Bill > SB11

This bill introduces comprehensive measures to address organized retail theft in Maryland by defining and criminalizing coordinated retail stealing activities. The legislation establishes that when an individual or group commits multiple thefts across different counties as part of a single scheme, those thefts can be prosecuted in any county where a theft occurred. It specifically defines "organized retail theft" as a series of merchandise thefts from one or more retail merchants over a 90-day period, with the intent to permanently deprive merchants of goods, return merchandise for gain, or resell items. The bill creates a tiered penalty structure based on the total value of stolen goods: thefts valued between $1,500 and $25,000 are punishable by up to 5 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine; thefts between $25,000 and $100,000 carry up to 10 years in prison and/or a $15,000 fine; and thefts exceeding $100,000 can result in up to 20 years in prison and/or a $25,000 fine. Additionally, the bill requires courts to make specific findings about whether a theft constitutes organized retail theft when requested by a state's attorney, which will be recorded in the criminal justice information system. The law is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, and aims to provide law enforcement with more robust tools to combat organized retail crime.

Justice

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0011?ys=2025RS