A retail theft mission held in Tigard led to nearly two dozen arrests, as well as the recovery of stolen merchandise, a replica gun and methamphetamine.
This marks the first mission held in Washington County since the Washington County District Attorney’s office was awarded a $1.5 million dollar federal grant to combat retail theft, allowing for law enforcement and prosecutors to engage in more joint retail theft missions. During these missions, detectives and patrol officers work directly with loss prevention employees inside stores to identify and interrupt criminal activity as its happening.
Held Friday, September 6, 2024, Tigard Police officers and detectives with TPD’s Commercial Crimes Unit (CCU) worked with loss prevention employees at stores in Tigard. During the event:
- 21 people were arrested on a range of charges, including theft, possession of burglary tools, possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine and several outstanding felony/misdemeanor arrest warrants
- Stolen merchandise worth roughly $1,700 was recovered
- A realistic looking replica handgun that officers learned was an air soft gun was recovered from a juvenile who was arrested
- One person led officers on a foot pursuit before being arrested
Officers also assisted with a suspicious package that turned out to be safe, and a reported strong-arm robbery that turned out to be a theft call during the mission.
