MADISON, WI — Legislation authored by State Representative William Penterman (R–Hustisford) to combat organized retail theft has been signed into law as 2025 Wisconsin Act 106.
This new law strengthens Wisconsin’s ability to prosecute retail theft by allowing prosecutors to aggregate the value of stolen merchandise across multiple thefts when those acts are part of a single course of conduct. This change ensures that repeat offenders and organized retail theft operations are held accountable for the full scope of their criminal activity.
“Retail theft is not a victimless crime—it drives up costs for families and harms businesses across our communities,” said Rep. Penterman. “This law gives prosecutors the tools they need to go after repeat offenders and organized theft rings, rather than treating each incident in isolation.”
Previously, retail thefts were often charged individually, even when clearly part of an ongoing pattern. Act 106 closes that gap by allowing law enforcement and prosecutors to more accurately reflect the total value stolen, leading to more appropriate penalties.
“This is a commonsense reform that supports our local businesses and helps protect consumers from the ripple effects of retail crime,” Penterman added.
