HILLSBORO, Ore- The Washington County District Attorney’s Office, on behalf of the Washington County Interagency Organized Retail Theft Taskforce, has secured $1,545,487 in grant funding from the State of Oregon to support efforts to combat organized retail theft and shoplifting across the county. This represents the largest award of grant funding in Oregon for the Organized Retail Theft Grant Program and outpaced the second-largest award by more than $800,000.   

The funding will be used to enhance efforts to investigate, prosecute, and stop shoplifters and organized retail theft crews from targeting businesses in Washington County. The money awarded will allow law enforcement and prosecutors to engage in more joint retail theft missions, will help gather additional evidence of retail theft crimes, and will expand the ability to lodge arrested individuals in jail. Grant funding will also be distributed to eligible small and medium-sized retailers to help upgrade security and surveillance systems. 

“Retail theft is a crime that impacts the quality of life for Washington County businesses and residents,” said District Attorney Kevin Barton. “This grant funding sends a strong message to businesses and customers that we care about their safety, and to criminals that we will hold them accountable.”

This office also plans to use a portion of the grant funding to purchase specialty equipment for local law enforcement agencies to bolster their ability to address these crimes and to conduct theft missions across Washinton County.

“In securing this grant, the District Attorney underscores a commitment to safeguarding our community and bolstering our fight against the growing challenge of organized retail theft and shoplifting,” said Washington County Sheriff Caprice Massey. “We understand the profound impact organized retail theft has on the livability of Washington County, and this grant helps us protect local businesses and our community by demonstrating our unwavering resolve to uphold the law and bring justice to those impacted by these crimes.”

“Over the past few years, the Hillsboro community has seen an increase in organized retail theft. We have worked diligently to combat this increase and to build close working relationships with area businesses. This grant will help further our work in these areas by providing needed additional resources,” said Hillsboro Police Chief Jim Coleman.

“Our Commercial Crimes Unit has been dedicated to fighting crimes just like this for years in the Tigard area, and the extra resources provided by this funding will only bolster their ability to interrupt organized retail theft, shoplifting, robbery, and other commercial crimes in our community,” said Tigard Police Chief Jamey McDonald.

“I want to thank the Washington County District Attorney’s Office and local enforcement agencies for working hard to secure these funds,” added Sherwood Police Chief Ty Hanlon. “While this grant is not a complete solution to the theft problem in our county, it represents a significant step forward. It sends a strong message that our local law enforcement agencies are committed to investigating these crimes thoroughly, and our District Attorney’s Office will prosecute offenders to the fullest extent of the law.” 

This funding also allows this office to expand our current shoplifting deterrence campaign by providing free shoplifting and theft warning signs to area businesses. To learn more about this program and to request a sign, visit our website.