Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced new legislation aimed at cracking down on retail theft, hoping to prevent the same crime wave seen in the liberal state from reaching the Sunshine State.
In 2022, retailers across the country will lose $112 billion to retail theft, with spikes in major cities like New York, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., while shoplifting in Florida has increased by 30% since DeSantis first took office. % decreased. Republican governor.
DeSantis wants to continue that downward trend, and announced Tuesday that under his proposal, people who already have two or more convictions for theft with a firearm or retail theft. It was announced that this would be a first-degree felony. A first-degree felony in Florida is punishable by up to 30 years in prison or a fine of up to $10,000.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced new legislation aimed at cracking down on retail theft, hoping to prevent the same crime wave seen in the liberal state from reaching the Sunshine State. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
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He also made it a second-degree felony if the offender uses social media to solicit others to participate in retail theft, and a third-degree felony if the offender commits retail theft with five or more people. I also want
A second-degree felony in Florida is punishable by up to 15 years in prison or a fine of up to $10,000, and a third-degree felony can be punishable by up to five years in prison or a fine of up to $5,000.
His bill would also address “porch piracy,” the theft of parcels from private property, a third-degree felony if the parcel is valued between $40 and $100.
“If you commit a crime in Florida, you will be held accountable,” DeSantis said. “We will not tolerate retail crime, porch piracy, and the illegal activities that are tolerated in California and New York.”
Citing a national survey by Forbes, DeSantis said about 41% of small and medium-sized retailers said the value of stolen goods increased in 2023 compared to the previous year.
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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis reported staggering business losses due to theft. (DeSantis 2024)
He found that 75% of small businesses report monthly losses of $500 to $2,500 due to theft, while 85% of small businesses experience theft at least once a year. said that only 5% of small business retailers report never experiencing theft.
The most common measure small business retailers reported taking to reduce theft was increasing prices (64%).
He said retailers in high-crime states like New York are losing more than $4 billion, and shoplifting is up 63 percent in New York City alone.
“Cities and states that have effectively legalized shoplifting have created a culture of illegality that harms local businesses and undermines the quality of life,” DeSantis wrote about X while announcing the bill. “Florida is a nation of laws and we look forward to working with Congress to crack down on retail theft.”
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Secretary Mark Glass welcomed the bill.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said he has no intention of rolling back the law. (Fox News Digital)
“Governor DeSantis continues to strengthen Florida’s laws to combat organized retail theft and crack down on professional shoplifting seen in other states,” Glass said.
“He is ensuring that Florida remains safe for families, thriving for our businesses and a paradise for visitors.”
The bill has a good chance of passing, given that the Florida Legislature has strong majorities in both the state Senate and state House of Representatives.
