California Governor Signs Legislation To Address Crime

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a package of 10 bills aimed at reducing shoplifting and car theft, but the full impact remains to be seen.

At a Glance

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a comprehensive package of 10 bills targeting smash-and-grab robberies and property crimes.
The legislation focuses on repeat shoplifters, auto thieves, and professional reselling schemes.
Newsom’s administration has allocated $267 million to local law enforcement for more patrols and surveillance.
The package allows law enforcement to aggregate the value of stolen goods for harsher penalties.

Comprehensive Legislation to Combat Retail Crime

On Friday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bipartisan package of 10 bills to address the rising incidents of retail and vehicle theft across California. The legislation, aiming to curb repeat offenses and organized crime, comes at a critical time when viral videos of large-scale thefts have garnered public concern. The bills specifically target repeat shoplifters, auto thieves, and professional reselling operations.

The legislative package is reportedly part of a broader effort by Democratic leadership to project toughness on crime while countering a separate ballot measure that proposes stricter sentences for repeat offenders. By focusing on organized retail theft and serial theft, the bills aim to take control of a pressing public safety issue.

Law enforcement will be able to consolidate the value of stolen goods from various victims to prosecute offenders more effectively. The legislation also permits the use of video footage and witness statements for arrests, enhancing the tools available to law enforcement agencies.

A Costly Problem

The problem of retail theft has become increasingly severe, with crime data indicating a rise in shoplifting incidents in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles between 2021 and 2022. Though overall crime rates remain below past decades’ levels, public attention has surged due to high-profile cases involving large groups of thieves.

According to California Highway Patrol records, the agency has recovered $45 million in stolen goods and arrested nearly 3,000 people since 2019. The state has allocated $267 million to local law enforcement for increased patrols, surveillance, and prosecution efforts to combat this issue.

Legal and Legislative Amendments

The bills also introduce new measures aimed at closing prosecution loopholes for auto theft and addressing cargo thefts. For instance, AB 2943 allows felony charges on the third theft offense and aggregates the total dollar value of stolen items for harsher penalties. Furthermore, marketplaces are now required to gather bank account information and tax IDs from high-volume sellers to curb the resale of stolen goods.

“We know that retail theft has consequences, big and small, physical and financial,” State Senator Nancy Skinner, author of one of the bills, said. “And we know we have to take the right steps in order to stop it without returning to the days of mass incarceration.”

Additionally, the package makes the California Highway Patrol property crimes task force permanent and expands its scope to include cargo theft and railroad police. The new laws also permit courts to impose restraining orders for up to two years against offenders, considering the broader societal impacts like the creation of “food deserts.”

Public Response and Future Implications

While some Democrats support the ballot measures, breaking with party leadership, Governor Newsom and others argue that Proposition 36, which pushes for stricter punishments, could result in mass incarceration akin to the 1980s war on drugs.

“This goes to the heart of the issue, and it does it in a thoughtful and judicious way,” Newsom said when talking about the newly approved legislation. “This is the real deal.”

As the state rolls out these new laws, the effectiveness of the legislative package will be closely watched. Public and bipartisan support remains strong, with many hoping these measures will address the growing concerns about retail theft and car break-ins while balancing the need for fair and just legal processes.