Oklahoma retailers say decreased shoplifting penalties approved by voters have led to a trend of targeted thefts, and they want lawmakers to fix it.
Before State Question 780, a third shoplifting conviction was a felony, regardless of the stolen goods’ value the first two times. Patrick Gaines with the Oklahoma Retail Merchants Association said thieves know that and that stealing less than $1,000 worth of merchandise will likely result in just a fine, so they’re shoplifting from several stores.
"We’re trying to find people that go to one store, steal something for $800, go down the street to Home Depot, go down the street to Lowe’s," Gaines said. "They’re stealing those, but we can look and see that there’s a pattern of activity by these people. We want to be able to aggregate those misdemeanors into a felony charge."
Senate Bill 928 would allow district attorneys to consider all offenses within a 90 day period. Gaines said merchants are dealing with organized, roving groups of thieves.
"They steal the merchandise, then they bring it right back and they get cards, like, merchandise cards for it," Gaines said. "We found one that, ironically, had a 5 gallon Home Depot bucket that was filled with merchandise cards, because they have really collected with numerous people. They work in concert with the other people."
SB928 also introduces tiered felony punishments for shoplifting, with up to two years in prison for stealing $1,000 to $2,500 worth of goods, up to five years for $2,500 to $15,000 and up to eight years for more than $15,000.
