Governor DeSantis Proposes Theft Bill To Combat Retail Theft | 30 Years Jail Time

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced a new bill that seeks to crack down on retail theft that has plagued our nation.

The new legislation would make theft with a firearm or theft with two or more convictions a first-degree felony.

In Florida, a first-degree felony is punishable by up to 30 years in prison.

This new legislation seeks to get ahead of the curve and combat the same retail theft that has forced significant retailers to move out of big cities.

Watch Ron DeSantis speak on the issue here:

Governor DeSantis Hosts a Press Conference Supporting Increased Penalties for Retail Theft https://t.co/9NvU0xD0o3

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) February 13, 2024

The folks at Fox News share more on the story:

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced new legislation aimed at cracking down hard on retail theft so that crime waves seen in liberal states do not come to the Sunshine State.

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In 2022, retailers across the country lost $112 billion to retail theft, with sharp increases in major cities like New York, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., whereas in Florida, shoplifting has decreased by 30% since DeSantis first took office, according to the Republican governor.

DeSantis wants to keep the downward trend going, announcing on Tuesday that it will be a first-degree felony if a person commits theft with a firearm or has already had two or more prior convictions of retail theft, under his proposal. A first-degree felony in Florida is punishable by up to 30 years in prison and/or fines of up to $10,000.

He also wants to make it a second-degree felony if criminals use social media to solicit others to participate in retail theft, while it will be a third-degree felony to commit retail theft with five or more individuals.

A second-degree felony in Florida carries up to 15 years in prison and/or fines up to $10,000, while a third-degree felony could jail criminals for up to five years and/or fines of up to $5,000.

His legislation will also tackle “porch piracy,” the stealing of delivery packages from private properties, which will become a third-degree felony if the package is valued between $40 and $100.

Democrat-run cities have become too relaxed on crime, and it has had disastrous results on their economy.

People thought petty theft did little harm to them because they were large corporations.

However, it has become apparent that these big retailers can’t keep up with the rampant theft.

DeSantis' retail theft bill includes up to 30 years' jail time for armed criminals. This is how you stop blatant ransacking of our retail stores. You can’t look the other way and hope it goes away, it doesn’t.https://t.co/SX9iH9EIfZ

— Paul Gazelka (@paulgazelka) February 15, 2024

See what Governor DeSantis says here:

$112 billion was lost in 2022 alone from retail theft, and it’s not just the money – it’s the deterioration of culture and the rule of law. pic.twitter.com/WAUb2ypZyl

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) February 13, 2024

News Press shares more on the story:

DeSantis focused on HB 549, a bill targeting retail theft by Rep. Bob Rommel, a Naples Republican. The bill would make it:

∎ a third-degree felony for people who join five or more individuals in retail theft;

∎ a second-degree felony for those who encourage others to join in in retail theft through social media; and

∎ a first-degree felony for any repeat offenders who have already been convicted of the same crime within one year.Also, the punishment for criminals who steal delivery packages, from private properties, “porch piracy” as referred to by DeSantis, will be a third-degree felony if the package is between $40-$100 in value.

This is a significant step to protect American business.

However, more must be done to incentivize retailers to protect their products.

Big retailers are too scared to stop thieves due to legal repercussions.