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    Mayor assembles retail task force to combat shoplifting

    According to the administration's "Retail Theft Report," the Bronx alone has seen an increase of 84% in retail theft complaints over the last five years.

    Cecilia Hua and News 12 Staff

    Nov 9, 2023, 3:25 AM

    Updated 547 days ago

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    As incidents of retail theft in New York City continues to rise, Mayor Eric Adams has launched a task force to tackle the issue.
    According to the administration's "Retail Theft Report," the Bronx alone has seen an increase of 84% in retail theft complaints over the last five years.
    Top targets for thieves are major retailers, drug stores as well as smaller merchants, like Rocco's Jewelry on Webster Avenue, which was robbed of over $2 million in jewelry last August. 
    "Definitely need more police presence, just having them out there, having the neighborhood know the police have your back," said owner Rocco Dibenedetto. "The response times, it's good that you can pick up the phone if someone is making a scene, they can react on that."
    The task force is comprised of the NYPD, the city's district attorneys and the Department of Small Business Services.