To protect the public and retailers, we must bring some consequences back into the criminal justice system. Will any of the three charged ever go to prison for their crimes? What about the other 87? In the Nordstrom case, the Contra Costa district attorney charged three individuals. Thieves can repeat their criminal behavior as long as they don’t steal more than $950 in each larceny.Īnd year after year, Sacramento Democrats continue to pass laws that strip the ability of law enforcement and prosecutors to deter this lawless behavior.ĭistrict attorneys are left helpless to bring accountability to criminal thefts. Each theft is counted as a single incident. Now, not only will a thief steal more without facing a felony charge, they may steal again, and again, and again, without serious consequences. Charges for grand larceny (a felony) now require thefts of more than $950 – more than double the previous threshold of $400. It is the unfortunate consequence of policies like Proposition 47 that reduced penalties on property thefts less than $950 from a felony to a misdemeanor. Within the last decade, numerous laws that protected the public were weakened under the disguise of financial savings but have only shifted costs to local communities. Years of policies that have undermined public safety have contributed to these acts of emboldened thefts. What is happening? Where is the accountability? What can be done to prevent these shameless thefts? These are obvious questions demanded by everyday Californians as we watch these acts of lawlessness unfold. Employees have been assaulted, the public is at risk and law enforcement is put in harm’s way. Keep tabs on the latest California policy and politics news Stunned viewers can feel the sense of havoc and chaos. Dramatic social media videos showed people running out to cars with bags of stolen merchandise worth up to $200,000. Nearby, about 25 cars descended on luxury store Nordstrom, blocked the street and approximately 90 people rushed inside to ransack the store then fled into waiting cars. In the Bay Area, shocking news clips exposed looters brazenly smashing glass cases to grab valuables. No major city from San Francisco to Bakersfield to Los Angeles have been immune from a rise in thefts and property crimes.
Walgreens, Target and Safeway reduced hours or closed stories to limit their losses to theft.
In the past couple of weeks, news broke of thieves looting nearly a dozen high-end stores across the state. Videos on social media depict lawlessness. With the holiday season underway, California retailers and shoppers have been horrified by continued acts of looting, theft and burglaries.