Florida’s DeSantis Takes Swipes at Cities Where Crime is Surging, Signs Law Boosting Penalties for Theft

Crime in the state is decreasing, yet doing more to deter shoplifters and “porch pirates” will improve quality of life for Floridians, the governor says.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs into law tougher penalties for theft during a press conference with state Attorney General Ashley Moody (3rd R) at a Walgreens in Stuart, Fla., on April 9, 2024. Courtesy of the Executive Office of the Florida Governor

As businesses across the country flee from areas where rampant theft makes operating difficult, Florida is making changes aimed at preventing theft in the state.

Standing at a lectern in a Walgreens pharmacy in Stuart, Florida on April 9, Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke about why he was happy to sign HB 549 into law. Sent to him from the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature, the new law increases penalties for retail theft and for stealing just-delivered packages from homes, a crime known as “porch piracy.”