Ive been in the Bay area 20 years, Ive never seen this," a local security guard, J.C. Hernandez, told Fox News. David and Joan Traitel Building & Rental Information, National Security, Technology & Law Working Group, Middle East and the Islamic World Working Group, Military History/Contemporary Conflict Working Group, Technology, Economics, and Governance Working Group, Answering Challenges to Advanced Economies, Understanding the Effects of Technology on Economics and Governance, Support the Mission of the Hoover Institution. Thats a hell of a lot, Williams said. Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly referred to John Nores status with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Marijuana Enforcement team. Today, social justice warriors have amplified this effect considerably. The most they do is record the thefts with their cell phones. This story has been shared 100,855 times. State and local officials say water theft is a long running-issue, but the intensifying drought has driven the thefts to record levels as reservoirs dry up and bandits make off with stolen water, often to cultivate the growth of illegal marijuana crops. Watch as shoplifters sprint out of Neiman Marcus, speed off in getaway cars, Biden pitches crime plan amid wave of gun violence, Vicky Nguyen gets inside look at retail theft rings, Journal of Criminal Justice published this month. Over 500 students found themselves trapped at a sleepaway science camp due to the winter blizzard that descended on Southern California. Despite being the bluest state in the country, only 48 percent of Californians want to retain Newsom as governor. California's Prop 47 leads to rise in shoplifting, theft In 2014, Prop 47 was passed to reduce certain non-violent felonies to misdemeanors in order to free up resources for cops and prosecutors to go after serious, violent offenders. By Associated Press. Retail theft across our San Francisco stores has continued to increase in the past few months to five times our chain average despite large increases in security, Walgreens spokesperson Phil Caruso said in a statement at the time. But he also conceded that it has been difficult recruiting new police officers to the city's department, which remains hundreds of officers short during a climate in which policing remains heavily scrutinized. It would reinstate some of the stiffer fines and penalties for property theft, particularly in the case of repeat offenders. Therefore, it is important to have legal representation to help defend the individual in instances where shoplifting did not occur. On Monday, Scott said officers in San Francisco were being deployed in more crime-plagued neighborhoods. This does not happen in all cases, but it is possible to even with the new law. Timothy T. Williams Jr., who spent 29 years with the Los Angeles Police Department before he retired from its Robbery-Homicide Division, said he has also never seen so many suspects accused in a shoplifting incident. Its just that the Bay Area has chosen to forget. They're affected, too," said Rachel Michelin, the president and CEO of the California Retailers Association, a trade group. Series of high-end store robberies: 'Mob of people' storms, robs California Nordstrom, 'Sad day for San Francisco': Walgreens closing 5 more San Francisco stores due to organized shoplifting. Moreover, a confrontation within the store risks harming not only store staff but also customers, so employees are almost certainly instructed by their managers to do nothing. https://www.newsweek.com/tj-maxx-shoplifting-video-california-1612480 Unfortunately, it is not just shoplifting in San Francisco that is getting headlines, though San Franciscos out-of-control drug problem makes this issue much worse than it otherwise would be. . One alleged victim describes King as like a family member. "But the problem is bigger than our city. In a few easy steps create an account and receive the most recent analysis from Hoover fellows tailored to your specific policy interests. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. They say Walgreens policy is to not get involved. In 2014, California adopted Proposition 47, which made thefts of $950 or less a misdemeanor. People are stealing water as an extreme drought continues to leave The Golden State dry. Walnut Creek police said three people were arrested in connection with Saturday nights incident. I feel sorry for the clerks, they are regularly being verbally assaulted, he said. Market data provided by Factset. This is a polity deciding that it is more important to stay its own hand from arresting and jailing criminals than to protect businesses from getting robbed, protect duly employed people from having to watch cretins flout the law and protect neighborhoods from losing retail outlets that they depend on. 2021 HerLawyer.com. WebCalifornia will allow 63,000 prisoners, out of a population of 115,000, the possibility of early release. Erik Ortiz reported from New York and Jacob Ward from San Francisco. Viral video of brazen thefts has become one of the citys most influential cultural exports. And you will find lots of YouTube videos, where you can watch a single thief, or an entire gang, walk into an SF Walgreens or CVS and empty the shelves. Sgt. Through a series of measures starting back in 2014, the state of California has made it increasingly easy for people to commit property theft and get away with it. Governor Newsom recently signed a new law in which shoplifting is a felony, even if it is below the $950 limit, ifand this is a big ifthe theft is part of an organized ring with the intent to sell the stolen goods. Districts attorneys from several Bay Area counties met Tuesday to discuss solutions to the spree of thefts. another Walgreens has closed its doors permanently, DeSantis to DA: Give me all your documentation on why you allowed the Pine Hills shooter to remain on the street, Joe Biden's "9,000 unused drilling permits" lie, GAO: FBI, Capitol Police failed to share information of threats before January 6 riot. She's accused of fabricating loans using expensive cars, watches and even NFL contracts as collateral. Walgreens says its San Francisco stores experience a level of theft five times the national average. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. This must occur within three years of the laws implementation. ", Dr. Robert Klapper says to start pool exercises as way to improve back, Elizabeth Holmes has 2nd child as she tries to avoid prison, TikTok sets new default time limits for teens. Gavin Newsom signed a law Wednesday If someone did not have the intent to steal when entering the business, the crime is not shoplifting under the California legal system. Legal Statement. But chains say even more drastic measures are required. Target said this month that it was closing four hours earlier at six San Francisco locations after a "significant and alarming rise in theft and security incidents at those stores," reported NBC Bay Area. The latest video of retail crime at a San Francisco drug store coincides with an appearance of a Republican candidate for governor in the city for a press event where he knocked Gov. The video shows one after another, after another, running out, as apparently there were 10 thieves, and they stole over the $950-per-thief misdemeanor limit. It is a local problem in smaller communities, West said. Ambrosio Rodriguez, a criminal defense attorney and former deputy district attorney in Los Angeles, said cities like San Francisco battling rising crime rates amid calls against over-policing will have to determine how much the public is willing to tolerate in terms of smaller, "victimless" crimes before overall quality of life is an issue. California Theft Laws: Petty Theft, Grand Theft, & Shoplifting. "Let me tell you she didn't only steal from a billionaire," Sturdivant said. Misdemeanor charges can still lead to no more than 6 months of jail time. As the governor recall election looms just over a month away, Governor Newsom remains defensive and reactive and fails to provide a vision that Californians can buy into. The former model should be given the environment to thrive, the latter ground to dust. After publication of this story, a spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said the department could not verify figures Nores provided on arrests and the amount of water stolen, but added that the department had made 95 arrests last year for illegal marijuana grow operations, many of which had diverted water for their plants. Police data shows overall thefts are down 9 percent in the first six months of the year compared to the same period in 2020, when the city was on lockdown and many businesses closed during the onset of the pandemic. But if you enter a bank or a store intending to commit forgeryfor example, by cashing or creating a forged checkyou can also face charges for PC 459. He was considered Nine people face felony charges in connection with the theftslast Fridayat Louis Vuitton, Burberry and Bloomingdales inSan Francisco'sdowntown Union Square, police said. All rights reserved. Sara King's former employer is suing the sultry swindler for allegedly funding her lavish lifestyle and a Vegas gambling binge with their money. Theres a referendum (known as prop 20) on the ballot today in California to address this. Even being filmed by multiple people, including security, the thief wasn't discouraged. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. So is it any wonder that stores like Walgreens are packing up and fleeing the state? In addition, the resentencing would guarantee a lower sentence and would not add more years for the convicted individual. "And so, thats sending a message that we, the criminals, are winning.". Check this out people running out of a Neiman Marcus with fancy handbags into waiting cars. All six men have been arrested and were held (Wall Street Journal, subscription required). WebBy Antonio Planas. 5.3. The article also misstated the amount of water that was estimated stolen it was at least 1.8 billion gallons, according to Nores. They dont want anyone getting injured or getting sued, so the guys just keep coming in and taking whatever they want.. "This is really bad. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Progressives in California in recent years have strengthened property rightsto other peoples property. A shoplifting incident involving 80 people accused of grabbing items and rushing out of a Nordstrom store in California in under a minute Saturday night is among the worst such episodes theyve heard of, two longtime police officers say. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. "Sadly, as it relates to crime, we've gotten a lot of negative attention," Breed added. They ultimately blitzkrieg a particular location. Retailers and experts from the National Retail Federation saythefts have gotten more violent amid the pandemic and have moved from cities to the suburbs. Thanks for contacting us. Quick-hit robberies continue to target high-end retail stores and pharmacies in Californias Bay Area, officials say. Criminal justice experts say if California officials agree that moving away from mass incarceration and toward decriminalization of low-level offenses is imperative, then it's important to go after the bosses and co-conspirators rather than focusing on the shoplifters themselves, who may be paid juveniles and homeless people, according to officials. "People who are stealing giant, giant tote bags, giant backpacks worth of inventory are not getting the same benefit of the people that are stealing food and clothing for their children," she said. The result of that change was felt immediately. Related: California Wobbler Crimes: Misdemeanor or Felony? "If you let these criminals think that they can go in and steal merchandise and steal things, what happens when someone tries to stop them," Sandoz added. Surveillance video appears to show Buffer making his way through a comic book store and helping himself to books by shoving them inside his shirt, according to footage obtained The initiative set a threshold of $950 for shoplifting to be considered a misdemeanor, which doesn't prompt law enforcement to make an arrest, rather than a felony, which could incur harsh penalties like jail time. Jerretta Sandoz told CBS LA of the incident. WebFive people rushed into a Nordstrom store in Southern California the night before Thanksgiving and fled with several purses, the latest incident in a string of grab-and-go Toyota Camry - Number of Thefts: 16,906 6. WebProgressives in California in recent years have strengthened property rightsto other peoples property. In an interview with NBC News last week, Scott suggested that California's Proposition 47, which voters passed in 2014 and lowered criminal sentences for certain nonviolent crimes like shoplifting and check forgery, is being exploited by those who want to commit theft. WebAhmad Rahmaan, 25, and 28-year-old Tylise Bell, of Los Angeles, are being held in O.C. Jerretta Sandoz told CBS LA of the incident. Because they dont want to take the risk. The shoplifting problem represents a deliberate choice rather than an unstoppable tide. US Intelligence agencies conclude 'Havana Syndrome' not the result of a secret weapon, Hot take on New Orleans mayor recall efforts: It's voter suppression, Toxic gas attacks on school girls in Iran come under investigation, Garland Gives Curious Explanation About Why Mexican Cartels Aren't Classified as Terrorists, Dr. Marty Makary tells House committee what happened after virologists acquiesced to Dr. Fauci, WATCH: Ted Cruz Chews up Merrick Garland and Spits Him out at Senate Judiciary Hearing, The Day Your Doctor Wont Treat You If You Arent the Right Kind of Patient Is Closer Than You Might Think, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information, California legalizes shoplifting with predictable results. As California enters its hottest and driest stretch of the year, which forces municipalities to increasingly restrict water use, the thefts are threatening to make a bad situation even more dire. Defensively reacting to criticism and doing whatever it takes to deflect that criticism. What she has done is evil and there is no way she can get out of this. WebEntering an open business with the intent to steal less than $950 worth of property is shoplifting under California state law (Penal Code 495.5). Because state law holds that stealing merchandise worth $950 or less is just a misdemeanor, which means that law enforcement probably wont bother to investigate, and if they do, prosecutors will let it go. Were not seeing something new here thats a result of the riots and looting, though the trend has definitely ramped up this year. The amount of water that is being stolen to water those (marijuana) plants has a huge impact on our local aquifers, Siskiyou County Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue told CNN. WebPenal Code 459.5 PC defines the California crime of shoplifting as entering a commercial establishment during regular business hours with the intentto steal "San Franciscans will have to determine what they can put up with," he added. I doubt many would, knowing that a Rite Aid employee was murdered recently after trying to stop two thieves. Although the thefts have been clustered in California, they have also occurred elsewhere. Legal Statement. A rational society knows this, and perhaps one day San Francisco will again as well. Police have responded by stepping up patrols and stores have been increasing security. Just like thatsince they know that police or prosecutors wont bother with a misdemeanor complaint and that store personnel wont stop them. Do that good work. If the good work had been done, there would be no recall. We're here for you 24/7. The steepest rise has been seen in whats referred to as mass grab and dash robberies, where crowds of people meet up and enter a business all at once and begin grabbing everything they can carry and running out. Officials say they are doing all they can to combat the issue by removing fire hydrants, securing key water sources and implementing greater enforcement to stop would-be thieves from making off with water. Ahmad Rahmaan, 25, and 28-year-old Tylise Bell, of Los Angeles, are being held in O.C. "I can't believe I'm actually living this situation.". Millions of dollars gone: In court documents the sultry swindler claims she has only $11 to her name. Californias $950 Theft Law turned shoplifting from a felony offense to a misdemeanor as long as the total stolen does not exceed the value of $950. These arent episodic crimes. WebEntering an open business with the intent to steal less than $950 worth of property is shoplifting under California state law (Penal Code 495.5). 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