57th year, No. 45
JFC to depart Bagnoli base after 59 years
Serving the Nato, Naples and Gaeta military communities in italy
Friday, November 30, 2012
A dazzling spectacle in Salerno
From Allied Joint Force Command Naples Public Affairs
llied Joint Force Command (JFC) Naples will officially say goodbye to its long-time base in Bagnoli with a somber departure ceremony at 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3. During the ceremony, JFC staff members will bid a fond farewell to the place they have called home for the past 59 years. After almost sixty years serving NATO’s Southern Command (AFSOUTH), the existing site of the JFC Naples headquarters in Bagnoli will be returned to the Banco di Napoli foundation. JFC Naples will instead operate out of a new facility in Lago Patria, a community northwest of Naples. The Bagnoli base has served both Allied Forces Southern Europe and JFC Naples well over the past six decades; however, the changing operational role and the need for a more rational layout of the headquarters led to a decision being made in 1988 to build a new headquarters facility.
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see NATO Page 5
See pages 4-5: Each year, the streets of downtown Salerno are adorned with lights during the annual “Luci d'Artista” (“Lights of the Artist”) event. Millions travel to the Southern Italian city each year to enjoy the festive light show, which runs from November through the end of January. (Photo by Melissa Kabukuru)
Navy Exchange stores take shoplifting seriously
W hat ’ s I NsIde
From the Navy Exchange Service Command
he prevention and detection of theft at Navy Exchange (NEX) locations throughout the world is serious business, NEXCOM officials said this month, and the company is urging NEX customers to report any instances of suspected theft. During 2011, NEX loss prevention and safety associates investigated and resolved 1,320 shoplifting cases worth $258,032. Of those 1,320 cases, 31 percent were involving juveniles and 19 percent involved active duty military personnel. The 2011 National Retail Security Survey, conducted by the University of Florida in conjunction with America’s top retail chains, indicates that for a second year in a row, stealing by shoppers cost American retailers a staggering $10.94 billion. But it’s not just NEXCOM that is hurt when people shoplift from its stores — so are the programs that the company supports. “Shoplifting from the NEX hurts everyone,” said Tom Ruane, NEXCOM’s Corporate Loss Prevention/Safety Manager. “People involved in shoplifting get caught, prosecuted and possibly banned from the NEX or end a military career. But the NEX and base lose out as well because 70 percent of our profits are given to Navy Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) to support quality of life programs. In 2011, that contribution totaled over $43 million. If our profits decline, so do our contributions to MWR.” The top five departments for shoplifting at the NEX in 2011 were costume jewelry, mass cosmetics, prestige cosmetics, video games and fashion accessories. While the NEX continues to be proactive in apprehending shoplifters, NEX loss prevention and safety associates work hard at preventing theft before it happens. NEX stores worldwide use electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems for electronic and high value merchandise, as well as extensive closed circuit surveillance systems (CCTV) to try and deter and catch shoplifters. The CCTV systems, coupled with digital video recorders and remote viewing technology, gives the NEX the ability to see everything within the store and identify incidents of theft. In addition to these efforts, officials are urging customers to report any shoplifting activity they may see or suspect. “Our customers and associates continue to play a vital role in preventing theft from our stores,” Ruane said. “We encourage anyone to report suspicions of theft activity to NEX management, loss prevention/safety personnel or to our associates, through the anonymous Alertline program.”
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Navy Exchange stores use closed circuit surveillance systems (CCTV) to try to deter and catch shoplifters. They also use electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems for electronic and high value merchandise. (Photo courtesy of NEXCOM)
see SHOPLIFTING Page 6
Seeing Naples from the top of Castel Sant’Elmo Pages 12-13
Sharing Thanksgiving Day with Italian friends Page 7
Weekly crime statistics Review what happened between Nov. 19 and Nov. 25. Page 6
FRIDAY High 59 / Low 50 Rain
SATURDAY High 57 / Low 48 Chance of rain
SUNDAY High 57 / Low 45 Chance of rain