Douglas County is laying down the law when it comes to shoplifting: If you take the goods, you could end up behind bars. In a recent news briefing on Dec. 9, Douglas County's top brass, including Sheriff Darren Weekly and District Attorney George Brauchler, spelled out the crackdown on retail crime, just ahead of a County ordinance's introduction to further empower law enforcement, Douglas County reported.
The message was clear in its intent, the aim unmistakable: the days of turning a blind eye to theft are waning, if not outright gone and serious offenses, from drug trafficking to gang violence are often found nestled within the roots of these seemingly petty crimes, with Weekly emphasizing a swift and decisive response to any such criminal outings and underscoring the fact that a significant chunk, more than 75% of these crimes are perpetrated by individuals who aren't Douglas County locals, and Commissioner Abe Laydon vouched for the district's commitment to safety and justice in no uncertain terms; proclaiming an end to an era of leniency, according to the same county report.
It's not just about upholding the law, though; there's an economic undertone to this narrative. The Colorado Common Sense Institute put forth alarming numbers, estimating a 2022 loss of $1.4 billion to Colorado businesses due to retail crime and dealing a blow to the local tax revenue, with theft rising by a staggering 22.4% between 2023 and 2024, indicating a trend that could potentially escalate unchecked. With 89% of retail theft going unreported nationally, it's a gap in the system that the county is now determined to seal, Douglas County shared.
