Retailers across New York state are sounding the alarm on the relentless surge of organized shoplifting rings, foreseeing potential outcomes like increased costs for consumers, store closures, and threats of violence against store employees. They reported losses of $4.4 billion last year due to retail theft, stressing the urgency for Governor Kathy Hochul to address this issue. However, Hochul vetoed a bipartisan bill that aimed to create a task force to combat organized theft, much to the disappointment of store owners.
The proposed bill sought to establish a 15-member panel consisting of experts appointed by the governor, legislature, and attorney general to address the rising concerns of retail theft. The Retail Council of New York State expressed extreme disappointment over Hochul’s veto and urged her to take immediate action to develop an effective and collaborative response.
Law enforcement officials across cities like New York City, Albany, and Syracuse have reported increased incidents of retail theft, attributing this spike to lenient punishment for shoplifters by progressive prosecutors. Syracuse Police Chief Joe Cecile highlighted a 55% spike in shoplifting since 2021, a figure likely underestimated as many incidents often go unreported, posing significant challenges for small businesses trying to stay afloat.
Reports from various locations in New York state reveal the severity of these incidents, with one local pharmacy chain in Syracuse alone suffering losses exceeding $250,000 per year due to organized retail theft. Concerns are not just limited to larger retailers; convenience stores report criminals causing significant damage as they target items like cigarettes and lottery tickets, putting store clerks at risk and leaving stores in disarray.
Albany, too, has witnessed a surge in larceny cases, prompting the closure of businesses like a convenience store that experienced a sharp rise in retail theft incidents. With arrests increasing for larceny and motor vehicle theft significantly exceeding the five-year average, concerns are mounting over the potential financial and safety impacts on businesses and their employees.
While some areas in New York, like Buffalo, have seen a decline in robberies and larcenies over the years, there’s been an upswing in organized retail thefts. Businesses in these areas have implored local authorities to increase patrols, expressing the distress caused by repeated thefts, which have led some shop owners to contemplate shutting down their establishments.
The trend of rising shoplifting incidents isn’t just confined to New York City; it extends across various regions in the state. The surge in retail theft, coupled with the vetoed legislation, has raised concerns about the lack of effective measures to tackle organized theft, leaving retailers and law enforcement grappling with the multifaceted challenges posed by these criminal activities.
