By Forum Staff
Governor Kathy Hochul on Tuesday was in Harlem to speak with local business leaders to highlight the state’s progress in combating organized retail theft in New York City and across the Empire State.
Following a spike in organized retail theft in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hochul announced new measures to crack down on these crimes that included over $40 million to support targeted law enforcement initiatives, stronger laws to hold perpetrators accountable, and new protections for frontline retail workers. Retail theft has declined more than 12 percent year over year in the five boroughs, and 5 percent across the rest of the state. The state is now on track to see retail theft crimes drop to pre-peak levels, Hochul noted.
Those measures included:
- Bolstering criminal penalties for anyone who assaults a retail worker by elevating it from a misdemeanor to felony. Any person who causes physical injury to a retail worker performing their job will be subject to this new felony.
- Allowing prosecutors to combine the value of stolen goods when they file larceny charges and allowing retail goods from different stores to be aggregated for the purposes of reaching a higher larceny threshold when stolen under the same criminal scheme.
- Making it illegal to foster the sale of stolen goods to go after third-party sellers. A person will be found guilty if they use any website or physical location to sell stolen goods.
- $40.2 million for dedicated Retail Theft Teams within State Police, district attorneys’ offices and local law enforcement, including 100 State Police personnel dedicated to fighting organized retail theft.
- $5 million allocated to help alleviate the burden on small businesses for additional security measures. Funding provides a $3,000 tax credit for any small businesses that spend the threshold amount of money on retail theft prevention measures.
“Retail theft and quality-of-life crimes impact more than just the businesses that experience them—they impact entire neighborhoods. That is why I dedicated tremendous resources last year to fight the scourge of organized retail crime,” Hochul said. “While today’s numbers represent significant progress in the fight against retail theft, we will not back down. I remain committed to supporting our businesses and their workers to restore a sense of security and peace of mind for shoppers and store owners alike.”
Retail Council of New York State president and CEO Melissa O’Connor added, “Today’s announcement regarding the decline in retail theft throughout New York is a result of strong and consistent collaboration among retailers, law enforcement, prosecutors, community groups and Gov. Hochul. Organized retail crime and habitual retail theft is more than just a financial loss for retailers investing in the state, it is a community safety issue that needs to be managed accordingly. I want to thank the governor for listening to the industry’s concerns several months ago, and importantly, for taking effective action. We will continue to partner with all stakeholders to ensure a safe and enjoyable shopping experience in New York State.”
