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

Under the new Dominican Penal Code, mobile phone theft is now classified as aggravated robbery, carrying sentences of up to 20 years in prison. The inclusion of these devices under aggravated offenses is due to their status as the most frequently stolen items in the country.

According to Attorney General Yeni Berenice Reynoso, the severe penalties are a direct response to the high prevalence of phone thefts nationwide. The measure aims to curb the widespread crime by establishing stricter legal consequences for perpetrators.