NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the details of her $45 million proposal to fight retail theft including a new “smash and grab” police task force, during the 600th daily meeting of the Gun Violence Strategies Partnership conference on Wednesday.
“Public safety is my top priority, and I won't rest until every New Yorker feels safe on our streets, subways and storefronts,” Hochul said. “Over the past three years we've made incredible progress on driving down violent crime and fighting the scourge of gun violence. Now, we're using those same strategies to take on the quality-of-life issues like retail theft and property crime.”
Hochul explained that she will be utilizing the tools used in the interstate task force on illegal guns in 2021, for the proposed plan to fight retail theft.
According to Hochul’s statement, from 2017 to 2023 larceny offenses rose by more than 50% in New York City.
The plan includes the launch of the Retail Theft Joint Operation with all levels of law enforcement to combat retail theft and property crimes. The joint operation would be coordinating law enforcement responses similar to the interstate task force on illegal guns.
The plan will also target “boosters” who pass along stolen goods by “introducing legislation to establish criminal penalties for online marketplaces and third-party sellers that foster the sale of stolen goods and increase criminal penalties for assaulting retail workers.”
Hochul will also set up a New York State Police Smash and Grab Enforcement Unit.
The executive budget includes $25.2 million in funding to create a new state police enforcement unit and fund a selected state police team to build cases against organized retail theft rings.
“We have to protect these workers and send a message that there are consequences when you touch one of these individuals who is exposed, who's out there providing a service for gosh sakes,” Hochul said.
According to the plan, district attorneys will also receive $10 million to prosecute property crime cases and set up special retail theft teams. Local law enforcement will get $5 million from the state to strengthen their efforts against retail theft and business owners will be able to access $5 million through a Commercial Security Tax Credit to help cover the expenses of certain store security measures.
“Just like we did with gun violence, I know that we can employ the same strategies, bring the smart people together, forming coalitions, giving resources, changing the laws,” Hochul said. “We can do exactly what we did with gun violence. Drive it down. We can do this when it comes to retail theft.”