Axios Seattle: King County cracks down on repeat retail theft

This story was originally published by Axios Seattle on Jan. 28, 2026.

By Christine Clarridge

Prosecutors are charging more retail theft cases as part of a push to address persistent theft by repeat offenders targeting the same stores across the Seattle area.

Why it matters: Retail theft affects more than inventory — it shapes employee safety, store operations and consumer prices, even if only a fraction of cases are prosecuted, according to the Washington Retail Association.

By the numbers: King County prosecutors charged 640 felony economic and property crime cases in 2025, the highest total since 2019, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

• That compares with 506 in 2024 and 367 cases in 2023.

Prosecutor spokesperson Casey McNerthney attributed the increased charges to more cases being referred to prosecutors by police.

• “With the decline in violent crime, officers have more time to follow through and refer cases for prosecution,” McNerthney told Axios.

The big picture: Over the last two weeks, King County prosecutors have filed three felony organized retail theft cases involving Ulta Beauty locations in North Seattle, according to the prosecuting attorney’s office.

• The cases involve two defendants, including one suspected of 24 thefts over 55 days from North Seattle to Federal Way.
• Charging documents describe repeated thefts of fragrances and other beauty products, with investigators relying on store surveillance, loss-prevention records and, in some cases, merchandise trackers to link incidents across weeks or months.
• Health and beauty products and fragrances, electronics and copper rank among the most commonly targeted goods because they can be carried and sold quickly, McNerthney said.

What they’re saying: “The King County Prosecutor’s Office is sending the right message – breaking up these retail theft operations is critical for the health of our region’s retailers,” said Downtown Seattle Association President & CEO Jon Scholes.

Between the lines: A Seattle-focused report from Challenge Seattle and the Washington Retail Association describes organized retail theft as a repeat-offender problem that often takes months of coordination among retailers, police and prosecutors before cases can be aggregated for felony charges.

Retail industry data suggests theft is increasingly driven by repeat offenders and organized activity. According to the Washington Retail Association:

• 54% of retailers nationally report increases in repeat-offender theft.
• Retailers report continued increases in shoplifting and merchandise theft, particularly involving small, high-value items.
• Retailers say fewer than half of theft incidents are reported to police, often because losses fall below felony thresholds or response is limited.

What we’re watching: Retail groups are backing HB 2209, a bill aimed at strengthening tools to address organized retail theft, particularly repeat and higher-dollar cases.

• Supporters say the proposal is narrowly focused on repeat and high-impact offenders, not everyday shoplifting.
• Its progress will be an early test of whether lawmakers see retail theft as an issue needing new tools.