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The article presents the case of the stolen Stradivarius violins after the murder of collector Bernard von Bredow and his daughter Loreena in their home in Paraguay. It informs about the investigation into alleged involvement of von Bredow's sister Anita Bredow, friends Volker Grannas and Stephen Messing and assistant surgeon Yves Steinmetz in the murder. It reports the release of Grannas and Messing after 10 months in prison, while Steinmetz remains in prison pending a trial.

British retailers faced a record £2.2 billion in losses due to customer theft in the past year, according to a report by the British Retail Consortium. The cost of retail theft increased by 21% from the previous year, with incidents of violence and abuse also on the rise. Retailers are struggling with an increase in shoplifting, prompting them to invest more in prevention measures such as CCTV. [Extracted from the article]

China, Thailand, and other Southeast Asian nations have agreed to target cybercrime centers in the region to combat gangs stealing money and harming tourism. Law enforcement efforts have already led to the arrest of over 70,000 suspects, with a focus on the leaders of the illegal industry. A coalition will be formed to fight against communication fraud and rescue citizens affected by these scams, following a recent incident involving a Chinese actor tricked into working in a call center, impacting tourism in Thailand. [Extracted from the article]

MUFG Bank CEO Junichi Hanzawa and other senior executives at Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. will have their compensation reduced by 30% for three months following the theft of millions of dollars from customers' safety deposit boxes. The incident, involving a former employee who used the stolen money for foreign-currency investment, led to the firing of the employee and compensation payments to affected customers. The bank acknowledged failures in managing the safe boxes and oversight at its headquarters, pledging to strengthen protocols and screening processes for staff promotions to prevent future incidents. [Extracted from the article]

The author shares the secrets he learned while working at Del Webb's Kuilima Resort Hotel & Country Club, which became known as Turtle Bay Resort, in Hawaii. These include the personal issues and conflicts of the guests, the attitude of honeymooners, and the number of pool towels that are stolen each month.

Morgan Stanley has agreed to pay a $15 million fine to settle allegations that its Smith Barney unit did not prevent former employees from stealing millions of dollars from customer funds. The US Securities and Exchange Commission found that inadequate policies at the broker dealer failed to detect unauthorized transfers between May 2015 and July 2022. While the firm settled the claims without admitting or denying them, it has agreed to hire a compliance consultant to prevent fraud in the future. The SEC acknowledged the firm's self-reporting, cooperation, and remedial efforts in resolving the matter. [Extracted from the article]

Walmart is testing technology in some stores that allows customers to open security locks for products using their cellphones, aiming to prevent theft without affecting sales. The company is currently testing the technology with employees and may extend it to Walmart+ loyalty members in the future. Retailers, including Walmart, are facing challenges with theft, leading to increased security measures such as locking up products, adding cameras, and hiring security guards. Various tactics are being explored to combat theft, including lowering the threshold for employees to intervene in theft situations. [Extracted from the article]

Rivian Automotive Inc. may have to go to trial over allegations that it encouraged former Tesla employees to steal electric-vehicle trade secrets. A California judge has denied Rivian's request to dismiss the claims, stating that Tesla presented enough evidence to warrant a trial. Both companies have been facing challenges in the electric vehicle market, with Rivian struggling to increase production and deliveries. Rivian denies any wrongdoing and argues that Tesla's lawsuit is an attempt to hinder competition. The judge is set to hold a hearing before finalizing the order. [Extracted from the article]

Indian crypto exchange WazirX has halted withdrawals after discovering that one of its wallets was breached, potentially by North Korean hackers. The exchange did not provide an estimate of the amount of cryptocurrency lost, but blockchain security firm Cyvers reported that $234.9 million of assets were drained and moved to a new address. Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic also stated that the hack was likely carried out by hackers affiliated with North Korea. This incident follows a recent hack at Japanese crypto exchange DMM Bitcoin, raising concerns about the vulnerability of the sector. [Extracted from the article]

AT&T has reported a significant breach in which thieves stole six months' worth of calling and text data from nearly all of its wireless users. This breach is part of a larger campaign that has affected up to 165 customers of software seller Snowflake Inc. Snowflake has faced reputational damage as a result of the hack, and other affected customers include Ticketmaster and LendingTree. The hacking group responsible is believed to have members in North America and Turkey. While Snowflake's core function is not security-oriented software, the compromised AT&T data poses national security risks as it includes information about sensitive communications conducted by individuals such as politicians, executives, activists, and journalists. Snowflake has taken steps to enhance customer cybersecurity monitoring and plans to enable multifactor authentication for all customers. [Extracted from the article]

According to blockchain intelligence firm TRM, the amount of cryptocurrency stolen through hacks and network exploits has more than doubled to $1.38 billion in the first half of 2024. Five major attacks accounted for 70% of the stolen crypto, with a small number of attacks making up the majority of the stolen funds, similar to previous years. However, this year's total is still lower than the nearly $2 billion stolen in the first half of 2022, the record year for crypto theft. Higher cryptocurrency prices likely contributed to the increased volume of theft. The main methods used by hackers were gaining unauthorized access to private keys and seed codes. The largest attack in 2024 so far involved the theft of over $300 million worth of Bitcoin from a Japanese crypto exchange, with the cause of the attack still unknown. [Extracted from the article]

Target Corp. is implementing a new policy to combat store theft by lowering the threshold for staff to intervene in incidents. Previously, staff could only intervene if the theft was worth at least $100, but now they can intervene for theft worth at least $50. This change is part of Target's efforts to address shrink, which has been impacting its profit margins. The company expects these losses to plateau this year. Different retailers have varying thresholds for apprehending or prosecuting shoplifters, typically ranging from $25 to $100. However, physical force is not expected to be used by employees for safety reasons. The effectiveness of these thresholds is limited, as law enforcement response depends on various factors, and some states have high limits for prosecuting shoplifting. US retailers have been taking measures such as hiring security guards, increasing surveillance, and making changes to self-checkout registers to combat rising theft. Target has also closed stores and implemented security measures for frequently stolen items. [Extracted from the article]

A Russian court has sentenced US Staff Sergeant Gordon Black to three years and nine months in prison for theft and death threats against a local woman. Black had traveled to Russia without official authorization and was accused of grabbing his girlfriend by the neck during an argument and stealing money from her. He denied making a deadly threat but pleaded partially guilty to the theft charges. This adds to the number of Americans currently held in Russia, including businessman Paul Whelan and journalist Evan Gershkovich, who the US believes are wrongfully detained. [Extracted from the article]

Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD), the second-largest maker of personal computer processors, is investigating claims that company data was stolen in a hack. The chipmaker is working with law enforcement officials and a third-party hosting partner to investigate the claim and determine the significance of the data. Reports suggest that an organization called "Intelbroker" breached AMD's systems and obtained future product details, customer databases, financial records, and other sensitive information. AMD's shares fell 2.4% in response to the news. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Ecopetrol SA said it joined forces with Colombia's military and police to combat attacks against the nation's oil infrastructure.Oil theft, infrastructure attacks and robbery of electrical equipment have added to losses totaling 3.6 trillion pesos ($929 million) in the past five years, the state-owned oil company said in a statement on Thursday.Between 2019 and 2023, criminal groups have stolen more than 5.3 million oil barrels and attacked more than two hundred oil production infrastructure and pipelines, Ecopetrol said.©2024 Bloomberg L.P.By Andrea JaramilloReported by Author [Extracted from the article]

Michael Cohen, former lawyer and fixer for Donald Trump, admitted to stealing $30,000 from Trump by adding fake expenses to his hush-money reimbursement. This reimbursement was part of the larger repayment for the $130,000 Cohen paid to Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about her sexual encounter with Trump before the 2016 election. Cohen also testified that he paid $20,000 in cash to a technology company called Red Finch, which had done work to boost Trump's standing in a pre-election poll. Cohen said he felt entitled to take the money because he had used his own funds for the payments to Daniels and Red Finch, and was upset when Trump reduced his annual bonus. The trial, where Trump is accused of falsifying business records to cover up the hush payment, is nearing its end, with Cohen being the last major witness. The defense is trying to undermine Cohen's credibility by portraying him as a liar and thief. [Extracted from the article]

A former employee of the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia has pleaded guilty to stealing millions of dollars worth of Masters golf tournament merchandise over a period of 13 years. Richard Brendan Globensky, who worked as a warehouse assistant at the club, admitted to stealing items such as Green Jackets won by Masters champions Arnold Palmer, Gene Sarazen, and Ben Hogan, as well as documents and letters written and signed by Bobby Jones. He sold the stolen goods to an online broker in Florida for $5.3 million. Globensky faces up to 10 years in prison for his crimes. [Extracted from the article]

A former employee of the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, has pleaded guilty to stealing millions of dollars worth of Masters golf tournament merchandise over a period of 13 years. Richard Brendan Globensky, a warehouse assistant at the club, admitted to stealing items such as Green Jackets won by Masters champions, documents and letters signed by Bobby Jones, Masters programs, tickets, and unissued Augusta National stock. He sold the stolen goods to an online broker in Florida for $5.3 million. Globensky faces up to 10 years in prison for his crimes. [Extracted from the article]

Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Plc is offering to contribute £150 ($187) per month for up to three years towards insurance costs for new Range Rovers and Range Rover Sport models registered between May and September. This offer comes in response to a rise in thefts of luxury SUVs, which has caused insurance premiums to increase and coverage to become difficult to obtain. Range Rovers have been targeted by criminals, particularly in London, due to their high value and keyless technology. The company has launched its own insurance service and has provided 37,500 insurance quotes since October 2023. JLR is also taking measures to address the issue of car theft, including funding police security at ports and implementing security updates on vehicles. [Extracted from the article]

A coalition in California has gathered enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot in an effort to overhaul the state's criminal justice law. The proposed Homeless, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act aims to roll back parts of Proposition 47, a law passed in 2014 that reduced punishments for certain lower-level crimes. Supporters of the initiative argue that Proposition 47 has led to a rise in retail theft and drug markets, while opponents, including Governor Gavin Newsom, believe the current law is effective in reducing incarceration rates and addressing racial disparities in the justice system. [Extracted from the article]

Two former traders from Jane Street Group, Douglas Schadewald and Daniel Spottiswood, have denied allegations that they stole a proprietary trading strategy from the firm to use at Millennium Management. Jane Street filed a lawsuit against the traders and Millennium, claiming that they were involved in the development of the strategy and are now using it at Millennium. Schadewald and Spottiswood argue that they have not used any of Jane Street's trading secrets at Millennium and suggest that the strategy may not have been as secret as claimed. Millennium also disputes the existence of any trade-secret information in Jane Street's papers. Jane Street argues that action was necessary due to the harm it was suffering, including a significant drop in profits. The case is ongoing in the US District Court in Manhattan. [Extracted from the article]

A coalition in California has gathered enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot with their proposed Homeless, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act. This initiative aims to roll back parts of Proposition 47, a law passed in 2014 that reduced punishments for certain lower-level crimes. Supporters of the campaign argue that there has been a rise in retail theft and open-air drug markets, indicating that Prop 47 has not effectively addressed crime in the state. However, opponents, including Governor Gavin Newsom, believe that the current law is working and credit Prop 47 for reducing incarceration rates and addressing racial disparities in the justice system. California Attorney General Rob Bonta suggests that the increase in retail thefts is due to a lack of prosecution rather than the law itself. [Extracted from the article]

Jane Street Group has filed a lawsuit against Millennium Management and two former traders, Douglas Schadewald and Daniel Spottiswood, accusing them of stealing a proprietary trading strategy. The suit alleges that Schadewald and Spottiswood, who joined Millennium after leaving Jane Street, were intimately involved in the development of the strategy and are now using it at Millennium in violation of confidentiality agreements. Jane Street claims that the theft has caused severe and immediate harm, including a significant drop in profits. The firm is seeking damages and an order to prevent Millennium and the traders from using the strategy. [Extracted from the article]

Jane Street Group has filed a lawsuit against Millennium Management and two former traders, Douglas Schadewald and Daniel Spottiswood, accusing them of stealing a proprietary trading strategy. Jane Street claims that the traders were intimately involved in the development of the strategy and are now using it at Millennium in violation of confidentiality agreements. The firm is seeking damages and an order to prevent Millennium and the traders from using the strategy. Trade secrets theft suits have become more common on Wall Street, but this is the first time Jane Street has sued former employees. [Extracted from the article]

Donnie Callaway, a mechanic known for his work on vintage Ferraris and Alfa Romeos, has been charged with theft, fraud, forgery, and trafficking stolen property. Callaway, who had gained recognition and praise from influential figures in the automotive industry, was arrested after attempting to sell two Ferraris to a collector who suspected that Callaway did not own the vehicles. Some of Callaway's clients are now left to deal with the aftermath and are scrambling to recover their entrusted vehicles. Callaway has a history of legal troubles, including previous convictions for theft and fraud. [Extracted from the article]

A former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani has been charged with bank fraud for stealing over $16 million from the athlete to fund illegal sports bets. Ippei Mizuhara, a close friend of Ohtani, admitted to stealing the money by impersonating him and making unauthorized transfers. Ohtani is considered a victim in the case and has cooperated fully with the investigation. Mizuhara is scheduled to appear in court and could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted. Betting on sports is illegal in California, where Ohtani has played since 2018. [Extracted from the article]

A former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani has been charged with bank fraud for allegedly stealing over $16 million from Ohtani to cover gambling debts. Ippei Mizuhara, a close friend of Ohtani, admitted to the theft, according to the US Justice Department. There is no evidence that Ohtani authorized the transfers, and he is considered a victim in this case. Mizuhara is facing up to 30 years in prison if convicted. [Extracted from the article]

Donnie Callaway, a mechanic known for his work on vintage Ferraris and Alfa Romeos, has been charged with theft, fraud, forgery, and trafficking stolen property. Callaway, who had gained recognition and praise from influential figures in the automotive industry, was arrested after allegedly attempting to sell stolen Ferraris to a collector. Some of Callaway's clients are now left to deal with the aftermath and are scrambling to recover their entrusted vehicles. Callaway has a history of legal troubles, including previous convictions for theft and fraud. [Extracted from the article]

Avraham Eisenberg, a trader accused of stealing $110 million from the Mango Markets cryptocurrency exchange, claims that his actions were legal and not intended to defraud anyone. His lawyer argues that Eisenberg was participating in a high-risk sector of the crypto world with different rules from traditional finance. The defense contends that Eisenberg executed a legal trading strategy within the decentralized Mango Markets, which operates through smart contracts overseen by a decentralized autonomous organization. Prosecutors, on the other hand, argue that Eisenberg committed fraud and market manipulation by artificially inflating the value of the MNGO token and then fleeing the country. The trial will determine the legality of these "DeFi" transactions and is expected to last two weeks. [Extracted from the article]

Target Corp. is implementing a new technology called TruScan at its self-checkout registers to combat theft. The technology uses cameras to detect items on scanners and alerts shoppers if they leave anything unscanned. Target hopes that TruScan will help track shoppers who repeatedly fail to scan their items even after being prompted. This move comes as retailers, including Dollar General and Kroger, are also grappling with theft at self-checkout stations and are exploring various solutions such as removing self-checkout stations or investing in new technologies. [Extracted from the article]

The article presents theft cases in 2022. These include truckful of cooking oil taken by a construction worker and a policeman in Kingston, Jamaica, botox and other cosmetic drugs stolen in Busselton, Australia, a Santa Claus statue taken from a restaurant in Greenville, South Carolina, cases of Chicken wings stolen in Illinois, and cases of crab taken in Stanwood, Washington.

The article reports on the gasoline pipeline explosion in Tlahuelilpan, Mexico. It mentions the problem of gasoline theft from the pipelines, the number of villagers who were hurt or killed in the explosion, and how gasoline theft impacts the state-owned petroleum company Petróleos Mexicanos and the nation's economy.

The article reports on the theft of redwood from national parks in California. It mentions the theft of burls from trees, the growth of thefts of burl and obscure plants for international destinations, and the efforts of park ranger Brandon Pero to arrest one thief in Orick, California.

The US and UK have accused state-backed Chinese hackers of engaging in cyberattacks and stealing British voter data. The hackers, known as APT31, targeted politicians, government officials, companies, and dissidents. The US and UK have imposed sanctions on individuals and a Chinese firm allegedly involved in the cyberattacks. China has disputed these claims, calling them "disinformation." This incident adds to a series of cybersecurity breaches attributed to the Chinese government, which the US and its allies view as part of a broader strategic and economic competition. [Extracted from the article]

The US and UK have accused state-backed Chinese hackers of engaging in cyberattacks and stealing British voter data. The hackers, known as APT31, targeted politicians, government officials, companies, and dissidents. The US and UK have imposed sanctions on individuals and a Chinese firm allegedly involved in the cyberattacks. China has disputed these claims, calling them "disinformation." This incident adds to a series of cybersecurity breaches attributed to the Chinese government, which the US and its allies view as part of a broader strategic and economic competition. [Extracted from the article]

A Chinese company owner, Klaus Pflugbeil, has been accused of stealing Tesla's battery assembly line technology and advertising it on YouTube and LinkedIn. Pflugbeil hoped to make significant sales from this scheme. He and another defendant allegedly sold Tesla's proprietary battery production technology from their own startup in China. Pflugbeil was arrested in New York after attempting to sell the stolen technology to undercover agents. Tesla is confirmed to be the victim company. Pflugbeil, a former employee of a Canadian company that Tesla acquired, had drawings and documents that allowed him to copy the manufacturing process. His co-defendant remains at large. Pflugbeil was released on a $1 million bond and ordered to be confined to his aunt and uncle's home in Florida. [Extracted from the article]

A Chinese software engineer working for Google has been charged by the US Justice Department with stealing trade secrets related to artificial intelligence (AI) development. Linwei Ding, who was hired by Google in 2019, allegedly transferred sensitive information from Google's network to his personal email and cloud accounts while secretly working for two China-based companies in the AI industry. The case marks the first significant enforcement action by the Justice Department's disruptive technology strike force, which focuses on violations related to the use or transfer of AI technology. If convicted, Ding faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count. [Extracted from the article]

A Chinese software engineer working for Google has been charged by the US Justice Department with stealing trade secrets related to artificial intelligence (AI) development. Linwei Ding, who was hired by Google in 2019, allegedly transferred sensitive information from Google's network to his personal email and cloud accounts while secretly working with two China-based AI companies. The Justice Department does not allege that Ding provided the stolen data to these companies. This case is part of a broader effort by the US Attorney's office in San Francisco to prosecute intellectual property theft cases involving China. [Extracted from the article]

Apple Inc. has announced that it has reached a potential settlement in its 2022 lawsuit against startup Rivos Inc. The lawsuit accused Rivos of poaching engineers to steal trade secrets. The companies have filed a joint court document stating their intention to finalize the settlement by March 15. The agreement includes a forensic examination of Rivos systems to address the alleged theft of Apple's confidential information. The lawsuit began when Apple sued former employees who joined Rivos, claiming they had taken proprietary information about chip designs. Rivos responded by accusing Apple of using illegal tactics to intimidate employees. [Extracted from the article]

According to a revised lawsuit filed in San Francisco, senior executives at HSBC Holdings Plc were allegedly aware of a plan by a US unit to poach employees and steal trade secrets from Silicon Valley Bank shortly after First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. acquired the failed lender. First Citizens Bank initially sued in May, claiming that HSBC's David Sabow spearheaded the scheme and now alleges that HSBC CEO Noel Quinn and Michael Roberts, the head of the bank's Americas unit, were also aware of the plan. HSBC has stated that it was not prohibited from hiring former SVB employees. [Extracted from the article]

DraftKings Inc. has filed a lawsuit against its former vice president of VIP management, Michael Hermalyn, accusing him of stealing the company's business plans for the upcoming Super Bowl and other confidential information. DraftKings alleges that Hermalyn downloaded the Super Bowl plans while secretly meeting with competitor Fanatics Inc.'s CEO, Michael Rubin, to negotiate his move to that company. DraftKings is seeking a court order to prevent Hermalyn from working with Fanatics or disclosing any confidential information. The company is particularly concerned about the Super Bowl plans, which include a list of celebrities, influencers, and athletes attending the event, as well as DraftKings' marketing strategy. [Extracted from the article]

A 19-year-old Wisconsin man has been sentenced to 18 months in jail for his involvement in the 2022 hack of the DraftKings fantasy sports website. Joseph Garrison admitted to conspiring with other hackers to steal $600,000 from 1,600 accounts using stolen usernames and passwords. US District Judge Lewis Kaplan rejected arguments that Garrison should not be sentenced to jail, stating that the case was a "tragedy" and that Garrison had been profiting from similar attacks for years. Garrison will owe $1.3 million in restitution payments to DraftKings and will be subject to supervision for three years after his release. Two other men involved in the attack have also been arrested and charged. [Extracted from the article]

Samsara Inc., a vehicle tracking software company, has filed a lawsuit against rival Motive Technologies Inc., accusing them of stealing its technology. Samsara alleges that Motive employees created fake accounts and posed as customers to gain access to Samsara's technology. They also claim that Motive copied their products. Motive denies the allegations and states that Samsara is trying to limit competition. Samsara went public in 2021 and has seen its stock price rise, but faces increasing competition. Motive, valued at $2.85 billion, has also been sued by another competitor for patent infringement. [Extracted from the article]

According to a report from blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis Inc., the number of North Korean-linked hacks of cryptocurrency platforms reached a record high in 2023, but the amount of funds stolen decreased by about 40%. In a series of 20 hacks, cybercriminals associated with North Korea stole slightly over $1 billion worth of cryptocurrency, compared to $1.7 billion in 2022. The decline in funds stolen by North Korean hackers reflects a larger trend in the cryptocurrency security landscape, with an overall decrease in hacks of decentralized finance protocols. This decline is attributed to better security practices and a decrease in DeFi activity. As cryptocurrency platforms strengthen their networks, North Korean hackers are employing more diverse and sophisticated tactics to keep up. Investor behavior in the volatile cryptocurrency markets may also be a factor, as investors diversify their currency among multiple platforms to mitigate risk. [Extracted from the article]

Samsara Inc., a vehicle tracking software company, has filed a lawsuit against rival Motive Technologies Inc., accusing them of stealing its technology. Samsara alleges that Motive systematically stole its technologies and fraudulently accessed its platforms. The lawsuit seeks unspecified financial damages and an order for Motive to stop using Samsara's technologies. Both companies sell internet-connected products and software to manage fleets of vehicles in various industries. Samsara claims that Motive copied its products, such as AI-enabled vehicle dashcams and tracking devices, years after Samsara released its own versions. Samsara went public in December 2021 and saw its stock price double in 2023, but faces increasing competition in the industry. Motive, valued at $2.85 billion, denies the allegations and has asked for a lawsuit against it by another competitor to be dismissed. [Extracted from the article]

Former President Donald Trump's $370 million civil fraud trial in New York concluded with closing arguments from the state's lawyers, while Trump himself was absent from the courtroom. Instead, he held a press conference at his 40 Wall Street skyscraper, where he criticized New York Attorney General Letitia James. Trump has used his court appearances, including this trial, as opportunities to campaign for his potential 2024 presidential bid. The judge in the case has already found Trump liable for fraud and will deliver a verdict by January 31st. The state's case alleges that Trump inflated the value of his assets to obtain better loan terms. [Extracted from the article]

Apple Inc. is currently engaged in settlement talks with chip startup Rivos Inc. over allegations of trade secret theft and anticompetitive agreements. The dispute began in 2022 when Apple sued former employees who joined Rivos, accusing them of taking proprietary information about chip designs. Rivos fired back, claiming that Apple used illegal measures to intimidate employees. The case has been put on hold while settlement negotiations take place. Apple has been involved in other intellectual property battles, including patent fights and litigation with other startups. The specific issue with Rivos revolves around "system-on-chip" technology. [Extracted from the article]

The article reports on the investigation concerning the slant-hole oil well scandal in Texas conducted by the General Investigating Committee of the Texas House. The investigators have found out that there are about 10 million dollars worth of stolen oil that has been pumped through the slant-hole. They say that the victims of the theft, original operators and rig workers are aware of the slant-hole. The state has filed charges against the oil regulatory agency Texas Railroad Commission.

The article discusses theft of commodities. Topics include how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted this type of crime, the increase in commodity prices, such as lumber and copper, and the implications of food fraud.