Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida has just lately signed HB 549 with the purpose of combating retail theft, porch piracy, and looting inspired by social media. The invoice will increase penalties for these crimes to scale back theft and keep the protection of Florida residents and companies.

The United States Chamber of Commerce studies that organized retail theft has led to roughly 700,000 job losses nationwide, attributing this determine to financial losses surpassing $125 billion.

The provisions of the brand new legislation embrace:

• A 3rd-degree felony, punishable by as much as 5 years in jail, for retail theft involving 5 or extra people.
• A second-degree felony, punishable by as much as 15 years in jail, for retail theft involving 5 or extra people and using social media to solicit participation.
• A primary-degree felony, punishable by as much as 30 years in jail, for retail theft involving a firearm or two or extra prior retail theft convictions.
• The flexibility to cost a felony for a number of retail thefts inside a 120-day interval, a rise from the earlier 30-day restrict.

Penalties for porch piracy have additionally elevated:

• Theft of property valued at lower than $40 is a first-degree misdemeanor.
• A subsequent violation is a third-degree felony.
• Theft of property valued at $40 or extra is a third-degree felony.

Comparable Legal guidelines Being Handed in Different States

Pennsylvania additionally enacted a brand new legislation this yr to crack down on looters and thieves, which was accredited with sturdy bipartisan help within the state.

Sen. Dave Argall (R-29) launched the invoice after seeing the surprising studies of widespread looting in Philadelphia and plenty of different cities.

Senate Invoice 596 imposes first-degree felony offense, which can lead to as much as 20 years in jail, for thieves who steal $50,000 price of products and intend to resell them.

In 2023 Alabama, Indiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Oregon joined Texas and Virginia in implementing new retail theft legal guidelines.

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