by Daniel Stefanski | May 1, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A legislative solution to crack down on organized retail theft crimes in Arizona was vetoed by the state’s Democrat governor.
Last week, Governor Katie Hobbs, vetoed SB 1414, which would have “require[d] a person who is convicted of a third or subsequent organized retail theft offense to be sentenced as a category two repetitive offender in certain circumstances” – according to the overview from the Arizona House of Representatives.
In her veto letter to Senate President Warren Petersen, Hobbs didn’t give a direct reason for why she took this action on this particular bill. Instead, she pointed to another proposal that she had signed into law, writing, “I have signed Sen. Gowan’s bill SB 1411 establishing an Organized Retail Theft Task Force in the Attorney General’s office that will be critical to adequately and appropriately combat this issue. Their first report is due July 1, 2025 and I look forward to reviewing their policy recommendations and working together to find balanced policies for this matter.”
The Arizona Senate Republicans Caucus’ “X” account respond to the Governor’s veto, saying, “Soft-on-crime Democrats with their relentless pursuit of treating criminals like victims will quickly change Arizona into the nightmare California has become. Law-abiding citizens should be outraged Katie Hobbs vetoed SB 1414, which would have established tougher punishments for retail thieves. Senate Republicans will continue to support policy that promotes safe communities and discourages criminals from victimizing our citizens and businesses.”
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell also weighed in, stating, “By vetoing a prosecutors and retailers-supported bill for harsher penalties for retail thieves who want to sell what they steal, Katie Hobbs has shown us she is cut of the same weak on crime cloth as Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, LA DA George Gascon, and Cook County State’s Atty Kim Foxx. Fortunately, she’s not in charge of a prosecution office. We will continue to hold thieves accountable.”
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from the Arizona Retailers Association, City of Phoenix, Arizona Food Marketing Alliance, Fraternal Order of Police, City of Glendale, City of Buckeye, City of Litchfield Park, Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, City of Chandler, and City of Surprise signed in to support the legislation. A representative from the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona opposed the bill.
The Arizona Senate had passed the bill in February with a bipartisan 18-10 vote (with two members not voting). Earlier this month, the Arizona House approved the legislation, after amending it, with a bipartisan 37-22 vote (with one member not voting). The Senate then concurred with the House’s changes, albeit with a partisan 16-14 split.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Apr 26, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Arizona government officials are taking action against organized retail theft in their state.
Earlier this month, Governor Katie Hobbs signed SB 1411, which “creates the Organized Retail Theft Task Force to combat organized retail theft by collaborating with law enforcement agencies, investigating cases of organized retail theft and making recommendation for legislative action to combat retail theft” – according to the overview from the Arizona House of Representatives.
The bill’s sponsor, Senator David Gowan, cheered on the signing of his proposal, writing, “Just last week, three people were arrested for a retail theft spree across Phoenix and Tucson that totaled around $500,000 in stolen merchandise. This type of criminal activity is on the rise, especially in Democrat-controlled states with soft on crime attitudes, and we must create laws to help law enforcement crack down on it. Thankfully, my bill SB 1411, which establishes a task force to combat crimes that relate to stealing, embezzling or obtaining retail merchandise by fraud, false pretenses, or other illegal means for the purposes of reselling the items, was signed into law. The task force will be comprised of federal, state, and local law enforcement, in order to use their combined skills, expertise, and resources more effectively. It will also create a system for law enforcement to work together to fight this criminal activity.
Gowan added, “I’m happy to support our small and large business owners with this measure. Republicans are committed to preventing this nasty trend we’re watching explode in California from exploding in Arizona too.”
SB 1411 “instructs the Attorney General to establish the Organized Retail Theft Task Force to combat crimes related to stealing, embezzling or obtaining retail merchandise by fraud, false pretenses or other illegal means for the purpose of reselling the items.” It also “requires the Attorney General to invite federal, state and local law enforcement personnel to participate in the Task Force to enhance the efficiency of law enforcement agencies.”
In March, the State Senate overwhelmingly passed the legislation with a bipartisan 22-4 vote (with four members not voting). After being transmitted across the courtyard at the Arizona Capitol, the bill was approved by the State House with a 43-16 tally (with one vacant seat) earlier this month. Hobbs signed the proposal on April 16.
State Senator Janae Shamp and State Representative Justin Wilmeth, both Republicans, were cosponsors of the bill.
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from the Arizona Retailers Association, Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Arizona Food Marketing Alliance, National Federation of Independent Business, Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, CVS Health, and Quiktrip endorsed the legislation.
SB 1411 will go into effect 90 days after the Arizona Legislature adjourns for 2024.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Sep 13, 2023 | Economy, News
By Daniel Stefanski |
The top prosecutor for Arizona’s largest county continues to take a tough stand against organized retail theft in her jurisdiction.
Last week, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced that charges were being filed against an individual who allegedly robbed a jewelry store in Old Town Scottsdale.
The crime occurred in the late morning of September 1 at Marina Jewelers. People outside the store were alerted to the fact that a man running out of the store had purportedly stolen jewelry from the store, and acted to detain him until police arrived to make the arrest.
Mitchell revealed that the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office would be charging this individual with Class 2 Theft – in addition to other charges – because of the amount he tried to take from the store. The primary charge, she informed reporters, came with a mandatory prison sentence.
In her opening statement to the press, Mitchell explained that organized retail theft prosecutions have been a priority for her office – not only because of the impact on the businesses experiencing the direct heists – but because of the impact to the community, which includes empty buildings, and loss of jobs, services, or goods. She pointed out that the consequences of these crimes often affect poorer parts of town before trickling to more affluent neighborhoods, making it more difficult for consumers to acquire the goods and services they need for their everyday lives.
The County Attorney highlighted how other states and jurisdictions handle organized retail thefts – especially where prosecutors have set a threshold of $1,000 to activate charges. She emphasized to any potential or current criminals who may be watching: “in Arizona that has not been done.” Her office is willing to prosecute some cases, when appropriate, as felonies.
During her opening remarks, Mitchell twice stated that “this is not the state you want to be in to mimic the behavior you see on the news in other parts of the country, such as Los Angeles.” She referred to Los Angeles as a “hellscape,” in part, due to its lax standards for holding criminals accountable for their organized retail theft offenses.
Later in her press conference, Mitchell returned to this issue of organized retail theft due to a reporter’s question. Mitchell shared that when she took office, she “felt like our specialized retail theft prosecutors were limited to too high of a dollar amount before they could get involved,” noting that some of these lawbreakers commit smaller offenses at place after place. She informed her audience that upon taking office, one of her initial acts was to lower the value threshold to allow her prosecutors to get involved in the cases earlier, and the second was to create a task force within the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and link their efforts with those of the Arizona Retailers Association.
Mitchell promised that her office is continuing to look at ways to reduce the instances of organized retail theft in the county and to make sure that her jurisdiction does not become like Los Angeles.
In July 2022, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office formed an organized retail theft taskforce, featuring “a group of specialized prosecutors and detectives who will work with local law enforcement and the Arizona Retailer’s Association to address criminal acts involving organized retail theft.” Mitchell at that time said, “Retail stores are being devasted by groups who recklessly and intentionally take what they want and leave destruction in their wake. Many are organized gangs who have found new funding sources with stolen merchandise and the impact of this affects everyone of us.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
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