Shoplifting Rates Decline in New York
It seems like the days of stealing with ease are coming to an end. Shoplifting rates have dropped by 13% in New York City and throughout the state, a positive development highlighted by Governor Kathy Hochul on Wednesday as the holiday season approaches.
The governor celebrated her administration’s work, which includes a $40 million task force aimed at tackling the increase in thefts that followed the pandemic. With larger retailers adopting measures like blocking merchandise, the efforts have taken on added urgency.
“We aim to secure more funding to ensure our businesses can thrive, especially as we approach the holiday season,” Hochul said during an event in Brooklyn. She remarked that these efforts would significantly benefit local small shops.
According to NYPD statistics, retail thefts in the city have totaled 46,736 this year so far, a decline from 54,081 during the same timeframe last year, marking a 13.5% drop.
The governor’s enthusiastic announcement over the reduction in shoplifting echoed a previous report highlighting a 12% year-over-year decrease in retail thefts. In each instance, Hochul has attributed the improvement to the task force led by state police.
Running for re-election next year, Hochul explained that the task force is staffed by 100 full-time employees who collaborate with various law enforcement agencies and district attorneys.
The rise in shoplifting linked to the pandemic has led to significant losses for stores across the state, with a staggering $4.4 billion reported in losses in 2022 alone.
The task force’s initiatives to combat shoplifting have now become part of the national budget, alongside other measures designed to address retail theft.
Since its establishment in April, the task force has arrested 1,224 individuals and recovered over $2.6 million worth of stolen goods, as reported by the governor’s office.
However, there were no details provided by Hochul’s office regarding whether the drop in shoplifting arrests in New York City is directly linked to the task force’s activities.
“Since the pandemic, we’ve experienced a staggering 68% increase,” Hochul remarked about retail theft. “Just look at how significantly it has decreased in a year, thanks to our efforts.”
Other measures in the state budget aim to enhance law enforcement’s ability to target repeat offenders and third-party sellers of stolen goods. There are also plans to elevate attacks on retail employees from misdemeanors to felonies, in addition to providing $5 million in tax credits for small businesses looking to bolster their safety protocols.
