December 2023 — Security News: Shoppers Behaving Badly Edition

There’s a lot going on in the world of physical risk and vulnerability; it’s nearly impossible to keep up with the latest news and developments. We’ll keep you informed with the best content to keep your organization safe and secure. Check out the top news and headlines from the past month.

Kroger clerk knocked out by 20-year-old woman

From Fox 2 Detroit: A 20-year-old mother assaulted a Kroger clerk in front of her own 1-year-old daughter on Tuesday. At the self check-out of a St. Clair Shores Kroger, the woman walked up to the clerk, a 49-year-old woman, and hit her in the face – knocking her flat on the ground, rendering her unconscious, and resulting in a head injury.

Our take: The holidays are a time of goodwill, but also unfortunately a time for rage and bad behavior, especially in stores. The shopper in this case had already exchanged words with the clerk, reportedly over her ability to pay for items. With stress and tension running high, it’s unsurprising to see attacks. That said, there are many people who are stressed and not hitting store clerks in the face.

Shooting in a Texas mall leaves 1 injured

From KVUE: The Austin Police Department said one person was injured after a shooting at Barton Creek Square Mall on Saturday afternoon. APD confirmed the incident, which caused panic among shoppers at the mall, was not an active shooter situation. Two people got into a fight around 4:40 p.m. and shots were fired, police told KVUE. The person who was shot, an adult, was transported to the hospital with minor, non-life-threatening injuries, Austin-Travis County EMS said.

Our take: This might not be an active shooter situation, but this incident clearly illustrates how having guns on hand can dangerously escalate a disagreement. The fight might have started between two individuals, but when shots were fired, everyone in the area was put at risk.

Joe Biden unharmed as vehicle collides with presidential motorcade

From the Guardian: A sedan hit a sport-utility vehicle in Joe Biden’s motorcade on Sunday night in Delaware, causing no injuries in what officials said appeared to be a car accident rather than an intentional act. The president’s motorcade was preparing to take Biden and the first lady, Jill Biden, to their residence in Wilmington after a campaign dinner with staffers and volunteers. Biden had stepped out onto the street when a crash could be heard down the street from Biden and his protective Secret Service detail. In a statement, the Secret Service suggested the collision was an accident.

Our take: At this time of year car accidents are at an all time high. People are out at holiday parties where alcohol is served, the roads are slippery, and it’s darker than at other times of the year. All the more reason to be careful on the roads; even if there’s no chance that you’ll hit the presidential motorcade.

Porch pirate lured in by a decoy

From Yahoo News: A North Carolina man turned the tables on a porch pirate with a decoy package filled with bricks. “I was at the hardware store, and doing a little bit of Christmas shopping, and I said, ‘Let’s get something for people on the naughty list too,’” he said. “Just took a box that a package had already come in, and I put the bricks in there with a little note saying, ‘We don’t appreciate you doing this,’ and waited and just went fishing for porch pirates, and I got one,” the man said. The Charlotte resident knows this man likely won’t stop stealing, but maybe he’ll feel foolish for falling for the decoy. “I hope they enjoy their bricks for Christmas,” the man said.

Our take: We see a lot of porch piracy at this time of year, but it’s not often that we see someone set out to catch a thief. While vigilantism and booby traps are not a good idea (and illegal) leaving a thief with a pile of bricks and a note while catching them on camera seems like a good consequence for porch piracy.?

December’s Top Security Grants

Fiscal Year 2023 Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA): The Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program makes federal funds available to states, U.S. territories, federally recognized tribal governments, and local communities to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). It does so with a recognition of the growing flood hazards associated with climate change1, and of the need for flood hazard risk mitigation activities that promote climate adaptation and resilience with respect to flooding. These include both acute extreme weather events and chronic stressors which have been observed and are expected to increase in the future. Grant closes: Feb. 29, 2024

Fiscal Year 2023 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC): The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program makes federal funds available to states, U.S territories, federally recognized tribal governments, and local communities for hazard mitigation activities. It does so with a recognition of the growing hazards associated with climate change1, and of the need for natural hazard risk mitigation activities that promote climate adaptation and resilience with respect to those hazards. These include both acute extreme weather events and chronic stressors which have been observed and are expected to increase in the future. Grant closes: Feb. 29, 2024

Want more important security information and news delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe to our blog.