On Friday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill package aimed at addressing retail crime and property theft.
Newsom has recently signed 10 new laws related to public safety. According to Newsom’s office, the new laws introduce stricter penalties for repeat offenders, enhance resources for felony prosecutions, and take a tougher stance against serial shoplifters, retail thieves, and auto burglars.
“While some try to take us back to ineffective and costly policies of the past, these new laws present a better way forward — making our communities safer and providing meaningful tools to help law enforcement arrest criminals and hold them accountable,” Newsom said in a statement.
The decision is being made as Democratic leadership aims to demonstrate their commitment to addressing crime-related issues, while also urging voters to oppose a proposed ballot measure that would impose stricter penalties for repeat offenders of shoplifting and drug charges.
Shoplifting has become a significant issue in recent years, particularly in California and other areas. One concerning trend is the rise of large-scale, smash-and-grab thefts, where groups of individuals boldly enter stores and openly steal goods. These incidents, frequently recorded and shared on social media, have drawn significant focus to the issue of retail theft in the state.
The legislation brings about significant changes to tackle retail theft, according to the Democratic governor. Law enforcement has the ability to enhance penalties and apprehend individuals for shoplifting by utilizing video footage or witness statements, while also consolidating the value of stolen goods from multiple victims.
Californians will have the opportunity to vote on a measure aimed at reforming Proposition 47 in November.
Some Democrats have chosen to support Proposition 36, a tough-on-crime approach, even though it could have an impact on the makeup and control of Congress.
It is anticipated that Governor Newsom will soon sign Assembly Bill 1960, which was not mentioned in Friday’s announcement, according to Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas.
The retail crime issue in California is difficult to measure due to the absence of local data. However, the closure of numerous stores and the practice of securing everyday items like toothpaste behind plexiglass are often cited as indications of a crisis. Quantifying the issue in California poses a challenge, as numerous stores do not disclose their data, according to the California Retailers Association.
A recent study conducted by the non-partisan Public Policy Institute of California reveals that shoplifting incidents in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles have been on the rise from 2021 to 2022. According to the state attorney general and experts, crime rates in California continue to remain low when compared to the levels seen decades ago.
Officials announced on Friday that the California Highway Patrol has successfully recovered a staggering $45 million worth of stolen goods and apprehended close to 3,000 individuals since 2019.
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