Today, the Bellevue Police Department announced it made approximately 161 arrests during its 2024 “Stop the Lift” retail theft prevention campaign during the holidays – with 244 shoplifting incidents overall.
“With retail theft being the most common crime in Bellevue, the Bellevue Police Department took a proactive approach with the city’s business leaders this past holiday season to find solutions that would deliver a safe environment for all and address these crimes. I can report to the community that this effort has been a tremendous success,” said Wendell Shirley, Chief of the Bellevue Police Department. “That said, retail theft happens any day of the year. Bellevue Police continues to ask community members to contact law enforcement should they see a theft occur in Bellevue.”
Bellevue Police saw an eight percent increase in reported shoplifting cases in 2024 and a 12-percent increase in shoplifting arrests from 2023 to 2024. In a year-to-year comparison, there were 857 shoplifting arrests in 2024 and 768 arrests in 2023. Monthly averages in shoplifting arrests during these years were an average of 71.4 arrests in 2024 and 64 arrests in 2023. The Bellevue Police Department believes strong partnerships and anti-theft programs with local businesses across the city and community members have contributed to the ability to successfully learn about and arrest more suspects connected to these crimes.
Between mid-November and Christmas Day, Bellevue Police’s “Stop the Lift” effort provided law enforcement and businesses an all-around approach toward retail theft prevention and response during the holiday season. This included 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.
The Bellevue Police Department also made tremendous strides in ensuring organized retail theft operations were held accountable in Bellevue last year – particularly crimes targeting high-value merchandise. Officers were able to arrest suspects connected to crimes totaling up to $500,000 in lost revenue for LuLuLemon. Since this arrest, LuLuLemon stores across Western Washington saw a 90-percent drop in large-scale thefts.
The Bellevue Police Department’s efforts against retail theft are continuing beyond the holidays. Chief Shirley reminds community members that if someone sees a theft occur, they should say something by calling 911.
Bellevue Beat Blog 