Arrested development: Full game plan to stop store thefts

 


It’s no secret that La Conner has a lot to offer. While the best things in life may be free, the goods and products, at local stores, galleries and eateries require payment.

Some, though, as La Conner merchant and Chamber of Commerce board member Lisa Judy pointed out in last week’s Weekly News, try cashing in with the proverbial five-finger discount.

Town officials and business leaders are hopeful that the newly expanded police services contract with the Skagit County sheriff’s office will help reduce incidents of shoplifting and theft.

“We have arranged for additional law enforcement services and more importantly raised the visibility of law enforcement officers in town,” Town Administrator Scott Thomas told the Weekly News. “We are also hiring a code enforcement officer,” added Thomas, “who will further enhance town security by again raising visibility through the officer’s presence.”

Numerous business owners have felt an uptick in theft-related issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The past few years have been a struggle for many and theft seems to be on the rise,” said La Conner Chamber of Commerce Director Heather Carter. Carter suggested increased communication as another effective means of curbing commercial theft. “Leading into tourist season, I think it’s a great idea for businesses to share on the La Conner community page or at a town council meeting if questionable activity takes place,” she said.

Mayor Ramon Hayes told the Weekly News that deterring shoplifting requires focused efforts on multiple fronts. “We’re hopeful that having a larger law enforcement presence in town will have a positive effect,” Hayes said. “But citizens and business owners can also help take of the issue by installing security systems with cameras and other technology.”

As a First Street business owner, Hayes takes a proactive approach to thwarting theft attempts inside his Trumpeter Gallery outlet. That has especially been the case since the pandemic hit in March 2020. “In my store,” he said, “everything is under lock and key. I’ve only had one time in the last two years where I’ve had something come up missing.”

The town’s situation isn’t unique, Thomas noted. Early data is sketchy, however, regarding a cause-and-effect link between the pandemic and perceived spikes in shoplifting. “But I am certain that everyone in La Conner wants to feel safe,” Thomas said, “and nobody wants to think that their town is ‘easy pickins’ for thieves.” Given what he described as the lengthy history of shoplifting in business districts near and far, Thomas said the campaign against commercial theft will likely be an evolving process. “We will continue,” he vowed, “to look for additional ways to address the problem.”

 

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