Keeping Our Businesses Safe Through Resources
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.
Important Numbers
For all Emergencies
call 911
For situations were police or fire department is needed immediately, such as:
Medical emergencies
Any type of fire
A crime in-progress
Suspicious activity
Dangerous or life-threatening activity
Any time a person fears for their safety or the safety of others.
For all Non-Emergencies in Auburn
call (253) 288-2121
For situations where police or fire department is needed, but there is NOT an emergency, such as:
When emergency services are needed, but there is no danger or life-threatening circumstance occurring at the time
The return of a runaway child
A hit-and-run traffic collision when you are no longer at the scene of the collision
Reporting lost property
Reporting additional information after an initial report has been made
Auburn Police Department | 253.931.3080
Algona Police Department | 253.833.2743
Pacific Police Department | 253.929.1130
Valley Regional Fire Authority | 253.288.5800
Other Important Numbers
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.
Community
& Personal
Safety Tips
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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.
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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.
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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 dimly lit parking lot.
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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.
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It is generally a good idea to exchange phone numbers with, and get acquainted to your neighbor(s).
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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.
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Click here to view the full article from the National Council on Aging.
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.
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.
Organizations Who Support Your Business
Store Anti-Theft Strategies
The following are helpful strategies to reduce in-store theft.
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Inexpensive to purchase
Do not need outside monitoring
They can help provide more information to law enforcement as needed such as a time stamp, items taken, item descriptions, etc.
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Make sure each person is greeted and worked with throughout their visit
Try not to spend unnecessary time with one customer while ignoring another
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Your teams should be trained to be familiar with shoplifting behavior
(while avoiding profiling customers)Frequently picking up items
Constantly separating from whomever they entered with
Repeatedly checking on store staff
Have a clear policy for when shoplifting does occur (e.g. calling the police, checking cameras, identifying items taken)
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Keep the store neat and organized
Make displays and shelves shorter
Locate the cash register near the entrance/exit
Monitor the dressing rooms
Secure at-risk merchandise
Include the use of mirrors in the store design
The Future of
Retail Safety
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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.
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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.
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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.
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:
Customers who arrive before, or refuse to leave after, business hours
Rowdy or disruptive behavior
Lack of hygiene or cleanliness
Violating posted rules such as dress code
Threats to the health and safety of workers or customers
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.
Your Rights
as a Business Owner
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 kacie@auburnareawa.org. She will share these concerns at the monthly PAC meeting.
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.