What is needed is a change to the state law that makes shoplifting at a much lower dollar level a felony, to provide adequate incentives to individuals not to commit these crimes. Copyright 2023 HotAir.com/Salem Media. We feel a little The incident is among a cluster of quick-hit robberies that have been plaguing high-end retail stores and pharmacies in the San Francisco area all year. Here's what to know about these recent thefts: These incidents, which have been dubbed "grab and go" or "smash and go" thefts,involve people taking expensive items and running off, rather than traditional shoplifters who snag items here and there while shopping around. Both CVS and Walgreens say shoplifting in San Francisco outpaces thefts at their stores across the country. Under the new theft law, those serving prison time for a felony theft charge that would now be classified as a misdemeanor will receive the opportunity for resentencing. WebCalifornias $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. The video was recently filmed at a TJ Maxx in Granada Hills and shows two men leaving the store with their arms packed with clothing and other items, with one of the men carrying a large duffle bag that appears to be full of items. Last weekend, there were similar incidents in Walnut Creek, Hayward, Oakland and San Jose.". Contact News Now Reporter Christine Fernando at cfernando@usatoday.com or follow her on Twitter at @christinetfern. If someone did not have the intent to steal when entering the business, the crime is not shoplifting under the California legal system. 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. Jennifer McBride was involved in the theft of Lady Gagas French bulldogs in February 2021, and says Gaga needs to pay up on the reward money she offered. One enterprise that was broken up was estimated at $50 million. Sara King's former employer is suing the sultry swindler for allegedly funding her lavish lifestyle and a Vegas gambling binge with their money. Learn more about joining the community of supporters and scholars working together to advance Hoovers mission and values. IE 11 is not supported. The suspect then turned and fired at a U-Haul van whose driver returned fire, killing Moser, the sheriff's office said in news release posted on its Facebook page Tuesday. She knows of other friends and family members of King who were similarly bilked. The new law defines shoplifting in California as entering a store intending to steal. "The employees at TJ Maxx have been told that, in these specific circumstances, its not worth it for you to go and physically attack, physically stop people that are walking out with this inventory," criminal defense attorney Alexandra Kazarian said of why many employees dont confront shoplifters. WebCops and prosecutors are at odds over Proposition 47, a 2014 referendum that lowered the penalty for stealing goods worth less than $950 from a felony to a misdemeanor. Robbery 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. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. WebOn Nov. 17, three people stole merchandise from a jewelry store at a mall in Fairfield, Calif., about 27 miles north of Concord, the police there said. WebIn 2014, California adopted Proposition 47, which made thefts of $950 or less a misdemeanor. Officials say the thieves are getting their hands on water by breaking into secure water stations, drilling into water lines, tapping into fire hydrants and using violence and threats against farmers, making off with truckloads of water for their crops under cover of darkness. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. WaPo: FBI resisted Mar-a-Lago raid, DoJ prosecutors demanded it. 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. LA's top prosecutor is threatening a fight with auto companies to force change. Newsom for being soft on crime.Read more: https://bit.ly/3x9X1suSubscribe to KTVU's YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVhtkN7-c8mA8GXEoxS4YQw?sub_confirmation=1KTVU delivers the best in-depth reports, interviews and breaking news coverage in the San Francisco Bay Area and CaliforniaWatch KTVU's newscasts on https://www.ktvu.com/liveDownload KTVU's news and weather apps for free at https://www.ktvu.com/mobile-appsSubscribe to KTVU's newsletter at https://www.ktvu.com/newslettersFollow KTVU on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ktvuFollow KTVU on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KTVUFollow KTVU on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ktvu2/ Holding people accountable for their crimes is decried as a form of racism, as is incarcerating anyone. That happened again this week as yet another Walgreens has closed its doors permanently. All Rights Reserved. Sadly, this may have little effect on shoplifting, given that most of these thefts are by individuals, rather than groups, and it will still be up to police and prosecutors to charge these as felonies. Shoplifting is usually treated IE 11 is not supported. WebWhen most people think of burgling, they think of breaking into a building intending to steal something. I doubt many would, knowing that a Rite Aid employee was murdered recently after trying to stop two thieves. 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 city has been gripped by a perception of lawlessness after a string of videos featured people openly shoplifting, seemingly without repercussion. King's second husband, Kamran Pahlavi who is Iranian royalty - a relative of the late shah of Iran - connected King with LDR International, which is now suing her for fraud and civil theft. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. It has shuttered 17 already and last month announced five more closures, including the one hit by the man on the bike (who was finally arrested after robbing the store one too many times). It ought to be possible to operate a retail store in one of Americas largest and most iconic cities, but this most basic commercial proposition is in doubt in San Francisco. Whenever we go in there, they always have problems with shoplifters., Mr. Luke has been posting photos of the shoplifting sprees. His rural county in the northernmost part of the state is one of the hardest hit by thieves, where many residents rely on well water. You cant turn a profit when people keep showing up and emptying your shelves without paying. Your gift helps advance ideas that promote a free society. Why would you attempt to continue to do business in a climate like that? MyHoover delivers a personalized experience atHoover.org. We've received your submission. Peretz Klein, 68, of Spring Valley was sentenced to 48 months in prison in July and must repay $1.14 million for stealing millions of dollars from the program. As the extreme drought emergency continues in California, thieves are making off with billions of gallons of water. The landscape of shoplifting and petty theft jurisprudence in California has shifted dramatically in recent years, largely due to Proposition 47, which voters approved in 2014. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Nissan Altima - Number of Thefts: 13,284 7. "So its not taken seriously.". (Nov. 25), more than 80 people stormed another Nordstrom, Retailers and experts from the National Retail Federation say, 'Mob of people' storms, robs California Nordstrom, Walgreens closing 5 more San Francisco stores due to organized shoplifting. About 80 looters descended on the Nordstrom at about 9 p.m. in the citys Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek police said. California could be so much better than it is with sensible policy changes that reduce business costs, reduce housing costs, provide reliable water during drought years, prevent wildfires, and. Why? In Southern California, about 300 residents in the Antelope Valley saw their water system crash last year after thieves used water trucks to tap fire hydrants and water mains illegally. Cell phone video of the incident shows 20 to 40 people smash windows and grab merchandise, according to police. The most they do is record the thefts with their cell phones. Discovery Company. As a consequence, the chain has been steadily closing locations. They say Walgreens policy is to not get involved. California Theft Laws: Petty Theft, Grand Theft, & Shoplifting. She's accused of fabricating loans using expensive cars, watches and even NFL contracts as collateral. Two men in a Los Angeles suburb were seen on camera brazenly leaving a TJ Maxx store with their arms full of shoplifted items. by the Board of Trustees of Leland Stanford Junior University. Market data provided by Factset. Rachel Michelin, president of the California Retailers Association, said her organization sponsored the legislation in the hope that it could stem the tide of rising theft. 35. Honda Accord - Number of Thefts: 36,815 3. Misdemeanor charges can still lead to no more than 6 months of jail time. I sincerely had hoped for Newsoms success, because millions of Californians are struggling, and mightily so. "San Franciscans will have to determine what they can put up with," he added. But they aren't the only ones to fall victim to her con. String of organized thefts: After Nordstrom robbery in California, will other retailers be next? "I can't believe I'm actually living this situation.". A bill moving through the state Legislature and supported by the California Retailers Association would renew and fund the Organized Retail Crime Task Force through the end of 2025, focusing on "ringleaders and conspirators of these criminal networks and not the low-level petty thief." Because of this law, California is extending an open invitation to anyone to walk in and take. KFSN Fresno News also reported on August 19 that two men were arrested for mail theft. Located on the campus of Stanford University and in Washington, DC, the Hoover Institution is the nations preeminent research center dedicated to generating policy ideas that promote economic prosperity, national security, and democratic governance. San Francisco police didnt respond to a request for comment or updated theft statistics Monday. PHILADEPHIA SHOOTING: VIDEO SHOWS 1-YEAR-OLD SHOT IN CONVENIENCE STORE AS CRIME SKYROCKETS. Failing to lead. The former model should be given the environment to thrive, the latter ground to dust. The shoplifting was clearly a planned event, police said. For their part, the stores advise employees not to interfere with shoplifters lest they get hurt. WebTwo men in a Los Angeles suburb were seen on camera brazenly leaving a TJ Maxx store with their arms full of shoplifted items. Water stealing has never been more severe, said John Nores, former head of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Marijuana Enforcement Team. In 2020 alone, nearly 650,000 people left California for other states about 210,000 more than moved to California from elsewhere in the U.S. 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. WebFischer was wounded in the dognapping and five people in total have been charged in connection with the theft. 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. Additional research, however, will be needed, Kubrin said, to see the effect something like Proposition 47 is having on San Francisco and other local communities. Adam Carolla, a comedian who hosts a podcast, posted the video to Facebook along with a false comment about Proposition 47. Therefore, it is important to have legal representation to help defend the individual in instances where shoplifting did not occur. If we continue to do that good work, I think were going to be OK on Election Day.. California officials are trying to put a stop to a crime that would be odd in most parts of the country. WebThe state attorney general announced earlier this month that five defendants had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit organized retail theft after officials seized roughly $8m in Ahmad Rahmaan, 25, and 28-year-old Tylise Bell, of Los Angeles, are being held in O.C. ABC7. Coordinated smash and grab burglaries leave shoppers, employees on edge, About 80 looters descended on the Nordstrom, The incident is among a cluster of quick-hit robberies that have been plaguing, Dozens of looters target California Nordstrom in violent robbery, Walgreens announced last month that it would close five stores, cellphone video sprinting out of a Neiman Marcus, City officials released a midyear public safety report, Video shows 14 suspects raid Chicago Louis Vuitton store, More than a dozen people in a Chicago suburb. Some of these thefts are also consideredorganized retail crime, which refers to professional shoplifting rings. The city's district attorney, Chesa Boudin, who took office in January 2020 on a progressive platform that pledged to tackle incarceration rates and endorse diversion programs, has been at the center of a recall effort after complaints of rising crime in the city. The LAPD is investigating the incident, but neither of the men have been charged or arrested. They ultimately blitzkrieg a particular location. Sturdivant says King convinced her to loan her company thousands of dollars, promising a quick return on her investment - one that never materialized. The agency has been fighting the thefts for years, usually in rural areas of the parched state, that have been devastating communities, he said. When not having the planned intent to steal, the crime becomes petty theft, which is also a misdemeanor crime. She can't believe the 39-year-old attorney, who ran a high-end loan company, would scam her out of thousands of dollars. The law states that all other occasions of theft that do not fall under the newly established shoplifting will be considered a burglary charge. Those diversions threaten native fish and wildlife that depend on the water to survive during hot summer months. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. San Francisco shoplifting: 4 women bolt out of CVS with stuffed bags in citys latest retail theft. 10, 2021 4:55 AM PT. Modern societies long ago figured out how to maintain civil order such that law-abiding people could buy and sell goods without being systematically preyed on by thieves. The state decriminalized theft such that stealing less than $950 worth of goods was only a misdemeanor, leading to a small fine, frequently far less than the value of the merchandise that was stolen. reduce crime. ", 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. What she has done is evil and there is no way she can get out of this. Forgery in most cases is a California wobbler. And on Monday,about 20 people took roughly $5,000 of merchandise from a Nordstrom store at Grove mall. For the crime to be considered shoplifting, the stolen goods cannot allot to over $950, and the individual must have had the intent to steal before entering the store. Why wont store employees do anything about this theft? Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Ive been in the Bay area 20 years, Ive never seen this," a local security guard, J.C. Hernandez, told Fox News. You wont believe it this guy loads merchandise from a Walgreens into a big trash bag and jumps on his bike to ride down the aisle and out of the store. "This is like a nightmare," Yumiko Sturdivant said. This includes death row inmate Richard Allen Davis, one of 737 murderers in Only King pocketing and then spending the money. WebAhmad Rahmaan, 25, and 28-year-old Tylise Bell, of Los Angeles, are being held in O.C. The Homicides in California jumped 31 percent last year, making 2020 the deadliest year since 2007. Those convicted of the possession of mass destruction weapons, Those convicted of vehicular manslaughter while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. "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. The same month, city leaders pushed back against critics who argued that the shoplifting incidents were out of control. The thefts are also not specific to California. WebFour teenagers accused of stealing more than $250,000 worth of alcohol from Rite Aid pharmacies were arrested near Fresno, Feb. 8, 2023. An individual must file the resentencing petition within three years since the law was passed and in the original court where the felony theft charge was convicted. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, All six men have been arrested and were held Erik Ortiz is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital focusing on racial injustice and social inequality. 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. "If it's a felony, our officers can take action," he added. Gavin Newsom signed a law Wednesday Creating a political moment to sign an almost meaningless shoplifting crime bill that rarely will be enforced. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. All of us knew it was coming, longtime customer Sebastian Luke told the San Francisco Chronicle. Once people realized that they were unlikely to be arrested or prosecuted for stealing below $1,000, they, of course, responded to the incentive. Businesses need to invest in displays that are shatterproof. So is it any wonder that stores like Walgreens are packing up and fleeing the state? McBride says Gaga promised a $500,000 reward no questions There have been several thefts inmajor cities across California, including theSan Francisco Bay area. The lawsuit claims LDR loaned King's company more than $10 million under the understanding she was in turn generating loans with those funds to well-heeled clients who had expensive assets to put up as collateral. New York City famously re-established order in the 1990s based on broken windows policing, or a focus on offenses that degraded the quality of life; San Francisco and similar locales are engaged in broken windows neglect the broken windows being at high-end stores struck by emboldened robbers. Former model should be given the environment to thrive, the chain has been gripped by a perception of after! 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