“CSI Meets CSI”

By Terry Olsen, CSI, AIA, LEED AP

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On Monday, November 12, 2007, two of Target’s forensic specialists joined us for lunch, discussing what technology is available and how it is being used today. It was a bit like CSI (Crime Scene Investigators) meets CSI (Construction Specifications Institute).

On Target with Target
Target is concerned about protecting its guests, vendors, supp liers, and team members both for “safeness” and for asset protection. Each store has a determined risk, which is then paired with appropriate technology. For instance, an urban store may emerge as having higher risk due to higher volume of sales. Gang activity and organized retail crimes (ORC) are often followed by cyber crimes, where the thief proceeds to place the stolen items for sale on eBay. Tracking of stolen goods and comparison to missing stock has led to the apprehension of many criminals.

To prove how serious Target takes these concerns, of the nine forensic examiners in the world, three of them work for Target. Technology used varies from store to store, but among the most basic are camera, monitor, and recording systems. Some other novel technologies are:

• Segways are used at 167 stores, which have seen a drop in the number and severity of parking lot incidents.
• Thermal imaging identifies a person’s unique thermal signature, and infrared scanners can track people as they move through the store, even compensating for someone warming up coming in from outside.
• Facial recognition cameras scanning faces as people come in and move about the store, to identify someone who may be wanted by law en forcement.
• Formerly using coaxial cable, now a better-int egrated Target Vid eo Solution (TVS) connects and cont rols all the cameras.
• Fingerprinting of items is still an effective Target capability, similar to that of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and H ennepin County labs.

Target and Blue
Target is proud of its public and private partnerships. The concept is that local community and local businesses, in conjunction with local police, create a safer environment. Law enforcement agencies have limited resources, so Target offers use of its technology to solve many cases. This Safe City initiative is in place in over twenty cities across the county, including Minneapolis. This is evident by the investment in cameras in downtown Minneapolis, which are linked to the Corporate Command Center. The results after two years have been a twenty percent decrease in robberies and auto theft, 800 arrests, and, notably, 100% prosecution success (once perpetrators realize or are told their actions have been caught on tape, they generally confess and plead guilty).

Interesting Videos
As this text is not interactive, if you missed this program, you missed some interesting video clips.  In one, a drug deal was captured, complete with the culprit tossing away the evidence, and the following arrest. The dealer chose to make the transaction on a corner that is one under video surveillance by the City of Minneapolis. Busted!

In another, a getaway car was visible only at an angle, through narrow door opening. The individual video frames were stitched together, creating a single image of the car, from which the make and model of the car were determined. It was found to be a rental car from Chicago, and the rental company’s records led to the culprit.

Target Lab
Target’s Forensic Services laboratory helps solve Target’s own internal investigations, as well as assisting law enforcement on requested cases, such as parking lot incidents, purse snatchings, and even homicides (100 cases of homicides have been investigated). Last year, 250 cases were processed with a staff of only ten. Cases can take forty to eighty hours, and are processed pro bono.

Does It Work?
Is technology a deterrent? If criminals walk in and see their own images on a monitor, they are less likely to offend as they realize they already have been identified, and there is video surveillance tape to assist in prosecution The camera systems are not cheap, but the cost is easily offset by retention of stock, staff, and guests, by adding a sense of safety and security, and by providing a deterrent for offenders and repeat offenders. Target believes it has received a good return on investment for this program.

Next Steps
Target is working with eBay to prevent the sale of stolen goods on-line, which is an active market. (Yes, if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.) Not only are shoplifting and stealing challenged, but these capabilities also deter internal theft from the over 350,000 employees.

With much thanks to Target and the speakers, we have been enlightened on both Target’s security mission and their technology to implement it. The Target mission is working well; it is not a mission impossible. This message will self-destruct in 5 seconds…