Public Safety and Security are authorized to utilize the minimum amount of force that is both reasonable and necessary to stop a threat and/or mitigate loss of property in accordance with state and constitutional laws. Our team will list different RCWs for client's to reference and become more aware of. As our comprehension grows our capacity to secure ourselves and others will grow.
RCW 9A.56.350
Organized retail theft.
(1) A person is guilty of organized retail theft if he or she:
(a) Commits theft of property with a value of at least seven hundred fifty dollars from a mercantile establishment with an accomplice;
(b) Possesses stolen property, as defined in RCW 9A.56.140, with a value of at least seven hundred fifty dollars from a mercantile establishment with an accomplice;
(c) Commits theft of property with a cumulative value of at least seven hundred fifty dollars from one or more mercantile establishments within a period of up to one hundred eighty days; or
(d) Commits theft of property with a cumulative value of at least seven hundred fifty dollars from a mercantile establishment with no less than six accomplices and makes or sends at least one electronic communication seeking participation in the theft in the course of planning or commission of the theft. For the purposes of this subsection, "electronic communication" has the same meaning as defined in *RCW 9.61.260(5).
(2) A person is guilty of organized retail theft in the first degree if the property stolen or possessed has a value of five thousand dollars or more. Organized retail theft in the first degree is a class B felony.
(3) A person is guilty of organized retail theft in the second degree if the property stolen or possessed has a value of at least seven hundred fifty dollars, but less than five thousand dollars. Organized retail theft in the second degree is a class C felony.
(4) For purposes of this section, a series of thefts committed by the same person from one or more mercantile establishments over a period of one hundred eighty days may be aggregated in one count and the sum of the value of all the property shall be the value considered in determining the degree of the organized retail theft involved. Thefts committed by the same person in different counties that have been aggregated in one county may be prosecuted in any county in which any one of the thefts occurred. For purposes of subsection (1)(d) of this section, thefts committed by the principal and accomplices may be aggregated into one count and the value of all the property shall be the value considered in determining the degree of organized retail theft involved.
(5) The mercantile establishment or establishments whose property is alleged to have been stolen may request that the charge be aggregated with other thefts of property about which the mercantile establishment or establishments is aware. In the event a request to aggregate the prosecution is declined, the mercantile establishment or establishments shall be promptly advised by the prosecuting jurisdiction making the decision to decline aggregating the prosecution of the decision and the reasons for such decision.
If you have someone habitually stealing less than $750 from your business the cumulative total of their theft within six months escalates their crime from a misdemeanor to Organized Retail Crime, which is a felony. Organized retail crime is a very serious epidemic in WA State and the proceeds help fund violent criminal organizations. Keep a detailed incident report including cctv, photos, an itemized list, and police incident # on hand for habitual thieves and trespassers. Once a detention is made, hand over all of the pertinent information to law enforcement so they can pursue Organized Retail Crime charges.