareness training and simulated phishing evaluations for one year or more can reduce the likelihood of employees falling for phishing attacks for organizations of all sizes.

The report demonstrates the significant impact of security awareness training on reducing human risk in retail organizations. Employee susceptibility to phishing attacks dropped from 42.4% to just 5.2% in large retail organizations, while small and medium-sized retailers saw similar improvements, with rates dropping to 4.7% and 4.5%, respectively, after one year of continuous training. securityinfowatch.com
 
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New Council Fights Cyber Espionage Groups
FCC launches national security unit to counter state-linked threats to US telecoms

The new council is part of an effort to thwart Salt Typhoon and other cyber espionage groups.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr announced Thursday the launch of a Council on National Security, designed to counter growing cyber threats from foreign adversaries against the U.S. telecommunications sector.

The council will leverage the full range of regulatory, investigatory and enforcement authorities to help promote national security in the face of growing threats, particularly those linked to the People's Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), according to the FCC.

"Today the country faces a persistent and constant threat from foreign adversaries, particularly the CCP," Carr said in a statement. "These bad actors are always exploring ways to breach our networks, devices and technology ecosystem." cybersecuritydive.com


300+ Victims in Multiple Industries
Medusa ransomware slams critical infrastructure organizations

The ransomware-as-service gang tallied more than 300 victims in industries such as healthcare, manufacturing and technology.

The Medusa ransomware gang has infected more than 300 organizations in critical infrastructure sectors such as the medical, manufacturing and technology industries.

That's according to a joint cybersecurity advisory published Wednesday by CISA, the FBI and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC). The agencies noted that Medusa - which is not connected to MedusaLocker ransomware - has been active since 2021 and initially began as a closed ransomware operation.

"While Medusa has since progressed to using an affiliate model, important operations such as ransom negotiation are still centrally controlled by the developers," the advisory said. "Both Medusa developers and affiliates - referred to as 'Medusa actors' in this advisory - employ a double extortion model, where they encrypt victim data and threaten to publicly release exfiltrated data if a ransom is not paid." cybersecuritydive.com


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Arlington, WA: Organized crime rings involved in thefts, scams operating in Arlington
Arlington police are investigating several reports of organized crime rings operating in the area. "The crime rings consist mainly of individuals originally from southeastern Europe. They have been known to disguise their identities, often presenting as tourists from various regions, including the Middle East, India, or Spanish-speaking countries," the Arlington Police Department said in a Facebook post. The groups are involved in a series of thefts and scams that may affect individuals, fitness clubs, and small businesses, particularly boutique and antique stores. The thieves are known to be operating particularly around Safeway, Walmart, the Pilot Travel Center, and off-ramps along the northbound Interstate 5 corridor.  komonews.com


Rocklin, CA: 10 suspects sought in caught-on-camera burglary at camera store
Police are looking for about 10 masked suspects in connection to a Rocklin break-in and burglary early Thursday morning. Video released by Action Camera shows multiple people running behind their store counter and stealing items off the wall before taking off. What the camera doesn't show is how the suspects allegedly got into the store. In a Facebook post, the store said the suspects used a stolen car to smash through the front entrance. A spokesperson for Rocklin Police Department said they're currently following up on leads for the case, describing the crime as "pretty abnormal for Rocklin." As the investigation continues, Rocklin police won't be doing it entirely on their own. They are working with other agencies in the Bay Area where several camera stores were also hit. However, it's not yet clear if those cases are related to the one in Rocklin. Police said the suspects took off in cars that were stolen, and the owners have been made aware.  abc10.com


Chesapeake, VA: Beauty store frustrated following string of break-ins, $30,000 worth of supplies stolen
The owners of a beauty shop in Chesapeake are frustrated after a string of break-ins that has affected their business. Since t Since that incident, the store has been broken into two more times leaving Wood frustrated. "It's not the same person," said Wood. "It's a different person. And break our glass door over here and damage everything over here that I have to call door people to put new glass because they (broke) it."he beginning of February, Beauty To Go has been broken into three times. On Feb. 9, a suspect broke into the store after hours and stole products that General Manager Maychel Wood says was close to $30,000. "Everything we have in this area right here that is very expensive is gone," said Wood. "And then this side, it's the same thing. Everything in this area is gone also."   wavy.com


Long Island, NY: Baldwin Man Ran $40K Home Depot Theft Ring, DA Says
Manooj Heeralall, 55, was indicted on grand larceny and related charges in Nassau County Court on Thursday, March 13, after investigators recovered nearly $40,000 in stolen merchandise from his home and garage, according to the DA's office. An investigation found that Heeralall recruited several individuals to steal items like circuit breakers, light switches, and power tools between October 2021 and December 2023, prosecutors alleged. The stolen goods came from Home Depot locations across Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens, and Brooklyn, including stores in Freeport, Levittown, Syosset, and Westbury. Heeralall would then take the stolen merchandise, pay the accomplices, and store the goods in his home and garage, prosecutors said. The merchandise was later shipped to the country of Guyana.

In December 2023, Suffolk County Police reportedly uncovered the following stolen items from Heeralall's Baldwin residence:

- Nearly 1,000 circuit breakers, valued at $15,025, Hundreds of pieces of equipment, including circular saw blades and outlets.

- Four garbage bins filled with $9,576 worth of acrylic roof coating, rock spotlights, oscillating blades, and light switch wall plates. In court Thursday, Heeralall pleaded not guilty to the following counts Burglary (felony), Criminal possession of stolen property (felony).

-Two counts of attempted criminal possession of stolen property (felony and misdemeanor), Grand larceny (felony), Conspiracy (misdemeanor), He faces up to 7 years in prison if convicted.  dailyvoice.com