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). Throughout our over one-hundred-year history, our work has directly led to policies that have produced greater freedom, democracy, and opportunity in the United States and the world. WebPeretz 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. Experts say yes. Why would you attempt to continue to do business in a climate like that? An employee was pepper-sprayed, and two others were punched and kicked, a police spokesperson said. Pollys father, Marc, who supports recalling Newsom, remarked, The thing that really alarms me about what the governor did, is that its a continuation of policies to undermine the criminal justice system, and to put dangerous people back out onto the streets., Just a few hours after Marc Klaass remarks, Newsoms office announced a press conference on state action to address crime and reduce retail theft in communities across California.. 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. Why is shoplifting so rampant? SAN FRANCISCO A flurry of shoplifters in masks and hooded jackets sprinted from a downtown Neiman Marcus last week and into getaway cars with armfuls of designer handbags a scene captured on video and raising fears that rings of thieves were hitting retail businesses. Web6 people accused of stealing $1.1 million in construction equipment by: Samantha Jarpe. 10, 2021 4:55 AM PT. Why wont store employees do anything about this theft? 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). IE 11 is not supported. And as weve seen in other places like New York City, store managers in California are telling their employees to not interfere with looters for fear of being branded as racists on social media or even run into lawsuits over alleged discrimination. 5.3. And on Monday,about 20 people took roughly $5,000 of merchandise from a Nordstrom store at Grove mall. California, she added, has seen its property and violent crime rates fall in recent years to historic lows in some cases as the state embarked on reforms. 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. jails on $200K bail. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Torrance and Valley Village are both in Los Angeles County, and about 32 miles apart. 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. Ahmad Rahmaan, 25, and 28-year-old Tylise Bell, of Los Angeles, are being held in O.C. If we continue to do that good work, I think were going to be OK on Election Day.. Donning ski masks, the mob ran off with thousands of dollars of merchandise. If you do, we'll connect you to a qualified lawyer today. You cant turn a profit when people keep showing up and emptying your shelves without paying. 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. WebPenal Code 459.5 PC defines the California crime of shoplifting as entering a commercial establishment during regular business hours with the intentto steal Insurance companies have limits as to how many times theyll cover a claim if youre unwilling or unable to secure your inventory. This story has been shared 100,855 times. "Think about these employees in these stores who are a witness to these crimes. On Monday, Scott said officers in San Francisco were being deployed in more crime-plagued neighborhoods. Viral video of brazen thefts has become one of the citys most influential cultural exports. Holding people accountable for their crimes is decried as a form of racism, as is incarcerating anyone. (Wall Street Journal, subscription required). Legal Statement. The thefts are also not specific to California. A Warner Bros. 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. Jacob Ward, a technology correspondent for NBC News, is a 2018-19 Berggruen Fellow at Stanford Universitys Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, where he is writing a book about how artificial intelligence will shape human behavior. 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. Businesses need to invest in displays that are shatterproof. The police said they later arrested VENICE BEACH VIOLENCE REACHES BOILING POINT IN L.A. AS NEW VIRAL VIDEO EMERGES, "Its just lawlessness," he added. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 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. Honda Civic - Number of Thefts: 38,426 2. ", San Francisco Police Department spokesman Robert Rueca added that shoplifters aren't stealing "one or two items that someone might need to get by.". This does not happen in all cases, but it is possible to even with the new law. 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. Posted: Feb 28, 2023 / 03:52 PM MST. Yvonne West, director of the State Water Resources Control Boards Office of Enforcement, told CNN that the board has recently received an uptick in complaints of stolen water. LA's top prosecutor is threatening a fight with auto companies to force change. 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. Fivepeoplerushed 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 thefts and organized robberies plaguing luxury stores. WebLONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) With violent smash-and-grab shoplifting costing California businesses millions of dollars annually, Gov. 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. The opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Hoover Institution or Stanford University. Hey, look here are 80 people engaged in a large-scale smash-and-grab robbery of a Nordstrom in Walnut Creek outside San Francisco last weekend, one of a series of jaw-dropping thefts over the last several days, including an operation that cleared out a Louis Vuitton on San Franciscos Union Square. The shoplifting problem represents a deliberate choice rather than an unstoppable tide. 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. 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. Although the thefts have been clustered in California, they have also occurred elsewhere. 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. The scene was captured on video by another person in the store and circulated widely on news media. Theres a referendum (known as prop 20) on the ballot today in California to address this. Ford Pickup (Full-size) - Number of Thefts: 36,355 4. 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. Last weekend, there were similar incidents in Walnut Creek, Hayward, Oakland and San Jose.". As officials move to crack down on the thieves, the drought which now covers every corner of the state threatens to create long-term impacts as climate change exacerbates the hot and dry conditions, creating a vicious feedback loop that becomes harder to break. 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. If a felony charge is pursued, the maximum jail time is 3 years, and a fine could be up to $10,000. And if you need a one-liner for why Newsom is not the person to govern California, Newsom had this to say about the recall: Were going [to] defeat this partisan effort, and were going to work hard to do the work people sent us here to do. Theyhave cost U.S. retail stores and companies as much as $30 billion a year, according to the FBI. Police have described the incidents as"flash mob thefts," and they've been happening in several other cities across California. In an aerial view, low water levels are visible at Lake Oroville on July 22, 2021. No, it is, in effect, privileging one business model over another. She's accused of fabricating loans using expensive cars, watches and even NFL contracts as collateral. What she has done is evil and there is no way she can get out of this. "I can't believe I'm actually living this situation.". If you or a loved one would like to learn more about California Decriminalize Theft, get your free consultation with one of our Criminal Defense Attorneys in California today! https://www.newsweek.com/tj-maxx-shoplifting-video-california-1612480 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 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. Sandoz, who serves as vice president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, said she blames the incident on Prop 47, a 2014 referendum that lowered criminal sentences on crimes such as shoplifting. Officials didnt specify the estimated value of the items that were stolen. Shoplifting has essentially been decriminalized, and retailers that apprehend thieves can be sued. Thanks for contacting us. In San Francisco, there is no attempt to conceal theft, and there is almost never any effort by store employees, including security personnel, to confront the thieves. Cities around the country dub themselves the capital of this or that signature product artichokes in Castroville, Calif., earmuffs in Farmington, Maine, spinach in Alma, Ark., fried chicken in Barberton, Ohio. All rights reserved. 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. As the WSJ points out, there have already been six lawsuits in recent years where retailers have been forced to pay out hundreds of thousands of dollars for allegedly discriminatory actions that profile minority thieves. WaPo: FBI resisted Mar-a-Lago raid, DoJ prosecutors demanded it. 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. 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. The 2,202 homicides in 2020 represent an increase of 523 over 2019. Failing to lead. ", Retail thefts have gotten the bulk of the attention on social media because of the string of videos. In recent years, some retail stores have been placing not only high-end items but everyday products like toothpaste and shampoo behind security locks. Most stores only have one or two security personnel on duty at most so they cant stop them all. These increases put the spotlight on Californias recent legal change that provides shorter sentences for prisoners, including violent felons, largely because of budgetary issues (California prison costs are among the highest in the country at $81,000 annually per prisoner), and also on Newsoms decision to suspend the states death penalty law via executive order. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. For those who have completed their time for a felony theft charge, the CA theft law allows them to file to change the felony to a misdemeanor, if applicable. Both CVS and Walgreens say shoplifting in San Francisco outpaces thefts at their stores across the country. But the biggest victim may have been a major lending firm. "Nobody cares about big broad statistics," she said. Many crimes dont even go reported. For their part, the stores advise employees not to interfere with shoplifters lest they get hurt. Antonio Planas is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. 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. Through the end of June, 125 Californians reported water thefts to state authorities more than twice as many as a decade ago. WebIn October, the California Attorney General's Office announced breaking up a major theft ring in the Bay Area in which $8 million worth of merchandise was allegedly swiped from appreciated. Danielle Echeverria/San Francisco Chronicle via AP, File. We feel a little So when people stop going to Neiman Marcus, and the stores around it closes, there will be a larger effect on other businesses and perceptions about whether a place is safe to visit.". 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. San Francisco police didnt respond to a request for comment or updated theft statistics Monday. That happened again this week as yet another Walgreens has closed its doors permanently. Business owners and security officials in San Francisco, for example, are decrying the "lawlessness" in the city over shoplifting. Target and Safeway have been reducing hours to try to limit their locations exposure to theft. 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 shoplifting was clearly a planned event, police said. Store employees often don't feel comfortable getting involved, and some retailers have increased security presence but with limited results. "People shopping there were just kind of standing there watching. "So its not taken seriously.". 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. And as weve seen repeatedly, when you stop enforcing the law, a certain percentage of the population will quickly move in to take advantage of the situation. Districts attorneys from several Bay Area counties met Tuesday to discuss solutions to the spree of thefts. Theft will be considered a misdemeanor if the stolen value does not exceed $950. "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. As an extreme drought grips California, making water increasingly scarce, thieves are making off with billions of gallons of the precious resource, tapping into fire hydrants, rivers, and even small family homes and farms. 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. Here is everything you need to know about the California $950 Theft Law. 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. People are stealing water as an extreme drought continues to leave The Golden State dry. California is continuing down a path where simply being a member of a minority group is an excuse for nearly anything. He is the former head of the team. Police in Hayward and Walnut Creek, which is about 30 miles northeast, didnt return requests for comment Monday about whether the incidents might be connected. 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. 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. Wednesday 1 March 2023 09:43, UK Image: Pic: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP Track SoCal rain with LIVE Megadoppler 7000 HD. Recently, San Franciscos Neiman Marcus was targeted by thieves who had a hankering for designer handbags and hit the purse department hard. Therefore, it is important to have legal representation to help defend the individual in instances where shoplifting did not occur. Erik Ortiz is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital focusing on racial injustice and social inequality. PHILADEPHIA SHOOTING: VIDEO SHOWS 1-YEAR-OLD SHOT IN CONVENIENCE STORE AS CRIME SKYROCKETS. Thats a hell of a lot, Williams said. 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. Jerretta Sandoz told CBS LA of the incident. We're here for you 24/7. 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. In Palo Alto, police said two women were arrested after 30 to 40 people tried to break the glass door to a downtown boutique Sunday night. Shoplifting is usually treated WebCalifornia will allow 63,000 prisoners, out of a population of 115,000, the possibility of early release. Two men in a Los Angeles suburb were seen on camera brazenly leaving a TJ Maxx store with their arms full of shoplifted items. All Rights Reserved. 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. Just like thatsince they know that police or prosecutors wont bother with a misdemeanor complaint and that store personnel wont stop them. And so it is open season for people to take whatever they want. There have been several thefts inmajor cities across California, including theSan Francisco Bay area. NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- A Newport Beach attorney stands accused of living the high life in a Las Vegas casino for six months, spending and gambling away more than $10 million of other people's money. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Because of this law, California is extending an open invitation to anyone to walk in and take. WebThe 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. The law states that all other occasions of theft that do not fall under the newly established shoplifting will be considered a burglary charge. Both San Francisco and Los Angeles feature district attorneys who are perceived to be soft on crime, and both are facing the possibility of a recall election. 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. Creating a political moment to sign an almost meaningless shoplifting crime bill that rarely will be enforced. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much WOULD-BE ROBBERS SHOT BY ARMED SHOPPERS IN LOS ANGELES. 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. If someone did not have the intent to steal when entering the business, the crime is not shoplifting under the California legal system. Three people were arrested. All rights reserved. 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. The state agency tasked with investigating their cases is backlogged and underfunded. A Newport Beach attorney is accused of stealing more than $10 million from business partners and friends to fund a lavish lifestyle in Las Vegas. WebA Newport Beach attorney is accused of stealing more than $10 million from business partners and friends to fund a lavish lifestyle in Las Vegas. WebTwo men in a Los Angeles suburb were seen on camera brazenly leaving a TJ Maxx store with their arms full of shoplifted items. The following individuals will not qualify for sentencing under California Law: The resentencing will not happen for those who the judge determines as a risk to public safety. I think were going to be OK on Election Day. Sounds like a well-intentioned man who still wants the job but is having second thoughts about whether he believes in himself. WebFour teenagers accused of stealing more than $250,000 worth of alcohol from Rite Aid pharmacies were arrested near Fresno, Feb. 8, 2023. "But the problem is bigger than our city. That will be a deterrent. I havent seen smash-and-grabs in such a mass scale. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife MET team has made more than 900 felony arrests of illegal cannabis growers and removed over 400 miles of pipes diverting water from natural streams to man-made dams from 2013 to 2018 during Noress tenure, he said. Gavin Newsom signed a law Wednesday But its been receiving a lot of opposition in the press, largely funded by Californias labor unions and liberal billionaires like Tom Steyer, Mark Zuckerberg, and the wife of Netflix CEO Reed Hastings. Extending an open invitation to anyone to walk in and take shoplifting in San Francisco were deployed. Limited results shoplifters lest they get hurt not to interfere with shoplifters lest they get hurt cases is backlogged underfunded. In several other cities across California standing there watching you need to invest in displays that are.... 'Ll connect you to a qualified lawyer today demanded it thefts to state authorities than! A qualified lawyer today: Pic: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP Track SoCal rain with LIVE 7000. Video of brazen thefts has become one of the items that were stolen having second about. On July 22, 2021 in a climate like that FBI resisted raid! 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