Retail Asset Protection Leaders Converge in Washington, D.C.

The Retail Asset Protection Conference, the premier event for loss prevention professionals in the retail industry, officially kicked off today in Washington, D.C. The annual conference brings together retail leaders, law enforcement, prosecutors and solutions providers to discuss the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in retail asset protection.

“Asset protection professionals are increasingly being called upon to tackle complex challenges essential to retail success,” said Khris Hamlin, RILA vice president, asset protection. “This event provides a unique opportunity for professionals to network, share best practices, and learn from some of the brightest minds in the industry. Our goal is to equip attendees with the knowledge and tools they need to protect their organizations and employees, enhance communities and drive success."

At the conference RILA will make multiple announcements in the pursuit of holistically addressing retail crime and restoring vibrancy to the communities served by leading retailers.
Study Reveals Retail Theft is Underreported:

Quantifying retail crime – and specifically external theft – is a challenge. Crime statistics generated from police incidents are often used to gain estimates of external theft activity, but they rarely tell the full and accurate story.

To gain additional insight about the extent of external theft as well as trends associated with retail theft activity, Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) worked with Prof. Julie Hibdon, Southern Illinois University Carbondale and commissioned a comprehensive survey of RILA Asset Protection Leaders Council member retailers across the United States. The survey was designed to gather information to understand the extent of underreporting of external theft incidents within retail establishments.

“Findings reveal a notable disparity between external thefts documented internally and those reported to law enforcement, underscoring the prevalence of underreporting within the retail sector,” said Hibdon.

The results show that only a small percentage of retail theft events are reported to law enforcement and that the rate being reported to law enforcement in 2023 (10.9%) has essentially declined to about half of what was reported in 2019 (20%). The full report can be found here: RILA.org/underreporting-study

Vibrant Communities Initiative:
In 2023, RILA and the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA) partnered to launch the Vibrant Communities Initiative (VCI), an effort aimed at bringing together retailers, district attorneys, law enforcement leaders and social service organizations to identify effective approaches for combatting organized retail crime, habitual theft and violence in and around retail stores. King County, WA and Yolo County, CA served as the initial pilot counties for this critical work. Late last year, similar pilots were launched and are ongoing in Manhattan, NY and Kansas City metro.  

“Today, the RILA Communities Foundation is excited to announce that the Washington Retail Association and Washington Attorney’s General Office have formed a public-private partnership to lead and expand VCI beyond King County,” said Lisa LaBruno, Executive Director RILA Communities Foundation (RCF).  “What we’ve learned from our early experience is that collaboration and intel sharing driven by local leaders has the greatest impact. Given WRA’s leadership role throughout the state and the AG’s Office state-wide jurisdiction, it made sense for them to lead and build on the incredible momentum VCI has generated in King County.”

The Washington Retail Association will serve as a key liaison between retailers and law enforcement, ensuring seamless communication and engagement. “Retailers are committed to keeping their stores safe for employees and customers,” said Renée Sunde, President & CEO of the Washington Retail Association. “This partnership with the Attorney General’s Office provides a strong foundation to combat retail crime more effectively across Washington State.”

Launch of the Gift Card Fraud Prevention Alliance:
Gift card tampering and scams are emerging as new and intensifying dimensions of the broader Organized Retail Crime phenomenon across the U.S. This type of fraud is frequently carried out by multinational criminal rings and is connected to broader illegal activities.

To counter this threat, RCF launched the Gift Card Fraud Prevention Alliance. This effort brings together retail industry leaders, gift card networks, federal, state and local law enforcement authorities, and other stakeholders to share leading practices to mitigate fraud, identify criminal actors perpetrating these scams and advocate for legislation that assigns clear criminal penalties for gift card fraud.   
“Providing law enforcement the tools they need to arrest and prosecute perpetrators is essential to dismantling these criminal enterprises and ensuring the protection of gift card customers,” said LaBruno. “The RILA Communities Foundation is honored to be leading this effort and determined to work with stakeholders across the industry to raise awareness so that gift cards remain a safe and enjoyable product for retail consumers.”

Learn more at ProtectMyGiftCard.com
“RILA has embarked on a number of coordinated efforts to help mitigate the ongoing impact of retail crime,” said LaBruno. “At our annual conference and ongoing activities throughout the entire year, we are convening retailers, prosecutors and law enforcement to collaborate on solutions for combatting retail crime and restoring vibrancy to communities across the country. There is no simple solution to these complex societal challenges, but I am confident that we are bringing the right parties together to make communities across the country safer.”

###

RILA is the US trade association for leading retailers. We convene decision-makers, advocate for the industry, and promote operational excellence and innovation. Our aim is to elevate a dynamic industry by transforming the environment in which retailers operate.

RILA members include more than 200 retailers, product manufacturers, and service suppliers, which together account for more than $2.7 trillion in annual sales, millions of American jobs, and hundreds of thousands of stores, manufacturing facilities, and distribution centers domestically and abroad.

Tags

• Asset Protection