This bill establishes the crime of gang shoplifting in New Jersey, categorizing it as a third-degree crime. A person is deemed to have committed gang shoplifting if they, in collaboration with others, enter a retail establishment and openly take items with the intent to deprive the merchant of their property or tamper with the store's property in a way that endangers individuals or the establishment itself. The bill specifies that gang shoplifting is punishable by a minimum term of imprisonment of one year, during which the offender is not eligible for parole, despite the general presumption against imprisonment for certain offenders.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that a conviction for gang shoplifting will not merge with any other criminal convictions, ensuring that individuals can be held accountable for this specific offense without it being overshadowed by other charges. The intent behind this legislation is to combat the increasing incidents of organized theft, particularly those involving flash mobs that loot stores in a conspicuous manner.