Washington retailers are experiencing a surge of optimism in their ability to handle theft following recent changes in state and federal laws.
The Washington State Legislature has recently passed Initiative 2113, aimed at reducing restrictions on police pursuits. Set to take effect in June, this new measure is expected to bring some relief to retailers who have been witnessing a surge in theft where thieves walk out of stores with shopping carts filled with stolen merchandise and drive away.
In 2021, state lawmakers implemented new legislation that raised the bar for the amount of evidence needed in order to initiate a police pursuit. Previously, the threshold for police to pursue a suspect was lowered, allowing them to do so based on reasonable suspicion for specific crimes. However, with the recent changes in the law, a higher standard of probable cause is now required.
However, critics have pointed fingers at the law for a rise in criminal activities, specifically retail theft.
Renee Sunde, the president and CEO of the Washington Retail Association, expressed her approval of the passing of I-2113. However, she acknowledged that it will take some time to recover from the losses incurred and the significant investments made in order to ensure the safety of inventory and customers.
Retailers have become adept at refining their response to theft in order to retain their customer base.
According to the expert, retailers are incorporating various new technologies to tackle these challenges. For instance, artificial intelligence is being utilized at self-checkout counters, and stores like Walgreens and Target are securing their display cases.
According to Sunde, members have been utilizing license plate recognition technology, which has proven to be instrumental in apprehending thieves.
“It’s not an ideal situation,” she added.
Sunde pointed out that there could be other laws that are also having an impact, emphasizing once again that it will take time to see any results.
According to the speaker, there was a need to address the issue raised in the Blake decision. She emphasized the importance of implementing laws that prohibit open drug use, as this factor has had a negative impact on retail and crime rates.
In 2023, the “Blake fix” was introduced as a permanent legislative solution to tackle the issue of drug possession and use in Washington. This initiative came about in response to the state Supreme Court’s 2021 ruling in State v. Blake, where it declared the state’s felony drug possession law unconstitutional.
Sunde highlighted the national implementation of the Inform Act as yet another positive step forward.
She expressed her enthusiasm for the transparency requirement in online marketplaces, stating, “It’s great to see that these platforms are taking steps to identify and address any suspicious activity when it comes to third-party sellers.”
Sunde expresses her enthusiasm along with other retailers for the ongoing changes in Seattle involving the prosecutor and the city council.
According to her, the transformation happening within the council is truly remarkable. All five of the newly appointed council members have expressed their utmost concern for public safety. This signifies a growing recognition from communities that safe shopping areas and a sense of security are paramount.
According to the annual National Retail Federation survey of 2023, retailers reported that approximately 36% of inventory losses, known as “shrink,” were due to shoplifting and organized theft. Employee theft accounted for 29% of shrink, while 27% was attributed to tracking errors, accounting mistakes, or other errors. In total, retailers lost a staggering $112 billion to shrinkage in 2022.