Bill Making Thefts Of $500 Or More A Felony Passes To Oklahoma Senate

The Oklahoma House passed a bill that would make theft of $500 or more, a felony. Right now in Oklahoma, any theft less than $1,000 is a misdemeanor.

Voters passed State Question 780 in 2017, that raised felony theft to $1,000.

Those who support the bill say property crimes have increased since 780 passed and they believe it encourages thieves because there's little to no punishment. Those against this bill say this is not the answer because they say it will just cost taxpayers more money by jailing more people.

OSBI stats show since State Question 780 went into effect in 2017, shoplifting cases have more than tripled, from around 4,000 cases a year to more than 13,000.

"That's what victimizes our business, is that they don't feel justice when somebody has stolen $900 worth of merchandise and we show up, and we write them a citation. Then we walk away, and they walk away,” said Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado.

Sheriff Regalado says this bill is long overdue. He says 780 paved the way for repeat offenders to keep committing crimes because there are no repercussions.

"The notion that it was going to lower the incarceration rate was simply a lie, simply put. It has not. If it was and had been, we wouldn't be in a lawsuit with DOC that had to go to the Supreme Court, because they want us to carry their inmates because they don't have room at their facilities,” said Regalado.

Cole Allen with the Oklahoma Policy Institute says lowering the threshold for felony theft, is not the answer. He says funding mental health resources and other community services is the way to reduce crime.

"It is clear that investing in these mental health services, making sure families can put food on the table, that's where we really start to see crime reduce. Especially crimes like larceny and shoplifting,” said Allen.

Voters also approved State Question 781, which is designed to take the money saved from not putting people in prison, and putting it toward services, but it wasn't funded until last year.

"If lawmakers and retailers want to reduce crime, they need to invest in our communities more,” said Allen.

The larceny bill will now go to the Senate for a vote.