SPD investigation into alcohol theft ring nets 6 arrests
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SEATTLE -- Seattle police say they've taken down a liquor theft ring that was supplying booze to high school kids and wedding parties.
The investigation began in September after police arrested a shoplifter who said he had stolen as much as $100,000 worth of booze since June, when Washington retailers began selling hard alcohol.
That man then helped officers set up a sting operation, which resulted in six arrests on Thursday.
Police say two valet drivers at the Warwick Hotel and two workers from a businesses at the Pike Place Market bought what they believed was stolen liquor from undercover officers.
One of the suspected thieves owns Pike Place Flowers, and police say some of the people who went into the store were looking to buy booze.
"There were individuals who appeared to be transient and not have any flowers," said Jim Pugel with the Seattle Police Department.
Pugel said the members of the ring knew exactly what kind of alcohol they wanted.
"They would ask very specifically -- our undercover informant -- to specifically steal it was very high-end alcohol," he said. "You name it, it was some of the most expensive on the market."
In addition to Thursday's arrests, police say they recovered 451 bottles of stolen alcohol and 11 guns.
The investigation began in September after police arrested a shoplifter who said he had stolen as much as $100,000 worth of booze since June, when Washington retailers began selling hard alcohol.
That man then helped officers set up a sting operation, which resulted in six arrests on Thursday.
Police say two valet drivers at the Warwick Hotel and two workers from a businesses at the Pike Place Market bought what they believed was stolen liquor from undercover officers.
One of the suspected thieves owns Pike Place Flowers, and police say some of the people who went into the store were looking to buy booze.
"There were individuals who appeared to be transient and not have any flowers," said Jim Pugel with the Seattle Police Department.
Pugel said the members of the ring knew exactly what kind of alcohol they wanted.
"They would ask very specifically -- our undercover informant -- to specifically steal it was very high-end alcohol," he said. "You name it, it was some of the most expensive on the market."
In addition to Thursday's arrests, police say they recovered 451 bottles of stolen alcohol and 11 guns.
I am a state liquor store owner and I think that the rules by which we have to follow should also be followed by any store selling liquor. That is you must be 21 years old to enter the liquor store, this would require the stores to have all liquor in an controlled area and it has to be monitored full time.Â
I think that stores that sell it should have a theft person walking those asiles. It's too easy for minors to steal it.Enough of them get it the old fashioned way.
This whole issue hasn't just appeared overnight.  Thieves who used to steal tide, diapers, razors, formula, batteries etc are now switching to booze because there is  50% return on sticker price.  Multiply the number of fences prior to 6/1/12 by 20 and that's just a lowball number of shops/locations taking in stolen product.  Next time you walk into a bar and see 750mL or 1.75L instead of the "industry size" 1L bottles (the ones discounted for bars/ restaurants)  think twice because you may be drinking stolen liquor.  Couple all this with the no chase/confrontation policies adopted by stores and your have a recipe for disaster.  When these thieves get caught in seattle they are walking out of the store (provided it's under $1000 for just that incident alone), not in hand cuffs mind you, with a ticket for a misdemeanor court date and a "civil penalty" which will never be recovered(and they are not trespassed by SPD as long as the next time they return to the store they are "buying something") .  The introduction of booze, ridiculous corporate policies, the downturn in the economy, cutbacks in the LE and Prosecutor's office, and the law suit-happy culture we live in have really come together to make a perfect storm for our state.  Most store employees are saying the same thing the below commenters are but it's ignored.  They see a kid stealing, they have to let it walk or they will very well end up unemployed just for asking someone to put a bottle back.  The state is losing thousands of dollars in tax revenue which could be paying for education, public works, etc.Â
 @sea98122 Grocery Stores: A product which is less dangerous, tabacco, stays behind the counter. Nobody gets kill because smoked 10 packs of cigarettes. But a product that is more dangerous, alcohol, stays in the open. A person (minors included), could have a drink of that (yes, right there in the store, just unscrew the cap, and pour in that starbucks cup, or just use a "gulp" size cup, for that 750ml bottle; this scenario is real, it happens now in all grocery stores).
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Persons have access to it because is there. What else is more expensive in a grocery store, than a bottle of scotch (maybe $50 or more). Why steal a $10 item, when you have another one much, much more expensive? The penalty (if any!) would be the same.
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 @seatac It's not like tobacco products don't get stolen either.  By relative size they are far more valuable than liquor and are bought at just as many mom and pop shops.  I've yelled at a guy at my local supermarket who was trying to pick a lock on a case while employees were at the check stands 20 feet away.  There is a reason many stores use caps, which helps prevent people from opening bottles in the store without making a pretty obvious scene.  Homeless people have been stealing bottles of wine and consuming them in the store far before liquor was around but  It's not cost effective to shield a whole wine department from the public.  If we were to lock up everything that got stolen you'd be escorted to front of the store by armed guard with your t-bone steaks.  What's really missing in this article is the fact that professionals are mixed in with you classic shoplifter.  Until everyone get's out of the "blame the victim" mentality nothing is going to really get done.  A store opening it's doors to public and trusting in common decency shouldn't be to much to ask for.Â
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To answer your question: Sonicare tooth brushes, crest white strips, razors (in the same size a bottle of scotch you could fit $150+), saffron ($20-50 a vial in your spice section). Â Â
You all wanted extra access to booze and now you get to live with the impact of it all.Â
We will probably soon have armed guards at the doors of the grocery stores. I'm glad to hear they caught some of them. They are getting as bad as the thugs who work for the cartels. Start using microdot ID and catch the buyers AND sellers.
I read a comment on here the other day that made perfectly good sense. If a retailer has so much theft why do they still have a license to sell booze? They are not capable of the responsibility.
A business owner is OK with stealing/buying/selling goods stolen from another business? How would he like it if everyone who reads about this incident helps themselves to his Pike Place Flowers merchandise without paying him?Â
 @MargeGunderson After this, he won't have a business to steal from!
Private retailers will take care of the problem or they will be out of business. It's very basic.
 @Larrygg Private retailers factor "loss" into their budget. In this case "loss" could result in a 15 year old dying of alcohol poisoning.
"In addition to Thursday's (SIX!) arrests, police say they recovered 451 bottles of stolen alcohol and 11 (ELEVEN!!!) guns"
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Names and Mugshots of these two-fisted shooters & drinkers, PLEASE.
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 @TheTruncheon Seriously, what do you think you need that info for?
 @Larry*X*K Seriously, why do you even question why "WE" need that information?
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NAME AND MUGSHOTS, PLEASE.
I was just up at Rite Aid. Looked at the booze section. Only the half gallons had security caps, the fifths had no security caps. Ok what would be easier to steal, big bottle or small bottle.