DA Bill Fitzpatrick shares his thoughts on spike in shoplifting cases in City of Syracuse

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — It can be described as nothing short of a nationwide epidemic coming to our doorstep.

The City of Syracuse has seen a 55% spike in shoplifting since 2021.

One store — the Rite Aid on Butternut Street on the city’s Northside — has had more than a quarter-million dollars of merchandise stolen in just the past year.

MORE: $250,000+ in stolen items puts spotlight on Syracuse's shoplifting crisis

Onondaga County District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick says more often than not, those stealing from businesses like the Rite Aid on Butternut, are repeat offenders. Not just once or twice, but sometimes being arrested for theft as much as 29 times.

These days, there aren't many stores in the city that have not experienced having some of their goods stolen.

From stores in Destiny USA like Kate Spade and Sephora, to pharmacies like Rite Aid and Walgreens.

“Here's just one example,” said Fitzpatrick, as he looked over several rap sheets of repeat larceny offenders. “Individual the name of Jacob Atkinson. Total thefts over the course of the last year — $25,928 dollars. Seventeen arrests. He'll be receiving a sentence to state prison tomorrow, but why was he out?”

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Fitzpatrick said he blames the current bail reform laws. He wants lawmakers in Albany to allow judges to use discretion when a repeat offender appears before them.

He's also asking city judges to create what he calls a rocket docket.

“After your third larceny-related arrest, okay so not unreasonable, after your third one, your first case goes to the head of the line on the trial dock.”

According to the District Attorney, in the past 10 and a half months, there have been zero petty larceny trials in Syracuse city courts— despite the nearly 2,500 larceny offenses in the city so far this year.

“If we don’t have cooperation from the judiciary, none of this matters,” said Fitzpatrick. “I mean what difference does it make if I prioritize an individual who has stolen $25,000 from multiple venues when he keeps getting released? What are we supposed to do, send them a strong memo? I know it’s offensive to some people on the far left but some people need to be locked up.”

The Syracuse City Police and the District Attorney's Office continue to work together to identify the most repeated offenders of larceny in the city, but Fitzpatrick said as the law stands now, there is only so much his office can do.

Even after trying countless times to get some offenders into drug treatment without the actual risk of jail or prison time, he said the incentive seems pointless.

CNY Central also reached out to Chuck Keller, the democrat running against Fitzpatrick this election, for his thoughts on the larceny crimes we are seeing spike across the city but did not receive a response in time for publication.