An act relating to organized retail theft, aggravated retail theft, and retail theft with the intent to resell

This bill creates three new criminal offenses in Vermont: organized retail theft, aggravated retail theft, and retail theft with intent to resell. It directly affects individuals who steal merchandise from retail stores, with penalties based on the value of stolen goods and specific circumstances of the theft. Organized retail theft applies when thefts occur in groups or multiple times within 180 days, while aggravated retail theft involves using emergency exits or security-bypassing tools. Retail theft with intent to resell targets those who plan to sell stolen items to others. All three offenses carry fines up to $2,500 and potential prison sentences of up to 15 years if the stolen merchandise value exceeds $900.