BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – A new effort in New York to put the kibosh on the five-finger discount.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul first announced her initiative to cut down on retail theft in her budget address earlier this year.
It includes $25 million to state police for a retail theft unit, as well as funding for district attorneys and local law enforcement, and to cover security costs for businesses.
Hochul has also called to increase penalties for violence against retail workers.
“These individuals are very exposed, especially in a small shop with just one worker. They don’t have any way to protect themselves. They’re literally on the front line. Under this law, assaulting a retail worker would carry the same elevated penalties that we have in place for assaulting a first responder. Retail theft has been long characterized as a petty crime, but calling it that makes it sound small and trivial,” she said.
Hochul said that thriving businesses are vital to communities and called on the legislature to pass the $40 million to help state and local officials cut down on retail theft.
