Detectives arrested eight people for retail theft-related crimes and outstanding warrants and booked them into the Clark County Jail

On June 14, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) conducted the agency’s second retail theft operation at the Orchards Fred Meyer in Northeast Vancouver. Detectives arrested eight people for retail theft-related crimes and outstanding warrants and booked them into the Clark County jail.

CCSO’s Tactical Detective Unit (TDU) utilized the assistance of the Special Investigations Unit, Special Victims Unit, patrol deputies, and Fred Meyer loss prevention to run the operation.

This was CCSO’s second retail theft mission in June, with a combined 20 arrests between the two operations. Among the items stolen were alcohol, a KitchenAid mixer, a hoverboard, beauty products, an area rug, electronics, power tools, clothing, and propane tanks.

Investigators often see suspects do something known as skip-scanning. Skip-scanning is a form of shoplifting in which a shopper uses the self-checkout counter and deliberately scans only the lowest-priced items without scanning the more expensive items or pretends to scan items in hopes of bypassing store security measures. These actions are captured by store security cameras, which allow loss prevention officers to identify people who commit these crimes regularly and build theft cases against them.

In addition to skip-scanning, detectives frequently investigate cases where shoplifting suspects steal merchandise and commit fraudulent returns for store gift cards. Many of these retail theft subjects are part of organized theft rings and are associated with other criminal activities such as drug distribution, vehicle theft, and illegal firearm possession. 

CCSO is committed to disrupting retail theft and associated crimes in Clark County and is planning additional missions in the future. Those engaging in retail theft will be arrested and jailed.

Information provided by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.