Bill > A04141

This bill amends New York's penal law to expand the circumstances under which a person can be charged with grand larceny in the fourth degree. Specifically, if an individual has two or more petit larceny convictions within the 18 months before a current charge, and the total value of the stolen property exceeds $1,000, they can be prosecuted for grand larceny. Petit larceny is typically a misdemeanor involving theft of property valued under $1,000, while grand larceny is a more serious felony charge. The bill allows prosecutors to combine the value of stolen goods across multiple prior convictions to reach the $1,000 threshold, effectively creating a mechanism to charge repeat low-level theft offenders with a more serious crime. This change aims to deter repeat theft offenses by imposing stricter penalties for individuals with a pattern of stealing, even if each individual theft is relatively small. The bill is set to take effect on November 1st following its passage into law.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A4141