New Law Classifies Retail Theft and Assault as A Felony

By Idy Perl

Governor Hochul joined a coalition of retail workers and small business owners to announce a new law aiming to protect small businesses. The new law will increase penalties for thefts and assaults against retail workers and will provide a tax credit to business owners for additional security measures. 

According to the current law, assaults on retail workers and stolen property under $1,000 in value are only a class A Misdemeanor, which is punishable by fines up to $1,000 or up to a year in prison. Under the new law such crimes would be classified as felonies, which are more serious and are punishable by much longer prison sentences. This will hopefully deter potential criminals from targeting small businesses. 

"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."

The new law went into effect yesterday.