Target to partner with Homeland Security to battle organized retail theft — company expects to lose over $1 billion due to crime



Target announced a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security as a result of a losing battle with organized retail crime that has caused the corporation to expect over $1 billion in losses in the last fiscal year.

The company notified customers of the new DHS partnership after announcing that nine stores would be closed because of substantial losses due to theft, as well as safety concerns, TimCast reported.

The company announced the closure of nine stores across four states: one in New York City's East Harlem neighborhood; three in the San Francisco Bay Area; three in Portland, Oregon; and two in Seattle, Washington.

"We cannot continue operating these stores because theft and organized retail crime are threatening the safety of our team and guests and contributing to unsustainable business performance," the company said in a statement. "We know that our stores serve an important role in their communities, but we can only be successful if the working and shopping environment is safe for all."

Since this video is blowing up I'd just like to say that the #phillyPd did an amazing job last night and definitely saved this #Target from #Utterdestruction. Here's some #BONUSFootage from the #Looting last night in #Philadelphia #philly showing the #PhillyPd Saving #Target pic.twitter.com/mSXERpyjqe
— ✬ꀭꍏꌩꀘꀤ꒒꒒ꊼꋪꉣ✬ (@JaykillXRP) September 27, 2023


Target said that it will make “significant investments in cyber defense” while partnering with the Homeland Security Investigations team, a department that often deals with federal crimes, specifically organized crime like fraud or trafficking.

“Organized retail crime is leading to more brazen, more violent attacks in retail stores throughout the country, and many of the criminal rings orchestrating these thefts are also involved in other serious criminal activity,” said HSI acting executive associate director Steve Francis. “Tackling this growing threat is important to the safety of store employees, customers, and communities across the country.”

ABC News estimated that Target will lose approximately $1.2 billion in the current fiscal year from retail theft. The National Retail Federation, the largest trade group for the retail industry, said internal and external theft and fraud cost retailers $112.1 billion in losses in 2022. Up from $93.9 billion in 2021.

Much of the retail merchandise that gets stolen ends up being sold on various online outlets for profits, which will be a sector targeted by the DHS.

Target will also reportedly host different store walks with federal, state, and local law enforcement to develop an array of strategies to prevent retail crime.

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Viral video: Philadelphia Wawa store ransacked by unruly mob



A viral video shows a Wawa convenience store in Philadelphia ransacked by an unruly mob. After marauding the Wawa store, the riffraff marched into the parking lot, where some engaged in fisticuffs.

An out-of-control crowd of youths suddenly poured into the Wawa location on Roosevelt Boulevard at Tyson Avenue in Philadelphia's northeast neighborhood of Mayfair. Video shows the throng of lawbreakers stealing items and annihilating the shelves in the store on Saturday night.

Right in the middle of the mayhem, a customer asks a Wawa worker, "Are y'all making the sandwiches, or y'all gonna keep recording?"

The Wawa employee mentions "walking out" of his job because of the chaos caused by the flash mob. A Wawa responds to the customer, "It's gonna be a little while."

The original video was reportedly posted to Facebook by an alleged Wawa employee who recorded the chaos while she was working the deli counter.

The original video, along with footage of the fights and the ruinous aftermath, were posted on Twitter by the Libs of TikTok account. In less than 12 hours, the viral video has been viewed nearly 800,000 times.

\u201cA large group of criminals ransacked a WaWa store tonight in Philadelphia\u201d
— Libs of TikTok (@Libs of TikTok) 1664076993

The Philadelphia Police Department have yet to comment on the Wawa being ransacked.

Earlier this month, Wawa locations across Philadelphia were forced to shut down early because young people were ransacking the convenience stores.

KYW-TV reporter Joe Holden wrote on Twitter, "They hit a number of Wawa locations — and police tell me most of their Center City locations have since shut down. I checked on two stores — they were closed. Police say an unknown number of juveniles were taken into custody."

\u201c\u201cClosed early due to police activity\u201d\nPhiladelphia Police tell me dozens of juveniles were ransacking convenience stores across Center City (nothing to do with Made in Amercia, according to police sources). @JoeHoldenCBS3 (1 / )\u201d
— Joe Holden (@Joe Holden) 1662255446

Last month, there was a "street takeover" of a 7-Eleven in Los Angeles that left the convenience store in total disarray.

Video posted in August shows a thief brazenly stealing products from a Walgreens store in San Francisco.

As of February, Walgreens shuttered 11 locations in San Francisco. The national pharmacy and retail store chain cited crime and theft as the primary reason for store closings.

'I just heard screams': Mass shooting in Philadelphia leaves 3 dead and 11 wounded; fast-acting cop engages shooter to prevent more deaths



There was a mass shooting in Philadelphia on Saturday night that left three people dead and 11 wounded. More people could have been shot if not for a fast-acting cop that engaged one of the multiple shooters.

Huge crowds gathered at Philly's popular South Street area filled with restaurants, bars, and shops. However, the party-like atmosphere instantly turned into chaos as gunshots rang out in the entertainment area shortly before midnight.

"There were hundreds of individuals just enjoying South Street, as they do every single weekend, when the shooting broke out," Philadelphia Police Inspector D.F. Pace told reporters.

Surveillance camera video shows the moment that gunfire erupts and causes the crowd to run for their lives.

\u201cSurveillance video from a local business shows pandemonium after shots ring out near South & 3rd streets in Philadelphia last night just before midnight.\u201d
— Marcus Espinoza (@Marcus Espinoza) 1654432725

WTXF-TV reporter Marcus Espinoza shared a screenshot of surveillance footage that reportedly shows a possible gunfight between two shooters.

\u201cIn this screenshot from another angle of the surveillance footage Fox 29 obtained, you can see where the red circle is someone returning fire after shots initially fired into the crowd from opposite direction. At least two shots returned.\u201d
— Marcus Espinoza (@Marcus Espinoza) 1654436561

"I want to emphasize that South Street is manned by numerous police officers," Pace added. "This is standard deployment for Friday and Saturday night - weekends - and especially during the summer months."

According to Pace, one of those police officers was "within 10 to 15 yards of the shooter" and witnessed the gunman shoot into the crowd. The cop fired at the shooter three times, which caused the gunman to drop their firearm and flee the crime scene.

\u201c#BreakingNews UPDATE from @NBCPhiladelphia on #Philly Shooting on South Street @PhillyPolice say officers on patrol saw several \u201cactive shooters\u201d firing into crowd, 14 people were shot, 3 of them are dead\u2026No word on motive\u2026 An officer fired at one of shooters - take a listen:\u201d
— Rosemary Connors (@Rosemary Connors) 1654414112

Law enforcement officials say that there were "several active shooters."

A 22-year-old man, 34-year-old man, and 26-year-old woman were shot multiple times and died at the hospital, according to WPVI-TV.

Jefferson Hospital's trauma center reportedly became so overwhelmed with gunshot victims that it had to turn away people.

\u201cSOUTH STREET MASS SHOOTING\n- 3 people are dead, 2 men and a woman\n- At least 11 more were shot\n- 7 victims were taken to Jefferson Hospital \n- Police shot at one of the gunmen, that person ran away. It\u2019s unknown if they were shot \n@6abc\u201d
— Beccah Hendrickson (@Beccah Hendrickson) 1654428142

Witness Joe Smith told the Philadelphia Inquirer, "Once it started I didn’t think it was going to stop. There was guttural screaming. I just heard screams."

Witness Eric Walsh said, "It was chaos. People were coming off the street with blood splatters on white sneakers and skinned knees and skinned elbows. We literally just were balling up napkins and wetting them and handing them to people."

Police recovered two guns at the crime scene – one of which had an extended magazine.

Around 11 p.m., there was a shooting a few blocks away – where police found 13 bullet casings, according to WCAU. Police are attempting to determine if the two shootings are connected.

There were no arrests by Sunday morning, and police are still searching for the gunmen.

As of Saturday, there were 211 homicides in Philadelphia this year, according to the Philadelphia Police Department. The number of homicides is down 6% percent from last year, which was the deadliest in the history of the city.

\u201cSaturday night in Philadelphia. A mass shooting on 4th & South Street with reports of nearly a dozen people shot. I\u2019m on scene where police have cordoned off the popular weekend strip, a trail of what appears to be blood snaking along the sidewalk in front of a Rita\u2019s Water Ice.\u201d
— Max M. Marin (@Max M. Marin) 1654406843

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Philadelphia Riots Are Not Justifiable and the Facts Show It | Ep 320

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Police find van loaded with explosives in Philadelphia; looting and rioting continues in city despite curfew



Philadelphia police have launched an investigation after discovering a van that was reportedly loaded with explosives and suspicious items around 10 p.m. Wednesday night. The bomb squad and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives were called in to assist with the investigation.

Inside the abandoned van were explosives, such as propane tanks, dynamite sticks, and torches, according to WPVI-TV. The van was reportedly found at Logan Circle, a large traffic circle with a park and gardens in Philly's Center City neighborhood in the city's museum district.

No one was in the van when police approached the vehicle, but an eyewitness told WCAU-TV that they saw a man running away from the van.

The identity of the owner of the van has not been revealed, and no arrests have been made.

Action News has learned that police recovered propane tanks, torches and possible dynamite sticks from the van. https://t.co/6anAYAP9DX
— Action News on 6abc (@Action News on 6abc)1603972024.0


#BREAKING : Phila Police discover van loaded with explosives, suspicious equipment at Logan Circle in Center City.… https://t.co/bGL1gtLlBq
— Dann Cuellar (@Dann Cuellar)1603939914.0

Philadelphia police have reported that explosives have been used to try to breach ATMs during the riots. WTXF-TV reported that authorities responded to four reports of explosives being detonated near automated teller machines in North Philadelphia between 9:30 p.m. Tuesday and 5 a.m. Wednesday. Police say the cashboxes were still intact after the explosions and the suspects could not steal the money, but significant damage was done to the machines.

This week's protests that have escalated into looting and fiery riots were sparked by Monday's police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr., who reportedly wielded a knife and charged at officers. Police fired 14 shots, killing Wallace.

During the first night of riots, dozens of businesses were looted, and at least 30 Philadelphia police officers were injured, 12 were hospitalized. Looting continued a second night in Philadelphia, including at a Five Below store, where BlazeTV reporter Elijah Schaffer was assaulted by looters.

Philadelphia instituted a citywide curfew from 9 p.m. Wednesday until 6 a.m. Thursday. Despite the curfew, there was still looting in the city on Wednesday night.

More than half of the stores in a northeast Philadelphia strip mall were vandalized Wednesday night, according to KYW-TV.

"One of the stores' managers told the station a group of about 12 to 15 people drove up to the shopping center at about midnight and went business by business, smashing doors and windows," KYW-TV news reporter Jan Carabeo noted.

In a different part of the city, a Lord & Taylor and other businesses were damaged by rioters.

No arrests were reported.

Businesses in Northeast Philly were damaged by vandals overnight on the third night of unrest following the death o… https://t.co/pOhNOVYPMo
— Jan Carabeo (@Jan Carabeo)1603967071.0

"City officials said at least 200 businesses, many of them already struggling in the midst of the pandemic, were the targets of massive looting across the city," WCAU-TV reported. "To assist police, an undetermined number of Pennsylvania National Guard troops will soon be arriving in the city."

"I have requested the assistance of the Pennsylvania National Guard," Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said. "Their role, first and foremost, will be to safeguard property and prevent looting. They will also provide assistance for our police department and other operational departments as needed."

The Pennsylvania National Guard troops will begin arriving in Philadelphia on Friday, Kenney said during a virtual news conference on Wednesday.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw delivered an update regarding the investigation into the police shooting death of Wallace.

"As I said yesterday, this investigation has many moving parts and we are working hard to ensure that a fair and thorough investigation takes place," Outlaw said. "We plan on releasing premise history audio of 911 calls and bodycam footage of the discharging officers in the near future.

"We will be meeting with members of Mr. Wallace's family, to ensure they get an opportunity to view the materials first," Outlaw continued.

Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 President John McNesby commented on the investigation.

"We're calling on the city leadership to release the facts of this case, it's not hard, it's cut and dry. Release what you have," McNesby said.