Gov. DeSantis talks about combating retail theft in Cape Coral

Writer: Nicholas Karsen
Published: Updated:
DeSantis
Republican presidetial candidate Florida Gov. Ro DeSantis speaks during a meet and greet, Saturday Oct. 4, 2023 in Creston, Iowa. CREDIT CHARLIE NEIBERGALL/AP

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference in Cape Coral regarding methods of combating retail theft.

Attorney General Ashley Moody and Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass were also in attendance.

The press conference began at 10 a.m., on Tuesday at the Cape Coral Police Department located at 1100 Cultural Park Boulevard.

During the conference, DeSantis spoke about how approximately $112 billion was lost from retail theft in 2022.

He put a heavy emphasis on deterring people from stealing from a retail establishment by increasing the penalties.

DeSantis proposed upgrading penalty of petty theft and retail theft from a misdemeanor to a first-degree offense.

During the conference, DeSantis mentioned enacting an additional first-degree offense titled “aggravated retail theft.”

Anyone who uses a firearm or had two offensives of retail theft will be charged with the aforementioned offense.

In his proposal, DeSantis spoke on upgrading premeditated thefts involving a large group of people to orchestrate a retail theft to a third-degree offense.

Included in said proposal, utilizing social media to conduct a retail theft will be charged as a second-degree offense.

He then continued to mention how Florida is at a 50 year low in regard to crime rate, while crediting the cause to being a “law-and-order” state.

Attorney General Ashley Moody then followed DeSantis to further reiterate how effective Florida law has been at deterring retail theft.

She also brought up the pervasive issue of porch piracy, stating how it needs to be addressed further.

If the proposal passes, porch pirates will be charged with a second-degree felony for stealing property valued at $100 or more.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass then elaborated on methods thieves use to steal from retail establishments.

Glass emphasized the need for the public to report instances of retail theft so authorities can locate and convict the people responsible.

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