Enact the Retail Theft Prevention Act

HB 615, the Retail Theft Prevention Act, amends Ohio law to specifically prohibit retail theft committed by groups working together. The bill changes existing criminal code sections to treat coordinated theft as a more serious offense, imposing higher penalties than individual theft. This directly affects individuals participating in organized retail theft rings by increasing their potential criminal consequences. The law applies to all retail theft cases where two or more people coordinate their actions, making group-based theft a distinct offense under Ohio statute.