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ORC Resource Hub | Combating Organized Retail Crime in Washington State
Understanding ORC
Best Practices
Law Enforcement, Investigation, and Prosecution
Training and Events
Technology and Tools
ORC Laws, Regulations, and Potential Enhancements
Industry Associations
News
Contacts
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Law Enforcement, Investigation, and Prosecution
Training and Events
Technology and Tools
ORC Laws, Regulations, and Potential Enhancements
Industry Associations
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Contacts
Archived News →
Featured
University Place resale shop investigation highlights retail theft concerns
Law enforcement officials are investigating a resale shop in University Place after the seizure of a large volume of Lululemon merchandise, raising broader questions about retail theft and resale channels in Washington and beyond. 

Read More →
As Washington state ranks No. 1 in U.S. for retail theft, lawmaker pushes for reform | The Daily Chronicle
Washington is the nation’s unfortunate leader when it comes to retail theft — an issue that some state lawmakers are signaling needs urgent attention.

Read More →
$50,000 worth of Seahawks jerseys stolen from Seattle sports shop
The Seattle Police Department (SPD) says thieves stole over $50,000 worth of Seahawks jerseys from the Pro Image Sports shop next to Lumen Field on Sunday morning.

Read More →
Retail theft underscores challenges for specialty retailers
A recent break in at a specialty retail store in Everett underscores ongoing concerns about retail theft affecting businesses locally and across the country. In early January, MuGu Games reported that an overnight burglary resulted in the loss of more than $30,000 in Pokémon trading cards. According to police, the incident occurred shortly before 1 a.m. and involved forced entry through a storefront window and a display case inside the shop. 

Read More →
King County increases focus on repeat retail theft cases
King County prosecutors are filing more retail theft cases as part of a renewed effort to address repeat offenders who target the same stores across the Seattle region. Prosecutors report that 640 felony economic and property crime cases were charged in 2025, the highest total since 2019. That compares with 506 cases in 2024 and 367 in 2023. The increase is largely attributed to more cases being referred by law enforcement as officers have greater capacity to pursue nonviolent crimes. 

Read More →
47-time felon sentenced to nearly 5 years for Spokane Valley theft | Spokane News | khq.com
SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. – Shannon B. Morley, a 61-year-old with a lengthy criminal record, was sentenced to 57 months in prison on January 16, 2026, after being found guilty of organized retail theft, according to a press release.

Read More →
Man charged with organized retail theft after repeat shoplifting at Ulta stores
SEATTLE — A King County man accused of repeatedly shoplifting from Ulta Beauty stores across the region has been charged with multiple felony counts of organized retail theft following a weeks-long investigation, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

Read More →
Thief steals over $30K in Pokémon cards from Everett shop, break-ins seen across U.S.
EVERETT, Wash. — A week after someone broke into MuGu Games in Everett and stole over $30,000 worth of Pokémon cards, no arrests have been made, according to Everett police.

Read More →
Kroger Blames Retail Theft, Plans to Close 60 Stores and Cut 9,000 Jobs
Police Data Tells a Different Story
America’s largest grocery chain is shutting down stores from Georgia to Washington, and the reason it’s giving doesn’t match what local police are finding.

Read More →
WA leads the nation in retail theft. Issaquah shows how to fix it
The Issaquah Police Department posted on Facebook last month, which made me take note.

They ran a shoplifting sting at Marshalls and HomeGoods in the Highlands. Here’s the line that got me: “A common reaction we get when arresting shoplifters is their shock and surprise to learn they are really under arrest and will be booked into jail.”

Read More →
$400,000 Live Lobster Shipment Hijacked in Suspected Organized Cargo Crime Theft
The shipments were enroute to Costco's in Illinois and Minnesota, but things took an unpredictable turn when neither location's received their deliveries 

Read More →
Seattle police bust attempted shoplifters at University Village in holiday retail theft
SEATTLE — The Seattle Police Department (SPD) said they arrested three people and are searching for another suspect after a retail theft operation at the University Village shopping center during the holiday shopping rush.

Read More →
Watch out for gift card fraud this holiday season, attorneys general warn | Washington State
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, together with attorneys general from 13 other states, has launched a public service announcement (PSA) campaign paid for by the Gift Card Fraud Prevention Alliance aimed at protecting consumers from the growing threat of gift card scams.

Read More →
Spokane Valley police crack down on holiday shoplifting with special operations | News | kxly.com
 Detectives with the Spokane Valley Investigative Unit (SVIU) are conducting special retail theft operations this holiday season, targeting shoplifters and other criminals who prey on busy shopping centers during the year's busiest retail period.

Read More →
Women suspected of stealing baby formula across Kitsap, Western WA
Two women wanted by Kitsap County authorities in connection with thousands of dollars in missing baby formula are also suspected of conducting a string of retail thefts across the state.

Read More →
Trucking, retail pressure lawmakers to pass anti-theft bill - FreightWaves
Federal oversight key to stopping cargo theft originating overseas, lawmakers told

Read More →
Over A Dozen Arrested In Historically Massive Home Depot Theft Ring
Retail theft is hardly a new issue, but it can still make headlines due to the sheer scale that organized theft can reach. This is no better exemplified than the massive Home Depot theft ring that was busted in Queens, New York in mid-December. Per ABC7 Eyewitness News, the group, comprised of 13 individuals, was involved in 319 incidents at 128 Home Depot locations. The group managed to get away with a whopping $2.2 million worth of tools and construction equipment.

Read More: https://www.slashgear.com/2053116/queens-new-york-home-depot-theft-ring/

Read More →
Guitar Theft ring busted in Redmond sting operation
One suspect was charged on Wednesday after allegedly stealing multiple guitars from a Redmond Guitar Center as part of an organized retail theft operation spanning three states.

Read More →
Retailers should matter to legislators
Two issues in particular — credit card “swipe fees” and organized retail crime (ORC) — illustrate how slow congressional action and regulatory inertia are costing businesses and consumers alike.

Read More →
Kent Police arrest 12 in multi-store retail theft operation on East Hill - iLoveKent
A coordinated retail theft operation involving officers from the Kent Police Department’s Crime Reduction Unit resulted in 12 arrests at multiple stores on East Hill last week, according to information released by the department.

Read More →
Rep. Leavitt Brings Statewide Focus to Public Safety, Retail Theft, & ORC
Washington’s Growing Epidemic: The Rising Cost of Retail Crime

Read More →
Retailers face rising theft and violence, new study shows
A new national study finds retailers are continuing to face increasing levels of theft and violence.

Read More →
The Impact of Retail Theft & Violence 2025
Retail crime continues to grow in sophistication and complexity, with fallout for retailers, employees, customers and communities as a whole.

Read More →
New report reveals billions lost to rising cargo theft 
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has released a new study highlighting the growing threat of cargo theft and its significant economic impact across the United States. 

Read More →
Retail thief sentenced to 13 years for $750,000 mall crime spree
A man convicted of stealing more than $750,000 in merchandise from malls across western Washington has been sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Read More →
Woman arrested in connection with multiple thefts at Lacey Target
A 44-year-old Shelton woman was arrested after allegedly stealing merchandise from a Target store in Lacey over several months.

Read More →
Kennewick Police Seeking CA-Based Retail Theft 'Family'
Kennewick Police have issued a bulletin about a 3 member family who has committed a series of thefts from shoppers across the Tri-Cities area in late summer.

Read More →
Two women arrested for alleged theft of Ulta Beauty products at multiple stores
Two women were taken into custody for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars worth of Ulta Beauty products from multiple stores, including locations in Lacey and Olympia.

Read More →
Several suspects arrested in Kent, WA shoplifting sting
Kent Police arrested several suspects in a shoplifting operation this weekend, including a man who stuffed expensive meats down his pants and tried to walk out of a store with them.



Read More →
Shoplifting and retail theft force retailers to close more stores
Kroger, Target, Walgreens, and Whole Foods have closed stores due to crime, but local operators may be getting hit the hardest.

Read More →
Featured
University Place resale shop investigation highlights retail theft concerns
Law enforcement officials are investigating a resale shop in University Place after the seizure of a large volume of Lululemon merchandise, raising broader questions about retail theft and resale channels in Washington and beyond. 

Read More →
As Washington state ranks No. 1 in U.S. for retail theft, lawmaker pushes for reform | The Daily Chronicle
Washington is the nation’s unfortunate leader when it comes to retail theft — an issue that some state lawmakers are signaling needs urgent attention.

Read More →
$50,000 worth of Seahawks jerseys stolen from Seattle sports shop
The Seattle Police Department (SPD) says thieves stole over $50,000 worth of Seahawks jerseys from the Pro Image Sports shop next to Lumen Field on Sunday morning.

Read More →
Retail theft underscores challenges for specialty retailers
A recent break in at a specialty retail store in Everett underscores ongoing concerns about retail theft affecting businesses locally and across the country. In early January, MuGu Games reported that an overnight burglary resulted in the loss of more than $30,000 in Pokémon trading cards. According to police, the incident occurred shortly before 1 a.m. and involved forced entry through a storefront window and a display case inside the shop. 

Read More →
King County increases focus on repeat retail theft cases
King County prosecutors are filing more retail theft cases as part of a renewed effort to address repeat offenders who target the same stores across the Seattle region. Prosecutors report that 640 felony economic and property crime cases were charged in 2025, the highest total since 2019. That compares with 506 cases in 2024 and 367 in 2023. The increase is largely attributed to more cases being referred by law enforcement as officers have greater capacity to pursue nonviolent crimes. 

Read More →
47-time felon sentenced to nearly 5 years for Spokane Valley theft | Spokane News | khq.com
SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. – Shannon B. Morley, a 61-year-old with a lengthy criminal record, was sentenced to 57 months in prison on January 16, 2026, after being found guilty of organized retail theft, according to a press release.

Read More →
Man charged with organized retail theft after repeat shoplifting at Ulta stores
SEATTLE — A King County man accused of repeatedly shoplifting from Ulta Beauty stores across the region has been charged with multiple felony counts of organized retail theft following a weeks-long investigation, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

Read More →
Thief steals over $30K in Pokémon cards from Everett shop, break-ins seen across U.S.
EVERETT, Wash. — A week after someone broke into MuGu Games in Everett and stole over $30,000 worth of Pokémon cards, no arrests have been made, according to Everett police.

Read More →
Kroger Blames Retail Theft, Plans to Close 60 Stores and Cut 9,000 Jobs
Police Data Tells a Different Story
America’s largest grocery chain is shutting down stores from Georgia to Washington, and the reason it’s giving doesn’t match what local police are finding.

Read More →
WA leads the nation in retail theft. Issaquah shows how to fix it
The Issaquah Police Department posted on Facebook last month, which made me take note.

They ran a shoplifting sting at Marshalls and HomeGoods in the Highlands. Here’s the line that got me: “A common reaction we get when arresting shoplifters is their shock and surprise to learn they are really under arrest and will be booked into jail.”

Read More →
$400,000 Live Lobster Shipment Hijacked in Suspected Organized Cargo Crime Theft
The shipments were enroute to Costco's in Illinois and Minnesota, but things took an unpredictable turn when neither location's received their deliveries 

Read More →
Seattle police bust attempted shoplifters at University Village in holiday retail theft
SEATTLE — The Seattle Police Department (SPD) said they arrested three people and are searching for another suspect after a retail theft operation at the University Village shopping center during the holiday shopping rush.

Read More →
Watch out for gift card fraud this holiday season, attorneys general warn | Washington State
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, together with attorneys general from 13 other states, has launched a public service announcement (PSA) campaign paid for by the Gift Card Fraud Prevention Alliance aimed at protecting consumers from the growing threat of gift card scams.

Read More →
Spokane Valley police crack down on holiday shoplifting with special operations | News | kxly.com
 Detectives with the Spokane Valley Investigative Unit (SVIU) are conducting special retail theft operations this holiday season, targeting shoplifters and other criminals who prey on busy shopping centers during the year's busiest retail period.

Read More →
Women suspected of stealing baby formula across Kitsap, Western WA
Two women wanted by Kitsap County authorities in connection with thousands of dollars in missing baby formula are also suspected of conducting a string of retail thefts across the state.

Read More →
Trucking, retail pressure lawmakers to pass anti-theft bill - FreightWaves
Federal oversight key to stopping cargo theft originating overseas, lawmakers told

Read More →
Over A Dozen Arrested In Historically Massive Home Depot Theft Ring
Retail theft is hardly a new issue, but it can still make headlines due to the sheer scale that organized theft can reach. This is no better exemplified than the massive Home Depot theft ring that was busted in Queens, New York in mid-December. Per ABC7 Eyewitness News, the group, comprised of 13 individuals, was involved in 319 incidents at 128 Home Depot locations. The group managed to get away with a whopping $2.2 million worth of tools and construction equipment.

Read More: https://www.slashgear.com/2053116/queens-new-york-home-depot-theft-ring/

Read More →
Guitar Theft ring busted in Redmond sting operation
One suspect was charged on Wednesday after allegedly stealing multiple guitars from a Redmond Guitar Center as part of an organized retail theft operation spanning three states.

Read More →
Retailers should matter to legislators
Two issues in particular — credit card “swipe fees” and organized retail crime (ORC) — illustrate how slow congressional action and regulatory inertia are costing businesses and consumers alike.

Read More →
Kent Police arrest 12 in multi-store retail theft operation on East Hill - iLoveKent
A coordinated retail theft operation involving officers from the Kent Police Department’s Crime Reduction Unit resulted in 12 arrests at multiple stores on East Hill last week, according to information released by the department.

Read More →
Rep. Leavitt Brings Statewide Focus to Public Safety, Retail Theft, & ORC
Washington’s Growing Epidemic: The Rising Cost of Retail Crime

Read More →
Retailers face rising theft and violence, new study shows
A new national study finds retailers are continuing to face increasing levels of theft and violence.

Read More →
The Impact of Retail Theft & Violence 2025
Retail crime continues to grow in sophistication and complexity, with fallout for retailers, employees, customers and communities as a whole.

Read More →
New report reveals billions lost to rising cargo theft 
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has released a new study highlighting the growing threat of cargo theft and its significant economic impact across the United States. 

Read More →
Retail thief sentenced to 13 years for $750,000 mall crime spree
A man convicted of stealing more than $750,000 in merchandise from malls across western Washington has been sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Read More →
Woman arrested in connection with multiple thefts at Lacey Target
A 44-year-old Shelton woman was arrested after allegedly stealing merchandise from a Target store in Lacey over several months.

Read More →
Kennewick Police Seeking CA-Based Retail Theft 'Family'
Kennewick Police have issued a bulletin about a 3 member family who has committed a series of thefts from shoppers across the Tri-Cities area in late summer.

Read More →
Two women arrested for alleged theft of Ulta Beauty products at multiple stores
Two women were taken into custody for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars worth of Ulta Beauty products from multiple stores, including locations in Lacey and Olympia.

Read More →
Several suspects arrested in Kent, WA shoplifting sting
Kent Police arrested several suspects in a shoplifting operation this weekend, including a man who stuffed expensive meats down his pants and tried to walk out of a store with them.



Read More →
Shoplifting and retail theft force retailers to close more stores
Kroger, Target, Walgreens, and Whole Foods have closed stores due to crime, but local operators may be getting hit the hardest.

Read More →
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