Entries by Andrew Ciccone

Reflections on the Brown University Shooting and the Importance of Prepared Security

Prepared Security  On December 13, 2025, a tragic shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, claimed the lives of two students and wounded nine others during a study session in the Barus & Holley Engineering Building. The violent incident unfolded during finals week and sent shockwaves through the campus community and beyond. In the […]

Tips for Loss Prevention: Shoplifting & Employee Theft

Loss prevention is most effective when it’s proactive, consistent, and team-driven. Both shoplifting and employee theft contribute significantly to retail shrink, but the right strategies can reduce risk before losses occur. Here are key loss prevention tips retailers should prioritize: 🔹 Train staff to recognize behaviors, not profiles Unusual lingering, concealment, frequent blind-spot use, or […]

Why Loss Prevention Investigations Matter in Retail

Loss prevention investigations are more than reacting to incidents—they are a critical, skill-driven part of a comprehensive retail security strategy. When losses occur, investigations help uncover why they happened, how they occurred, and what can be done to prevent them in the future. Effective investigations go beyond identifying theft. They analyze patterns, processes, and vulnerabilities […]

Small Thefts. Big Impact.

In retail, it’s easy to underestimate thefts involving items under $50. Individually, they may seem minor—but when these incidents happen daily, the losses quietly compound into thousands of dollars each year. This type of shrink is often the hardest to spot because it blends into normal operations. Over time, it erodes margins, affects inventory accuracy, […]

The Growing Role of Virtual Reality in Retail Security & Training

Virtual reality (VR) is gaining momentum in retail security—not just for immersive customer experiences, but also for employee training and loss prevention. VR allows staff and security teams to practice real-world scenarios in a controlled, risk-free environment, improving awareness, decision-making, and response times. For loss prevention, VR training can simulate: • Suspicious behavior recognition • […]

Loss Prevention: Early Red Flags Stop Theft Before It Happens

By Frank Costa, President, Nexgen Protection Services – Retail Loss Prevention In retail environments, theft often starts with small, observable behaviors. One of the most common patterns? Individuals who avoid eye contact, linger without purpose, or position themselves in blind spots where visibility is limited. These behaviors are early red flags—not proof of theft, but […]

Protecting Profits & Enhancing Customer Experience in Retail

Electronics are among the most targeted items in retail theft because of their high resale value and demand. These products can represent some of the most costly losses a store can face when stolen. By Frank Costa, President, Nexgen Protection Services- Retail Theft  That’s why effective loss prevention training is so important. At Nexgen Protection […]

Early Action Makes the Difference in Retail Loss Prevention

When store staff report suspicious behavior early, outcomes change—for the better. Frank Costa, President, Nexgen Protection Services — Los Prevention In a recent incident, store employees noticed unusual activity and immediately contacted our security team. Because of the fast response, our guard was able to intervene before the individual exited the store with unpaid merchandise. […]

Focused Insights: Narrowing the Scope in Geopolitical Intelligence

By Frank Costa, President, Nexgen Protection Services In today’s complex global landscape, organizations face a constant stream of geopolitical information — from emerging conflicts and sanctions to supply chain disruptions and regulatory changes. One of the main challenges in geopolitical intelligence and resilience is determining which factors will have the most impact on your organization. […]

AI-Powered Attacks Meet Faster Defenses: How Organizations Are Closing Critical Vulnerabilities

By Frank Costa, President, Nexgen Protection Services Attackers are leveraging AI to weaponize old vulnerabilities, turning previously known weaknesses into immediate threats. Meanwhile, security teams face expanding attack surfaces and increasingly limited resources. The stakes have never been higher. AI-Powered —  The latest Intruder 2025 Exposure Management Index provides insights from over 3,000 organizations, revealing […]