Bipartisan bill would increase penalties for repeat shoplifters
COLONIE – Republican state Sen. Jake Ashby joined other local elected officials at Colonie Center Thursday, Feb. 1, to promote the state legislative action to combat the increase in retail crime. Colonie Center has been suffering from a spike in retail crime after the state implemented criminal justice and bail reforms in 2019.
Ashby said the time is now to fix the problem.
“In the State Legislature, we don’t need to wait for the budget to act. In fact, it doesn’t cost a dime to fix these laws,” Ashby said. “I sponsor a bipartisan bill with Assemblyman (Angelo) Santabarbara to increase criminal penalties on repeat offenders. It’s about establishing real deterrence.”
Ashby and Santabarbara, a Democrat, sponsored the bill, which would increase criminal penalties against repeat shoplifters and help crack down on repeat offenders of petit larceny.
The Senate Bill S7599, introduced July 12, amends the penal law in relation to grand larceny in the fourth degree. Santabarbara introduced the Assembly version.