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The Washington State Liquor Control Board may soon require stores to report liquor theft. (AP Photo/file)

Washington State Liquor Control Board may require stores to report theft

BY Chris Sullivan  on December 5, 2012 @ 5:31 am (Updated: 9:57 am - 12/5/12 )

A recent KIRO Radio investigation found some retailers are losing $1,000 a day to liquor theft. The stores say those numbers are overblown, but there is no way to track the actual numbers because stores don't report their losses. That could now change.

The Washington State Liquor Control Board is considering whether it should require retailers to report their liquor thefts, from one bottle going out the door, to a gang of thieves making off with a shopping cart of booze.

Brian Smith, with the liquor board, said they were asked to take this step by the Washington Association of Sheriff's and Police Chiefs, and he believes it's a good idea.

"It's a step in the right direction to be able to get some sort of handle on the actual amount of liquor that's been going out because it's not typically reported," he said.

Law enforcement wants the data so it can figure out how to combat the theft.

"We want some data so that we can then sit down and have some meaningful discussion rather than guessing at it or hearing anecdotes," said Mitch Barker, executive director of the association.

Then the police can start working with the stores on prevention.

"It's a real public safety issue because it's not just a bottle here and a bottle there," said Smith. "What we're hearing is people stealing a lot at once. It gets out on the black market and that's where kids have access to it and it's untaxed and sold that way."

"I think once we have it, it will tell us some things, either that there's no real problem or it's no greater than theft or shoplifting of beef jerky. I think it will give us the numbers. I think it will give us locations."

The liquor board will consider the idea for the first time Wednesday, and mandatory reporting could be required of all retailers by early next year.

Retailers aren't sold on the idea. They say publicizing the numbers could tell thieves which stores are more vulnerable to theft.

Chris Sullivan, KIRO Radio Reporter
Chris loves the rush of covering breaking news and works hard to try to make sense of it all while telling stories about real people in extraordinary circumstances.
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Comments (12)


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  • GoHomeTeaBaggersYou'reDrunk wrote...
    Follow the Money
    December 5, 2012 7:40 am
    "and it's untaxed and sold that way." Ah ha. That's why they care. That said, it does seem to be a significant issue for the retailers and that's pretty lame.
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  • mnpat wrote...
    No they should require a new "Step in the right direction."
    December 5, 2012 7:44 am
    Firstly there is only inuendo about quanity, secondly any respectable retailer will do what is neccessary to control external or internal losses. I don't believe givernment should be in the bussiness of telling people now how to run their business. Our State government has enough troubles of their own with vast amount of expenditures going unaccounted for.....does Seattle School board spending ring a bell.
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  • Op TK wrote...
    I agree
    December 5, 2012 3:17 pm
    It's the store's responsibility to implement theft prevention protocols, not the government. justanotheridiot, I agree with you too. Any store, big or small, can decide whether they want to sell liquor or not. I'd like to see someone write an initiative for an upcoming election to eliminate the liquor control board.
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  • justanotheridiot wrote...
    Another stupid...
    December 5, 2012 8:13 am
    story. Nobody is forcing these stores to sell booze. If they are losing more money then they bring in, then they can shut it down.
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  • messiah101 wrote...
    $1000 a day in theft? Doubt it
    December 5, 2012 8:17 am
    Perhaps this is FRAUD by the Liquor sellers after all wouldn't theft be tax deductible?.Or inside theft by management.
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  • messiah101 wrote...
    AS far as your last 2 sentences goes
    December 5, 2012 8:21 am
    "Retailers aren't sold on the idea.They say publicizing the numbers could tell thieves which stores are more vulnerable to theft" Well if your losing $1000 a day the THIEVES have a pretty good idea already
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  • ratrustle wrote...
    I'm trying to remember?
    December 5, 2012 8:35 am
    When the State ran the liquor stores, did they report thefts to anyone? It probably wasn't important when they were in charge of their own oversight...
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  • mikehemp wrote...
    another dumb idea
    December 5, 2012 9:01 am
    Just one more burden to put on businesses. why not have them report cans of tuna fish stolen too. if too many go missing imagine the threat of mercury poisoning!
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  • CH wrote...
    * Washington State Liquor Control Board may require stores to report theft
    December 5, 2012 10:02 am
    first on the list - Washington State Liquor Control Board.
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  • Country_Dog wrote...
    20.5% Tax Rate
    December 5, 2012 12:37 pm
    There. I reported the theft.
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  • ratrustle wrote...
    I knew it!
    December 5, 2012 12:59 pm
    But don't worry -- when it's repealed it won't be called a "Tax" it will be a "User Fee"...
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  • Burn_Notice wrote...
    Ha Ha!
    December 5, 2012 6:35 pm
    I agree the state doesn't report theft they call it raising revenue. Their theft is done without consequences through taxes and fees.

    There is no way stores are getting ripped off at the reported rate the Liquor Control Board believes. As they have no firm data to rely on they blow a whistle at a problem they can't quantify and expect an additional burden up retailers as if they are not massively over-regulated already.

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