(Springfield, IL) — The group that represents Illinois’ shopkeepers says it’s worried about the message lawmakers may be sending to shoplifters. The Illinois Retail Merchants’ Association yesterday told lawmakers that it’s a bad idea to raise the threshold for felony theft to a thousand dollars or more. Right now it’s at 300-dollars. The Merchants’ Rob Karr says thieves will steal up to the threshold, and will only steal more if that threshold is higher.