Auburn police launch retail theft ‘blitz’ as WA leads nation in retail crime
Feb 19, 2026, 11:47 AM
The Auburn Police Department launched a retail theft emphasis operation, known as a “blitz,” to mitigate skyrocketing retail theft plaguing many retailers and businesses in the region.
According to the Auburn Police Department, 10 suspects were arrested during the “blitz” operation — conducted at the city’s Fred Meyer. Fred Meyer Loss Prevention, Auburn patrol officers, a community response team, and detectives assisted in the operation.
“While shoplifting is often viewed as a petty crime, retail theft has skyrocketed, and many retailers in the region have been forced to shut down,” the Auburn Police Department said in a statement.
Two Fred Meyer locations in Washington, in Everett and Kent, announced they would close late last year, with Kroger, Fred Meyer’s parent company, partially blaming a rise in retail theft.
According to a 2024 Forbes Advisor survey, Washington ranked No. 1 among the states most impacted by retail crime. In the study, Washington ranked third-highest in its retail theft index metric, meaning it accounts for 48% more retail theft than expected based on its share of the U.S. population.
Washington loses $3 billion a year to retail theft, with an average of $347 lost per resident. The national average is just $173.
Additionally, larceny theft incidents in Washington are the second-highest per capita in the country.
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