Governor Hochul, Retail Workers and Small Business Owners Celebrate New Landmark Protections Against Organized Retail Theft
New Felony Penalties Created for Assaulting a Retail Worker $5 Million Tax Credit Available to Business Owners for Security Cameras and Other Anti-Theft Expenses $40.2 Million for Dedicated Retail Theft Teams for New York State Police and Local Law Enforcement Governor Kathy Hochul today joined a coalition of frontline retail workers and small business owners to celebrate new protections against organized retail theft that were signed into law with the FY25 State Budget. This comprehensive approach puts more power in the hands of law enforcement, prosecutors and business owners – targeting every area of vulnerability. The new protections include increased criminal penalties for anyone who assaults a retail worker elevating it from a misdemeanor to a felony, and includes a $5 million tax credit to help small business owners invest in added security measures. Governor Hochul’s FY25 State Budget again makes historic investments in public safety and builds on three years of progress driving down crime statewide. “I promised the retail workers and our small business owners that I would protect them – and we are doing just that,” Governor Hochul said. “Here in New York, we are standing up to organized retail theft, backing our businesses and their workers with the full force of the law, and restoring that sense of security and peace of mind so they can focus on what they do best.” Governor Hochul’s focus on organized retail theft comes as crime data shows a significant spike in these crimes over the past six years. Larceny offenses in New York City have spiked by 51 percent between 2017 and 2023. Robberies, grand larceny and petit larceny in New York City are up by 86 percent during that same time period. The FY25 State Budget includes Governor Hochul’s five-point plan to fight organized retail theft: Governor Hochul’s commitment to fighting retail theft in the FY25 Budget builds on core strategies that have driven violent crime to historic lows. As a result of programs like the Gun Involved Violence Elimination Initiative (GIVE), which provides funding to local law enforcement in 21 counties outside of New York City, gun crimes have seen dramatic drops. Last quarter, GIVE regions had the lowest number of shootings on record, and New York City had the lowest number of shootings in any quarter since the pandemic. Since 2021, murders statewide are down 30 percent. ‘Information provided by Governor Kathy Hochuls Office.
