Gov. Hochul, there is no time to waste in protecting retail workers from violent shoplifters

In a Bronx supermarket, a shoplifter grabbed the neck of the worker trying to keep him from leaving and threatened him with a knife.

Another grocer watched a repeat would-be thief burst into his store with a shotgun, sending customers ducking to the ground in fear.

In Long Island, one store has asked for a police car to be stationed around closing time to prevent last-second theft.

These incidents and precautions taken by stores are often unreported but still occur every day across New York.

And Tuesday, Target announced it’s closing one of its big stores in Harlem because of theft and safety threats to employees and shoppers.

Retailers and supermarkets brought countless examples like these to Albany last year.

As state leaders plan their top priorities for the next session, they must make retail theft a key part of the agenda this time.

We were able to get part of the way. Legislation Assemblymember Manny De Los Santos and state Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton introduced to elevate a retail-worker assault to the Class D felony of assault in the second degree gained significant traction with dozens of sponsors in the Assembly.

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