California set the example for how to let thieves get away with too much. People in the left coast state have little recourse against anyone who swipes their belongings right out from under their noses.
The cancer of this “let them steal” attitude spread across the country as Americans suffered under lenient laws and weak prosecutors who wouldn’t hold criminals accountable. Blue states appeared more than willing to follow the California example.
Thieves may want to think twice if they plan on swiping in the Sunshine State. This red state laid down the law on rampant thefts and proposed harsher penalties.
From the Washington Examiner:
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) signed legislation on Tuesday that will toughen penalties for retail and package theft in Florida.Package theft will now be considered a third-degree felony if the item is worth $40 or more, a third-degree felony for a subsequent violation, and a first-degree misdemeanor for property worth less than $40.
“If you order something and they leave it at your front door, you come home from work or you bring your kids home from school, the package is gonna be there, and if it’s not, someone is gonna have hell to pay for stealing it,” DeSantis said.
There are also harsher penalties for crowds of thieves. The retail theft clauses will hit hard if five or more criminals work together to steal and if social media is used to carry out the crime. The goal is to cut down on “flash mob thefts.” This is where groups organize online, flood stores, and overwhelm store staff to steal products.
“This retail theft ring is a total scam,” DeSantis said. “You have liberal laws, and these people are exploiting that to basically further themselves, knowing that they can loot a certain amount without really facing any significant penalties.”
California has been ground zero for “flash mob thefts.” This was highlighted when a large group of masked robbers broke into luxury Los Angeles retail locations. The law was on the side of the criminals. California put in place Proposition 47 in 2014, rendering thefts of up to $950 as misdemeanors, up from $400. The hope was to reduce prison populations. Florida allows up to $750.
A press release from DeSantis’s office stated that New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have experienced the sharpest increases in theft, while shoplifting has decreased 30% in Florida since DeSantis took office. The governor credited Florida’s harsh retail theft laws.
“Florida is a law-and-order state, and our policies combating organized retail theft are another shining example of how we are leading the nation,” said Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody.
Key Takeaways:
- Ron DeSantis signed into law harsher penalties for thieves in the Sunshine State.
- Thefts in blue cities increased while Florida’s thefts decreased, DeSantis said.
- The Republican governor said thugs can expect to have “hell to pay” for stealing.
Source: Washington Examiner
