On Friday, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bipartisan package of ten bills aimed at addressing smash-and-grab robberies and property crimes. These new laws are designed to make it easier to target repeat shoplifters and auto thieves and to increase penalties for those involved in professional reselling schemes.

This legislative action comes as Democratic leaders strive to demonstrate their commitment to combating crime while also trying to sway voters away from a ballot measure that proposes even harsher penalties for repeat offenders of shoplifting and drug offenses.

Smash-and-grab thefts, where groups of individuals rush into stores and steal items openly, have become a significant issue in California, drawing attention through viral videos and social media. The new legislation introduces major changes to address retail theft, including allowing law enforcement to aggregate the value of stolen goods from different incidents to impose stricter penalties and to use video footage or witness statements for arrests.

Newsom described the package as a thoughtful and effective approach to the problem. Although it received bipartisan support, some progressive Democrats opposed it due to concerns about potential overreach and punitive measures.

The new laws also address cargo theft, close legal loopholes related to auto theft, and require platforms like eBay and Nextdoor to collect bank account and tax information from high-volume sellers. Additionally, retailers can now obtain restraining orders against convicted shoplifters.

Democratic lawmakers had previously fought unsuccessfully to keep a tougher crime initiative, Proposition 36, off the November ballot. This measure would impose felony charges for repeat shoplifting and certain drug offenses. Newsom and other Democrats argued that the measure could disproportionately impact low-income individuals and those with substance use issues, rather than targeting criminal networks. Instead, their legislation focuses on combining thefts from various locations for felony charges and enhancing penalties for large-scale theft operations.

Newsom initially proposed a competing ballot measure but abandoned the idea shortly after. Proposition 36 is supported by district attorneys, businesses, and local officials, but Newsom warned that it could lead to a return to mass incarceration practices.

California Democrats face the challenge of balancing crime reduction efforts with progressive policies aimed at reducing jail populations and investing in rehabilitation. Newsom’s administration has also invested $267 million to support local law enforcement with increased patrols, surveillance equipment, and prosecution resources.

The issue of retail crime has escalated, with criticism from Republicans and law enforcement highlighting visible thefts. Concerns about crime and drug abuse, coupled with the state’s homelessness crisis, have amplified the debate.

Despite challenges in quantifying the retail crime issue due to limited local data, evidence of the problem includes store closures and increased security measures. Data from the Public Policy Institute of California indicates rising shoplifting rates in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles, though overall crime rates remain lower than in previous decades. The California Highway Patrol has recovered $45 million in stolen goods and arrested nearly 3,000 individuals since 2019.

4o mini