Retail's Most Wanted

Retail's Most Wanted
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Retail’s Most Wanted takes a deep dive into the world of organized retail crime, and how retailers and policymakers are fighting against today’s organized crime syndicates. Each episode takes you inside the most recent headlines related to ORC as we talk with attorneys general and retail security specialists, giving us an inside look at what they’re up against and how they are fighting back.

  1. Real Time Response Is Redefining Retail Safety

    5D AGO

    Real Time Response Is Redefining Retail Safety

    Why it matters As in-store incidents become more unpredictable, employee safety increasingly depends on how quickly help can be activated in the moment. The big picture Kenny Kelley, founder of Silent Beacon, says retail safety is shifting beyond training and procedures toward tools that enable immediate response during high-risk situations. What’s changing Retail environments are less predictable than in the pastIncidents extend beyond traditional theft scenariosLegislators are beginning to mandate employee safety tools in some statesThe gap Policies and training prepare employees, but they do not always translate into action during fast-moving incidents. The shift Wearable safety technology allows employees to instantly alert 911, share location data, and notify internal teams with a single action. Bottom line Retail safety is evolving from preparation alone to integrated, real time response capabilities. Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LVT and the Attorney General Alliance.

    9 min
  2. From Boise to the Western States: Building a Real Network to Fight ORC

    MAR 13

    From Boise to the Western States: Building a Real Network to Fight ORC

    Why it matters Organized retail crime often moves across cities and states. Boise’s approach shows how long term partnerships and real time intelligence sharing can disrupt traveling theft crews before they move on. The big picture Ed Fritz of the Boise Police Department says Idaho has been tackling organized retail theft long before the term ORC became common. That early focus helped Boise build systems that allow investigators and retailers to respond quickly when traveling crews arrive. What they’re seeing Theft tied to addiction still drives many local cases.Traveling ORC crews regularly move through Idaho via interstate routes.As Boise grew, it became a more frequent stop for organized groups.How Boise responds ORCA Idaho created a shared intelligence network between retailers and law enforcement.Real time information sharing helps investigators connect incidents faster.Collaboration with Western States ORCA allows cities to track crews moving between states.Why partnerships matter Fritz says the difference between a relationship and a partnership is commitment. Strong partnerships between retailers, investigators, and prosecutors allow faster response, stronger cases, and more successful prosecutions. Bottom line Organized retail crime operates across regions. Fighting it requires the same level of coordination. Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LVT and the Attorney General Alliance.

    16 min
  3. Crypto Is Reshaping Organized Retail Crime

    FEB 27

    Crypto Is Reshaping Organized Retail Crime

    Why it matters Organized retail crime is no longer just physical theft. The real leverage now sits in how stolen goods are converted to cash and moved globally through cryptocurrency. The big picture International disputes lawyer Mahmoud Abuwasel argues that smash and grab is only the front end. The real sophistication is financial. Crypto allows syndicates to move profits across borders, fund operations, and scale faster than traditional banking systems would allow. Where enforcement struggles The biggest gap is jurisdiction. Technology and blockchain analytics are strong, but cross border legal coordination is slow. That delay gives criminals time to move funds again. Bottom line Follow the money. Disrupt the financial layer and you weaken the enterprise. Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LVT and the Attorney General Alliance.

    23 min
  4. Arizona’s ORC Playbook

    FEB 13

    Arizona’s ORC Playbook

    Why it matters Organized retail crime in Arizona is coordinated, profit-driven, and increasingly mobile — making shared intelligence the key to stopping repeat offenders. The big picture Detective Mark Holtzen, Vice President of AZ ORCA, says the state’s strategy hinges on uniting law enforcement, retailers, and prosecutors to connect cases in real time and treat ORC as organized crime not isolated theft. Policy backdrop Arizona recently strengthened tools, including a new gift card fraud statute, and prosecutors are pursuing ORC cases as felony-level organized crime, including extradition when necessary. What’s next The biggest opportunity for 2026: expand training beyond specialists so patrol officers, retail employees, and prosecutors recognize ORC earlier and build stronger cases from day one. Bottom line ORC operates as a network. Arizona’s response is building one to match. Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LVT and the Attorney General Alliance.

    15 min
  5. Top 10 Lessons from 2025

    JAN 30

    Top 10 Lessons from 2025

    What’s happening: Leaders across retail, law enforcement, and policy shared what is actually working in the fight against organized retail crime. The takeaways: Slow down and verify: Fraud depends on urgency. Pausing disrupts the scam.Let experience drive policy: Laws work best when informed by real enforcement and retail realities.Align expectations: Public and private partners need clarity on goals and roles.Consequence matters: Task forces, funding, and legislation must reinforce accountability.Stay centered in policy: Extreme swings weaken impact. Balanced approaches earn support.Layered defense: Combine people, technology, sensors, and intelligence.People first: Education, awareness, and safety power prevention.Smarter surveillance: AI, license plate readers, GPS, and pattern detection are changing the game.Partnership is the baseline: Without collaboration, progress stalls.Be the hub: ORCAs that convene retailers and law enforcement drive results.Why it matters: Organized retail crime thrives when systems are fragmented and uncoordinated. The bottom line: Trust and coordination are the foundation of effective ORC prevention. Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LVT and the Attorney General Alliance.

    7 min
  6. Inside the Data War on Retail Crime, with Agilence CEO Russ Hawkins

    JAN 9

    Inside the Data War on Retail Crime, with Agilence CEO Russ Hawkins

    Why it matters Organized retail crime has evolved into a coordinated, data-driven business, forcing retailers to elevate loss prevention from a back-office security function to a strategic, cross-functional priority tied directly to profit protection. What’s changing Retailers are moving from reactive responses to predictive ORC models.Disparate systems are being unified across POS, video, loyalty, and location data.Early, non-confrontational customer engagement is proving to be a powerful deterrent.AI is translating complex data into clear risks and recommended actions.How it works Hawkins outlines a four-layer analytics model: Descriptive: What’s happening across stores, products, and regions.Diagnostic: Why losses are occurring, including methods and networks.Predictive: What’s likely to happen next based on patterns and risk scoring.Prescriptive: What actions store teams and leaders should take.Bottom line Loss prevention is no longer about catching shoplifters; it is about using data, analytics, and AI to protect margins, employees, and customers at scale. Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LVT and the Attorney General Alliance.

    19 min
  7. Organized Retail Crime with Scott Glenn

    12/15/2025

    Organized Retail Crime with Scott Glenn

    Why it matters: Gift card fraud is one of the easiest ways organized retail crime quietly drains money from shoppers and retailers—and it’s often connected to much larger criminal operations. The big picture: On Retail’s Most Wanted, Scott Glenn, VP of Asset Protection at The Home Depot, explains how ORC has evolved from visible theft into coordinated, cross-border crime that’s hard to detect and harder to prosecute. Key points: Gift cards are a prime target: Anonymous, fast, and easy to launder, they’re often drained before victims know a crime occurred.This isn’t petty theft: ORC is “shoplifting for greed,” used to fund broader criminal activity.Education + coordination work: Training shoppers and associates, stronger state task forces, and federal action are starting to make a difference.What’s next: Criminals will keep adapting—but growing collaboration between retailers, law enforcement, and lawmakers is finally narrowing their advantage. *Correction Notice: Scott Glenn is a lawyer. He has not served as a prosecutor. Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LVT and the Attorney General Alliance.

    18 min
  8. The New Reality of Retail Security with Marcus Skeen

    12/05/2025

    The New Reality of Retail Security with Marcus Skeen

    Organized retail crime continues to pressure retailers nationwide, and the role of private security is changing fast. In the latest episode of Retail’s Most Wanted, WGS Group CEO Marcus Skeen breaks down what’s shifting on the ground and why deterrence still matters. Why it matters Even with tougher penalties in some states, ORC remains a daily operational issue. Shrink, safety concerns, and store disruptions continue to ripple across the industry. What Skeen is seeing Threat levels may have dipped slightly, but complexity hasn’t. He notes that many security providers drifted into passive roles—observing and recording incidents rather than actively deterring them. The shift back to deterrence Skeen argues the industry needs a reset. That includes better training, clearer expectations, and tools that support professionalism, like body-worn cameras monitored in real time and supervisors who can respond quickly when situations escalate. What retailers often underestimate Visible, confident security presence influences more than theft. It affects how employees feel at work, whether shoppers choose to stay in the store, and how likely repeat offenders are to target the same location again. The bigger picture Retailers frequently hesitate to leverage stronger security measures due to liability concerns. Skeen’s view: risk grows when expectations aren’t clear, and training isn’t consistent. Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LVT and the Attorney General Alliance.

    13 min
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Retail’s Most Wanted takes a deep dive into the world of organized retail crime, and how retailers and policymakers are fighting against today’s organized crime syndicates. Each episode takes you inside the most recent headlines related to ORC as we talk with attorneys general and retail security specialists, giving us an inside look at what they’re up against and how they are fighting back.

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  • Creator
    Retail's Most Wanted
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    67
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Northbound Strategy
  • Show Website
    Retail's Most Wanted