STUART, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law on Tuesday that will ramp up the punishment for individuals convicted of stealing items from stores and porches of private residences.

House Bill 549 lowers the dollar amount a person has to steal to be charged with third-degree grand theft charge and puts stiffer penalties on those who commit first-degree petty theft, especially if they have been convicted of doing it before.

The law also targets people who use social media as part of the theft.

"This is not the place you do it, and if you try to do it in Florida, you are going to regret that you tried to do it in Florida," DeSantis said during a press conference Tuesday at a Walgreens in Stuart, Fla. 

DeSantis specifically mentioned targeting so-called "porch pirates" and "flash mob shoplifting," which is when a group of people rush into a store all at once and distract the staff in order to steal.

The owner of a handcrafted goods and candles shop in Tarpon Springs says she is happy about the increasing penalties.

Kris Wolf owns the Sunshine Supply Company in Tarpon Springs. (Spectrum News/Erin Murray)

“I think it is a huge deterrent," said Kris Wolf, who runs Sunshine Supply Company. "So somebody who maybe would have had an inkling, maybe this is a deterrent so they won’t."

Wolf opened the store two and a half years ago, and its been a hit with tourists and locals alike. 

But owning a business like the Sunshine Supply Company with lots of small, easy to grab items comes with a downside: items often get stolen.

"It happens every day," she said. “It is huge — the difference between $100 and $40 for a shop like mine is a huge impact. Small loss is a big thing for small businesses. I think it is a huge deterrent. So somebody who maybe would have had an inkling, maybe this is a deterrent so they won’t." 

A little relief for this store owner, who just wants to see the smiles on her customers faces as they leave with their newly purchased items. 

The law goes into effect in October.