When Retail Crime Becomes “Normal,” It’s Time to Make Changes

When you read yet another headline about retail crime in Washington state, it’s tempting to file it under “more of the same.” 

But this one should give everyone in retail a pause. 

Recent reporting highlights just how bad things have become: Washington is now ranked the No. 1 state in the U.S. for retail crime, with billions in losses tied to shoplifting and organized retail theft. 

Behind that headline are the people we think about every day at Patronscan. From store managers, frontline associates, loss prevention teams, and owners, we aim to protect both their inventory and their people. 

The New Reality: More Theft, Less Safety 

The data coming out of Washington is stark: 

• Retailers in the state lost an estimated $2.7 billion in stolen goods in 2021 alone, with hundreds of millions in lost tax revenue. 

• Lawmakers and business groups now openly describe retail theft as one of the top public safety issues facing communities. 

At the same time, many retailers are working under “no chase” policies and strict limits on what staff and security can actually do when they see someone stealing. In many cases, the process looks like this: 

1. See the theft. 
2. Don’t pursue - it’s too risky. 
3. Document it. 
4. Report it after the fact, if there’s time and capacity. 

From a liability and safety standpoint, those policies make sense. No product is worth someone getting hurt. But as a strategy, it’s broken. 

You’re not preventing the incident before it takes place, you’re just managing the fallout. 

Why “More Guards” and “More Cameras” Aren’t Enough 

If you walk into a modern retail store today, you’ll see more cameras, more mirrors and often more security guards. 

Yet, theft is still rising, and organized retail crime rings are getting bolder and more coordinated, often targeting high-value goods and hitting multiple locations across a region. 

The problem is that cameras, security guards, and mirrors are reactive instead of proactive.  

A Different Approach: Controlled Access, Not Constant Confrontation 

This is where we believe the conversation needs to shift. 

If staff can’t safely chase, tackle, or confront (and we agree they shouldn’t) then the system itself needs to do more of the work. 

That’s why we’ve been investing so heavily in technology-led access control: 

• High-value, high-theft items (alcohol, fragrances, razors, electronics, locked product) stay secure by default. 

• A customer scans a valid ID or passes another verification step. 

• The system unlocks access or enables a controlled dispense. 

• Every interaction is logged, tied to time and location, and available for internal review if something goes wrong. 

It’s not about turning stores into fortresses. It’s about changing the question from: 

“How do we react when someone steals?” 

to: 

“How do we make it harder to steal without putting staff in harm’s way?” 

For the majority of honest shoppers, this experience is simple and transparent: 

“I scan, I’m verified, I get what I came to buy.” 

For would-be thieves, it’s no longer a quick grab-and-go. 

Protecting Staff Has to Be Part of the Loss Prevention Conversation 

When we talk about retail theft, we can’t separate inventory from human safety. 

• Frontline staff are often the ones absorbing verbal abuse, threats, or physical violence when they try to enforce store policy. 

• Security guards are told not to engage physically, but still stand closest to the risk. 

• Managers are under pressure to reduce shrink without escalating incidents. 

Technology can’t eliminate every risk of course, but it can absolutely change the kinds of situations staff are exposed to. 

If high-risk products are only accessible through controlled systems, staff don’t have to decide at that moment whether to intervene. The system already made most of the hard calls upstream. 

That’s what we’re aiming for with Patronscan’s access control solutions: fewer confrontations, fewer impossible choices, and a safer baseline for everyone in the building. 

Washington Is a Warning, Not an Outlier 

Washington state is getting a lot of attention because the numbers are so stark and the ranking is so visible. 

But if you’re running a store in Toronto, Denver, Sacramento, or any other busy metro, you would probably say the same thing local Washington retailers are saying right now: 

Our view at Patronscan is simple: 

• You can’t arrest your way out of this. Law enforcement and prosecutors are critical partners, but they’re already stretched thin. 

• You can’t “no-chase” your way out either. That only defines what staff can’t do, not what the system should do differently. 

• You can design smarter environments where theft is harder, risk is lower, and staff aren’t left alone on the frontline. 

Where We Go From Here 

As a company, our mission has always been bigger than ID scanning. 

We’re in the business of building trust and shaping safer spaces - for nightlife, for casinos, and for retail. 

When we look at what’s happening in Washington and across North America, our takeaway is this: If everything is getting worse, then “more of the same” is not a plan. 

It’s time to rethink: 

• How high-risk products are accessed 

• What tools staff have in real time 

• How technology can reduce confrontation instead of just documenting it 

If you’re a retailer who feels like the current playbook isn’t working, this is the moment to explore something different, not just for your bottom line, but for the people who unlock the doors every morning. 

Book a Free Demo with our team to learn what Access Control methods may be right for you: https://www.patronscan.com/request-a-demo