The anti-shoplifting law has led to lynchings in Slovakia

By: Trademagazin Date: 2024. 08. 30. 10:39

Slovak Justice Minister Boris Susko has strongly denied opposition claims that shoplifting has increased in Slovakia since the Fico government reformed the penal code. According to the law, which came into effect at the beginning of August, thefts of less than 700 euros are treated only as trespasses and are punished with a maximum fine of 331 euros. However, according to the opposition, this milder form of punishment encourages thieves and threatens the property security of the population.

The amendment to the law significantly increased the amount of damage above which theft is considered a crime. In the past, such cases were judged to be crimes above 265 euros, while now they are only considered violations up to 700 euros. The Progressive Slovakia and Freedom and Solidarity parties warn that the reduced sentence is practically an invitation to criminals, who can thus commit thefts at a lower risk – the Infostart.hu article points out.

Branislav Gröhling, the president of the Freedom and Solidarity party, mentioned as an example that in the event of the theft of a mobile phone worth 699 euros, the thief would face a fine of only 331 euros, which, according to him, is far from a sufficient deterrent. According to the opposition, this loose regulation increases the number of shoplifting, and commercial chains have already indicated the problem of increasing theft.

However, Minister Boris Susko insists that there are no statistical data that would justify the opposition’s claims. According to him, the number of thefts of small value has already increased, and this trend cannot be connected with the amendment of the penal code. The minister stated that according to the available data and information from the Ministry of the Interior, the increase in this form of crime has been going on for a long time and is not a consequence of the new law.

However, the opposition was not satisfied with the minister’s answer, and they intend to submit an amendment proposal in the next session of the parliament in order to tighten the law. Their goal is to introduce stricter punishments that are more appropriate to the damage caused by criminals, and that would really act as a deterrent.