Brad Lander Unveils “Unlock the Toothpaste” Plan to Combat Retail Theft
Lander: “New Yorkers are far too busy to wait for everyday items to be unlocked at the drugstore. As Mayor, I will crack down on retail theft, alleviating the burden it places on our small businesses and the frustration it causes for New Yorkers.”
Watch the plan’s accompanying video here
NEW YORK, NY — In an effort to make our City safer and more livable, Brad Lander today introduced his innovative "Unlock the Toothpaste" plan to combat retail theft and free everyday essentials like toothpaste, deodorant, and diapers from behind lock and key — helping harmed businesses and frustrated New Yorkers alike.
As Mayor, Lander will reduce barriers to reporting theft, expedite investigations and enforcement through improved data and stakeholder coordination, and target repeat offenders with enforcement and diversion programs.
Lander’s plan includes the launch of a streamlined, one-stop platform that stores can opt into to curtail organized and petty retail theft. As these businesses who opt in see declines in shoplifting, Lander’s proposal will require participating stores to remove barriers for low-cost items, like toothpaste, detergent, and deodorant.
“Due to rampant retail theft, New Yorkers can’t even make a ‘quick’ stop at the drugstore anymore because all our everyday items are behind lock and key,” said Brad Lander. “New Yorkers are far too busy to wait for the toothpaste to be unlocked. As Mayor, I will crack down on retail theft, alleviating the burden it places on our small businesses and reducing the frustration it causes for New Yorkers.”
The plan’s central component is to launch a simple, one-stop platform for retail stores to streamline reporting to the NYPD, investigating, and preventing shoplifting. As Mayor, Lander will:
1. Reduce barriers to reporting
Create a simple one-stop platform that stores can opt into to streamline reporting to the NYPD, investigating and preventing theft, and requires stores to remove barriers that keep products behind lock-and-key as shoplifting declines. The site would make it easy for stores to:
Quickly report shoplifting at the touch of a button, rather than call 911.
Integrate retail store cameras with NYPD, so they can quickly access footage, without red tape slowing down the process.
Enable NYPD to develop a database of shoplifting across stores, to more easily identify repeat offenders.
Improved data collaboration will help District Attorneys to issue trespass warrants more easily and boost clearance rates.
Participating stores will be required to remove barriers that keep products behind lock-and-key – starting with low-cost items like toothpaste and deodorant, based on a percentage threshold system: as theft decreases by a certain amount, participating stores will commit to unlocking a corresponding quantity of items.
2. Expedite effective enforcement
Forge better interagency partnerships for stronger investigation and enforcement to improve the government’s capacity to investigate and enforce against online marketplaces selling stolen goods.
Leverage data and interagency partnership to focus on repeat offenders. In 2022, just 327 individuals accounted for 6,600 shoplifting arrests – and in 2024, the Manhattan DA reported that from 2015 to 2021, 18% of shoplifting arrestees accounted for 42% of shoplifting arrests.
Issue swift consequences for retail theft. Lander supports the Manhattan District Attorney’s focused deterrence approach which ensures speedy consequences for those doing the most damage while also ensuring a narrow focus on the specific people needed to make the biggest impact.
Enhance enforcement efforts against brick-and-mortar businesses that engage in resale of stolen goods. Leveraging existing enforcement mechanisms, Lander will ensure the City creates stronger disincentives for these businesses to participate in fencing.
Make grant funding available for small businesses to upgrade security cameras.
3. Establish evidence-based diversion, public education, and training
Leverage evidence-based programs to address repeat non-violent offenders and those with drug habits. Recognizing that many repeat retail offenders struggle with substance abuse, Lander will strengthen these programs through enhanced prosecution, treatment for drug users, and diversion initiatives.
Connect repeat offenders to support services through better coordinated services such as Brad’s plan for ending street homelessness.
Spearhead public education projects to protect consumers from inadvertently buying stolen goods online.
Train in-workplace violence prevention, de-escalation and emergency procedures. Brad supports RWDSU’s recent victory, which resulted in the successful passage and the Governor’s signing of the Retail Worker Safety Act. In addition to training, the act requires large employers to provide panic buttons in case of emergency, which can be integrated with the online reporting system. Brad will continue to work with workers and unions to understand what support they need in order to ensure properly staffed, safe work environments.
Lander’s plan would result in significant reduction in retail theft, easier shopping experiences for New Yorkers, streamlined red tape for impacted businesses, and reduction in recidivism.
Read Lander’s “Unlock the Toothpaste!” plan to combat retail theft here. Watch the accompanying video here.
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