Bill could change theft penalties as Burlington business woes persist

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Burlington retailers are pleading with the public to come shop downtown to help keep them afloat. That’s after a holiday season which was tough for some businesses and rampant theft is ravaging stores.

Now a new bill in Montpelier could help tamp down on theft, but only if it can make it over the finish line.

A slow holiday season is causing retailers to wonder how they can fix the decline of downtown retail in the Queen City. Retailers are worried that the perception of safety and difficulties downtown are deterring people from shopping. They are also hoping a new retail theft bill will address the theft which is causing many to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Downtown Burlington is busy on a holiday Monday. However, this year’s holiday season wasn’t a banner one for shop owners like Marc Sherman at Outdoor Gear Exchange. “What I saw during the holidays was that our tourist business continues to be strong, but a lot of locals are staying away from downtown and is hurting us and a lot of other retailers,” said Sherman.

Sherman says due to the changing retail climate he’s decided to cut the workforce at OGE. Since the start of 2024, they’ve laid off a dozen employees bringing their staff to half of what it was a year ago. “That’s what we needed to do to realign our staffing with the kind of sales we’re seeing,” said Sherman

Sherman says sales and traffic were down 30% – 40% this holiday season, some of which was made up by their new satellite location in Essex. But, he attributes the lack of sales to a variety of reasons including fewer people working downtown, retail theft, stores not staying open late due to lack of foot traffic, and the perception that Burlington isn’t safe.

“I think it’s really important that everyone who loves Burlington and loves its uniqueness loves its charm and loves shopping and being downtown needs to continue to do that so that we can all maintain our staffs and grow,” said Sherman.

Kelly Devine of the Burlington Business Association says she’s heard other retailers similarly struggling this holiday season.

“I think we need to try something not only to communicate to the larger community that downtown retail is important to us and we’re trying to solve the problem, but also say to small businesses, ‘We’re willing to hear you and work with you,’” said Devine.

Retailers are hoping a bill in the legislature will help prosecutors charge thieves with a felony for the aggregate prices of the goods they steal. However, the bill’s sponsor, Representative Marin LaLonde, says there hasn’t been adequate support and belief that higher penalties will solve the problem. “I haven’t given up on that as a possibility. It’s just that so far I’ve had very limited testimony to suggest that that it would help. I’m not opposed to trying different things and that is certainly still under consideration,” said Rep. LaLonde.

But LaLonde says he’s committed to getting legislation over the finish line to address the reoccurring issue. “It is critical that there’s accountability. It’s critical that there are consequences for when somebody is repeatedly stealing from our stores in Burlington and across the state,” said Rep. LaLonde

LaLonde says other tactics to address rampant theft, like fast-tracking retail thefts through the judicial system or allowing police an easier road to arrest for theft could also help solve the issue.