Getting Tough on Retail Thieves

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) State Representative Paul Ray is wants Utah's organized crime laws to apply to a new crop of gangs who steal merchandise from one store and sell it to another for a profit. These retail theft rings are wise to the limits that will keep the penalty for their crimes to a misdemeanor.

Ray is looking to change the law so multiple thefts by the same gang can be aggregated to boost the penalty to a felony. Ray says law enforcement has linked these crime rings to funding trafficking in drugs and humans, as well as terrorist activities. On Wednesday, the state legislature will consider Ray's proposal.

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