BELGRADE — A Belgrade woman was arrested last weekend, accused of stealing more than $4,000 worth of goods from the Albertsons in Belgrade over the course of more than 40 separate incidents.

So, is retail theft on the rise?

“Theft has always been wrong,” said Brad Griffin, President of the Montana Retail Association.

Griffin said that since 2017, when the Montana Legislature passed House Bill 133, which significantly reduced penalties for misdemeanor theft, shoplifting has increased.

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House Bill 133 eliminated jail time and allowed fines of up to $500 for first-time offenders.

“We did see a rise in theft from that point forward,” Griffin said.

Montana Retail Theft Rises: New Laws Aim to Deter Shoplifters

Belgrade woman arrested for stealing $4,000 from grocery store highlights Montana theft trends

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Under that bill, offenders could steal up to $1,500 without facing jail time.

“Predictably, we saw an increase in theft because you could steal up to fifteen hundred dollars with impunity,” he added.

A few months ago, Senate Bill 19 became law. Now, criminals can expect up to six months in jail or a fine of $1,500 for their first and second offenses.

“I think it’s come as a big surprise to a lot of habitual criminals who never expected that,” Griffin said.

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Although Brad said it’s too early to measure whether or not Senate Bill 19 has helped improve retail theft, he noted that retailers are already stepping up prevention efforts:

“Asset protection people are being more present in their stores, looking for suspicious behavior.”

Belgrade Police Chief Dustin Lensing said he hasn’t noticed a spike in theft related to the temporary loss of federal benefits during the recent government shutdown.

“I think nationwide, there’s kind of been an increasing trend in retail theft,” Lensing said. “Here locally, with an increasing population, more businesses, and more people, we’ll always see an uptick.”

Lensing emphasized that while public awareness is helpful, safety should always come first, and witnesses or retail employees should not approach criminals.

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“We always just ask people to be a really good witness, so when we do show up, they can give us the information we need to solve the case.”

The Montana Grizzlies square off against the Texas A&M Aggies at Reed Arena in College Station, Texas on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. ET.

See more info below, including how to watch this game on SEC Network+.

To prepare for this college hoops matchup, here is what you need to get ready for Tuesday’s action.

Texas A&M vs. Montana: How to watch on TV or live stream

• Game day: Tuesday, November 18, 2025
• Game time: 8 p.m. ET
• Location: College Station, Texas
• Arena: Reed Arena
• TV Channel: SEC Network+
• Live stream: Fubo – Watch NOW (Regional restrictions may apply)

Check out: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

Watch college basketball on Fubo!

Texas A&M vs. Montana stats and trends

• Texas A&M scored 74.6 points per game and gave up 68.7 last year, making them 151st in college basketball on offense and 74th defensively.
• Last year, the Aggies were eighth-best in college basketball in rebounds (36.9 per game) and 36th in rebounds conceded (28.5).
• Last season Texas A&M was ranked 295th in the country in assists with 11.9 per game.
• Last year, the Aggies were 232nd in college basketball in turnovers committed (11.6 per game) and 112th in turnovers forced (12).
• Last season, Texas A&M was 260th in the nation in 3-point makes (7 per game) and 332nd in 3-point percentage (30.7%).
• The Aggies were 305th in the country in 3-pointers conceded (8.5 per game) and 159th in 3-point percentage defensively (33.3%) last season.
• Texas A&M attempted 62.3% of its shots from inside the 3-point line, and 37.7% from beyond it last season. In terms of makes, 72.3% of Texas A&M’s buckets were 2-pointers, and 27.7% were 3-pointers.

The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Nov. 16, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Nov. 16 drawing

03-11-26-32-45, Lucky Ball: 02

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from Nov. 16 drawing

10-13-17-27, Bonus: 11

Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?

• Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
• Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
• Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
• Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
• Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
• Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
• Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.