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From July 2007
By Joe LaRocca
I am just returning from sunny San Diego and the
2007 NRF LP Conference & EXPO, which was a
resounding success. As we begin planning for the
next round of Investigator’s Network meetings, I
want to briefly go over some of the conference
highlights. |
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I’m pleased to report that we had
record-breaking attendance. The educational
sessions covered a range of issues, provided the
latest industry shrinkage results and introduced
new programs designed to aid retailers in
protecting their people, property and brands.
Topics included working with the media, creating
public-private partnerships, new trends in
organized retail crime/eFencing, cyber
investigations, food safety, crisis management,
cargo security and workplace violence.
Debuting at the conference this year was the
nrfFusion Center, which was created to serve as
a meet-and-greet between LP professionals and
representatives of local, state and federal law
enforcement agencies. Some of the education
sessions also featured law enforcement, further
demonstrating NRF’s dedication to the
partnership between the public and private
sectors.
NRF also honored several individuals for their
commitment and service to the retail LP
industry. The NRF Law Enforcement Retail
Partnership Award (LERPA) winners, Supervisory
Special Agents Eric B. Ives and Brian J. Nadeau
of the FBI Major Theft Unit, were honored for
their instrumental role in the deployment of the
Law Enforcement Retail Partnership Network.
Richard Cubbage, loss prevention analyst for the
Army and Air Force Exchange Service, received
the NRF Loss Prevention Case of the Year Award
for having identified a customer service
associate who was using layaway and customer
service refund data to obtain customers’ names
and social security numbers to process
fraudulent refunds.
NRF’s Awards and Re¬cognition Committee created
the Ring of Excellence as a way to recognize LP
pioneers. Inaugural inductees were John H.
Christman, Macy’s West (retired); Dr. Richard C.
Hollinger, University of Florida; David Myers,
Se-Kure Controls; King Rogers, Target (retired);
and Lew Shealy, Eckerd (retired).
Model legislation
A majority of retailers nationwide have been
victimized by organized retail crime rings. In
2006 and early 2007, federal legislation (H.R.
3402 and H.R. 32) and numerous state laws were
introduced or passed, paving the way for
additional assistance this year.
The NRF Loss Prevention Legislative Committee
has created a comprehensive model legislation
package that is gaining attention from state
retail associations and policymakers throughout
the country.
The topics covered in the model include various
aspects of ORC, like eFencing, fraudulent/bogus
receipts and UPCs, the Third Theft Felony Act
and the unlawful use of theft detection
shielding or deactivation devices.
LERPnet update
Two months ago, the industry celebrated a huge
milestone in the fight against retail crime with
the launch of LERPnet, the only national
database designed to bring local, state and
federal law enforcement agencies and retailers
together through its unique information-sharing
capability.
LERPnet now boasts a total of 45 member
companies, including five of the nation’s top 10
retailers. Some of the newest members include
Circuit City, GameStop, Kohl’s, Safeway, Saks
Fifth Avenue, Tiffany & Co., Tuesday Morning,
Vitamin Shoppe, Walgreen, Wal-Mart and
Williams-Sonoma.
LERPnet is a collaboration of retail
associations and the FBI. During our conference
in San Diego, the Food Marketing Institute
agreed to partner with NRF and the Retail
Industry Leaders Association on this
industry-changing database, which will help to
further diversify the subscription base. |
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