Des Moines, Iowa — Iowa lawmakers have voted to establish the crime of organized retail theft. Senator Scott Webster of Bettendorf says groups often steal merchandise with the intent to sell it later.
[RIkay2024orgtheft1] :15 :Home Depot. Lowes.”</em>
The bill passed the House in February and it cleared the Senate Wednesday. Senator Tony Bisignano of Des Moines says the bill’s needed.
]RIkay2024orgtheft2] :07 :becoming organized.”</em>
But Bisignano unsuccessfully argued the bill should be broader than retail theft and apply to groups of people who target construction sites or farms to steal tools and equipment and to groups of “porch pirates” who steal packages.
[RIkay2024orgtheft3] :22 :that get stolen.”</em>
Under the bill, the penalties for organized theft from a retail business are linked to the dollar amount of what’s stolen from a store.
