Surveillance video catches employee in the act
Surveillance cameras were rolling when the employee of a Pembroke Park liquor store in Florida took money from the cash register. Broward Sheriff’s Office investigators said the theft happened at 24-Hour Liquor Sunday. “It’s very sad because we’re all trying to make a living. We’re all trying to survive,” said one of the store’s employees, who did not want to be identified. The theft happened just before a shift change. When the next scheduled employee reported for work at the store, they found it unattended and locked. Once a supervisor showed up to unlock the door, they discovered the register had been cleaned out.
The now former employee could be seen in the video fidgeting and looking around the store by the register right before the theft. The video then showed the man grabbing and scanning a pack of gummies. He could be seen in the video taking out his wallet as if he was about to pay for the pack. The man instead popped open the register and promptly proceeded to take cash and a couple bottles of Hennessy.
The video showed the former employee putting the bottles and money inside his backpack before leaving the store. “You never know who you can trust, you know?” said the anonymous employee. If you have any information on this theft, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954.493.TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $3,000 reward. The video is posted on the source website. [Source: 7News Miami]
Employee charged with cash theft of $3,200
Police in Mansfield, Ohio, responded to a theft call at the Autozone. Officers were told that a 34-year-old man who works at the business stole $3,180.51 from the business over about four months. The suspect was contacted at his residence on Tuesday and admitted to stealing the money. He declined to provide a taped statement, however, he requested and signed a grand jury waiver. He was not identified for this article and was released. [Source: Mansfield News Journal]
Cyber thieves turn to ‘Formjacking’
Every month, thousands of retail websites are targeted by cyber criminals, who insert a small piece of malicious code that allows them to snatch customers’ credit card information. The hacking technique is called formjacking, and it’s the virtual equivalent of putting a device on an ATM to skim debit card numbers. Affecting an average of 4,800 websites per month, formjacking is one of the newest favorite ways for hackers to steal personal data, according to security company Symantec’s annual Internet Security Threat Report.
Small and medium-sized businesses are still the biggest targets of formjacking, according to Symantec, but in recent months, high profile brands including British Airways and Ticketmaster have also fallen victim to attacks. Symantec said it blocked more than 3.7 million formjacking attacks on websites in 2018, with one-third of those happening during the holiday shopping season.
“Formjacking represents a serious threat for both businesses and consumers,” Greg Clark, CEO of Symantec, said in a statement. “Consumers have no way to know if they are visiting an infected online retailer without using a comprehensive security solution, leaving their valuable personal and financial information vulnerable to potentially devastating identity theft.”
As returns diminish on older hacking techniques, formhacking has become a lucrative choice cyber crooks, though it’s impossible to quantify the amount stolen from every formjacking attack in 2018. Symantec estimates criminals were able to steal “tens of millions of dollars” by using credit card information or selling the numbers on the dark web for around $45 each. [Source: Fortune]
Gas thief claims to be on the c-store ‘layaway’ plan
Police arrested a Wisconsin man for his 23rd gas drive-off from the same c-store chain. Karl Kinyon, 37, was arrested after an incident Monday at a convenience store on S. 10th Street, according to the police report. Kinyon told police he has a “layaway system” with Kwik Trip, and was in a hurry on Monday. But he always pays for the gas “eventually,” the report states. Kwik Trip estimates Kinyon owes for 14 of the 23 drive-offs, for a total of $803.90. [Source: Fox11 Eyewitness News]
Suspect arrested for shoplifting, gun, and cocaine
The North Charleston Police Department in South Carolina says it has arrested Kapria Jacqulyne Mosley on after a shoplifting incident at the Walmart on Center Point Dr. Sunday. Officers say they responded after a report of a detained shoplifter, and say they found a .22 Caliber Revolver with the serial number scratched over in her coat pocket. along with drug paraphernalia. She was charged with unlawful carry of a firearm, possession of a handgun with an obliterated serial number, possession of cocaine base, and 1st degree shoplifting. [Source: ABC News4]
New ORC legislation
Organized retail crime, or organized shoplifting, is when someone steals and resells the item to a pawn shop, on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace or on the street. In Indiana, crooks are able to stay out of jail when they shoplift, if what they steal is worth under $750. That may soon change. Currently, theft below $750 is classified as a Class A misdemeanor, and theft between $750 and $50,000 is a Level 6 felony, said a news release from state Rep. Sharon Negele (R-Attica).
Under Negele’s legislation, a prosecutor may charge a person who makes an enterprise of selling stolen retail property on the internet with a Level 6 felony, even if the value of the stolen property is less than $750. Similarly, the punishment for stolen items with a value greater than $750 would be raised to a Level 5 felony. “Theft is a serious problem for retailers across the country,” said Negele. “Under current Indiana law, organized theft rings are able to escape punishment by keeping the volume of stolen goods below $750, which is the felony level. By enhancing penalties, we can ensure criminals receive the punishment they deserve and better deter organized theft going forward.”
Negele said every neighboring state has a law addressing organized retail crime. As a result, she said criminals target Indiana, leaving Hoosier retailers vulnerable. “Due to higher rates of organized theft, some retailers have been forced to raise prices,” she said. “This punishes law-abiding Hoosiers. My legislation would crack down on the appropriate people without unintentionally penalizing the average consumer.” House Bill 1323 now moves to the Senate for consideration. [Source: WIBC News]
