Republican attorney general hopeful Saritha Komatireddy on Thursday sharply criticized a socialist state lawmaker’s argument that stealing basic “biological need” items from stores can be justified, calling the stance disconnected from the reality facing New York businesses.
Komatireddy, who is seeking to defeat Democratic Attorney General Letitia James in November, told reporters that shoplifting and retail theft in any form damage small businesses, burden working store owners and eventually drive up costs for everyday shoppers. She argued that Brooklyn Democratic socialist Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher has misunderstood the problem.
Speaking outside a gas station convenience store in South Ozone Park, Komatireddy said Gallagher’s description of desperate New Yorkers taking necessities does not reflect what prosecutors and retailers are actually seeing. “That’s not what is actually happening,” she said, adding that many theft cases involve organized crews arriving in large vehicles.
Komatireddy described thieves walking into stores with garbage bags, clearing shelves of merchandise, loading the stolen goods into trucks and then moving the products to another neighborhood or city for resale. That pattern, she said, is the kind of retail crime putting serious pressure on small business owners.
Gallagher drew backlash last week after suggesting that shoplifting items such as soap and toothpaste should be treated differently when the products are taken by people who cannot afford basic necessities.
The Brooklyn lawmaker pointed to findings from the criminal justice advocacy group Court Watch NYC, which said it observed 360 arraignments over four days and concluded that many people accused in low-level theft cases were stealing items they needed.
Gallagher argued that New York is prioritizing major chains such as CVS and Walgreens over residents struggling to make ends meet, saying the justice system is choosing corporate protection over vulnerable people.
Komatireddy, a former prosecutor, rejected that framing and said Gallagher’s position fails to account for the organized retail theft she says is hurting stores across the city.
“People make comments like that, it’s because they haven’t done the work,” Komatireddy said. “I’ve done the work.”
She also took aim at her opponent James, claiming theft rings represent organized crime and that the AG has the means to crack down but she hasn’t prioritized it.
“She has assigned twice as many people to prosecute cops, than organized crime,” Komatireddy railed. “And we are seeing the result. Criminals are in control, and innocent New Yorkers are paying the price.
The Republican cited an exclusive report by The Post about Shaquan Seth, a career crook with nearly 150 busts on his rap sheet who remained free because of the Empire State’s lax bail laws.
