District attorneys across New York City are trying to tighten the screws on shoplifters by training retailers on methods to ban repeat offenders — and threaten serious prison sentences if they attempt to shoplift again.
The new training programs come as swaths of products in retail pharmacies have come under lock and key, and as customers complain about enduring long waits to buy items like toothpaste.
The new strategy, which involves “trespass notices” that warn alleged shoplifters they’ll face burglary charges if they return, gives prosecutors a way to bump offenses out of an overwhelmed misdemeanor court and detain a person on Rikers unless they can pay cash bail…