Florida Governor Ron DeSantis unveiled a legislative proposal aimed at addressing the surge in retail theft and porch piracy witnessed in Sebastian, Vero Lake Estates, Micco, and around the state.
In 2022, retail theft inflicted a $112 billion loss on retailers across the United States, with significant spikes observed in major urban centers such as New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. Howevever, Florida has seen a 30% reduction in shoplifting incidents since Governor DeSantis assumed office.
Governor DeSantis emphasized, “If you commit a crime in Florida, you are going to be held accountable,” he said, adding, “We will not tolerate retail crime, porch pirates and the lawlessness that they allow in California and New York.”
Echoing this sentiment, Attorney General Ashley Moody remarked, “Florida is a law-and-order state, and we take action when we see concerning crime trends that could harm Floridians,” she said, adding, ”We are leaders in the fight against organized retail theft, and I’m thrilled to stand with Governor DeSantis today to continue our goal of stopping theft by supporting legislation to stamp out porch piracy.”
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass stated, “Governor DeSantis continues to strengthen Florida laws to fight organized retail theft, cracking down on the kind of professional shoplifting that we’ve seen plague other states,” he said, adding, “He is ensuring Florida will stay safe for families, prosperous for our businesses and a paradise for our visitors.”
A Forbes national study highlighted the impact of theft on small business retailers:
- 41% of small business retailers said the value of items stolen in 2023 has increased compared to previous years.
- 75% of small business retailers reported monthly losses between $500 and $2,500 due to theft.
- 85% of small business retailers said they experience theft at least once a year, and just 5% of small business retailers report never experiencing theft.
- Increasing prices (64%) was the most popular measure small business retailers reported implementing to reduce theft.
In states with high crime rates like New York, retailers have faced over $4 billion in losses, with shoplifting in New York City alone soaring by 63%. To prevent such issues in Florida, Governor DeSantis plans to enhance current measures by proposing:
- Third degree felony if you commit retail theft with five or more individuals.
- Second degree felony if criminals use social media to solicit others to participate in retail theft.
- First degree felony if an individual commits retail theft with a firearm or has already had two or more prior convictions of retail theft.
- Reducing the stolen property value necessary to charge criminals with a felony for stealing delivered packages.
