New California laws aim to reduce smash-and-grab robberies, car thefts and shoplifting
7 months, 1 week ago

New California laws aim to reduce smash-and-grab robberies, car thefts and shoplifting

Associated Press  

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. The move comes as Democratic leadership works to prove that they’re tough enough on crime while trying to convince voters reject a ballot measure that would bring even harsher sentences for repeat offenders of shoplifting and drug charges. “We know that retail theft has consequences, big and small, physical and financial,” state Sen. Nancy Skinner, who authored one of the bills, said Friday. Newsom, flanked by a bipartisan coalition of state lawmakers, business leaders and local officials in a Home Depot store in San Jose, said the ballot measure would be “a devastating setback” for California. “It’s about mass incarceration.” How to tackle crimes in California has become increasingly difficult to navigate in recent years for state Democrats, many of whom have spent the last decade championing progressive policies to depopulate jails and prisons and invest in rehabilitation programs.

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History of this topic

I'm a professional shoplifter and I can make £5,000 a day - if shops go out of business that's not my fault, they should have better security
3 weeks, 2 days ago

I'm a professional shoplifter and I can make £5,000 a day - if shops go out of business that's not my fault, they should have better security

Daily Mail  

A brazen shoplifter, who proudly steals up to £5,000 a day, is adamant shops going bust isn't her fault because they 'should have better security'. A brazen shoplifter, who boasts about her three-year long 'professional' career has said shops need to be better at their jobs The single mother, who turned to lawlessness after the break down of her family, …

Shoplifting soars in England and Wales by staggering amount
1 month, 4 weeks ago

Shoplifting soars in England and Wales by staggering amount

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Shoplifting has surged to another …

Cannabis cafes, AI and parking: How new California laws could affect you in 2025
2 months, 4 weeks ago

Cannabis cafes, AI and parking: How new California laws could affect you in 2025

LA Times  

California lawmakers passed roughly 1,200 bills last year, including some that resulted in unforeseeable wins by Republicans, promising protections for consumers and small strides for those in the entertainment industry. In the summer of 2023, actors’ and writers’ unions shut down Hollywood during a months-long strike, ultimately negotiating new contracts around the use of artificial intelligence in their industry. Last …

$2million shoplifting ring is busted
4 months ago

$2million shoplifting ring is busted

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A shoplifting ring that …

Shoplifting ring stole $2M in cosmetics and clothes then resold them abroad, prosecutors say
4 months ago

Shoplifting ring stole $2M in cosmetics and clothes then resold them abroad, prosecutors say

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — A shoplifting ring that stole nearly $2 million in clothes and beauty products from Macy’s and other well-known stores in the U.S. and then resold them in New York City and the Dominican Republic has been busted, law enforcement officials announced Tuesday. Five New Yorkers have been charged with felony possession of stolen property, conspiracy and other …

California voters approve tougher retail-theft penalties
4 months, 3 weeks ago

California voters approve tougher retail-theft penalties

China Daily  

A homeless person is seen on the sidewalk in downtown Los Angeles, California, the United States, Dec 14, 2022. California voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved Proposition 36, which would increase penalties for theft and drug offenses. A recent poll by the Public Policy Institute of California found 71 percent of likely voters said they would vote yes on Prop 36, …

California voters approve anti-crime ballot measure Prop. 36
Trending News
4 months, 3 weeks ago

California voters approve anti-crime ballot measure Prop. 36

LA Times  

California voters on Tuesday approved a November ballot measure that will impose stricter penalties for repeat theft and crimes involving fentanyl, steering away from recent progressive policies that critics blamed for increased lawlessness. Politics Election results for California’s statewide propositions Latest vote counts for Prop 32 raising minimum wage, Prop 36 addressing crime, Prop 33 expanding rent controls and more …

Shoplifting at an all-time high with 1,300 offences recorded every day, new figures show
5 months ago

Shoplifting at an all-time high with 1,300 offences recorded every day, new figures show

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

California governor signs a bill bringing back harsh penalties for smash-and-grab robberies
6 months, 2 weeks ago

California governor signs a bill bringing back harsh penalties for smash-and-grab robberies

Associated Press  

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Thursday bringing back tough criminal penalties targeting large-scale stealing schemes and smash-and-grab robberies that have fueled voter frustration across the state. “We can be tough on crime while also being smart on crime — we don’t need to go back to broken policies of the last century.” The decision to …

California governor signs a bill bringing back harsh penalties for smash-and-grab robberies
6 months, 2 weeks ago

California governor signs a bill bringing back harsh penalties for smash-and-grab robberies

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Thursday bringing back tough …

New California laws aim to reduce smash-and-grab robberies, car thefts and shoplifting
7 months, 1 week ago

New California laws aim to reduce smash-and-grab robberies, car thefts and shoplifting

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. While shoplifting has been a growing problem, large-scale, smash-and-grab …

Newsom signs legislative crime package addressing organized retail theft
7 months, 1 week ago

Newsom signs legislative crime package addressing organized retail theft

LA Times  

Gavin Newsom has signed 10 bills in what he is calling an unprecedented effort to combat escalating retail crimes, car thefts and the sale of stolen goods, enacting stricter penalties for repeat offenders and enhanced tools for felony prosecutions. “That’s the issue of organized retail theft, the issue of serial theft, the issue that is front and center in the …

California Legislature passes bills to curb retail theft over objections from some Democrats
7 months, 2 weeks ago

California Legislature passes bills to curb retail theft over objections from some Democrats

LA Times  

California lawmakers on Monday gave final approval to a package of 10 bills meant to combat retail theft, an effort that divided Democrats as they confronted key issues in the upcoming November election. California lawmakers passed these bills to address crime: AB 2943 allows felony charges on the third theft offense, aggregates dollar amounts and expands drug diversion programs. The …

California’s homicide rate fell nearly 16% last year, state report shows
8 months, 3 weeks ago

California’s homicide rate fell nearly 16% last year, state report shows

LA Times  

An LAPD officer holds up yellow tape at the scene of a double homicide in Exposition Park on June 1 in South Los Angeles. The violent crime rate in California was up 3% last year compared with 2022, according to to new data released this week, but the state saw a significant drop in the number of homicides, continuing a …

Top California Democrats announce ballot measure targeting retail theft
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Top California Democrats announce ballot measure targeting retail theft

Associated Press  

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Top California Democrats want to advance legislation to crack down on retail theft, announcing they plan to send the measure to voters in November despite a tough-on-crime initiative already backed by retailers and law enforcement. State Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire said Monday it’s “unfortunate” and “frustrating” that lawmakers have to put a crime-focused measure on …

California’s Democratic leaders clash with businesses over curbing retail theft. Here’s what to know
9 months, 1 week ago

California’s Democratic leaders clash with businesses over curbing retail theft. Here’s what to know

Associated Press  

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — With retail theft increasing, California Democratic leadership is clashing with a coalition of law enforcement and business groups in a fierce political fight over how to crack down on the problem. The coalition blasts a plan by California Democratic leadership to void a legislative package of 14 retail theft proposals if voters approve the tough-on-crime ballot initiative …

California lawmakers fast-track bill that would require online sellers to verify their identity
9 months, 2 weeks ago

California lawmakers fast-track bill that would require online sellers to verify their identity

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A California bill that would …

California advances legislation cracking down on stolen goods resellers and auto theft
10 months ago

California advances legislation cracking down on stolen goods resellers and auto theft

Associated Press  

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Senate approved a bipartisan package of 15 bills Wednesday that would increase penalties for organized crime rings, expand drug court programs and close a legal loophole to make it easier to prosecute auto thefts. “We are working together for safer California, putting aside politics and making sure we do right for our communities.” It normally …

Thief swipes $1,000 worth of deodorant from Agoura Hills store, leaves no scent
10 months, 4 weeks ago

Thief swipes $1,000 worth of deodorant from Agoura Hills store, leaves no scent

LA Times  

Authorities are searching for the person who stole more than $1,000 in deodorant from a CVS in Agoura Hills on March 17. Talk about a clean getaway: A man wearing blue medical scrubs made off with over $1,000 worth of deodorant in a heist that has confounded authorities for weeks. The deodorant caper happened on March 17 at an Agoura …

California Democratic lawmakers seek ways to combat retail theft while keeping progressive policy
1 year ago

California Democratic lawmakers seek ways to combat retail theft while keeping progressive policy

Associated Press  

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Facing mounting pressure to crack down on a retail theft crisis, California lawmakers are split on how best to tackle the problem that some say has caused major store closures and products like deodorants to be locked behind plexiglass. But a growing number of law enforcement officials, along with Republican and moderate Democratic lawmakers, said California needs …

Democratic lawmakers introduce legislation to target organized retail theft, online resellers
1 year, 1 month ago

Democratic lawmakers introduce legislation to target organized retail theft, online resellers

LA Times  

A guard watches the entrance to a Louis Vuitton store, which had its windows boarded up near San Francisco’s Union Square in November 2021. The legislative package, authored by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, will focus on so-called organized retail theft crime rings, which are blamed for the uptick in the high-profile, smash-and-grab incidents plaguing California. …

Newsom suggests ways to crack down on property crime without dismantling Proposition 47
1 year, 2 months ago

Newsom suggests ways to crack down on property crime without dismantling Proposition 47

LA Times  

Gavin Newsom displays a chart aimed at refuting critics of California’s laws dealing with property crime during a Sacramento news conference at which he unveiled his proposed 2024-25 state budget on Wednesday. Instead, he wants to tackle retail theft with legislation to crack down on what he called “professional thieves.” “We can do it without reforming and going back to …

California lawmakers want to curb retail theft, but say it’s not as easy as it sounds
1 year, 2 months ago

California lawmakers want to curb retail theft, but say it’s not as easy as it sounds

LA Times  

While California lawmakers feel pressure to address concerns about crime, the murky and sometimes contradictory evidence of an increase in lawlessness has put legislators in a bind. Some California prosecutors and business leaders blame the state’s “toothless” laws against nonviolent retail theft, saying the problem has grown worse because of the lack of serious consequences for offenders. “That’s part of …

Editorial: California’s retail theft hearings scapegoat Proposition 47
1 year, 3 months ago

Editorial: California’s retail theft hearings scapegoat Proposition 47

LA Times  

Razor blades are locked up behind a glass showcase at a CVS store in Woodland Hills to fight shoplifting. Three lengthy state hearings on California retail theft since mid-November have so far established that policymakers don’t understand why shoplifting and smash-and-grab robberies have increased since 2020. The unreliability of data about theft did not, however, stop some lawmakers and law …

The Shoplifting Epidemic Touted By Fox News Is Likely Overblown, Data Shows
1 year, 3 months ago

The Shoplifting Epidemic Touted By Fox News Is Likely Overblown, Data Shows

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING There is a retail crime wave terrorizing Americans — if you’re tuned in to conservative media. After looking through a video database of Fox programming over the last five years, Media Matters found a very small number of retail theft mentions between 2019 and 2020 — just 35. Considering how many national outlets are based in New …

REVEALED: America's worst cities for shoplifting - and why crime-ridden San Francisco has surprisingly NOT seen biggest increase in theft
1 year, 3 months ago

REVEALED: America's worst cities for shoplifting - and why crime-ridden San Francisco has surprisingly NOT seen biggest increase in theft

Daily Mail  

The worst cities in he U.S. for shoplifting have been revealed - and surprisingly to many, the crime-ridden city of San Francisco did not take the top spot. A study using law enforcement data compared current rates of shoplifting in 2023 to pre-pandemic numbers from 2019 in 24 major U.S. cities San Francisco - a city renowned for theft, drugs …

Shoplifting surged a staggering 64% in New York City in the past four years - with Los Angeles also seeing a 61% spike
1 year, 4 months ago

Shoplifting surged a staggering 64% in New York City in the past four years - with Los Angeles also seeing a 61% spike

Daily Mail  

Shoplifting continues to be a major crisis in America's two largest cities, as thefts increased 64 percent in New York City and 61 percent in Los Angeles over the last four years. Six other major American cities have Shoplifting continues to be a major crisis in America's two largest cities, as thefts increased 64 percent in New York City and …

America's shoplifting hotspots: The top 11 cities with the highest rate of retail theft revealed - and San Francisco isn't number one!
1 year, 5 months ago

America's shoplifting hotspots: The top 11 cities with the highest rate of retail theft revealed - and San Francisco isn't number one!

Daily Mail  

Los Angeles has the highest rate of retail crime, new figures show Downtown San Francisco has developed a reputation as a breeding ground for theft in recent years. Instead, Los Angeles had the highest rate of 'organized retail crime' for the fifth consecutive year in 2022, according to a report by the National Retail Federation. A report by the National …

Shopkeepers take the law into their own hands in war against shoplifting epidemic
1 year, 5 months ago

Shopkeepers take the law into their own hands in war against shoplifting epidemic

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery Poundland sales assistant Kelvin Blake …

Shoplifting hits record high of 1,000 offences a day
1 year, 5 months ago

Shoplifting hits record high of 1,000 offences a day

The Telegraph  

Shoplifting has hit a record high of 1,000 offences a day, an unprecedented 25 per cent increase in a year, official figures showed on Thursday. However, the detection rate for shoplifters has fallen to a record low with just 18.2 per cent of offences being solved, less than half the 46 per cent when records began in 2016. The figures …

What we know (and don’t) about the rise in retail theft
1 year, 5 months ago

What we know (and don’t) about the rise in retail theft

LA Times  

To access shampoo and many other products at a Target store in Pasadena, shoppers have to alert store employees to come unlock shelves. Lofstrom told me that although state crime data can show the overall trend of retail theft, “we cannot separately identify if a particular incident was driven by organized retail theft.” He also noted that it’s difficult to …

Retailers lost up to $80 BILLION to theft in 2022 - up by $13 billion in a year
1 year, 6 months ago

Retailers lost up to $80 BILLION to theft in 2022 - up by $13 billion in a year

Daily Mail  

Retailers lost almost $80 billion to shoplifters last year, an increase of nearly $13 billion, amid a frightening rise in violent thefts in Democrat-run cities. And with up to 70 per cent of shrink accounted for by theft, it means retailers lost approximately $78.4 billion to shoplifters. The NRF's survey found that thefts, such as this one pictured taking place …

Which major California city has the highest rate of car thefts? Hint: It’s not L.A.
1 year, 6 months ago

Which major California city has the highest rate of car thefts? Hint: It’s not L.A.

LA Times  

A car after it was broken into in Los Angeles in 2020. The total number of car thefts in California rose by 1.9% in 2022 to a total of 198,538, according to the California Highway Patrol’s 2022 California Vehicle Theft Facts report. Oakland, a Bay Area city with a population of about 400,000, has nearly 12 car thefts per 1,000 …

California targets smash-and-grabs with $267 million program aimed at ‘brazen’ store thefts
1 year, 6 months ago

California targets smash-and-grabs with $267 million program aimed at ‘brazen’ store thefts

Associated Press  

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California will spend $267 million to help dozens of local law enforcement agencies increase patrols, buy surveillance equipment and conduct other activities aimed at cracking down on smash-and-grab robberies happening around the state. The grants, to be distributed over the next three years, will help local law enforcement agencies create investigative units, increase foot patrol, purchase advanced …

$250,000 lost in Newport Beach smash-and-grab as state earmarks funds to combat retail thefts
1 year, 6 months ago

$250,000 lost in Newport Beach smash-and-grab as state earmarks funds to combat retail thefts

LA Times  

A screen grab shows the smash-and-grab robbery of $250,000 worth of watches stolen last week at a Newport Beach jeweler. More than $250,000 worth of watches were recently stolen in a brazen smash-and-grab robbery at a Newport Beach jewelry store — the type of retail crime state officials are hoping to crack down on with new grant money to assist …

Opinion: Are Southern California mob robberies part of a retail crime wave? It’s complicated
1 year, 6 months ago

Opinion: Are Southern California mob robberies part of a retail crime wave? It’s complicated

LA Times  

Retail crime is having a moment. Total retail “shrink” — usually cast as a proxy for theft — was $94.5 billion in 2021, up from $90.8 billion in 2020, according to the National Retail Federation. Dick’s Sporting Goods, Ulta Beauty, Dollar Tree, Foot Locker, Home Depot, Walmart and other retailers also identified crime as a growing problem this earnings season. …

Editorial: L.A.’s smash-and-grab robberies are terrible, but not spurred by criminal justice reform
1 year, 7 months ago

Editorial: L.A.’s smash-and-grab robberies are terrible, but not spurred by criminal justice reform

LA Times  

An estimated 30 to 50 people participated in a brazen daytime robbery at the Westfield Topanga Shopping Center shortly after 4 p.m. Saturday, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The Los Angeles Police Department is reportedly increasing patrols as a response to recent flash mob robberies, and that conceivably could shore up shoppers’ confidence. For example, we should be …

California governor boosts efforts to combat smash-and-grabs
3 years, 3 months ago

California governor boosts efforts to combat smash-and-grabs

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “The issue of crime and violence is top of …

Gov. Gavin Newsom proposes spending more than $300 million to combat California crime
3 years, 3 months ago

Gov. Gavin Newsom proposes spending more than $300 million to combat California crime

LA Times  

Amy Jordan sweeps broken glass from her Alone Vintage boutique in Burbank after it was hit by smash-and-grab burglars early on Dec. 3. “The Democrats’ relentless push for their ‘criminals first’ agenda has turned this once-majestic state into a sanctuary for criminals,” Senate Republican Leader Scott Wilk of Santa Clarita said in a statement after Newsom’s news conference. Bonta appeared …

Retailers say thefts are at crisis level. The numbers say otherwise
3 years, 3 months ago

Retailers say thefts are at crisis level. The numbers say otherwise

LA Times  

A security guard watches the entrance to a Louis Vuitton store with boarded-up windows in San Francisco on Nov. 30. The country’s largest retail industry group, the National Retail Federation, estimated in its latest report that losses from organized retail theft average $700,000 per $1 billion in sales — or 0.07% of total sales — an amount roughly 330 times …

Column: After smash-and-grab thefts across California, is it time to reconsider Proposition 47?
3 years, 3 months ago

Column: After smash-and-grab thefts across California, is it time to reconsider Proposition 47?

LA Times  

A security guard patrols the front entrance of Nordstrom as shoppers enter on Tuesday after an organized group of thieves attempted a smash-and-grab robbery at the Grove on Nov. 23 in Los Angeles. “Criminals have been laughing at us.. There’s a clear belief — and very large reality — that there’s no consequences any more to theft.. You tell everybody …

DAs, retailers say California needs tougher retail theft law
3 years, 3 months ago

DAs, retailers say California needs tougher retail theft law

Associated Press  

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Spurred by a recent run of large-scale smash-and-grab robberies, prosecutors and retailers are pushing back on assertions by California’s governor and attorney general that they have enough tools to combat retail theft in the wake of a voter-approved easing of related laws. “We cannot function as a society where we have told people over and over again …

DAs, retailers say California needs stronger shoplifting law
3 years, 3 months ago

DAs, retailers say California needs stronger shoplifting law

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “We cannot function as a society where we have …

LA authorities announce arrests in smash-and-grab robberies
3 years, 3 months ago

LA authorities announce arrests in smash-and-grab robberies

Associated Press  

LOS ANGELES — Authorities in Los Angeles on Thursday announced more than a dozen arrests in recent smash-and-grab thefts at stores where nearly $340,000 worth of merchandise was stolen, part of a rash of organized retail crime in California. At a joint news conference, both Moore and Mayor Eric Garcetti called for an end to a no-bail policy for some …

LAPD announces 14 arrests in connection with recent smash-and-grab robberies
3 years, 3 months ago

LAPD announces 14 arrests in connection with recent smash-and-grab robberies

LA Times  

A security guard patrols the entrance to the Nordstrom department store at the Grove on Nov. 23 after a group smash-and-grab robbery. Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore, joined by other officials and members of the business community at LAPD headquarters, said none of the 14 suspects remains in custody. “These crimes were characterized with multiple …

Thieves nab $20,000 of merch from California Apple store in BROAD DAYLIGHT looting
3 years, 4 months ago

Thieves nab $20,000 of merch from California Apple store in BROAD DAYLIGHT looting

Daily Mail  

A group of four young men are wanted for robbing $20,000 worth of merchandise from an Apple Store, all caught on security cameras in broad daylight - the latest in a series of lootings across California. Police have released photos of at least two of the suspects wanted for robbing $20,000 worth of merchandise from an Apple Store in Santa …

Police searching for brazen shoplifters captured emptying shopping carts full of goods
3 years, 4 months ago

Police searching for brazen shoplifters captured emptying shopping carts full of goods

Daily Mail  

Police are searching for a group of shoplifters who were captured flinging household products into their two stolen vehicles after swiping the items from a Connecticut grocery store before speeding away. Stunned onlookers watched as the brazen bandits methodically unloaded shopping carts full of laundry detergent and paper towels into a minivan and an SUV that police say were stolen. …

Brazen smash-and-grab thieves in San Francisco break car windows, steal bags from cars
3 years, 5 months ago

Brazen smash-and-grab thieves in San Francisco break car windows, steal bags from cars

Daily Mail  

Two unidentified individuals wearing hooded jackets were caught on amateur video during a brazen ‘smash-and-grab’ spree on cars in the San Francisco Bay Area. San Francisco mayor London Breed claims Walgreens is only shutting five stores to cut costs - but pharmacy chain says it spends nearly FIFTY TIMES as much on security at stores in that city compared to …

Proposition 47 did not end prosecution of thefts under $950 in California
3 years, 8 months ago

Proposition 47 did not end prosecution of thefts under $950 in California

Associated Press  

CLAIM: Under Proposition 47 in California thefts under $950 will not be prosecuted. “What Prop 47 did was take very low level crimes like petty theft, some petty drug offenses, petty larceny, and classify them as misdemeanors rather than felonies,” said Charis Kubrin, professor of criminology, law and society at the University of California, Irvine, who wrote a study examining …

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