The bill amends New Jersey's theft and computer criminal activity laws to allow for the aggregation of the value of stolen property across multiple criminal episodes or transactions occurring within a two-year period. It introduces new legal language that permits the trier of fact to consider amounts from prior offenses within this timeframe, regardless of whether the thefts involved the same or different victims and occurred in one or multiple counties. The bill also clarifies that evidence of multiple episodes constituting a single scheme may include similarities in the nature of the acts and the involvement of the same defendants. Additionally, it modifies the grading of offenses related to receiving stolen property and theft of motor vehicles, allowing for similar aggregation of values based on prior offenses.

Moreover, the bill establishes new community service requirements for individuals convicted of shoplifting, mandating a minimum of ten days for first offenses, 15 days for second offenses, and up to 25 days for third or subsequent offenses, along with a minimum 90-day imprisonment for repeat offenders. It reinforces the presumption of intent to deprive merchants of their property when individuals are found concealing unpurchased merchandise. Overall, the bill aims to strengthen the legal framework surrounding theft and shoplifting, ensuring that repeat offenders face more significant consequences while providing clearer guidelines for law enforcement and merchants in handling such offenses.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2C:20-7.1, 2C:20-10.1, 2C:20-10.2