Olympia Police Department (OPD) reported on a social media post the arrest of a retail thief allegedly targeting businesses in western Washington.
OPD responded to a shoplifting incident at a west Olympia retailer last September where a retail store detained the suspect, who OPD arrested for stealing eye care products valued at over $2,000.
It was later discovered that the same suspect was wanted for two additional thefts earlier in the same month.
Upon closer examination by the retailer's Organized Retail Crime Specialists and OPD officers, the suspect was linked to dozens of other thefts across multiple retailers in western Washington, resulting in a total loss of more than $40,000.
Due to this development, an additional Organized Retail Theft 1st Degree charge has been forwarded to the Thurston County Prosecutor's office.
Organized retail theft is a growing concern in the state and the country.
In Washington State alone, organized retail theft cost Washington businesses over $2.7 billion in 2022.
The National Retail Federation also highlighted a significant increase in retailers prioritizing organized retail crime as a major concern in 2023, with 78.1% expressing heightened worries compared to 70.7% in the previous year.
In an article by Forbes Advisor, Washington ranks as the state with the highest impact of retail crime, accounting for 48% more retail theft than expected based on its share of the U.S. population.
In response to the rising threat, retailers are advised to implement measures to reduce the risk of retail theft.
Some recommended strategies include installing electronic access control systems for restricted areas and updating access permissions regularly and employing a combination of visible and hidden surveillance cameras.
Training employees to identify and discreetly handle potential theft situations is also crucial, along with promoting an open, well-lit store design that enhances visibility and deters potential thieves.
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AugieH
"Training employees to identify and discreetly handle potential theft situations is also crucial, along with promoting an open, well-lit store design that enhances visibility and deters potential thieves."
This is just so much meaningless verbiage. How is an employee trained to "discreetly handle potential theft situations"? My impression is that the management of stores doesn't want employees to take any action. After all, insurance will cover losses. And thieves seem to be so brazen that they don't care if they're seen and recorded on video, especially if they're wearing ski masks and hoods. I've seen armed security at the rare store, but to what length are they allowed to stop unarmed shoplifters that are committing crimes against property only?
Friday, December 8, 2023 Report this