ALBANY, N.Y. (WENY) -- New York State officials highlighted new initiatives Thursday included in the state budget meant to combat retail crimes, and give more resources to law enforcement and business owners.

According to the state, organized shoplifting crimes have seen a significant spike over the past 6 years.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a 5-point plan to combat shoplifting: $5 million in tax credits will be available for small business owners to invest in security cameras and other measures. The state plans to inject over $40 million for Retail Theft Teams within local law enforcement, State Police and District Attorneys' offices.

The proposed state budget, if passed as is, would make assaulting a retail worker a felony, instead of a misdemeanor, allow prosecutors to combine the value of stolen goods if they were taken within the same criminal scheme and allow prosecutors to go after third-party sellers of stolen goods.

This comes as shoplifting is in the spotlight in the Twin Tiers, after Chemung County Sheriffs Investigator Michael Theetge was critically injured while trying to stop a man allegedly stealing $300 worth of goods from the Target in Big Flats. 

Theetge was hospitalized in a trauma center for some time, but is now continuing his recovery at a Rochester Rehabilitation Facility.