Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that will increase penalties for retail theft throughout Florida and seeks to prevent "smash and grab" thefts and porch piracy.
DeSantis signed the bill at a news conference Tuesday at a Walgreen's in Stuart.
The bill, HB 549, allows law enforcement to impose tougher punishments for retail theft, porch piracy and inciting looting through social media.
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"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 said.
The bill reduces the minimum threshold amount for an offense of grand theft of the third degree.
Also included in the law:
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• A third-degree felony, punishable up to 5 years in prison, if criminals commit retail theft with five or more individuals.
• A second-degree felony, punishable up to 15 years in prison, if criminals commit retail theft with five or more individuals and use social media to solicit others to participate in the theft.
• A first-degree felony, punishable up to 30 years in prison, if a criminal commits retail theft with a firearm or with two or more prior convictions of retail theft.
• The ability to charge a felony for multiple retail thefts occurring in the span of 120 days, which is an increase from 30 days.
DeSantis criticized laws in other states, such as California.
“This retail theft ring is a total scam,” DeSantis said. “You have liberal laws and these people are exploiting that to basically further themselves, knowing that they can loot a certain amount without really facing any significant penalties."
The Republican governor said the bill is part of his effort to make Florida a "law and order state."
"In Florida, we've seen a decline in retail theft in the past four years," said DeSantis. "We're going to make sure our retailers are able to sell products, that consumers are able to benefit and that people are held accountable when they break the law."
