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Governor Hochul Budgets for Retail Theft and Property Crime Governor Hochul Budgets for Retail Theft and Property Crime

By Katie Fongvongsa

Katie Fongvongsa:In the state of New York, Governor Kathy Hochul is proposing 45 million dollars to combat retail theft and property crime including here in CNY.The breakdown of the budget is expected to include legislation for criminal penalties, a new state-wide police unit, district attorney and state funding, and a commercial security tax credit. Last year, the top offense eating resources up was theft in the Syracuse area. Syracuse Police Lieutenant Matthew Malinowski says more funding means more than just patching the leak.

Matthew Malinowski: These additional resources and time will give us the opportunity to go one step further. And actually, again, go after the resale and those fencing operations that are selling the stolen property.

Fongvongsa: Malinowski also says malls like Destiny USA, are the main target for these types of crime. However Syracuse Police have made 150 arrests in the last several months with the help of loss prevention officers.
Governor Kathy Hochul hopes to improve this type of crime, including small businesses like these behind me, which may improve the chances of someone ending up with a harsher punishment.
Governor Hochul says that one of the reasons for this proposal is for those behind the counter.

Kathy Hochul: We gotta stop. We have to protect them, we have to protect these workers, and send a message that there are consequences when you touch one of thse individuals who’s exposed, who’s out there providing a service for gosh sakes.

Fongvongsa: Malinowski says retail theft is not only impacting business owners but customers too- making your next trip to the store a more expensive one. Katie Fongvongsa, NCC News.

Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC News) – Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed $45 million budget to combat retail theft and property crime.

The majority of the budget will go to a New York State Police Smash and Grab Police Enforcement Unit. The rest will trickle down into funding for the District Attorneys to go after property crimes and for a focused team to go after retail theft. The remaining $10 million is expected to be split in half between funding for expanding local law enforcement to work on retail theft, and a commercial security tax credit for businesses. The credit is to be used for hiring security detail and redeeming some part of that cost back for retailers.

The top offense was larceny in the Syracuse area in 2023, according to Open Data Syracuse. Check out this link to see how many have been committed this year.

“We’ve really had the time to just combat the larceny itself, but these additional resources and time will give us the opportunity to go one step further,” Syracuse Police Public Information Officer Matthew Malinowski said. “And actually, again, go after the resale and those fencing operations that are selling the stolen property.”

Destiny USA and similar malls are typically the main target in property crime, which is based on the sheer size and the amount of stores. However Malinowski noted the SPPD have made 150 arrests since November 2023.

Gov. Hochul also included in her budget that room will be made for legislation of criminal penalties for online or third-party resales of stolen property and for the assault of retail workers.

“We got to stop. We have to protect them, we have to protect these workers, and send a message that there are consequences when you touch one of these individuals who’s exposed, who’s out there providing a service for gosh sakes,” Hochul said.

Retail theft is hitting businesses constantly, but also trickles down to the customers too.

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