Virginia county experiences 40% rise in shoplifting with Soros prosecutor.

Shoplifting Surges in Virginia’s Largest County

Shoplifting has seen a significant increase of 40 percent compared to last year in Fairfax County, Virginia. This surge comes after a controversial decision by Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano, who announced in 2020 that his office would not prosecute shoplifting cases under $1,000.

Data from the Fairfax County Police Department reveals that there have been over 1,000 more cases of shoplifting this year compared to the same period last year. In just over six months, there have been 2,592 reported cases.

Descano’s decision to not prosecute a range of misdemeanors, including shoplifting up to $1,000 in value, has drawn criticism from various sources, including the Washington Post Editorial Board.

Descano, who took office in 2020 with promises of progressive criminal justice reforms, received significant funding from left-wing billionaire George Soros and affiliated organizations, totaling over half a million dollars for his primary campaign.

One notable case involved Descano downgrading charges against a man who could have faced over 26 years in prison for abduction and burglary. The man was released after just five months and later arrested for a shooting spree that resulted in the deaths of two homeless men and injuries to three others.

Despite the controversy, Descano recently won the Democratic primary with about 55 percent of the vote, positioning him for a second term as the top prosecutor in deep-blue Fairfax County.

Organized Retail Theft on the Rise

Local law enforcement has reported a significant increase in organized retail theft in Fairfax County. The Fairfax County Police Department’s Tysons Urban Team, dedicated to combating retail crime, recovered over $930,000 worth of stolen merchandise last year. By mid-June this year, they had already recovered over $530,000, surpassing the average of $400,000 over the past decade.

In response to this growing issue, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin signed a bill in March that classifies organized retail theft, involving stealing more than $5,000 with the intent to sell, as a Class 3 Felony. Offenders now face a minimum of five years in prison and up to a $100,000 fine.