Shoplifting suspect caught; dies in custody
Police in Ohio say a man accused of shoplifting collapsed after he was arrested while trying to flee officers and has died. The Independent in Massillon reports that Police Chief Keith Moser said officers were called to a Menards store Monday on a shoplifting report. Moser says the suspect fled on foot when officers arrived and was captured in a field.
A police report says the suspect complained of being light-headed and collapsed as officers were taking him from the field. Moser says officers didn’t use force on the man. The chief says officers initially thought the suspect’s condition was drug-related and administered two doses of naloxone. He was taken to a hospital, where he died. A Stark County Coroner’s Office investigator says the cause of death hasn’t been determined. [Source: WKYC3 News]
Employee lands in jail after $35K panty raid
A North Dakota woman has been sentenced to 10 days in jail for stealing $35,000 in merchandise from the Victoria’s Secret store where she worked. Minot authorities say 19-year-old Pru Bray took the items out of the store in bags or wore them under her clothing, then sold them at rummage sales or gave them as gifts. If Bray stays out of trouble for three years, a felony theft charge against her will be dismissed. A decision on restitution will be made later. Bray has already returned items valued at more than $15,000. [Source: Knox News Radio]
‘Card-not-present’ retail fraud expected to top $130B
Juniper Research estimates retailers will lose $130 billion in “card not present” fraud in the next five years, according to a report issued by the firm. The report, completed late last year, predicts retailers will lose the $130 billion from 2018 through 2023, noting retailers are lagging in their ability to detect potential fraud before it actually happens. The report stated online merchants seem to be focused mainly at detecting fraud at the point of sale, and don’t have enough insight prior to that.
“A layered FDP [fraud detection & prevention] solution naturally helps directly preventing fraud, but it also offers major gains in terms of recovering potentially lost revenue through false positives,” said research author Steffen Sorrell, in an release on the report. “This is something about which retailers remain under educated, and has allowed fraudsters to capitalize on relatively low FDP spend.” Juniper predicts digital payment firms will pay $9.6 billion a year on FDP players in 2023, however the main growth over the forecast period will come from financial institutions and payment service providers, according to the release. [Source: Retail Customer Experience]
Teen ORC ring busted
A 17-year-old was arrested and two female juveniles were detained for allegedly combining efforts to steal merchandise from a Walmart in Laredo, Texas. Aliya Diaz and the juveniles were each charged with organized retail theft. Diaz was taken to the Webb County Jail, where she was later released on bond. Meanwhile, the juveniles were taken to the Webb County Youth Village.
According to reports, at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday, police officers responded to a theft report in the 2300 block of Bob Bullock Loop. An investigation revealed that Diaz and the juveniles had concealed five watches, several pairs of female underwear, two pairs of jeans, several cosmetics and fragrances into two handbags that were also taken from the store, LPD said. [Source: LMTonline]
Retailer targeted for string of thefts totaling $35K; 1 arrested
Following a months-long investigation involving California police departments from Solano and Contra Costa counties, a Suisun man is behind bars on suspicion of his participation in a string of retail thefts from Ulta stores in Fairfield, Vallejo and Pinole totaling $35,000 in lost merchandise. Fairfield police began investigating the thefts, at least three of which occurred at Ulta in Fairfield, when officers responded Oct. 25 to the beauty store in the Solano Mall. Over $4,600 worth of merchandise was stolen by two black men, police said. Another $6,000 worth of merchandise was stolen from the same Ulta store about a month later, on November 19, police said.
“The officer who responded to this theft learned of an ongoing investigation into a string of retail thefts spanning several jurisdictions,” police said in a news release. “From the five theft cases currently under investigation by the Fairfield, Vallejo and Pinole police departments it has been determined that over $35,000 worth of merchandise has been stolen,” police said. Anyone with information regarding the thefts from Ulta stores is asked to contact the Fairfield Police Department’s Investigations Bureau at 707.428.7600, the 24-hour tip line at 707.428.7345, or Solano County Crime Stoppers at 707.644.7867. Information may also be submitted via text message by texting TIPFAIRFIELDPD followed by the message to 888777. [Source: Suisun City Patch]
Co-President Blake Nordstrom, dies after cancer fight
Blake Nordstrom, the 58-year-old co-president of Nordstrom, died early Wednesday morning, the retailer announced on Wednesday. “My heart goes out to the Nordstrom family and everyone at the company during this difficult time,” said Nordstrom Chairman Brad Smith. Everyone who worked with Blake knew of his passion and deep commitment to employees, customers and the communities we serve. We are fortunate to have continued leadership from co-presidents Pete and Erik Nordstrom,” Smith said. The company disclosed in December that Blake had been diagnosed with lymphoma, which Blake said at the time was “treatable.” He had expected to work through his illness. It could not be immediately determined whether the lymphoma was the cause of his death. [Source: CNBC News]
