Tukwila Police are asking for the public’s help identifying a man suspected of organized retail crime (ORC) after officers say he entered a department store, grabbed several coats and walked out with them.
Retail Emphasis Detective Mosley is leading the effort to identify the person pictured in the department store theft, police said. Anyone who recognizes him is asked to email tips@tukwilawa.gov or call the Tukwila Police Department’s nonemergency line at 206-241-2121.
Police said organized retail crime remains a significant problem in the region and is often tied to other offenses, including stolen vehicles, strong arm robberies, narcotics and firearms crimes. The department said people involved in this type of theft often resell stolen merchandise online, at swap meets and elsewhere in the region.
In a statement, police said those involved in organized retail crime are often aggressive or violent toward store employees, may flee in stolen vehicles and may resist arrest or assault officers.
“We will continue to seek to identify those responsible for ORC in our city and work with our regional partners to combat this growing issue,” police said. “Washington State currently ranks number one in the nation for organized retail crime which has contributed to losses of close to $3 billion per year in our state alone which translates to approximately $603 million in lost local and state tax revenue. That is lost tax revenue that impacts infrastructure and public services that communities rely on and drives up the cost of goods for retailers and the public.”
Below is video of the suspect in action:
