MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Washington State Liquor Control Board may require stores to report theft

Dec 5, 2012, 5:31 AM | Updated: 9:57 am

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

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

(AP Photo/file)

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.

MyNorthwest News

Photo: On Monday, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced there will be 16 new preschool classrooms across Se...

Julia Dallas

Harrell’s office announces Seattle preschool slots for thousands of kids

Thousands more families will have the chance to start their children's Seattle preschool education earlier, thanks to a program launching.

8 hours ago

Digital...

Micki Gamez

How parents can help prevent children from falling victim to online sex crimes

Chances are, if your teen has a cell phone or tablet, they either know someone or they have been the victim of an online sex crime because kids as young as seven are online more than ever. My interest in this story began almost the same time last year when my daughter came home and […]

12 hours ago

Pierce County Jail...

Bill Kaczaraba

Pierce County Corrections chief at odds with the employee guild

The Corrections Bureau's Guild has issued Patti Jackson a vote of 'no confidence,' as reported by The Tacoma News Tribune.

13 hours ago

Image: A Seattle Police Department vehicle seen during the day...

Sam Campbell

Security guard stabbed, suspect barricades inside Beacon Hill apartment

SWAT officers surrounded a complex in Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood after police said a man stabbed a guard barricaded himself inside.

15 hours ago

seattle indecent exposure...

Frank Sumrall

Seattle man arrested for 14 counts of indecent exposure, most near schools

A 34-year-old man was arrested by Seattle police (SPD) in connection to 14 counts of indecent exposure near Lake Forest Park.

15 hours ago

Federal Way shootings...

Bill Kaczaraba

Federal Way Police say two shootings are related

Police believe two shootings in Federal Way are related.

17 hours ago

Washington State Liquor Control Board may require stores to report theft