We know that your week can get busy, and the time you have to catch up on the news from around the retail loss prevention industry is often stolen away by other things. That’s why the LPM team sifts through headlines from all over the country to bring only the most relevant LP news to you here, in our special weekly news round-up—the perfect bookend to a productive week.
Here’s What You May Have Missed
Minnesota Lawmakers Propose Bill to Tackle ORC
Lawmakers and retail groups joined together at the Minnesota State Capitol on Monday to push for the passage of bills to take on organized retail theft. Minnesota would join four other states that define ORC as a separate violation of the law.
Shoplifting Is on the Rise in LA
While new Los Angeles Police Department statistics show that violent crime is down, shoplifting has steeply increased. In January 2023, there were 805 shoplifting reports in the city—the highest monthly total since at least 2010.
Home Depot Employee Steals $80K in Merch
A Home Depot employee in California is accused of stealing approximately $80,000 worth of merchandise. Officials found about 600 items after executing a search warrant at the employee’s home on Tuesday.
ORC Is Growing—Here’s What Grocers Are Doing About It
Grocers have long contended with store theft. But over the past few years they’ve seen an unsettling rise in a new kind of crime—one that is often carried out by groups of individuals who were able to get around traditional store security measures.
Man Charged after Using $63K in Counterfeit Bills at 28 Walmarts
A man has been arrested after allegedly using counterfeit bills to take more than $63,000 worth of merchandise from 28 different Walmarts along the East Coast. County deputies and Walmart Asset Protection worked together to identify the suspect.
Seattle Prosecutors Use New Unit to Crack Down on Retail Theft
Retail thieves are getting more organized and aggressive. Because of this, King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion launched the Economic Crimes and Wage Theft Division as one of her administration’s first policy and practice changes.