FILE:
NEW YORK (77WABC) — There’s been a big switch out of the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
The D.A.’s office — which has faced blowback over Bragg’s progressive prosecution policies — is rolling out a plan to cut shoplifting and smash-and-go robberies.
“It is a plan to reduce retail theft In Manhattan: Shoplifting and smash-and-go robberies. Something we very much need!” Kathy Wylde, President of Partnership for New York City told The Cats Roundtable hosted by 77WABC owner and operator John Catsimatidis. “They’re going to be focusing on a much closer working relationship with the NYPD to aggressively identify those folks who have high rates of recidivism, you know, it’s a relatively small number of relatively well-organized people who are committing most of these robberies that have so much increased in the recent years.”
The D.A.’s office has previously come under fire for not requesting bail for some repeat shoplifting suspects.
Wylde explained that pre-trial detention will be requested for accused suspects who have prior felony convictions, multiple open cases and a history of skipping out on court dates. Wylde also said Bragg’s prosecutors will also work to aggregate numerous misdemeanor charges to become a felony.
