[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_post_title meta=”off” featured_placement=”background” _builder_version=”4.16″ title_font=”|700||on|||||” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” title_font_size=”30px” background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0)” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”0px||” custom_padding=”15%||15%” title_text_shadow_style=”preset2″ text_shadow_style=”preset2″ parallax_effect=”on” module_bg_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0)” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_post_title][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Intro” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
After weeks of pandemic fear,\u00a0<\/span>unfathomable sickness and death,\u00a0<\/span>social distancing,\u00a0<\/span>government-mandated isolation,\u00a0<\/span>societal shutdowns,\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>economic meltdowns<\/span>, America and the rest of the world is reopening.\u00a0<\/span>People all over the world are anxious to get back to normal \u2013 whatever that might be remains to be seen \u2013 which\u00a0<\/span>means they will be returning to stores, barber shops, salons, offices, restaurants and bars<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0and more. While that\u2019s good news for businesses that have been closed, consider that people who rely on\u00a0<\/span>retail theft, fraud and burglary are also\u00a0<\/span>ch<\/span>o<\/span>mping<\/span>\u00a0at the bit to get back to \u201c<\/span>business<\/span>.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The National Retail Federation\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>2019 Organized\u00a0<\/span>Retail\u00a0<\/span>Crime\u00a0<\/span>(ORC)\u00a0<\/span>S<\/span>urvey<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>s<\/span>hows<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>its costs the industry $703,320 out of every $1 billion in sales<\/span>\u00a0and two out of three\u00a0<\/span>respondents saying they saw an increase during the year<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Organized retail crime is shoplifting, cargo theft,\u00a0<\/span>retail fraud, cybercrime and other coordinated efforts\u00a0<\/span>occurring in retail environments.\u00a0<\/span>Lately, the crimes include what loss prevention professionals call door hits, which are essentially criminal flash mobs where several\u00a0<\/span>individuals grab as much as they can from store racks or shelves and sprint for the exits.\u00a0<\/span>These groups are part of larger organizations that move from stor<\/span>e to store<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>city to city.<\/span>\u00a0The merchandise is resold or<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0in some cases<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0returned to stores for \u201crefunds\u201d adding another layer of crime.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Post-pandemic Retail ” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n As the world works toward regaining its footing after the health and economic cris<\/span>is,\u00a0<\/span>the American economy won\u2019t break<\/span>\u00a0out of the gates like an Olympic sprinter. Instead, both federal and state governments\u00a0<\/span>developed<\/span>\u00a0plans\u00a0<\/span>for staged\u00a0<\/span>re<\/span>openings<\/span>\u00a0that limit which businesses\u00a0<\/span>can<\/span>\u00a0resume operations and how they could serve their patrons. Limits include how many people\u00a0<\/span>are<\/span>\u00a0allowed inside a\u00a0<\/span>business at one time and\u00a0<\/span>require\u00a0<\/span>social distancing requirements, as well.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n At the same time, many businesses that\u00a0<\/span>had\u00a0<\/span>to lay<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>off or furlough staff\u00a0<\/span>will most likely\u00a0<\/span>open with reduced hours and employees.\u00a0<\/span>Fewer employees to monitor shoppers, many of whom will be wearing protective masks,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>creates\u00a0<\/span>a retail environment that merchants have never seen before.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Representatives of the International Association of Financial Crime Investigators\u00a0<\/span>expect a significant increase in organized retail crim<\/span>e targeting big-ticket items, more door hits, return fraud, and counterfeit money purch<\/span>ases. This is because just like retailers, ORC syndic<\/span>ates have\u00a0<\/span>been out of work since stores\u00a0<\/span>closed<\/span>\u00a0their doors<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Hamstrung Enforcement ” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n While reporting on the societal shutdown has focused on the economic<\/span>\u00a0impacts,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>law<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>enforcement, prosecution and incarceration has also been affected.\u00a0<\/span>COVID-19 has changed the way\u00a0<\/span>crimes are\u00a0<\/span>reported and\u00a0<\/span>investigated.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0Because the courts are closed, l<\/span>aw enforcement\u00a0<\/span>agencies\u00a0<\/span>are more selectiv<\/span>e\u00a0<\/span>when they make arrests\u00a0<\/span>to prevent clogging up an already backlogged prosecution process<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A<\/span>dd to that,\u00a0<\/span>many states are releasing nonviolent offenders to reduce their<\/span>\u00a0growing<\/span>\u00a0jail and prison populations.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Ben Dugan, president of the\u00a0<\/span>Coalition of Law Enforcement and Retail<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(CLEAR) and senior manager of ORC and corporate investigations at CVS Health, said in a recent<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Loss Prevention Magazi<\/span><\/i>ne<\/span><\/i><\/a>\u00a0webinar that with\u00a0<\/span>a 75% criminal recidivism rate\u00a0<\/span>there will be thousands of offenders back on the streets<\/span>\u00a0and with the socially accepted practice of wearing masks while \u201cshopping<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Historical Precedent ” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nPost-pandemic\u00a0Retail\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Hamstrung\u00a0Enforcement\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Historical Precedent\u00a0<\/h2>\n