Douglas County Advances Ordinance to Strengthen Retail Theft Reporting

Douglas County leaders unveiled a coordinated effort December 9 to tighten local rules around retail theft, advancing an ordinance at a regular Business Meeting after a morning news conference with the sheriff, the 23rd Judicial District attorney, and county commissioners. The briefing and the ordinance introduction framed rising shoplifting and organized retail theft as threats to public safety, business viability, and local tax revenue.

Officials described retail theft as frequently connected to more serious offenses including weapons violations, auto theft, drug activity, and organized gang operations. County figures cited during the briefing noted that more than 75 percent of crimes in Douglas County involve individuals who do not live in the county, a statistic county leaders say underscores the need for stronger deterrence and prompt reporting.

Economic analyses presented at the meeting placed the issue in broader context. A Colorado Common Sense Institute estimate finds that retail crime cost Colorado businesses about $1.4 billion in 2022 and reduced state sales tax receipts by roughly $78 million. The institute also reported a 22.4 percent increase in retail theft between 2023 and 2024, with 27,094 shoplifting incidents statewide. National research cited at the briefing indicates nearly 89 percent of retail theft incidents go unreported.

The ordinance, approved unanimously for first reading, would put into local effect a state law from 1979 that requires individuals or businesses with reasonable grounds to believe a crime occurred to promptly notify law enforcement. The stated goals are to change expectations in the wake of perceived leniency elsewhere, discourage the view that Douglas County is an easy target, support investigators through timely reporting and evidence preservation, and encourage cooperation between businesses and law enforcement. Enforcement language allows for discretion, ranging from warnings to citations, with a maximum fine of $1,000.

The sheriff and district attorney also highlighted a recent county Retail Theft Summit that brought together regional law enforcement, the County Attorney’s Office, economic development officials, municipal partners, and local businesses. Residents can watch the full news conference on the County YouTube channel and read the ordinance and submit feedback on the County website. Public input will inform whether the county moves the ordinance to a second reading and eventual adoption.