A new bill introduced in the Maryland legislature aims to tackle a stubborn and expensive problem — large-scale organized retail theft.

The bill, also known as HB 179, was introduced by Prince George’s County Democratic Del. Karent Toles and has Republican co-sponsors, including Robin L. Grammer, Jr. of Baltimore County. It would allow prosecutors to lump together thefts committed by the same person on multiple days and even different jurisdictions within a 90-day period.

Bill supporters said currently, criminals engaged in so-called organized retail theft of goods know if they keep the value of what they take below $1,000 they face only misdemeanor charges if caught.

Under the bill, “organized retail theft” means the commission, either alone or in concert with one or more other persons, of a series of thefts of retail merchandise from one or more retail merchants over a 90-day period with the intent to permanently deprive the merchant of the merchandise, return the merchandise to the merchant for monetary or other gain, or resell, trade, or barter the merchandise for monetary or other gain, according to the State Department of Legislative Services.

The bill prohibits a person from committing organized retail theft of property with an aggregate value exceeding $1,500. A violation of this prohibition is a felony punishable by the following maximum penalties, which vary based on the value of the property involved:

At least $1,500 but less than $25,000: 5 years and/or $10,000

At least $25,000 but less than $100,000: 10 years and/or $15,000

$100,000 or more: 20 years and/or $25,000

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