Shoplifting in Aurora just got a whole lot more serious. The Aurora City Council recently voted to toughen the city’s retail theft ordinance, making it an arrestable offense and introducing mandatory jail time for repeat offenders.
This move comes in response to persistent shoplifting issues plaguing local businesses. Despite a slight decrease in overall crime, retail theft remains on the rise in Aurora. Businesses like Havanna Auto Parts and G&E Liquors have reported thousands of dollars in losses and even dangerous encounters with thieves.
According to Denver7 “from Jan. 1 to Feb. 27, there have been 964 thefts reported so far this year.”
Here’s what the new ordinance means:
- Shoplifting anything worth $100 or more is now considered an arrestable offense.
- First-time offenders face a mandatory minimum of 3 days in jail with no probation available.
- Second and third offenses come with increased jail time, ranging from 45 days to 120 days.
What are the expected outcomes?
City officials hope the stricter penalties will deter shoplifting and protect local businesses. Business owners like Donovan Welsh and Girum Alemayehu believe this is a step in the right direction, expressing their desire for a safe business environment and a reduction in thefts.
The ordinance also tackles “dine and dash” offenses. Anyone who skips out on a bill of $15 or more at a restaurant could face arrest under a separate ordinance that recently passed its initial stage.
