ND lawmakers look to beef up shoplifting penalties

With the five finger discount alive and well in North Dakota the legislature is being asked to put some teeth into shoplifting laws.  One of those is Senate Bill 2167 which calls for escalating penalties for repeat offenders.

Under current law shoplifting is a Class-B misdemeanor.  The bill would move that to a Class-A misdemeanor for a third offense within three years – and a Class-C felony for a fourth offense.  North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says he supports the move.  Stenehjem  says a lot of businesses do not report shoplifting offenses.

He says there are people who make a living off shoplifting and selling the stolen items online.  “Who pays for it?  Either the business goes out of business or they increase the price of goods.”

The Senate has already passed the bill.  The House Judiciary Committee is working on several amendments and is expected to tackle the issue this week.