Bend, OR – Retail theft has been steadily increasing in Bend over the past four years, prompting local law enforcement to take action in collaboration with business owners. Deschutes County law enforcement is holding a series of listening sessions this month to give retailers the opportunity to share their experiences and work together with the police to address the issue.
Leah Cassidy, the owner of Lulu’s Boutique, expressed concern about the rising trend of theft, especially when it involves customers she has been helping for a long time. “Unfortunately, the last few people that we have caught are customers that we’ve been helping for quite a while. So we take it very personally,” she said.
Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz emphasized that the listening sessions are not just about hearing complaints but are aimed at addressing the root causes of retail theft and improving the way theft cases are handled. “Tonight we had a listening session specifically inviting retailers, loss prevention specialists, and merchandisers around the topic of retail theft,” Krantz explained. “We’ve seen an uptick in shoplifting in the last four years. We’re working with retailers to identify groups or individuals who participate in high levels of retail theft and really turn this into a business.”
The police chief noted that having open lines of communication with retailers is essential to combating the growing issue. For Cassidy, the ability to directly connect with law enforcement has made a significant difference. “I love that they’re making this effort. I’ve got everybody’s phone number because it seems to be a lot of repeat offenders, and getting ideas and sharing information and working with the police. I think the more communication, the better,” she said.
The key to effectively tackling retail theft, according to police, is ensuring that all thefts are reported. “Communication is only as good as it’s shared,” Krantz said. “We want people to report the crime. Sometimes retailers write it off or have a company policy that says they shouldn’t report the crime, which is surprising to me. But we do want people to report it.”
Cassidy, who has witnessed firsthand the impact of repeat offenders on her business, expressed hope that these collaborative efforts will help prevent the problem from worsening as Bend continues to grow. “I’m just hopeful that it doesn’t get worse. I don’t know if it’s going to get better, but I know Bend is growing. So if we can just kind of stay ahead of the curve, I think it’ll be great,” she said.
As the city expands, local businesses and law enforcement are determined to stay proactive in addressing retail theft. The next retail listening session is set to take place in Redmond on Tuesday, March 18. Business owners and retailers are encouraged to register and attend in an effort to continue improving communication and solutions surrounding retail theft in the region.
