Earlier this month, Sequim Police officers and Home Depot staff partnered to prevent multiple thefts and recover more than $1,000 in merchandise during a one-day “blitz” after a reported rise in shoplifting incidents.

Sgt. Jeff Thaxton led the shoplifting emphasis patrol on Feb. 8 over a 12-hour period, with multiple officers inside and outside the store. He reported there were seven incidents — including four theft preventions through the day and three arrests — with a total merchandise recovery worth $1,131.74.

“We were happy with the results,” Thaxton said. “We’re told it’s up there with stats of bigger stores, so we’re really pleased.”

Sequim Police officers worked with multiple property asset managers from various Home Depot stores, Thaxton said, along with detectives Maris Larsen and Kindryn Leiter undercover.

Officer Stephanie Benes led most of the shoplifter contacts, he said, with assistance from officers Kyle Resser, Taran Johnson and Daniel Martinez. Home Depot staff included Ryan Leggott, Eric Moore, Lily Raymond, Matt Byrum and Chassidy Vickers.

“Having the detectives volunteer to do this was key to the success,” Thaxton said.

Thefts ranged from smaller items such as flashlights and small tools to chainsaws and power tools where people would push carts out without paying.

“We were glad (the store) called because we know they’ve been getting hit a lot,” Thaxton said.

When the pandemic began, Thaxton said he transitioned from less traffic control emphasis to business contacts.

While training Martinez, Thaxton said making contacts help them be proactive in crime prevention.

Thaxton said he brought the idea to fellow police staff and they backed him on it, and Det. Rick Larsen made contact with Home Depot’s Glenn M. Forrest, multi-unit asset protection manager, to proceed.

City Manager Matt Huish read portions of a letter from Forrest at the Feb. 14 city council meeting that commended the police department and it was one of the best efforts he’d seen in his 21 years in retail loss.

Huish said that Forrest called the “blitz” a “tremendous success” and that “store morale is way up.”

Said Huish of the department, “Sequim Police leads the way; this is true community policing.”

Thaxton said they plan to partner with the store again.

For more information about the Sequim Police Department, call 360-683-7227.

Photo courtesy of Sequim Police Department On Feb. 8, Sequim Police Department and Home Depot employees partnered for a one day “Blitz” to prevent thefts in the store. They recovered more than $1,000 in stolen goods.