New York State Announces Initiative to Combat Shoplifting and Internal Attacks on Small Retail Businesses: Stiffened Penalties and Increased Policing to Protect Traders

The robberies and the internal attacks small retail businesses and winters around the Big Apple have been almost daily bread for thousands of shopkeepers who suffer economic losses and acts of violence, and in many cases prefer not to report Data about these crimes shows that in the last six years has been increasingand so New York State announced an initiative that seeks to stop criminals, stiffen penaltiesand protect traders.

At a press conference held this Thursday, and days after approving the New York budget of $237 billion For the next fiscal year, the State Governor, Kathy Hochulhe warned the criminals who attack small stores, that now they have to think twice before doing their actions.

The president announced that they will be distributed $40.2 billion for the New York State Police and local law enforcement offices and prosecutors who are fighting a growing theft Retail storesjust as they are created new penalties for serious crimes for assaulting a sales employee. Buyers like Jose Lopezwho has a store in Queens and assured that these measures were necessary because now criminals will know that their actions will have greater penalties, calling for the need for even tougher sentences, especially with repeat offenders.

Likewise, within the plan to combat shoplifting, the Governor ensured that store and warehouse owners would have access to a tax credit of $5 million dollars to invest in and improve your security camera systems and other anti-theft costs.

“I promised to fight against organized theft in retail stores, and in this budget we achieved it,” said the president of the state, after revealing that criminals have been creating new robbery strategies, which is at the risk of workers and owners, and now it can be fought. , not only in business but also to those who sell stolen goods on the Internet. “Sophisticated organized retail theft operations put front-line workers and the resale of stolen goods on online marketplaces at risk, and we are taking new measures to stop this chaos. “

Hochul stressed that the new measures, which want to be implemented as a comprehensive plan, give more power to law enforcement, prosecutors and business owners, especially in those parts of the cities where the most crimes happen and the most vulnerable. The announcement is part of the three-year plan to fight crime in all parts of New York.

Figures from the State of New York show that theft crimes increased in the Big Apple an increase of 51% between 2017 and 2023, while thefts, grand thefts and petty thefts increased by 86%, data that is in line with the constant complaints of winemakers, who say they are tired of constantly suffering from thefts and attacks in their businesses .

Nelson Eusebio, founded by the National Association of Supermarkets CAPS, that the initiatives that begin will be implemented effectively to support merchants and fight theft in retail shops, as well as employees and customers.

“This state budget is a real win and it tackles the problem of retail theft. “Retail workers, who were considered essential during the pandemic, needed help and we are glad that Governor Hochul and the state Legislature have delivered,” said the small business leader.

Paul Zuber, The executive vice president of the New York State Business Council, which brings together small businesses, pointed out that prioritizing greater security measures and protecting those who generate jobs and contribute to state and local economies, to some extent large number of immigrants, including thousands of Latinos, is a means of providing tools to improve the conditions currently faced by winemakers and shopkeepers.

Plan against warehouse theft will increase sentences for attackers. /Photo by Edwin Martinez.

“Retail theft has become a major concern for businesses across the state, especially small businesses with exposed inventory, making them susceptible to such crimes,” said the small business representative.

Apart from, Brooklyn Prosecutor Eric GonzalezAlthough New York City has made significant progress in combating violence in communities, Albany’s new measures to stop retail theft and protect retail workers will have a major impact.

“This legislation marks a milestone, an important step in our continued efforts to ensure the safety of New Yorkers and provide funding to develop successful anti-theft programs, including our felony certificates to stop repeat offenders,” said the Hispanic prosecutor. “This shows a strong commitment to addressing shoplifting. Together, we are making a clear statement: our communities and the hardworking people who serve in them deserve to work in environments without law and fear.”

Points of the plan to stop shoplifting and winters

• $5 million to help wineries and small businesses with additional security equipment, such as cameras
• Strengthening criminal sanctions for offenders who assault a retail employee, elevating that act from a misdemeanor to a felony
• Allow prosecutors to combine the value of stolen property when filing larceny charges
• Act unlawfully to promote the sale of stolen goods to pursue third-party sellers, including those who trade in stolen goods on the Internet
• $40.2 billion will be invested in law enforcement agencies dedicated to combating retail theft, including police, county prosecutors and local authorities
• 100 members of the New York State Police dedicated to fighting organized retail theft