In an effort to stamp down on retail theft and porch piracy, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has inked a bill that's set to beef up penalties across the Sunshine State. Speaking at a Walgreens in Stuart, DeSantis laid down the law with his signature on HB 549, a move that aims to turn Florida into a tougher place for "smash and grab" thieves and package pilferers. "If you order something and come back home... the package is going to be there and if it's not, someone will have to pay for it," DeSantis declared, as reported by NBC Miami.
Under the new law, set to officially hit the books come Oct. 1, offenders can quickly find themselves facing anything from a third-degree felony for minor thefts to far more severe charges. Those audacious enough to orchestrate thefts through social media are looking at a second-degree felony rap, while crooks using a gun or with prior convictions could potentially get slapped with a first-degree felony. DeSantis also took a swipe at other states with more lenient laws, claiming Florida's tough stance is to ensure that retailers can keep their shelves stocked and that consumers aren't shouldering the cost of organized theft, according to WPBF.
The bill takes a no-nonsense approach, targeting individuals who partake in retail theft alongside five or more accomplices, with penalties reaching up to 5 years behind bars. Things get even more serious for those using social media as a tool to rally participants for a heist. Their actions could to lead a sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
The problem of porch piracy also gets a tackle head-on by the legislation, with thefts of items valued over $40 from a home now constituting a third-degree felony. Escalate that to a campaign of stealing from more than 20 homes, and the law will come down even harder with a second-degree felony charge. “Florida is a law-and-order state, and our policies combating organized retail theft are another shining example of how we are leading the nation,” Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody told WPBF in a nod to the bill's aspirations.
