Anti-Theft Bill Makes it Easier to Become a Felon

A new bill passed in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives could crack down on retail theft, or make it easier for someone to become a felon. 

Under House Bill 1000 any incident of retail theft in which the value of the items stolen exceeds $1,000 can result in a third-degree felony charge. Before this bill the cutoff line for a felony charge of retail theft was $2,000.

As the law exists now, there are a number of ways one can be charged for retail theft as explained below:

• Summary offense for a first-time offender when the value of the stolen items is less than $150
• Misdemeanor offenses for second-time offenders when the value is less than $150 or for first- or second-time offenders when the value is more than $150 
• Felony occurs for third-time offenders, values more than $2,000 and if the stolen items are firearms or motor vehicles 

The bill passed 195-0 in the House and now moves on to the Senate.

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