Commissioners advance proposed ordinance; public invited to watch news conference recording and provide feedback on proposed legislation
Posted on December 9, 2025 2025News and EventsPublic Safety
While some communities across the country are choosing not to address retail theft, your Douglas County leaders are sending a clear and firm message: shoplifting will not be tolerated here.
At a news conference Dec. 9, Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly, 23rd Judicial District Attorney George Brauchler, and Commissioners, Abe Laydon, George Teal and Kevin Van Winkle spoke about local shoplifting trends, the safety risks tied to organized retail theft, and a proposed County ordinance that would give law enforcement a new tool to curb these crimes.
The briefing, held just before the Commissioners’ formal introduction of the ordinance during a regular Business Meeting, outlined that retail theft is often linked to serious and violent crime, including weapons offenses, auto theft, drug activity and organized gang operations. More than 75% of crimes committed in Douglas County involve individuals who do not live here, underscoring the need for proactive deterrence.
“When a business reports a theft, we respond—quickly and decisively,” says Sheriff Darren Weekly. “That commitment is why we’ve caught numerous offenders over the past few years and prevented many of these crimes from escalating.”
“Over the holidays, we want folks to come to Douglas County to shop our world-class mall and amazing outlet stores, dine at our varied and quality restaurants, and spend time with friends and family with the confidence that they are in the safest part of the metro area, says District Attorney George Brauchler. “But if you come here to steal from us, plan on staying. We incarcerate thieves. All of them. There are places in Colorado that take a more understanding and forgiving approach to thievery. Douglas County is not one of them.”
The consequences of retail theft extend beyond public safety.
Retail theft is increasingly undermining Colorado’s economic health. A recent analysis from the Colorado Common Sense Institute estimates that in 2022 alone, retail crime cost Colorado businesses $1.4 billion and deprived taxpayers of approximately $78 million in lost sales-tax revenue to fund vital public services.
The CCSI report also found that retail theft rose by 22.4% between 2023 and 2024, with 27,094 shoplifting incidents reported statewide. That figure becomes even more concerning when paired with national data from the Loss Prevention Research Council, which estimates that nearly 89% of retail theft incidents are never reported.
The news conference also followed the recent Douglas County Retail Theft Summit, hosted by the Sheriff and District Attorney, which gathered regional law enforcement agencies, the County Attorney’s Office, the Douglas County Economic Development Corporation, municipal partners and local businesses. Many community members have also asked the County to take additional steps to address increasing large-scale shoplifting.
Watch today’s full news conference on our YouTube channel.
“Today, we are ending the era of ‘looking the other way’ when it comes to retail theft. In Douglas County, if you steal, you will be held accountable. Our priority is protecting honest customers, keeping costs low for hardworking families, and not allowing losses to be passed on to the community,” said Commissioner Abe Laydon. “We are serious about addressing the issue of retail theft, and we value our business partners as part of the solution—not penalizing them but standing with them against corporate policies that discourage contacting law enforcement.”
“This proposed ordinance directly addresses the issue of retail theft in Douglas County, targeting corporate policies that may punish employees for reporting shoplifting to law enforcement,” said Commissioner Kevin Van Winkle. “Our goal is simple: to protect the employees who witness crime day after day and want to do the right thing.”
“This ordinance was inspired by two Douglas County residents who saw a problem and brought it forward, demonstrating how our community helps drive real solutions,” said Commissioner George Teal. “We can only address crime when we know it’s happening, and when we don’t know about it, we can’t take action. That’s why this ordinance has the potential to make such a positive impact on safety here in Douglas County.”
Proposed Ordinance
Following the news conference, at their regularly scheduled Business Meeting, the Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance intended to support law enforcement and strengthen expectations around retail crime. The ordinance would implement a state law enacted in 1979 requiring individuals or businesses with reasonable grounds to believe a crime has occurred to promptly report it to law enforcement.
Goals of the ordinance include:
Under the proposal, businesses that are aware of a retail theft incident must report it and cooperate with investigations. Similar laws exist in Texas and Ohio. Enforcement would allow for discretion, ranging from a warning to a citation, with a maximum possible fine of $1,000.
Your feedback is the next step. To read the ordinance and provide your feedback, visit our website.
Visit our website to learn more about County initiatives to support public safety.
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