Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill imposing harsher penalties for those convicted of theft, with the ultimate goal of deterring organized retail theft and porch piracy. During a press conference at a Walgreens location in Stuart, the governor signed House Bill 549. The law, which will take effect on October 1, enhances charges for petit and grand theft, enhances charges for those with previous theft convictions and creates new parameters meant to allow for the prosecution of serial porch pirates and organized retail crime rings. "This bill – cracking down on the porch pirates, cracking down on the porch pirates, cracking down on retail theft rings, making sure people that use social media to incite these flash mobs of retail theft – that all those people are held accountable," DeSantis said. "We don't want to see stores go out of business, we don't want to see prices increase..." Under the new law, it will be a third-degree felony (grand theft) if the stolen property is worth at least $40. Any items worth less than $40 will be considered a first-degree misdemeanor (petit theft). This applies to packages sitting on your porch as well as any property inside a home. MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/crime/retail-theft-penalties-bill-desantis-florida-crack-down/67-b39a62fb-916c-451c-9685-60022a65e2b0 ►Subscribe: https://on.wtsp.com/youtube ►Website: https://www.wtsp.com/ ►Facebook: https://facebook.com/10TampaBay ►X: https://twitter.com/10TampaBay