Lowe’s successfully tested a <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mechanism</a> to track and lock items with low-cost radio frequency identification chips such that power tools and other equipment will not function if they are <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/crime" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stolen</a>.
Thefts executed by packs of robbers have garnered public attention during the crime wave of the past three years, with some retailers and convenience chains spending millions on new <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/supermarket-chain-hy-vee-introduces-new-security-efforts-as-smash-and-grab-robberies-continue" target="_blank" rel="noopener">security measures</a> or <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/shoplifting-skyrockets-in-san-francisco-forcing-retailers-to-close-stores" target="_blank" rel="noopener">closing locations</a> in dangerous cities.
Lowe’s has introduced Project Unlock, which uses blockchain and RFID technology to render tools “inoperable and virtually worthless” if they are stolen from one of the home improvement store’s locations.
“At the store, a customer takes the product to the register, gets the barcode scanned, and pays,” according to a <a href="https://www.lowesinnovationlabs.com/projects/projectunlock" target="_blank" rel="noopener">webpage</a> from Lowe’s Innovation Labs. “A point-of-sale RFID scanner reads all tags in range, finds the tool with the correct serial number, and writes a unique secret key value that activates the tool for use. Only products that are legitimately purchased are activated. If a power tool is stolen, it won’t work, which makes it less valuable to steal.”
Lowe’s Chief Digital and Information Officer Seemantini Godbole remarked during an <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/lowes-pioneers-nearly-invisible-system-to-solve-organized-retail-crime" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> with Fox Business that other solutions to prevent organized retail theft, such as locking down shelves, ultimately disrupt &#8220;an enjoyable experience that customers rightfully should have.&#8221; The process offered by Project Unlock is “invisible” for customers, who should “not even know that there&#8217;s anything extra happening.”
&#8220;As you can see, all the retailers are locking down stuff and putting physical locks on the product,&#8221; she commented, adding that word will spread among thieves &#8220;pretty quickly that stealing these tools this way is not worth it because it&#8217;ll never work.”
Retailers reported a 26.5% increase in organized retail crime last year, according to a <a href="https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/nrf-reports-retail-shrink-nearly-100b-problem" target="_blank" rel="noopener">survey</a> from the National Retail Federation, while nearly 90% of respondents said that the phenomena of the past three years increased risk for their businesses through higher levels of violence, shoplifting, employee theft, and organized theft. Target CEO Brian Cornell revealed last year that organized retail crime has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/target-says-organized-retail-theft-contributed-to-400-million-loss" target="_blank" rel="noopener">required</a> the company to increase security spending.
“This is an industrywide problem that is often driven by criminal networks, and we are collaborating with multiple stakeholders to find industrywide solutions,” Target CFO Michael Fiddelke added. “For example, because stolen goods are often sold online, Target strongly supports the passage of legislation to increase accountability and prevent criminals from selling stolen goods through online marketplaces.”
Trade associations such as the National Retail Federation and the Chamber of Commerce have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/interest-groups-make-push-to-battle-organized-retail-crime-at-the-federal-level" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rallied</a> companies to support multiple laws that would increase federal resources devoted to preventing the trend. While the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act would enable coordination between law enforcement agencies and businesses, the INFORM Consumers Act would discourage the resale of stolen goods online by requiring verification for high-volume third-party sellers on platforms such as Facebook Marketplace.
The robberies occur as some local officials deemphasize the prosecution of minor offenses. California is one of several states that have loosened consequences for small-scale shoplifting, as residents <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/retail-theft-is-changing-the-customer-experience" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> a ballot measure in 2014 that only prescribes misdemeanor penalties to nonviolent property crimes in which the value of stolen goods does not exceed $950.

A Lowe’s Store Ahead Of Earnings Figures

Lowe’s Successfully Tests Way To Stop Retail Theft Without Locking Down Products

Lowe's Has A Solution To Stop Organized Retail Theft

Business

Crime

Technology

Theft

A real-life Grinch was allegedly caught in the act trying to steal Christmas — or at least the presents from under the tree — from a townhouse that is being rented by actor <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/robert-de-niros-restaurant-chain-nobu-took-up-to-28-million-in-taxpayer-loans/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Robert De Niro</a> on the Upper East Side on Monday.
Law enforcement sources shared the <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/12/19/known-burglar-caught-red-handed-at-robert-de-niros-nyc-townhouse/?_gl=1*1rkjvgl*_ga*MTkzMTkwODE1Ni4xNjY3OTUyODk2*_ga_0DZ7LHF5PZ*MTY3MTU2MDQ0NS4xNjMuMC4xNjcxNTYwNDcwLjAuMC4w&amp;_ga=2.100636638.1598016361.1670171891-1931908156.1667952896" target="_blank" rel="noopener">story</a> with The New York Post, revealing that the alleged culprit, Shanice Aviles, 30, was well-known as a serial burglar — and that police had been actively tracking her when she allegedly broke into the townhouse.
The NYPD’s 19th Precinct Public Safety team had reportedly been monitoring Aviles, following her as she attempted to get into a number of other buildings before ducking down some stairs and breaking into De Niro&#8217;s residence, allegedly using a pipe or a crowbar to pry her way in through the basement door.
&#8220;She was stealing Christmas presents,&#8221; a police official said. The report notes that when the 19th Precinct officers caught up with her — on the second floor of De Niro&#8217;s $69,000-per-month rental home — she was attempting to do something with the actor&#8217;s iPad and the presents under his Christmas tree.
Aviles <a href="https://www.mediaite.com/crime/watch-suspect-declares-she-didnt-murder-anybody-after-police-arrest-her-for-breaking-into-robert-de-niro-nyc-home/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">protested her innocence</a> when authorities picked her up, insisting, &#8220;I didn’t murder anybody!&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Police caught a serial burglar stealing Christmas presents from inside Robert De Niro’s townhome in Manhattan early Monday morning, according to police sources. Shanice Aviles, 30, was arrested on burglary charges. <a href="https://t.co/lzzLy4qpVV">pic.twitter.com/lzzLy4qpVV</a>
&mdash; PIX11 News (@PIX11News) <a href="https://twitter.com/PIX11News/status/1604991762920939520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
She also suggested that her arrival in DeNiro&#8217;s house was purely coincidental, telling spectators, &#8220;I didn’t go into Robert De Niro’s house.&#8221;
Aviles&#8217; arrest at De Niro&#8217;s home follows at least 16 other arrests this year alone — and is added to a lengthy rap sheet that includes at least 26 total arrests, the latest of which took place just a week prior to her arrival in De Niro&#8217;s townhouse.
She was arraigned on two burglaries that took place in Queens in October — she allegedly ransacked an apartment on October 1, stealing a debit card and using it to charge $50 at a nearby 7-11; and she also allegedly lifted $1000 in cash from St. Patrick’s Church in Dutch Kills just three weeks later. She was released without bail after her arraignment on those charges.
Her arraignment for the attempted burglary in the actor&#8217;s home <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/12/20/accused-de-niro-burglar-shanice-aviles-ordered-held-on-40k-bail/?utm_medium=SocialFlow&amp;utm_source=NYPTwitter&amp;utm_campaign=SocialFlow" target="_blank" rel="noopener">went a bit differently</a>, however, and Aviles is currently being held on $40,000 bail.
&#8220;She has repeatedly failed to take advantage of the rehabilitative services that enable her to detox and stay out of trouble and appear [for] court dates. The defendant demonstrated that she will not engage with services. She will not return to court and she will re-offend if she is released,&#8221; Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Dylan Los Huertos told the judge — and Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Melissa Lewis agreed.

“Heat” Premiere – 2022 Tribeca Festival

Real Life Grinch Tries To Steal All The Presents From Under Robert De Niro’s Tree

Real Life Grinch Tries To Steal All The Presents From Under Robert De Niro's Tree

Celebrities

Christmas

Robert de Niro

U.S.

A Baltimore woman is now facing multiple charges after being accused of hiding a stolen Rolex watch inside her body on Sunday after previously being arrested in June and accused of stealing a $100,000 watch.
Sara Richards, 33, was in Las Vegas to face charges in court on December 12 for allegedly stealing a wristwatch valued at $100,000 from a man she met in the casinos while she was visiting the city back in June, <a href="https://www.wfsb.com/2022/12/14/woman-charged-with-stealing-12000-rolex-watch-hiding-it-inside-herself-police-say/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WFSB</a> reported.
However, while Richards was in town to deal with those criminal charges, she allegedly added to that list after being accused of hiding a $12,000 Rolex watch and placing it in an unexpected place — inside her genitals — police shared with the outlet.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
This woman hides a $12,000 Rolex watch in an unexpected place. <a href="https://t.co/S5QmUhvrwU">https://t.co/S5QmUhvrwU</a>
&mdash; WFSB Channel 3 (@WFSBnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WFSBnews/status/1603092276036734979?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2022</a></blockquote>
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In June, a man claimed to police to have been drugged by a woman he met at a Vegas hotel casino and had his Patek Philippe wristwatch, valued at $100,000, stolen, the outlet noted.
He said he fell asleep in his room and woke up the next day to find his expensive watch — which he remembered as being on his wrist — was gone. The woman he met was identified as Richards, the outlet noted.
On Monday, the Baltimore woman was supposed to appear for a preliminary hearing in the case. However, on Sunday, police responded to different hotel after a 911 call came in from a man that his $12,000 Rolex had reportedly been <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-biden-official-sam-brinton-out-of-a-job-after-multiple-alleged-luggage-thefts-at-airports" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stolen</a> from his room — along with other items — by a woman who was later identified as Richards.
Security located the woman, but couldn&#8217;t find any watch on her. A search of the room by police didn&#8217;t result in finding the watch either. However, a metal detector wand passed over Richards &#8220;kept alarming around her vaginal region,&#8221; police shared.
It was then that Richards finally told police that they &#8220;were going to find it anyways at jail, and she did not want to go through the hassle,&#8221; the outlet noted. She then agreed to remove the watch from inside her body.
The December 12 court hearing was canceled. Richards has since posted bond, and is scheduled to now appear in court Jan. 10. She is facing a host of charges including theft of over $100,000 in value, residential burglary, administering drugs to aid in commission of a felony, and grand larceny between $5,000 to $25,000, the outlet noted.

Rolex watches-2

Woman Accused Of Hiding Stolen Rolex Inside Her Body

Las Vegas

Las Vegas law enforcement officials released the mugshot of disgraced ex-Biden administration official Sam Brinton Wednesday afternoon after Brinton turned himself in on theft charges.
Brinton, who was recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-biden-official-sam-brinton-out-of-a-job-after-multiple-alleged-luggage-thefts-at-airports" target="_blank" rel="noopener">canned</a> from the Department of Energy, was booked late last week for grand larceny with a value between $1,200 and $5,000 for allegedly stealing luggage from Harry Reid International Airport.
Brinton was later <a href="https://twitter.com/MiaCathell/status/1603127351579222023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released</a> and told to &#8220;stay out of trouble.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
BREAKING: Las Vegas police have released a mugshot of Sam Brinton, an ex-Biden administration official charged with stealing luggage in Vegas and Minneapolis. <a href="https://t.co/BAEAtdoNQl">pic.twitter.com/BAEAtdoNQl</a>
&mdash; Alpha News (@AlphaNewsMN) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlphaNewsMN/status/1603134818492948480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Las Vegas police discovered last week that Brinton allegedly stole luggage at Harry Reid International Airport over the summer because they recognized Brinton when they saw media reports alleging that he was involved in luggage theft at another airport across the country.
Investigators said that “a white male adult wearing a white T-shirt with a large rainbow colored atomic nuclear symbol design” was seen on security camera footage taking the woman’s bag before leaving the airport.
“Brinton demonstrated several signs of abnormal behavior while taking the victim’s luggage which are cues suspects typically give off when committing luggage theft,” investigators in Las Vegas wrote in their report. “Specifically, Brinton pulled the victim’s luggage from the carousel and examined the tag.”
“Then placing it back on the carousel, looking in all directions for anyone who might be watching, or might approach,” the report continued. “Pulling it back off the carousel and demonstrating the same behavior by looking around before walking away with it quickly. Brinton only having checked one piece of luggage, which Brinton had already claimed from the carousel, had no reason to be examining and taking any other pieces of luggage.”
The charges that Brinton faces in both states are felonies. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine in Nevada, and five years in prison and a $10,000 fine in Minnesota.

The Trevor Project’s TrevorLIVE LA 2019 – Arrivals

Police Release Mugshot Photo Of Disgraced Biden Energy Official Sam Brinton

Biden Administration

Executive

Sam Brinton

A controversial figure in the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/biden-administration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Biden administration</a> is reportedly out of the job after being accused of stealing luggage in two separate incidents.
The Department of Energy is no longer employing <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/sam-brinton" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sam Brinton</a>, who claims he is non-binary, after he was accused of stealing luggage in Las Vegas and Minneapolis.
“Sam Brinton is no longer a DOE employee,” a Department of Energy said in a statement. “By law, the Department of Energy cannot comment further on personnel matters.”
An arrest warrant was issued for Brinton late last week for grand larceny with a value between $1,200 and $5,000 for allegedly stealing luggage from Harry Reid International Airport.
Investigators <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/police-disclose-how-they-caught-alleged-biden-admin-luggage-thief-sam-brinton" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that “a white male adult wearing a white T-shirt with a large rainbow colored atomic nuclear symbol design” was seen on security camera footage taking the woman’s bag before leaving the airport.
“Brinton demonstrated several signs of abnormal behavior while taking the victim’s luggage which are cues suspects typically give off when committing luggage theft,” investigators in Las Vegas wrote in their report. “Specifically, Brinton pulled the victim’s luggage from the carousel and examined the tag.”
“Then placing it back on the carousel, looking in all directions for anyone who might be watching, or might approach,” the report continued. “Pulling it back off the carousel and demonstrating the same behavior by looking around before walking away with it quickly. Brinton only having checked one piece of luggage, which Brinton had already claimed from the carousel, had no reason to be examining and taking any other pieces of luggage.”
Brinton, who has caused a stir among Americans in his role in the federal government for dressing in drag and boasting online about his puppy role-play fetish, came under fire late last month for allegedly stealing a woman’s luggage in Minneapolis.
He reportedly <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-felony-arrest-warrant-issued-for-biden-official-sam-brinton-for-another-alleged-theft-report-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">flew</a> into MSP with American Airlines just before 4:30 p.m. from Washington, D.C. According to the complaint, Brinton traveled without a checked bag, indicating he had no purpose to claim a bag after landing.
The complaint alleges Brinton left the airport in an Uber and checked into the InterContinental St. Paul Riverfront hotel with the blue bag.
Brinton returned to MSP two days later, on September 18, and flew back to Washington, D.C., with the same bag.
Records and video surveillance showed the suitcase belonged to a female passenger who flew into the MSP on a Delta flight from New Orleans. According to a report, she notified law enforcement that her bag and the contents inside — valued at around $2,325 — had gone missing in the baggage claim area on the same day Brinton allegedly took the luggage.
Nearly three weeks later, the criminal complaint alleges, video surveillance footage from Dulles International Airport in Virginia captured Brinton returning from Europe with the bag on October 9.
Authorities contacted Brinton that same day, asking if he “took anything that did not belong” to him.
“Not that I know of,” Brinton allegedly responded, but later admitted he took the bag.
“If I had taken the wrong bag, I am happy to return it, but I don’t have any clothes for another individual. That was my clothes when I opened the bag,” he told police, according to the complaint.
He allegedly called authorities two hours later and apologized for not being “completely honest,” adding he took the bag thinking it was his in a state of exhaustion. The complaint also alleges Brinton realized it wasn’t his bag after opening it up at the hotel, at which point he “got nervous” and “didn’t know what to do.”
The charges that Brinton faces in both states are felonies. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine in Nevada, and five years in prison and a $10,000 fine in Minnesota.

East Coast Premiere of CONVERSION

Biden Official Sam Brinton Out Of A Job After Multiple Alleged Luggage Thefts At Airports

Law enforcement officials in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/nevada" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nevada</a> discovered this week that Biden administration official <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/sam-brinton" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sam Brinton</a> allegedly stole luggage at Harry Reid International Airport over the summer because they recognized Brinton when they saw media reports alleging that he was involved in luggage theft at another airport across the country.
Brinton, who has a high-level position at the Department of Energy as the deputy assistant secretary for spent fuel and waste disposition, was already placed on leave after he allegedly stole a woman’s luggage at Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) International Airport late last month.
Brinton is now accused of stealing $1,700 worth of jewelry, $850 worth of clothing, and makeup worth $500 from the suitcase that he allegedly stole in Las Vegas.
Investigators said that &#8220;a white male adult wearing a white T-shirt with a large rainbow colored atomic nuclear symbol design&#8221; was seen on security camera footage taking the woman&#8217;s bag before leaving the airport.
Police claim they could not identify the person, so the case was closed, until investigators recognized Brinton due to the media coverage that he received last week for allegedly stealing luggage in Minnesota.
&#8220;Brinton demonstrated several signs of abnormal behavior while taking the victim&#8217;s luggage which are cues suspects typically give off when committing luggage theft,&#8221; investigators in Las Vegas wrote in their report. &#8220;Specifically, Brinton pulled the victim&#8217;s luggage from the carousel and examined the tag.&#8221;
&#8220;Then placing it back on the carousel, looking in all directions for anyone who might be watching, or might approach,&#8221; the report continued. &#8220;Pulling it back off the carousel and demonstrating the same behavior by looking around before walking away with it quickly. Brinton only having checked one piece of luggage, which Brinton had already claimed from the carousel, had no reason to be examining and taking any other pieces of luggage.&#8221;
The charges that Brinton faces in both states are felonies. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine in Nevada, and five years in prison and a $10,000 fine in Minnesota.
Brinton, who has caused a lot of controversy in his role in the federal government for dressing in drag and boasting online about his puppy role-play fetish, has been placed on leave, but the administration did <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/12/02/biden-admin-refuses-to-say-if-non-binary-staffer-still-getting-paid-after-theft-charge/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">not</a> state whether he was still receiving a taxpayer-funded paycheck.

Police Disclose How They Caught Alleged Biden Admin Luggage Thief Sam Brinton

An arrest warrant has been issued for controversial Biden administration official <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/sam-brinton" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sam Brinton</a> in connection with a second alleged theft at an airport in Las Vegas.
Brinton, who works for the Department of Energy, was already placed on leave after he allegedly stole a woman&#8217;s luggage at Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) International Airport late last month.
8 News Now <a href="https://www.8newsnow.com/investigators/energy-department-official-accused-of-stealing-luggage-from-las-vegas-airport/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> Thursday night that a felony arrest warrant has now been issued for Brinton for grand larceny with a value between $1,200 and $5,000 for allegedly stealing luggage from Harry Reid International Airport.
Brinton, who has caused a stir among Americans for his role in the federal government for dressing in drag and boasting online about his puppy role-play fetish, came under fire late last month for allegedly stealing a woman&#8217;s luggage in Minneapolis.
He reportedly flew into MSP with American Airlines just before 4:30 p.m. from Washington, D.C., According to the complaint, Brinton traveled without a checked bag, indicating he had no purpose to claim a bag after landing.
The complaint alleges Brinton left the airport in an Uber and checked into the InterContinental St. Paul Riverfront hotel with the blue bag.
Brinton returned to MSP two days later, on September 18, and flew back to Washington, D.C., with the same bag.
Records and video surveillance showed the suitcase belonged to a female passenger who flew into the MSP on a Delta flight from New Orleans. According to a report, she notified law enforcement that her bag and the contents inside — valued at around $2,325 — had gone missing in the baggage claim area on the same day Brinton allegedly took the luggage.
Nearly three weeks later, the criminal complaint alleges, video surveillance footage from Dulles International Airport in Virginia captured Brinton returning from Europe with the bag on October 9.
Authorities contacted Brinton that same day, asking if he “took anything that did not belong” to him.
“Not that I know of,” Brinton allegedly responded, but later admitted he took the bag.
“If I had taken the wrong bag, I am happy to return it, but I don’t have any clothes for another individual. That was my clothes when I opened the bag,” he told police, according to the complaint.
He allegedly called authorities two hours later and apologized for not being “completely honest,” adding he took the bag thinking it was his in a state of exhaustion. The complaint also alleges Brinton realized it wasn’t his bag after opening it up at the hotel, at which point he “got nervous” and “didn’t know what to do.”
This is a breaking news story; refresh the page for updates.

Felony Arrest Warrant Issued For Biden Official Sam Brinton For Another Alleged Theft, Report Says

Politics

House Republican Conference Chairwoman <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/elise-stefanik" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elise Stefanik</a> alleged Friday that Post Office workers stole as much as $20,000 in donations to her campaign.
In a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, lawyers for Stefanik claimed that postal workers ripped open and stole the contents of multiple packages containing donations for Stefanik&#8217;s re-election campaign. The mailings were allegedly stolen on four separate occasions, and three of the incidents happened in the span of a week. Not only were thousands of dollars allegedly stolen, the lawyers allege that the thefts have exposed campaign donors to identity theft and fraud.
&#8220;On four separate occasions between June 2022 and November 2022, packages sent by Elise for Congress containing campaign contributions were ripped open and the contents stolen while in the custody of USPS or its contractors,&#8221; the lawyers alleged in the <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E4oEQQGeFo9U0l4Ko3HsZBQMRhVmLPG1/view" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a>. &#8220;Three of these incidents occurred in a single week.&#8221;
The lawyers allege that the packages were damaged in transit by a USPS employee or contractor. &#8220;These repeated security failures by USPS have not only resulted in the loss of nearly $20,000 in campaign contributions, but also—and more alarmingly—have exposed hundreds of Congresswoman Stefanik’s campaign supporters to potential identity theft or financial fraud.&#8221;
Stefanik&#8217;s campaign team provided photographic evidence of the thefts to the <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/12/02/ny-gop-rep-stefanik-postal-service-stole-20k-in-donor-checks-from-mail/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Post</a>. One image showed a piece of mail torn completely in half, instead of peeled from the corner like the package instructs. A second photo shows two pieces of mail; one is torn open in the middle, and the other in the bottom left corner. Included with the two mails are a check torn in half, and two letters bearing U.S. Postal Inspection Service letterheads.
The lawyers went on to complain that the U.S. Postal Inspection Service has not returned calls from Stefanik&#8217;s team. According to the lawyers, the USPIS is investigating, but claimed it would be hard to track down the postal workers who allegedly stole the mailings unless and until one or more of Stefanik&#8217;s donors became the victims of identity theft or financial fraud. Furthermore, the team has not received a report from the USPIS Inspector General, and recently learned that it has not even been finalized or sent.
“It is unacceptable that USPS has repeatedly allowed these targeted thefts to occur and cannot identify who committed the thefts, let alone where or how the thefts occurred,&#8221; the lawyers wrote. They then demanded that DeJoy provide them with a list of concrete actions to investigate the thefts, and specific actions the USPS will take to protect against future mail theft, both for Stefanik and her campaign specifically, and for the American public at large.
&#8220;We hope that you and USPS are taking these systemic issues as seriously as they deserve to be taken. Our clients look forward to receiving the information from USPS specified above and continuing to work with both you and the relevant investigative authorities to ensure the scourge of mail theft is adequately addressed.&#8221;
Incidents of mail theft have spiked in recent months; the large blue mailboxes used at post offices have been especially targeted by identity thieves, so much so that the USPS has <a href="https://www.al.com/news/2022/10/heres-when-you-shouldnt-use-post-office-drop-boxes-according-to-usps.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">instructed</a> the public to avoid depositing mail into those boxes after working hours or on Sundays or holidays when there is no mail collection.

Elise Stefanik

USPS Workers Destroyed Elise Stefanik’s Campaign Mail, Stole $20,000 Worth Of Donations, Lawyers Allege

USPS Workers Destroyed Elise Stefanik's Campaign Mail, Stole $20,000 Worth Of Donations, Lawyers Allege

2022 Election

Fraud

United States Postal Service (USPS)

<a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/target" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Target</a> executives revealed on Wednesday that organized retail <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/crime" target="_blank" rel="noopener">theft</a> contributed to a $400 million decrease in gross margins.
The nationwide retailer revealed that profits fell 50% in the third fiscal quarter as sales diminished <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/two-critical-companies-will-lay-off-furlough-employees-during-holiday-shopping-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ahead of the holiday season</a>. Target announced earnings per share of $1.54, missing analyst expectations of $2.13, according to the company’s <a href="https://corporate.target.com/press/releases/2022/11/Target-Corporation-Reports-Third-Quarter-Earnings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">earnings report</a>, which cited persistent inflation and rising interest rates as contributing factors for the lackluster results.
Target CEO Brian Cornell remarked in an <a href="https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2022/11/16/target-tgt-q3-2022-earnings-call-transcript/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">earnings call</a> that organized criminal behavior has negatively impacted earnings and required new levels of security spending. “Along with other retailers, we&#8217;ve seen a significant increase in theft and organized retail crime across our business,” he said. “As a result, we&#8217;re making significant investments in training and technology that can deter theft and keep our guests and store team members safe.”
As many as 81.2% of retailers said that the “violence and aggression” associated with organized retail crime increased in the past year, according to a <a href="https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/nrf-reports-retail-shrink-nearly-100b-problem" target="_blank" rel="noopener">survey</a> from the National Retail Federation, while nearly 90% of respondents said that the pandemic worsened the risk for their companies through higher degrees of shoplifting, employee theft, and organized crime.
Thefts executed by packs of robbers have garnered attention during the crime wave of the past two years, with some retailers <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/supermarket-chain-hy-vee-introduces-new-security-efforts-as-smash-and-grab-robberies-continue" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spending heavily</a> on new security measures or <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/shoplifting-skyrockets-in-san-francisco-forcing-retailers-to-close-stores" target="_blank" rel="noopener">closing locations</a> in particularly dangerous cities. Target Chief Financial Officer Michael Fiddelke added that retail shrink, of which organized retail theft is a component, has contributed to reduced gross margins by more than $400 million in comparison to last year.
“This is an industrywide problem that is often driven by criminal networks, and we are collaborating with multiple stakeholders to find industrywide solutions,” he commented. “For example, because stolen goods are often sold online, Target strongly supports the passage of legislation to increase accountability and prevent criminals from selling stolen goods through online marketplaces.”
Interest groups such as the National Retail Federation and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/interest-groups-make-push-to-battle-organized-retail-crime-at-the-federal-level" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rallied</a> industry leaders to back multiple laws that would increase federal resources devoted to opposing the phenomenon. While the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act would facilitate coordination among law enforcement agencies and businesses, the INFORM Consumers Act would prevent the resale of stolen goods by requiring verification for high-volume third-party sellers on platforms such as Facebook Marketplace.
Supporters of the legislation assert that federal assets have a role in preventing organized retail theft because Congress is mandated to regulate interstate commerce. The increased criminal activity, however, corresponds with moves from some local officials to deemphasize the prosecution of minor offenses. California is among several states that have opted to loosen consequences for small-scale shoplifting, as residents <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/retail-theft-is-changing-the-customer-experience" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> a ballot measure eight years ago that prescribes misdemeanor penalties to nonviolent property crimes in which the value of stolen goods does not exceed $950.
Crime, homelessness, and other public safety issues have induced several companies to amend operations in urban areas over the past several months. Among other examples, convenience store Wawa <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wawa-closes-two-stores-in-philadelphia-due-to-crime-the-mayor-says-its-not-a-bad-omen-at-all" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shuttered</a> multiple locations in Philadelphia, while coffee chain Starbucks <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/america-has-become-unsafe-starbucks-ceo-rips-politicians-in-decaying-cities-after-closing-16-urban-stores" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> plans to close profitable restaurants in a number of major cities.

Protests Continue In Philadelphia In Response To Death Of George Floyd In Minneapolis

Target Says Organized Retail Theft Contributed To $400 Million Loss

Retail Theft Worsened Massive Losses At Target

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shoplifting

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Target

On Friday morning, Temple University students were <a href="https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/temple-students-robbery/3421883/">robbed</a> after being made to go into a basement at an off-campus residence in Philadelphia.
According to Philadelphia police, the students were robbed at around six in the morning when two men with masks and hooded sweatshirts came into the house, carrying at least one gun. Eleven young people were in the house asleep, and ranged from males and females between the ages of 20 to 22. The thieves put the students into the basement and then took their cellphones, credit cards, and a car. They also took money and destroyed a television.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Philadelphia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Philadelphia</a> 
🚨GUNPOINT HOME INVASION at 1330 N 15th Street. 
Police sources tell us that 11 TEMPLE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS were tied up at gunpoint and held hostage in the basement for over an hour. 
Taken was multiple items from the house including a Lincoln MKZ
&mdash; PhillyCrimeUpdate (@PhillyCrimeUpd) <a href="https://twitter.com/PhillyCrimeUpd/status/1591085817019392001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Overall is was just a violating experience,&#8221; one of the victims said while talking to the press.
&#8220;I don&#8217;t know how I&#8217;m going to be able to sleep here again,&#8221; another woman added.
Some of the female victims said that the armed men woke some of them up and then made them get the others out of bed. The women also said that the men <a href="https://6abc.com/temple-students-home-invasion-off-campus-robbery-north-15th-street-robbed/12442386/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">asked</a> them where drugs were, but there <a href="https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/temple-students-robbery/3421883/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">weren’t</a> any.
&#8220;We were all just woken up. There was a guy with a gun. He came into a couple of our rooms. He made one of us go and wake up the rest of the roommates with the guy with the gun,&#8221; a student <a href="https://6abc.com/temple-students-home-invasion-off-campus-robbery-north-15th-street-robbed/12442386/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
They also said the robbers forced them to take out their phones, get rid of their passwords and sign out of their iCloud accounts. After they were put in the basement, the women got on their laptop computers to tell people to call the police. 
&#8220;The most important thing is that no students were hurt or injured during this incident, which will continue to be investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department,&#8221; Temple said in a statement to <a href="https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/temple-students-robbery/3421883/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBC10</a>. &#8220;The safety of the Temple community remains the university’s top priority.”
Temple University spokeswoman Deirdre Childress Hopkins <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/11/us/philadelphia-temple-students-robbed/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> CNN that Temple University had started a service this week to assist students in “find[ing] off-campus housing that meets certain safety and security criteria.”
The women also stated they had heard about a similar situation recently happening to other students.
&#8220;I think the sad part is, we all talked in the room, we all realized once they came into the room, everyone was kind of like &#8216;oh, it&#8217;s our time now,’” one student <a href="https://6abc.com/temple-students-home-invasion-off-campus-robbery-north-15th-street-robbed/12442386/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
&#8220;You go to college, and it&#8217;s supposed to be a fun time when you can have fun with your friends and finally be away from home and have independence,&#8221; Nina, a senior, said. “Not only to have someone invade your home and your privacy, but to be woken up out of sleep … that kind of taints things.”
Police were continuing their search for the suspects who took the 2015 silver Lincoln MKZ with a Pennsylvania license plate of KMF-1560.

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Temple University Students Robbed, Held Hostage In Off-Campus Residence

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A number of interest groups launched efforts on Wednesday to encourage a crackdown on organized retail <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/crime" target="_blank" rel="noopener">crime</a> at the federal level.
Thefts executed by packs of robbers have garnered public attention during the crime wave of the past two years, with some retailers and convenience chains spending millions on new <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/supermarket-chain-hy-vee-introduces-new-security-efforts-as-smash-and-grab-robberies-continue" target="_blank" rel="noopener">security measures</a> or <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/shoplifting-skyrockets-in-san-francisco-forcing-retailers-to-close-stores" target="_blank" rel="noopener">closing locations</a> in dangerous cities. In response, trade associations are <a href="https://www.votervoice.net/NRF/campaigns/98241/respond" target="_blank" rel="noopener">activating</a> grassroots activists to lobby for legislative reform.
“Unlike an individual stealing for themselves, these are sophisticated criminal enterprises which steal thousands, even millions in merchandise which they then resell online,” U.S. Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President Tom Wickham told The Daily Wire. “These crime rings are highly organized, deliberately exploiting felony theft thresholds to operate with impunity. They are knowledgeable of the demand for the products they target and sometimes will use calculators in the stores to ensure they stay below the limits.”
Retailers reported a 26.5% increase in organized retail crime last year, according to a <a href="https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/nrf-reports-retail-shrink-nearly-100b-problem" target="_blank" rel="noopener">survey</a> from the National Retail Federation, while nearly 90% of respondents said that the phenomena of the past two years increased risk for their businesses through higher levels of violence, shoplifting, employee theft, and organized theft. In an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cracking-down-lawmakers-unveil-bills-to-combat-organized-retail-theft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> with The Daily Wire last week, National Retail Federation Vice President of Government Relations Jason Straczewski said that the introduction of face masks and accelerated growth of e-commerce since the spring of 2020 have enabled heightened degrees of retail crime.
In response, lawmakers are advancing the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act and the INFORM Consumers Act.
While the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act would establish the Organized Retail Crime Coordination Center at Homeland Security Investigations, thereby launching a joint effort among law enforcement agencies and retail industry leaders, the INFORM Consumers Act would prevent the resale of stolen goods by requiring verification for high-volume third-party sellers on platforms such as Facebook Marketplace and eBay.
“In the past, criminals fenced stolen goods at pawn shops until laws were passed to crack down on this. Today, these enterprises sell truly massive quantities of stolen goods on online marketplaces, passing off these stolen goods as legitimate merchandise to unsuspecting buyers,” Wickham said, calling the INFORM Consumers Act “a common-sense proposal which would implement know-your-seller laws much like was done for pawn shops decades ago.”
Although proponents of the legislation have argued that federal action is necessary to coordinate efforts across interstate borders, the increased thefts correspond with moves from progressive local officials to deemphasize the prosecution of minor offenses. California is among several states that have opted to loosen consequences for small-scale shoplifting, with residents <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/retail-theft-is-changing-the-customer-experience" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approving</a> a ballot measure in 2014 that prescribed misdemeanor penalties to nonviolent property crimes where the value of stolen goods does not exceed $950.
“Law enforcement agencies have been going after these groups, but all stakeholders need better tools and increased communication to do so more effectively,” Wickham added. “These groups operate across local jurisdictions and even state lines; so, coordination is key and bills in Congress are starting to reflect that.”
Crime ranks among the most pressing issues driving voters to the polls in the upcoming midterm elections. Republicans, who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-midterm-poll-spells-bad-news-for-democrats-on-the-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boast</a> a 14% lead over Democrats on public safety, which includes a 34% lead among independents, have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/absolutely-crushing-kathy-a-fiery-zeldin-comes-out-swinging-over-crime-in-debate-against-hochul" target="_blank" rel="noopener">asserted</a> that their rivals’ policies encourage lawlessness. Twelve of the major American cities which set <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/twelve-major-cities-with-new-homicide-records-in-2021-all-led-by-democrats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new homicide records</a> last year were run by Democratic officials.

Anti-theft locked beauty products with customer service button at Walgreens pharmacy, Queens, New York

Interest Groups Make Push To Battle Organized Retail Crime At The Federal Level

Organized Retail Crime Needs Federal Attention, Trade Associations Say

Wawa announced it is closing several stores overnight in suburban <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/philadelphia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Philadelphia</a> because of skyrocketing crime in the city.
The gas station and convenience store chain plans to close overnight at a total of nine stores in Northeast Philadelphia and the Bucks County suburbs, the <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania/several-bucks-county-wawa-cut-overnight-hours-after-armed-robberies-20221021.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Philadelphia Inquirer</a> reported. The stores will be closed from midnight to 5 a.m. until further notice. The decision to close the stores comes after two stores were robbed earlier this week, and as Wawa reportedly mulls pulling out of Philadelphia altogether because of the crime problem.
A company spokesperson would not list all the stores that would be affected, due to ongoing investigations by law enforcement. “What we can say is at times we may temporarily close or limit hours due to external challenges or recommendations by local authorities for the safety and security of our associates and customers,&#8221; the spokesperson told the Inquirer.
Two of the stores that will begin shutting their doors are in Northeast Philadelphia. The others are all located in the Bucks County suburbs: two of them are in Bensalem, which directly borders the city; four are located in the town of Feasterville-Trevose, and one is located in nearby Holland.
The closures come after two of the stores were <a href="https://6abc.com/wawa-robbery-bustleton-pike-feasterville-holland/12348450/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">robbed</a> earlier this week. On Monday, the Wawa on the corner of Street Road and Bustleton in Feasterville-Trevose was robbed by an armed man at around 2 a.m. Then on Tuesday morning at around 3 a.m., the Holland location was robbed. Local police believe the same suspect is responsible for both robberies.
Wawa has a presence on much of the East Coast, with locations in seven states, but it is headquartered in Pennsylvania, and is a cultural cornerstone in the Philadelphia area. But the chain is reportedly considering moving out of the area altogether as crime continues to soar in the city. Last month, a mob of more than 100 teenagers ransacked a store in Northeast Philadelphia; a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/are-yall-gonna-make-any-sandwiches-philadelphia-gentlelady-demands-service-as-wawa-is-ransacked-by-hooligans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video</a> of the incident went viral, showing the teens milling through the store and taking merchandise while a customer asks the staff, &#8220;Are y’all gonna make any sandwiches? Or are y’all just going to keep recording?”
That incident, combined with an uptick in crime across the city, forced the chain to close two of its stores in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wawa-closes-two-stores-in-philadelphia-due-to-crime-the-mayor-says-its-not-a-bad-omen-at-all" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Center City</a>, the central neighborhood and business district of Philadelphia. “Despite reducing hours and investing in additional operational measures, continued safety and security challenges and business factors have made it increasingly difficult to remain open in these two locations,” Wawa spokeswoman Lori Bruce told the Philadelphia Inquirer.
In addition to closing down stores at night and permanently shuttering others, Philadelphia City Councilmember Mike Driscoll said last week that the chain is considering <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wawa-weighs-leaving-philadelphia-after-mob-ransacked-store-in-viral-incident" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pulling out of the city</a> altogether because of crime.
“They’ve had to invest in security … security doesn’t add anything to your bottom line, it takes away from your bottom line,” Driscoll said. “But without it, then you’re in deep trouble. So they are spending money, they’re losing money. The scariest part to me is one of the senior officials said, ‘We’re seriously considering moving out of the city of Philadelphia in our strategic planning, at least not to expand.’”

A  Wawa convenience store and gas station seen on the day

Wawa Closing Nine Philadelphia-Area Stores Overnight Due To Robberies, Rising Crime

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