Cell phone theft is punishable by up to 20 years in prison

Under the new Dominican Penal Code, cell phone theft is classified as aggravated robbery and carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years. Yeni Berenice Reynoso, the Attorney General, stated that these devices were specifically categorized as aggravated theft because they are the most frequent form of theft occurring within the country.

The inclusion of these severe penalties addresses the high prevalence of mobile device theft in the Dominican Republic. By treating cell phone thefts as aggravated robbery under the updated legal framework, the legislation seeks to impose much harsher consequences on offenders engaging in this widespread criminal activity.