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☆ Target citing crime for closing stores shows retailers are fighting an uphill battle
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Industry experts say even a small increase in crime can have massive, cascading effects that cause retailers to close stores. And stolen items can have an outsized impact on store profitability, considering the razor thin profit margins many large retailers typically operate at. “Increasing store crime is another variable in play right now for retailers,” said Zak Stambor, senior retail & ecommerce analyst with Insider Intelligence. Organized retail crimeAt issue is a particular type of store theft that loss prevention experts classify as “organized retail crime” or ORC. Last month, Dick’s Sporting Goods warned that retail theft was damaging its business and would lead to lower annual profits.

Persons: New York CNN —, ”, Burt Flickinger, Zak Stambor, Jane Roh, Shawn Kelly, TJ, they’re, Read Hayes, criminologist, ” Stambor, Hayes, “ Organizations: New, New York CNN, Strategic Resource, Insider Intelligence, eBay, Facebook, Pennsylvania Liquor Control, Police, CNN, Philadelphia, Attorney’s Office, “, GS, Cheltenham Plaza, Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, Dick’s Sporting Goods, TJX Companies, TJ Maxx, Goods, Nordstrom, Foods, University of Florida, Prevention Research Council, Walmart, Target, National Retail Federation, ”, Walgreens Locations: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Cheltenham, Wyncote, Montgomery County, San Francisco

New York CNN —Dick’s Sporting Goods warned Tuesday that retail theft is damaging its business and would lead to lower annual profits. Retail “shrink” is a term that refers to merchandise that goes missing due to theft, fraud, damage, accounting errors or other reasons. The retailer reported a large number of incidents of shoplifting and organized retail crime in its stores nationwide. Need and opportunity become forceful catalysts for driving up incidents of retail crime, experts said. According to the National Retail Federation, the industry’s biggest trade group, large-scale store theft is becoming a bigger part of retail shrink.

Persons: Lauren Hobart, can’t, ”, Read Hayes, criminologist, Gucci, – Organizations: New, New York CNN —, Goods, Walgreens, University of Florida, Prevention Research Council, Walmart, Target, National Retail Federation, eBay, Facebook, Westfield, Westfield Topanga Shopping, Nordstrom, FBI, New York Police Department, New York State, Police Locations: New York, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Chicago, Westfield Topanga, Burbank , Glendale, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, New York City

☆ How America's biggest retailers plan to use technology to catch organized retail theft
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Bob Woods | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

"We're seeing a lot of tech vendors layering AI onto existing technologies," said Christian Beckner, vice president of retail technology and cybersecurity for the National Federation of Retailers, a Washington, D.C.-based trade association. said Dr. Read Hayes, director of the Loss Prevention Research Council, a think tank comprising researchers, retailers, technology companies, manufacturers and law enforcement professionals. And many of the crimes that are being classified as organized retail theft are not taking place in stores, but at various points throughout the supply chain and distribution systems that require their own solutions. It's now harnessing AI to analyze metadata from video images captured by cameras installed outside and inside of retail environments. Some retailers are using camera systems featuring facial recognition software to help identify criminals, despite legal and privacy concerns.

Persons: they're, Christian Beckner, Beckner, Read Hayes, Hayes, Dan Berthiaume, —, James Stark, Stark, that's, David Johnston, Johnston Organizations: Getty, Walmart, Target, Kroger, Macy's, CVS, National Federation of Retailers, D.C, Prevention Research Council, University of Florida, National Coalition of Law, Walgreens, Ucg, Axis Communications, Canon Locations: Washington, Gainesville, Queens , New York, Swedish

New York CNN —A 68-year-old woman has her job back after she was fired last month for attempting to stop shoplifters at a Lowe’s store in Georgia. “The Lowes (sic) employee, Donna Hansbrough was fired for attempting to stop the theft,” the post said. “After senior management became aware of the incident and spoke to Donna Hansbrough today, we are reinstating her job and we are pleased that she has accepted the offer to return to Lowe’s,” Lowe’s said. In Kansas, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, a Republican, said retail crime is a “spiraling problem,” adding that Kansas and Missouri are among the top 10 states in the nation for the volume of retail crime. “There is a link between drug trafficking and organized retail crime,” Kobach told lawmakers in June.

Persons: Donna Hansbrough, Lowes, “ Lowes, Donna, ” Lowe’s, Hansbrough, “, Kris Kobach, Kobach, ” Kobach, ”, Read Hayes, they’ve, Lululemon Organizations: New, New York CNN, Rincon Police Department, Lowes, CNN, Retailers, National Retail Federation, Republican, Kansas, “, University of Florida, Prevention Research Council, Walmart, “ Retailers Locations: New York, Georgia, Rincon, San Francisco, America, In Kansas, Kansas, Missouri, Peachtree Corners , Georgia

☆ Lululemon stands by decision to fire employees who intervened in robbery
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“It’s only merchandise.”McDonald said the employees “knowingly broke the policy” and engaged with the thieves, including following them out of the store. As economic fears grow amid inflation and rising borrowing costs, incidents of retail crime are mounting. Target (TGT) last month said it was bracing to lose half a billion dollars this year because of rising theft. “This is organized retail crime. “We’ve had instances, and we’ve seen in other retailers instances where employees step in and are hurt or worse, killed,” he told CNBC.

Persons: New York CNN — Lululemon’s, LULU, Calvin McDonald, “, ”, ” McDonald, Lululemon, Read Hayes, criminologist, they’ve, ” Lululemon, Nordstrom, Hayes, McDonald, “ We’ve, we’ve Organizations: New, New York CNN, “, CNBC, University of Florida, Prevention Research Council, Walmart, Target, “ Retailers, CNN, Employees, Dollar, Foods, Walgreens, National Retail Federation Locations: New York, Peachtree Corners , Georgia, Peachtree, Georgia, harm’s, San Francisco, Bethesda , Maryland

☆ Why retail theft is soaring: inflation, the economy – and opportunity
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-23 | by ( Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But as economic fears grow amid inflation and rising borrowing costs, shoplifting often comes with the territory, industry watchers say. Need and opportunity become forceful catalysts for driving up incidents of retail crime, experts said. He described two types of store theft plaguing retailers currently. “This is organized retail crime. “What’s happening in the overall economy matters when you analyze retail crime overall, but also what is happening more locally, in towns and neighborhoods,” said Hayes.

Persons: Nordstrom, can’t, ”, Read Hayes, criminologist, Hayes, Burt Flickinger, “, Mark Cohen, Cohen, Brian Cornell, Cornell, ” Cornell, that’s, Doug McMillon Organizations: New, New York CNN —, Foods, University of Florida, Prevention Research Council, Walmart, Target, Strategic Resource, Gallup, Columbia Business School, National Retail Federation, CNN, ” Walmart, CNBC Locations: New York, San Francisco, Target

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