A Bellevue Police Detective earned Kemper Development Company Security’s Meritorious Service Award in May for the operation that caught and jailed a West Coast organized retail theft ring responsible for stealing more than $537,000 worth of merchandise from retail stores across Western Washington.
The Meritorious Service Award recognizes an individual for providing exceptional performance during a complex case investigation over a prolonged period of time. Detective Jeff Christiansen earned this honor after successfully conducting a long-term investigation in collaboration with Kemper Development Company Security and retail stores affected by the theft operation.
The effort was so successful that retail investigators stated no large-scale organized theft crimes have occurred in the northwest region at the previously affected stores since law enforcement arrested the individuals on April 9, 2024.
As previously reported on the Bellevue Beat Blog, 19-year-old Reality Leavens, 23-year-old Janeice Downs, and 49-year-old Janeice Wiley were alleged to have committed documented retail thefts on at least 42 occasions in stores located in Southern California, Northern Oregon, and Western Washington. The theft ring primarily targeted LuluLemon stores.
Detective Christiansen, in coordination with colleagues within the Bellevue Police Department, Kemper Development Company Security, and retail investigators, reviewed dozens of theft cases involving this theft ring from Bellevue and other law enforcement agencies throughout western Washington. Christiansen then connected the stolen merchandise to the stores, the cars the suspects drove (often times without the license plates attached), and hours of security video from the stores in order to establish proof of involvement in every single case linked to the overall operation.
Christiansen’s work then escalated to additional collaboration with the King County Prosecutor’s Office Special Operations Unit and local judges to obtain multiple search warrants that would be used to recover electronic evidence geo-locating the suspects to the crime scenes from each individual operation. This work also led police to locate additional stolen property and three firearms during an executed search warrant and arrest of the suspects on April 9.
Downs is still in custody at the King County Jail and has been charged with Organized Retail Theft in King County, Pierce County, and Multnomah County (Oregon). The investigation is ongoing to locate and arrest additional now-identified accomplices of Downs.
“Detective Jeff Christiansen is a shining example of the work Bellevue Police accomplish to maintain the city as a safe place to work, play, and live. Without Detective Christiansen’s leadership and meticulous and collaborative efforts, this organized theft ring would no doubt be still committing these crimes today,” said Wendell Shirley, Chief of the Bellevue Police Department. “Justice has rightfully been served, and Bellevue Police once again demonstrate that should you commit crimes in Bellevue, be prepared to be held accountable.”
“This case highlights the critical partnership between retailers, security officers, police investigators, and prosecutors. We cannot be successful without active, on-going communication and information sharing with each other,” said Carl Kleinknecht, Director of Security for Kemper Development Company. “We appreciate the relationship we have with our partners at the Bellevue Police Department.”
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