Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced new legislation aimed at cracking down on retail theft so that the crime waves seen in liberal states do not reach the Sunshine State.
In 2022, retailers nationwide lost $112 billion to retail theft, with sharp increases in major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., while in Florida, shoplifting is down 30% since DeSantis first took office, according to the Republican Governor.
DeSantis wants to maintain the downward trend and announced Tuesday that it will be a first-degree felony if a person commits robbery with a firearm or has already had two or more previous convictions for retail robbery, according to 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.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced new legislation aimed at cracking down on retail theft so that the crime waves seen in liberal states do not reach the Sunshine State. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
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He also wants to make it a second-degree felony if criminals use social media to solicit others to participate in a retail theft, while it will be a third-degree felony to commit retail theft with five or more people.
A second-degree felony in Florida carries up to 15 years in prison and/or fines of up to $10,000, while a third-degree felony could imprison criminals for up to five years and/or fines of up to $5,000.
His legislation will also address “porch hacking,” the theft of delivery packages on private property, which will become a third-degree felony if the package is valued between $40 and $100.
“If you commit a crime in Florida, you will be held accountable,” DeSantis said. “We will not tolerate retail crime, porch pirates and the lawlessness they allow in California and New York.”
DeSantis, citing a national Forbes study, said about 41% of small retailers said the value of stolen items in 2023 has increased compared to previous years.
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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis reported staggering business losses due to theft. (DeSantis 2024)
It said 75% of small business retailers reported monthly losses between $500 and $2,500 due to theft, while 85% of small business retailers said they experience theft at least once a year, and only 5% of Small business retailers report never experiencing theft.
Price gouging (64%) was the most popular measure small business retailers reported implementing to reduce theft.
In high-crime states like New York, retailers lost more than $4 billion, while shoplifting has increased by 63% in New York City alone, he said.
“Cities and states that have effectively legalized shoplifting have harmed their local businesses and created a culture of lawlessness that has harmed the quality of life,” DeSantis wrote in X, while announcing the legislation. “FL is a law and order state, and I look forward to working with the legislature to crack down on retail theft.”
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass welcomed the proposed legislation.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis says he will not back down on law enforcement. (Fox News Digital)
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“Governor DeSantis continues to strengthen Florida's laws to combat organized retail theft, cracking down on the type of professional shoplifting we've seen in other states,” Glass said.
“It is ensuring Florida remains safe for families, prosperous for our businesses and a paradise for our visitors.”
The legislation would have a good chance of becoming law, given that the Florida state legislature has strong majorities in both the state Senate and the state House of Representatives.
