We have seen a lot in recent news reports about brazen “flash mob thefts” on both coasts looting retail stores while hapless store owners and clerks look on.
Many of those coastal states have nearly decriminalized stealing. Retailers in those areas have been forced to basically lock down everything in the store just to stay open. Many have thrown up their hands and shut down for good.
Make no mistake, if Indiana were to take this reckless, “uber-tolerant” approach with criminals we would be seeing the same thing here that we see in those states. In other words, criminals being criminals, would be doing the same thing here if we were to tolerate it.
But we don’t tolerate that stuff here.
Our General Assembly understands that if thieves are not checked, if thieves are not arrested and incarcerated, if the criminals take over — our civilization recedes and we become less civilized.
Indiana chooses to protect property rights. Indiana protects our retailers. And this, in turn, protects Hoosier consumers. That way we consumers aren’t forced to subsidize the parasites of our society who would rather steal than work.
Consequently, our citizens don’t have to pay higher prices at the checkout stand to make up for our retailers’ losses due to theft. And make no mistake, it is we the people, the honest, paying customers who pay for these thefts.
How has our legislature protected us? A new law on the books provides that if a thief participates in an act of organized retail theft he faces a Level 6 Felony, instead of a mere misdemeanor. That means a sentence of up to 2.5 years in prison.
Moreover, under certain circumstances, organized retail theft charges can be enhanced to a Level 5 Felony, which carries a penalty of up to 6 years in prison.
No misdemeanor kiss-on-the-cheek for organized stealing in this state.
In short, the State of Indiana, like the Keller & Keller ad, “mean business” when it comes to protecting our stores and your purchasing power in our stores.
And let there be no doubt, the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office will be utilizing these powerful new weapons to vigorously stomp out the crime spree that seems to be pandemically erupting in other parts of the country.
As I said, we don’t tolerate that stuff here.
Lance Hamner is the Johnson County Prosecutor and a former judge. Send comments to [email protected].
