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Douglas County convenes retail‑theft summit with local police, DA and businesses to improve reporting and prosecution
Summary
The county attorney and law‑enforcement partners said they are convening a summit of retailers to clarify reporting and consider ordinance changes after community concerns that retail theft was under‑reported. Thirty businesses have been contacted so far, officials said.
Douglas County’s legal and public‑safety officials told partners April 10 they are convening a summit of businesses and law enforcement to improve reporting and prosecution of retail theft after a perceived gap in reporting and enforcement.
“...there was a misunderstanding or a, a misperception in the community that, retail theft wasn't being prosecuted or wasn't being reported,” County Attorney Jeff Garcia said, describing an outreach effort that brings together the district attorney’s office, Castle Rock Police Department, Lone Tree Police Department, Parker Police Department and the sheriff’s office.
Garcia said his office and local police have contacted about 30 businesses so far to better understand retail reporting policies and to identify tools the county can use to encourage reporting and support prosecutions. The outreach, he said, could lead to an enhanced local ordinance to clarify reporting responsibilities and provide better tools for enforcement.
The county’s law‑enforcement leaders and elected officials described the effort as part education and part policy: they do not want to encourage confrontations in parking lots, but they do want crimes to be reported so agencies can respond and community safety can be maintained. The county plans to continue conversations with retailers and partner agencies and said the summit will inform potential ordinance changes or other local tools to address retail theft.
