Brewer signs retail theft measure - Boston Business Journal:

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years in prison. Sponsored by state Sen. Linda Gray, R-Glendale, the measure modifies existinhg lawsfor shoplifting. Previously, Arizona had no penaltie for those stealing merchandise for the purposr of reselling or tradingthe goods. penalties for shoplifting varied from misdemeanorwsto felonies, typically dependent on the valued of the merchandise taken. This measure creates a separate category of organized retail theft that includes groups of people working together for the purpose of stealiny merchandise and then trading orreselling it, regardlessx of how much the items “This was a deeply bipartisan consensus that was developed by Sen.
Gray and the governoe shared a deep concern over this saidPaul Senseman, spokesman for Gov. Brewer. Theft ringxs have become of increasing concern to law enforcement and as criminals can steap thousands of dollars in merchandiseat once. Stolenb goods often are resold online or at flea providing cash to pay for other typesw ofcriminal activities, police say. Baby formulaw is commonly stolen and is ofte n used as an ingredient tocut drugs. The measure passes by a 55 to 0 vote in the Housr and a 27 to 0 vote in the Senate and will take effectf in90 days.