Washington is the nation’s leader when it comes to retail theft — an issue that some state lawmakers are signaling needs urgent attention.

In a 2024 Forbes Advisor survey, Washington ranked as the state most impacted by retail crime. Now Rep. Mari Leavitt, D-University Place, is sounding the alarm on organized retail crime, the coordinated stealing and reselling of goods for financial gain, typically by large-scale crime rings.

Leavitt said she has heard concerns from local small businesses and chambers of commerce about the criminal trend.

“I’m not talking about a grandmother stealing something for her grandson to eat,” she said in a phone interview. “I’m talking about those who are intent with coordinated efforts in order to create havoc in communities.”

Last session, Leavitt introdu

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