PHOENIX — Arizona's elected officials are supporting legislation that they say sends a clear message to thieves who may come to the Grand Canyon State to resell stolen merchandise.
State House Speaker Ben Toma, R-District 27, said House Bill 2435 will add tougher penalties to offenders who have repeatedly committed organized retail theft in Arizona.
The legislation will specifically target thieves who "scheme together" to steal a large amount of merchandise with the intent to resell it for a profit, officials said.
More pointedly, the bill attempts to advertise Arizona as place that will not tolerate residents or visitors from neighboring states who intend on victimizing local stores.
"California may tolerate lawlessness but HB 2435 tells criminals that Arizona will not tolerate criminals stealing off of our shelves in broad daylight," Toma said during a press conference on Tuesday.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell is supporting the bill, claiming it will offer local prosecutors more leeway in getting tougher sentences for repeat offenders.
HB 2435 would amend Arizona's laws to categorize defendants convicted of three organized retail theft offenses as a "category two offender," a distinction that carries a longer prison sentence.
Mitchell said her office is receiving too many cases involving organized retail theft, noting that nearly 600 submissions were made to her office last year.
The county's top prosecutor has previously pointed blame at states like California for allegedly being too soft on retail crime, thus allowing for thieves to visit other states and continue stealing merchandise.
“The word needs to go out to people from California or wherever else they may hail from, if you come here to commit crimes like these, plan to stay,” Mitchell said last month.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last September his state was investing over $260 million to help law enforcement agencies prevent and investigate organized retail theft.