OFFENSE OF TRESPASS IN THE THIRD DEGREE (Section 569.151)

This act creates the offense of trespass in the third degree if he or she, either individually or as part of an organized campaign, enters a retail establishment with the primary purpose of disrupting commerce or causing danger to people or property.

This offense shall be a class B misdemeanor, unless committed as part of an organized campaign then such campaign shall pay a fine not to exceed $5,000.

OFFENSE OF STEALING (Section 570.030)

This act provides that a person shall be guilty of the offense of stealing if he or she appropriates property as part of an organized retail theft and the value of the property is over $10,000. Such offense shall be a class B felony.

Additionally, this act provides that a person shall be guilty of the offense of stealing if he or she appropriates property as part of an organized retail theft and the value of the property is between $750 and $10,000. Such offense shall be a class C felony.

OFFENSE OF ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT (Section 570.036)

This act creates the offense of organized retail theft if he or she, while alone or with any other person, commits a series of thefts of retail merchandise against one or more persons either on the premises of a merchant or through the use of an internet site with the intent to return the merchandise for value or resell the merchandise for value.

The offense of organized retail theft is a class C felony if the value stolen over 120 days is between $1,500 and $10,000 and a class B felony if the value is over $10,000.

Finally, a person may be prosecuted in any jurisdiction in this state regardless of whether the defendant was ever physically present in such jurisdiction.

This act is substantially similar to provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 2700 (2024), SB 1467 (2024), HCS/HB 1652 (2024), SB 250 (2023), SCS/HB 2697, et al (2022), and SCS/HB 2088, et al (2022).

KATIE O'BRIEN