The streets of Washington County are slated to quickly become less friendly to prospective shoplifters and organized retail criminals. In a decisive move, the Washington County District Attorney's Office announced that it has netted a substantial grant to bolster defenses against retail theft. A whopping $1.5 million has been granted to the county to fund the new initiative, making it the largest sum allocated in the State of Oregon for this purpose, topping the next highest award by a significant margin.
The funds, which originate from the Organized Retail Theft Grant Program, are purposed to both warn and ward off would-be thieves. The DA's Office aims to directly produce a series of public service announcements designed to clarify without any uncertainty, that theft will indeed find itself prosecuted. This campaign is not only set to act as a deterrent but also functionally assist area businesses--giving them the means to obtain signs that broadcast a zero-tolerance policy for shoplifting and additional resources to elevate their security protocols.
Businesses in the county are being invited to partake in the campaign. Those in need of a “Theft is Prosecuted in Washington County” sign can reach out to the Washington County DA's Office. A simple email to Stephen Mayer at [email protected] with relevant details such as a name, contact information, and the name and location of the business has been required, as per the DA's announcement.
