6 months ago
21
(NewsNation) — Two alleged shoplifters figured retired the hard mode retail transgression is present a felony successful California nether Proposition 36.
California's Seal Beach Police shared video on societal media of an speech betwixt 2 suspects sitting successful the backmost of a squad car wherever 1 realizes repetition offenders of retail theft tin present look felony charges.
“That’s a felony?” the pistillate fishy asked, referring to retail theft.
“B----, caller laws. Stealing is simply a felony,” the different replied, adding, "And this is Orange County, b----. They don't play.”
Police captioned the station “Remember folks, Don’t Steal successful Seal,” and they said the “new proposition lone strengthens our committedness to combating Organized Retail Theft.”
Police besides released video surveillance from respective locations, including a Kohl’s and an Ulta store, that the suspects visited.
In the video, 3 women are seen cautiously selecting and stealing astir $2,000 worthy of merchandise from the stores. They are besides seen calmly walking retired holding the allegedly stolen items.
The societal media station besides includes bodycam video from erstwhile officers pursuit the suspects.
California voters approved Proposition 36 successful November, which made shoplifting a felony for repetition offenders and accrued penalties for immoderate cause charges.
A felony condemnation could mean jailhouse clip of up to 3 years.
The measurement partially rolls backmost a progressive instrumentality passed by voters successful 2014 that downgraded respective nonviolent crimes to misdemeanors, including theft nether $950 successful worth and immoderate cause offenses.
The reversal reflects wide choler among voters who are progressively pinning the blasted for homelessness and retail theft connected transgression justness betterment and progressive territory attorneys.
California Governor Gavin Newsom had opposed Prop 36, claiming that it would disproportionately interaction number communities and worsen jailhouse overcrowding, but the authorities was approved by astir 70% of California voters.
Business owners person expressed their enactment for the caller instrumentality but accidental they are waiting to spot however it plays retired successful the ineligible system.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
