RETAIL THEFT ORDINANCE

Amends the Municipal Code. Provides that the corporate authorities of a municipality may, by ordinance, declare retail theft, as defined by the Criminal Code of 1961, to be unlawful. Provides that this ordinance does not apply to any individual who has previously been convicted of any type of theft, robbery, armed robbery, burglary, residential burglary, possession of burglary tools, or home invasion, or in a case where the theft is of property with a full retail value in excess of $150. Provides that citations issued for violation of the retail theft ordinance must be adjudicated in a court of law and are not subject to adjudication in an administrative adjudication system of the municipality that enacted the retail theft ordinance. Provides that the retail theft ordinance authority is not a limitation on home rule powers. Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that a person who commits an offense of retail theft under Section 11-1-12 of the Illinois Municipal Code is civilly liable to the merchant of the merchandise.