Posted on 03/04/2023 10:55:09 AM PST by thecodont
During an appearance last year on the morning show, “Fox and Friends,” a former chief executive of Home Depot described a rise in shoplifting in dire terms. “Today, this thing is an epidemic,” he said. “It’s spreading faster than COVID.” The executive joined a long list of industry leaders, from Walmart to Walgreens, encouraging police and prosecutors to crack down on theft. Retailers say they’ll be forced to raise prices or shutter affected stores without help to address a growing threat — organized bands of shoplifters ransacking stores with the intent to resell the looted merchandise. This article was published in partnership with Slate.
In a handful of states, lawmakers have reacted swiftly. Last year, legislators in California, Florida, Louisiana and North Carolina stiffened penalties for stealing from stores, adding language to target people who act in concert or rob multiple outlets. Under a law amended in Louisiana, for example, anyone caught stealing as part of a group could now face up to seven years in prison.
Retail lobbyists say this kind of theft is a problem for stores large and small in every state. But it’s unclear how much worse retail theft has become. National statistics are unreliable. Nearly 40% of law enforcement agencies did not report their most recent crime data to the FBI, The Marshall Project reported in June. Even if they had, most police departments do not have a separate category to distinguish retail theft from other kinds of robberies and larceny.
And yet, lawmakers in at least 11 states are considering legislation that would more harshly punish people caught stealing from stores with the intent to resell merchandise.
(Excerpt) Read more at themarshallproject.org ...
Uh, “panic” over shoplifting? DAs in big cities don’t care. That’s why the stores have insurance right? Grrrrrrrr!
Yeah, the coils of 12/2 romex are in a locked cage now...
In a handful of states, lawmakers have reacted swiftly. Last year, legislators in California, Florida, Louisiana and North Carolina stiffened penalties for stealing from stores,
Penalties for Shoplifting
As we mentioned earlier, shoplifting is usually a misdemeanor with possible penalties of:
Misdemeanor probation
Up to six months in county jail, and/or
A fine of up to $1,000.
However, if you have a prior conviction that includes:
Anything that requires you to register as a sex offender;
Any felony that is punishable by life in prison on death;
Murder, attempted murder or solicitation of murder;
Gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated;
Assault with a machine gun on a peace officer or firefighter; or
Possession of a weapon of mass destruction
You can be charged with felony shoplifting, which is punishable by formal probation, up to three years in county jail and/or a fine of up to $10,000.
might be upgraded to a FELONY SHOPLIFTING.
Defenses for Shoplifting Charges
Being accused of shoplifting can be an embarrassing and anxious ordeal. The good news is you have defenses available that can work to get charges reduced or dropped entirely.
Perhaps it was a case of mistaken identity, or the police violated your Fourth Amendment rights while searching you? Or most commonly, you never intended to steal anything when you walked into the shop?
If you or someone you know is facing shoplifting charges, the best thing you can do is talk with a criminal defense attorney to promptly begin building your defense. Call today for your free case evaluation — 877-744-8107.
Nearly 40% of law enforcement agencies did not report their most recent crime data to the FBI,
Critics of the legislative response say that decades of research on crime deterrence makes clear that a harsher approach won’t have the desired effect, and will exacerbate the system’s racial disparities.
read it, it has entertainment value.
“Under a law amended in Louisiana, for example, anyone caught stealing as part of a group could now face up to seven years in prison.”
Does this apply to joggers?
.
Now, Kehoe said, the company wants to try a new tactic: “More law enforcement, as opposed to security companies.”
Concluding paragraph. This is what the Portland business want also.
To directly pay law enforcement or contract with police.
Thoughts?
Some of the problem is caused BY businesses !!!
that REFUSE to prosecute the shoplifters, and actually tell employees not to even try to stop them or risk losing their jobs!
yep, total nonsense!
if someone is in jail that is 100% a deterrence to committing more crimes!
But the good intentions are a must. Everything else comes after that.
“Some of the problem is caused BY businesses !!!
that REFUSE to prosecute the shoplifters, and actually tell employees not to even try to stop them or risk losing their jobs!”
I have heard of shoplifters actually claiming that store employees injured them, suing them in court and winning.
It’s just piecemeal reparations.
I’m old enough to remember when shoplifting was actually a crime and punished with time in jail and fines.
Install whipping posts on the public squares and you could stop this in two weeks.
Robert Bork’s “Slouching Towards Gomorrah” has come to pass.
The entire world is going to be a “food desert” soon, thanks to people who think stealing is no big deal.
Intended consequences when you don’t do anything about the problems in urban city store locations. Many stores like Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, or closing urban stores do that stuff. In DC a great location is closing because the DC police will allow people to steal up to $1000 and not put them in jail.
They should be treated as if they are equal to Quantrill’s Raiders.
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