Gov. Kathy Hochul says New York is turning a corner in the fight against organized retail theft, with new numbers showing a significant drop statewide.
After a spike in retail theft following the pandemic, Hochul announced Tuesday that incidents are down more than 12% year-over-year in New York City and down 5% across the rest of the state.
To combat the surge, the state has committed more than $40 million for dedicated retail theft teams and deployed an additional 100 state police personnel to combat retail theft.
Hochul says that these measures, along with increased criminal penalties, are restoring confidence for shoppers and business owners.
“Retail theft and quality-of-life crimes impact more than just the businesses that experience them — they impact entire neighborhoods. That is why I dedicated tremendous resources last year to fight the scourge of organized retail crime,” Hochul said. “While today’s numbers represent significant progress in the fight against retail theft, we will not back down. I remain committed to supporting our businesses and their workers to restore a sense of security and peace of mind for shoppers and store owners alike.”
State leaders say funding small business tax credits for security upgrades has also helped bring about this drop in retail theft.