Beginning last week, stiffer penalties — sometimes up to a five-year felony sentence — now can be levied against those convicted of shoplifting in Michigan. A dozen circumstances now are evaluated to determine whether an individual’s acts could be categorized as “organized retail crime,” which could range from deactivating store security devices to conspiring with accomplices and receiving store goods.

Michigan now is one of about 15 states to have passed special laws structured around organized shoplifting and — when you consider the growing severity of this problem — it’s hard to argue for reasons not to support such action.

During the past five years, this type of crime has risen nationwide at annual rates of 3 to 4 percent. On average, shoplifters have stuck the average American household with covering an estimated $500 more each year to counteract the losses from these crimes.

Increased numbers of shoplifting cases could be linked to numerous problems currently plaguing our country.

As our nation struggles to overcome obstacles of rising unemployment rates and a topsy-turvy economy, it becomes easier to understand why some turn to retail fraud.

Needing little skill or pre-planning, a shoplifter can go into a store and take items, such as designer clothes, cologne, liquor or electronics, and later sell them for a profit.

But more times than not, shoplifters are characterized as younger individuals who, because of boredom, decide to do something adventurous and steal from a store to attain some level of thrill.

No matter the reason, this behavior is nothing to be condoned, and the stiffer punishments this new law imposes hopefully will eliminate some of these actions from continuing.

If there is something one can be skeptical of regarding this legislation, it’s the vague wording used to lump together those individuals who commit these crimes.

Under the new law, a five-year felony sentence can be handed down to anyone who commits “organized retail crime” of “anything stolen for the purpose of resale.”

This statement makes sense in many of the situations this law clearly is hoping to prevent, and adds retribution to those who go out of their way to commit a crime.

It doesn’t take much deliberation to realize a person who collaborates with a salesperson to steal electronics or other high-value goods deserves to face up to five years in jail, but where does it leave the young teen guilty of committing a previously less-punishable offense?

Is the person who steals an article of clothing at the mall worthy of the same degree of punishment as the previous person?

No matter how our state decides to structure this law, putting a foot down to eliminate retail crime is a step in the right direction.