Ace Ausar’s Post

🚔 🚨 New crime stats reveal a concerning trend in shoplifting 🚨 🚔 According to The Independent, incidents have surged to a record high, with nearly half a million offences reported last year. The figures show a significant 29% increase, totaling 469,788 incidents in the year up to June 2024, up from 365,173 the previous year. Additionally, Talking Retail highlights the impact on retail staff, indicating that 18% of shop workers experienced violent attacks, doubling from the previous year's 8%. The severity of these crimes is evident, with weapons and violence being employed to evade capture. Thankfully, #Purchek offers a #NonConfrontational solution to prevent theft, effectively securing stores by immobilizing thieves' trolleys at exits. At #GatekeeperSystems, we prioritize #ProtectingYourPeople, #ProtectingYourProducts, and #ProtectingYourProfits in the face of rising shoplifting incidents. #RetailTheft #Shoplifting #LossPrevention #ShrinkBuster #StopTheft Gatekeeper Systems, Inc. Gatekeeper Systems APAC Gatekeeper Systems Europe Stay informed with the full articles from The Independent (https://lnkd.in/eZGEBReE) and Talking Retail (https://lnkd.in/ehk_kWXE) to understand the gravity of the situation and the solutions available.

Crime ‘spiralling out of control’ in stores, warns British Retail Consortium Sarah Butler 30 Jan 2025 UK retailers are warning that crime in their stores is “spiralling out of control” with 55,000 thefts a day and violent and abusive incidents rising by 50% last year. More than 70 incidents a day involved a weapon, according to the annual crime survey from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Verbal and physical attacks, violent threats, and sexual and racial abuse in shops soared to more than 2,000 incidents a day in the year to the end of last August, up from 1,300 the previous year and more than three times the 2020 level. The trade body’s report, based on a sample from retailers representing more than 1.1 million employees, found theft had reached an all-time high with more than 20m incidents during the year, 25% more than the year before. It said this had cost retailers £2.2bn with many more incidents linked to organised crime as gangs systematically targeted stores across the country. The rise in shoplifting has partly been seen as the result of a squeeze on household finances amid high inflation in recent years, but retailers said the uptick was down to organised gangs stealing to order. They said retail had been seen as a soft target since the 2014 law change in England and Wales which has meant those stealing goods worth less than £200 are usually spared any jail time. Paul Gerrard, the public affairs director at the Co-op, told the House of Lords justice and home affairs committee inquiry into shoplifting that a 44% rise in retail crime it experienced last year was down to “people coming into stores with wheelie bins or a builder’s bag to steal the entire confectionery section or spirits or meat section”. Retailers said a lack of priority by police was also to blame as officers often failed to attend, even when private security staff had apprehended someone with stolen goods. Major retailers have also been accused of fuelling the rise in crime by cutting back the number of staff in stores, including on security, to keep costs down. They have also turned to self-service checkouts and self-scanning devices which are more open to abuse. However, the BRC said retailers had spent £1.8bn on measures to combat crime including CCTV, additional security guards, anti-theft devices and body-worn cameras, up from £1.2bn the previous year. [...] Operation Pegasus, under which 15 large retailers began working with the police under the last government to help tackle organised retail crime, partly by sharing CCTV images, has also had some success but was set up only to deal with activity that crossed police boundaries. [...]

Celebrating a win for California’s retail safety. Proposition 36 passed! 🎉 Proposition 36 rolls back parts of the controversial Proposition 47. Proposition 47, passed in 2014, was ironically called the “Safer Streets” proposition, even though it was designed to reduce jail overcrowding. It was meant to reverse historic tough-on-crime policies and divert money spent on incarceration to rehabilitation. The crime reform was well-intended but had unintended side effects for organized retail crime prevention. The proposition raised the felony threshold for prosecuting shoplifters to $950. Anyone caught for shoplifting under $950 would be cited with a ticket and released. It wasn’t a strong disincentive for repeat offenders. Ultimately, Prop 47 fueled a surge in commercial burglary (smash & grab) and shoplifting. It’s no surprise that 70.4% of voters approved the new proposition.. Under the new Proposition 36, people found guilty of shoplifting will now be more likely to face felony charges that were previously classified. Shoplifting under $950 is now punishable by up to three years if the offender has “two or more past convictions for certain theft crimes. It also increases potential punishment and jail sentences based on the total amount of goods stolen from prior incidents. Finally, it lengthens felony sentences by up to three years if at least three people jointly commit a theft or property crime or there is property damage. Congrats to all my ORC and LP friends who oversee stores in California! 

"Yet the report also revealed that 45% of companies which had been subjected to retail crime did not report it to police, implying that the true number of crimes could be higher than the police data show." 🔍 The time has come to lift the veil hiding the truth. Many #retailers shy away from reporting the actual thefts they experience. Why? Here are 4 key reasons: 1. Lack of trust in the enforcement system and/or the inability to furnish evidence to support enforcement. 2. Concern that sharing figures will embolden more thieves to join the fray. 3. Employee thefts - the harsh reality is that some thefts are perpetrated by employees. Especially in places experiencing manpower shortages, the challenge of providing evidence often leads to under-reporting. 4. Fear among senior managers to report the prevalence of mishandling in dealing with the issue. Yet, while reporting of shoplifting is more frequent, reporting money theft by employees is almost nonexistent. Why? Because most #retail chains are unaware of the extent of money siphoned off by employees through cash register maneuvers... That's precisely why we've developed the capability to swiftly identify employee theft and added it into our system. For further details, reach out to our partners or drop a message here, and we'll connect you with the suitable reseller. Grocery Gazette Yasmeen Louis #retailtech #lossprevention #innovation https://lnkd.in/dN-xcNmP

To be brutally honest, when we started our journey #lossprevention wasn't something we had in mind. It was only when some #customers asked when we started to understand how strong this pain is. Fast forward, our Loss Prevention capabilities have been integrated into our system and deployed across multiple sites, with a very promising future ahead. Kudos Elad Segev and team #iCape for making it happen! #retail #retailtechnology #retailinnovation

According to Retail Dive, "Retailers have poor visibility into where their lost inventory has gone, and theft in general and ORC in particular are getting blamed." Retail theft is a pervasive issue that costs businesses billions of dollars annually. Whether it's shoplifting by individuals or organized retail crime rings, the consequences of theft can be devastating for retailers of all sizes. Learn how Tensator's effective queue management solutions can aid your retail stores in thwarting this increase in theft - https://lnkd.in/dYWE7AN #retailtheft #retailstore #queuemanagement #Tensator

The British Retail Consortium report confirms what we’ve been hearing from businesses for some time—shoplifting and retail crime continue to rise - putting livelihoods and people at risk. But in places where businesses, police, and stakeholders work together, we’re seeing real progress. Through our work locally with retailers we’ve seen firsthand the impact these crimes have on businesses and their staff. Theft isn’t just about financial loss; it’s often linked to organised crime and too frequently comes with threats and violence, which is never acceptable. In #London, we are working together for better reporting, a targeted police response and robust intelligence sharing, and these efforts are making a difference. Hannah Wadey CEO said “Through our work locally with retailers and police, we’ve seen how targeted action can make a change. In areas where we come together, we’re seeing positive results—more reporting, stronger responses, and a clear message that crime won’t be tolerated”. The Safer Business Network team will continue to encourage our members to report these crimes. With increased reporting we can continue to build a true picture of the problem and secure the action needed to tackle it. For more information about our services and training click here https://lnkd.in/dpZNNtyy #RetailCrime #Shoplifting #ShopworkerSafety #SaferBusiness #ZeroTolerance Adam Ratcliffe Rachelle O'Sullivan Mohammed Qazi Taylor Jade Mann Balazs Csanadi Patrick Holdaway Professor Emmeline Taylor PhD Darren Watson Helen Clayton BA (Hons) Michael Pearce GCGI MBCI National Association of Business Crime Partnerships Ltd NBCS - National Business Crime Solution National Business Crime Centre Business Crime Hub, Metropolitan Police Metropolitan Police City of London Police Association of Convenience Stores British BIDs https://lnkd.in/eqAVsS6J

The repercussions for shoplifting or deceiving stores may be perceived as severe by some, yet justified by others. Upon examining various incidents and their implications, it becomes evident that certain crucial aspects were overlooked, leading to the prolonged operation of dishonest individuals. Turning a blind eye to shoplifting and deception not only harms the affected store financially but also fosters a culture of tolerance for unethical behaviour. By neglecting to address instances of shoplifting or deceit, businesses inadvertently condone such actions, signalling to perpetrators that their misconduct will go unchecked. This lack of accountability can embolden individuals to continue engaging in illegal activities, further eroding the integrity of the retail environment. Additionally, the financial losses incurred by stores as a result of theft and deception can have a detrimental impact on their operations, potentially leading to increased prices for honest customers to offset these losses. It is imperative for businesses to prioritise the enforcement of policies and procedures aimed at deterring and addressing shoplifting and deception. Implementing robust security measures, conducting regular audits, and providing employee training on identifying and responding to suspicious behaviour are essential steps in safeguarding the interests of the store and maintaining a fair and ethical retail environment. By taking a proactive stance against dishonest practices, businesses can uphold their reputation, protect their bottom line, and uphold standards of integrity that benefit both the organisation and its patrons. Robberies: https://lnkd.in/gbn2mDAd Watch us on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3p9YAD6 #quelltraining #workplaceviolence #workplaceviolenceprevention #personalsafety #retail

Kamikaze Shoplifting? I learned a new term today! UK Retailers say "Shoplifters 'out of control' and becoming more brazen." A style of shoplifting now known as Kamikaze Shoplifting where criminals are openly clearing shelves of product in full view of shoppers is sweeping the UK according to a new article by the BBC. Journalists Cherry Wilson and Jim Connolly's recent BBC piece describes a shocking rise in reported theft incidents in the #retail space. They note, "In the 12 months to September last year, incidents of customer theft reported by retailers in the UK rose by 3.7 million to 20.4 million, and cost retailers £2bn." Wow. And violence and abuse incidents towards shopworkers occurred on average 2,000 times a day, a 50% increase yoy. Keeping retail staff safe while partnering w/ local law enforcement's investigative efforts has never been more important. That's why our mission of Solving for Safer here at Motorola Solutions has never been more urgent. From Body Worn Cameras like our V200 to Panic Buttons and Incident Mangement / Investigation / Crisis Management solutions like Noggin we are deeply committed to helping the retail industry provide safer workplaces for employees and shoppers. I am excited to get out of bed every day trying to solve challenges like this. See the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gvahT6rr #retail #organizedretailcrime #orc #shoplifting #incidentmanagement #employeesafety #workersafety #bodyworncameras #lossprevention Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC) Clay Cassard James Boddam-Whetham Cynthia Wulff Jeremiah Nelson Joe Brady Jehan Wickramasuriya Britt Lincoln Charlie Forsyth Chris Firth ☁"Chip" G.K. Orton III, MBA, CPM, CEM, TEM

Marketplaces offering new and unused goods in California will be required to fight against organized retail theft and the trafficking of stolen goods under recently passed legislation. SB1144 will take effect July 1, 2025, and requires marketplaces to: 🔍 Apply strict verification processes for sellers with more than 200 transactions or $5,000 in sales annually (on or off platform) ❌ Suspend or terminate accounts of high-volume sellers suspected of selling stolen goods 🚔 Report suspicious sellers to law enforcement and take action against those believed to be selling stolen goods. The legislation also authorizes prosecutors to bring civil charges against marketplaces and the individuals trafficking stolen goods online, although I suspect there will be significant CDA 230 challenges to this (and other) portion of the law. https://lnkd.in/emTK2tEZ