The Bellevue Police Department announced today the launch of its “Stop the Lift” campaign during the holiday season. In its third year, this effort partners with retail stores across the community to lower shoplifting incidents across the city at a time when incidents have risen about 9-percent compared to 2023.
The “Stop the Lift” holiday campaign will provide law enforcement and businesses an all-around approach toward retail theft prevention and response during the holiday season. This includes a visibility campaign featuring Bellevue Officers conducting proactive patrols in areas like Factoria and Bellevue Square, Coffee with a Cop events at retail stores, direct community engagement messages, and an online crime prevention campaign for residents.
“Retail theft is Bellevue’s most common crime, and the Bellevue Police Department is committed to working with local retailers to find solutions that deliver a safer and more secure retail environment for all,” said Wendell Shirley, Chief of the Bellevue Police Department. “Suspects sometimes go to great lengths to shoplift – even resorting to threats and violence. In Bellevue, there is a zero tolerance for this behavior.”
The Bellevue Police Department made tremendous strides in holding accountable organized retail theft operations this year – particularly crimes targeting LuLuLemon stores. Officers were able to arrest suspects connected to crimes totaling up to $500,000 in lost revenue. Since this arrest, LuLuLemon stores across Western Washington saw a 90-percent drop in large-scale thefts.
About 37-percent of all crimes committed in Bellevue were retail theft incidents, making it the most common crime for the community. Additionally, about 1,241 retail theft incidents have occurred in the city so far this year – with law enforcement making about 629 arrests during this time.
The Factoria Mall provides a marquee example of the impact a partnership between law enforcement and retailers could have on a neighborhood. Using Bellevue Police’s zero tolerance approach to crime, officers were able to arrest about 91-percent of suspects who were previously identified as frequent shoplifters. Law enforcement is looking to implement a similar strategy across the entire city for this year.
Even with Bellevue Police’s “Stop the Lift” effort, law enforcement is asking Bellevue residents and the greater Puget Sound region to get involved. Police are asking individuals to take these simple steps to protect yourself and your family while shopping:
- Contact store management if you witness a shoplift occurring
- Never leave packages visible in your vehicle
- Do not leave bags, purses, wallets unattended
And for residents choosing to purchase gifts online, please follow these prevention tips:
Most importantly: when you see something, say something. If someone witnesses a suspect attempting to steal from a shopping mall or snatch a box from a neighbor’s house, Bellevue Police ask they call law enforcement immediately by dialing 911.
Bellevue Beat Blog 