As a community with many businesses, we know it is important to understand the rights and strategies involved with keeping your business and employees safe. This page is designed to provide a central location for significant resources, phone numbers, and strategies for your business.

NUMBERS TO CALL:
For all Emergencies, call 911
For situations were police or fire department is needed immediately, such as:

For all NON-Emergencies, call 253-288-2121
For situations where police or fire department is needed, but htere is NOT an emergency, such as:

If you are unsure if your situation is an emergency, DIAL 911. If an emergency is detected from a non-emergency call, it will be routed to the correct operator for immediate response.

If you are reporting a crime that occurred prior, and you do not have suspect information, you can make a case report online. The online reporting system is available 24 hours a day.


Other important numbers:

Should you need to speak with someone with the Police Department, call 253-931-3080.

Should you need to speak with someone at Valley Regional Fire Authority, call 253-288-5800.

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COMMUNITY & PERSONAL SAFETY TIPS

Establish a community watch group
Work with police and observe and report any suspicious behavior, put up sights to let possible criminals know the community is being proactive, stay current on crime trends in the area, and inform other residents about criminal activity so more people are prepared.

Improve Lighting
Install motion activated outdoor lights outside your home or business. Lighting can alert potential criminals that they might be seen and render potential victims more able to protect themselves.

Be Alert
Be alert to your surroundings and those around you. Be very cautious about wearing headphones in areas that could compromise your personal safety, such as walking in a darkly lit parking lot.

Have Your Keys Ready
Whether you are walking to unlock your car or your house, have your keys ready and do not hold doors for those you do not know.

Know Your Neighbors
It is generally a good idea to exchange phone numbers with, and get acquainted to your neighbor(s).

Share Tips About Security Systems
Knowing what security systems worked best for neighbors and what features they liked the most could help you or others pick a similar system in that price point.

Home Safety for Older Adults: A Comprehensive Guide
Click here to view the full article from the National Council on Aging.


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 ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT YOUR BUSINESS:

Washington Retail Association (washingtonretail.org)
The Washington Retail Association is a non-profit trade group that advocates the interests of retailers (or all sizes) on legislative and regulatory issues. WRA is the only association in Washington formed exclusively to advocate the unique interests of the retailing industry on state legislative and regulatory issues. They also offer services intended to strengthen and help maintain compliance with the state's requirements for operating a business. Beyond legislative and regulatory advocacy, WRA has a number of initiatives to support their membership.
Washington Organized Retail Crime Association
The Washington Organized Retail Crime Association (WAORCA) is an organization made up of members dedicated to fostering partnerships between law enforcement professionals and loss prevention professionals. WAORCA is the Washington State member of ORCA, the Organized Retail Crime Association, and features a number of goals intended to combat organized retail crime and other crimes impacting the business community. In addition to providing training and education regarding current and emerging crime trends, WAORCA works to unite businesses, city officials, and law enforcement in a plan to reduce crime and build awareness. ORCA members use a tool called Aurora to prevent retail crime. Aurora is a platform for retailers focused on preventing crime, reducing loss, and making stores safer, and is free for members of ORCA.

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STORE ANTI-THEFT STRATEGIES


The following are helpful strategies to reduce in-store theft


Security Cameras:

Customer Service:

Training:

Store Setup:

Guide to Navigating Public Saftey and Retail Crime

The Future of Retail Safety:

AI - Artificial Intelligence / Algorithms: Whether it be in person or online, AI retailers will be able to gather data that can help them align their store capacity, inventory, and staffing to the ever-fluctuating consumer demand.

RFID - Fadio Frequency Identification: RFID technology will be able to offer an instant, precise view of inventory, it would give the ability to also check on shipments and would prevent retail theft by being able to track items in real-time.

IPS - Indoor Positioning Systems: This system will link together the online and traditional shopping experience. Using IPS retailers will be able to monitor the motion patterns and in-store behavior of shoppers, assisting in finding less utilized pathways and allowing them to adjust their store layout. This can also help guide shoppers finding their way through the store if linked with an app and can help staff assist those who do not have the app or are not able to find what they are looking for.

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YOUR RIGHTS AS A BUSINESS OWNER

You may want to consult with an attorney about best practices regarding customer discrimination, state and local laws, and specific issues for your particular line of business. Here are a few scenarios when "refusing service" is potentially within your rights:

Should a customer violate said rules or pose a threat to the well-being of others, politely explain why you won't serve them, and ask them to leave. If they refuse, report the incident to law enforcement and let them handle it. Be sure to document the details of what happened. Best practices for avoiding legal trouble include establishing clear rules for what is expected at your business and enforcing them consistently for all customers.

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AUBURN POLICY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (PAC)

What is PAC? Formed in 2020, PAC gives the community of Auburn an opportunity to act in an advisory role in order to provide recommendations to the Auburn Police Department concerning community policing issues. At monthly PAC meetings, members represent the people of Auburn and act as an active partner with the Auburn Police Department in the development of policies and strategies for the implementation of stronger, effective and equitable community policing. Click here for more information.

Chamber Members: Do you have concerns about safety at your business? Contact Kacie Bray about your concerns, by email, at [email protected]. She will share these concerns at the monthly PAC meeting.

ASD Students: PAC supports a scholarship opportunity through Green River College for students interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement. Click here to learn more about GRC scholarships.