Content about Ethics

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), in a recent study on the effectiveness of real estate appraisals, found that the Appraisal Subcommittee, which oversees the regulatory programs established by the states, has not adequately performed its duties because of underfunding and other problems.

A convicted felon who participated in a theft ring that targeted Lowe’s pleaded guilty in an Indiana court on Dec. 6 to a single charge of corrupt business influence, according to an article in The Journal Gazette. 

An Albuquerque man arrested for allegedly stealing from Home Depot and Lowe’s on multiple occasions was using homeless people to return the merchandise for refunds, according to a news report on KRQE.

Rodney Segura was apprehended inside a Lowe’s store on Sept. 28 by detectives who had been following the suspect, according to the report. Lowe’s loss prevention officers said they also had Segura under surveillance.

Shoplifters and dishonest employees stole more than $7 billion last year from just 23 major retailers, according to the 23rd Annual Retail Theft Survey conducted by Jack L. Hayes International. These 23 surveyed retailers apprehended more than 1 million shoplifters and dishonest employees in 2010 and recovered more than $148 million from these thieves. 

Shoplifting, employee theft and organized crime have combined to boost retail shrinkage to 1.58%, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). These preliminary results, compiled from a survey conducted by Dr. Richard Hollinger of the University of Florida, compare with a 1.44% shrinkage rate in 2009.

According to the survey, total retail losses cost retailers $37.1 billion last year, up from $33.5 billion in 2009. NRF’s recently released Organized Retail Crime survey found that 95% of retailers have been victims of organized retail crime over the last 12 months.

Suspects are being sought by federal authorities for allegedly stealing $130,000 worth of merchandise from Lowe’s by smuggling it out in toilet and sink boxes, according to an article in the Seattle Post Intelligencer. 

Five individuals dressed in black and carrying flashlights and burglary tools were arrested April 19 outside the North Carolina Lowe’s store damaged by a tornado, according to an article in the Sanford Herald. 

A man who worked at a Raleigh, N.C., lumberyard was arrested and jailed on March 9 for allegedly using a credit card belonging to his employer, according to an article in the News and Observer. 

Kendryl Direlle Garner, 42, was accused of making $797.40 in unauthorized purchases in April using the credit card of his employer, American Woodyards, a supplier of custom, cut and specialty lumber. 

A man suspected of using stolen credit cards and personal checks to make purchases from a Northern California Home Depot was arrested after sales associates noticed a variety of credit card orders were being shipped to the same residence, according to an article in the San Francisco Chronicle.