Prosecutors are charging more retail theft cases as part of a push to address persistent theft by repeat offenders targeting the same stores across the Seattle area.
Why it matters: Retail theft affects more than inventory — it shapes employee safety, store operations and consumer prices, even if only a fraction of cases are prosecuted, according to the Washington Retail Association.
By the numbers: King County prosecutors charged 640 felony economic and property crime cases in 2025, the highest total since 2019, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
- That compares with 506 in 2024 and 367 cases in 2023.
Prosecutor spokesperson Casey McNerthney attributed the increased charges to more cases being referred to prosecutors by police.
- “With the decline in violent crime, officers have more time to follow through and refer cases for prosecution,” McNerthney told Axios.
The big picture: Over the last two weeks, King County prosecutors have filed three felony organized retail theft cases involving Ulta Beauty locations in North Seattle, according to the prosecuting attorney’s office.
- The cases involve two defendants, including one suspected of 24 thefts over 55 days from North Seattle to Federal Way.
- Charging documents describe repeated thefts of fragrances and other beauty products, with investigators relying on store surveillance, loss-prevention records and, in some cases, merchandise trackers to link incidents across weeks or months.
- Health and beauty products and fragrances, electronics and copper rank among the most commonly targeted goods because they can be carried and sold quickly, McNerthney said.
What they’re saying: “The King County Prosecutor’s Office is sending the right message – breaking up these retail theft operations is critical for the health of our region’s retailers,” said Downtown Seattle Association President & CEO Jon Scholes…