"In the years immediately following the pandemic, retail theft became a business-busting, job-killing plague in New York. Professional shoplifters used the five-finger discount more effectively than they had in years, grabbing whatever they could get their hands on and selling the hot commodities online for profit. The city and state fought back not by sending in armed troops, but with common-sense solutions."
"Gov. Kathy Hochul proclaimed in Harlem on Tuesday that such efforts have worked. Retail theft is down 12% in New York City this year alone, with 5,000 fewer incidents reported. Even with that progress, shoplifting continues around the city. Indeed, there are recidivist thieves who still walk the streets and still pilfer stores; they keep getting caught, and cops and prosecutors are flabbergasted that many of them still walk the streets."
Overall violent crime in New York City has fallen to levels not seen since before the COVID-19 pandemic, with record lows for shootings and homicides. Transit crime has decreased and ridership is rebounding. Retail theft surged after the pandemic as professional shoplifters sold stolen goods online, harming businesses and jobs. The city and state responded with tougher penalties for assaults on retail workers and greater prosecutorial authority to charge theft crews. Retail theft is down 12% this year with 5,000 fewer incidents, but repeat offenders continue to be released due to judicial misapplication of the law, sustaining recidivism concerns.
Read at www.amny.com
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