STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a 12% decrease in retail theft across New York City and a 5% reduction statewide during a meeting with Harlem business leaders Tuesday.

“Retail theft and quality-of-life crimes impact more than just the businesses who experience them — they impact entire neighborhoods,” Hochul said. “While today’s numbers represent significant progress in the fight against retail theft, we will not back down.”

The decline represents nearly 5,000 fewer instances of retail theft in the city compared to the previous year, following the implementation of widespread anti-crime measures, including over $40 million in law-enforcement funding.

The initiative, part of the 2025 state budget agreement, introduced several key measures to address the surge in retail

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