SPOKANE VALLEY — Detectives with the Spokane Valley Investigative Unit (SVIU) are conducting special retail theft operations this holiday season, targeting shoplifters and other criminals who prey on busy shopping centers during the year’s busiest retail period.
The Spokane Valley City Council provided the police department with an additional $20,000 this month to fund retail theft blitzes — targeted operations where officers work with retailers to identify and arrest people stealing from stores.
The four-hour operations involve detectives staking out retail store parking lots.
During these operations, SVIU works closely with each store’s loss prevention officers, who can identify repeat offenders and suspicious behavior.
“When they see them actually conceal the merchandise and exit the store, our officers are waiting in the parking lot ready to take him into custody,” said Chief Dave Ellis of the Spokane Valley Police Department.
The operations address more than just shoplifting. Police also target other crimes that occur in retail areas during the busy shopping season.
“Breaking into cars in the parking lot. It’s drug deals in the parking lot. It’s possession of stolen guns. It’s a whole bunch of other crimes that we end up addressing,” Ellis said. “Our presence there in the parking lot helps keep things safe.”
The targeted approach has produced measurable results. The most recent operation led to eight arrests and four misdemeanor charges.
Ellis said the additional funding comes at a critical time when shopping activity peaks at locations like Spokane Valley Mall and other major retailers in the area.
“This is a busy time for shopping, especially with Spokane Valley Mall and all of our retailers,” Ellis said. “To be able to surge our investigative capabilities during this time, when there’s even that much more activity going on is crucial and it’s critical.”
The retail theft blitzes represent part of a broader effort by Spokane Valley to combat property crimes. Earlier this year, the city funded the addition of two new property crimes investigators for the police department.
In 2026, the Spokane Valley police department expects to receive enough funding to add four more investigators to their roster.
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