California Department of Justice crime statistics and reports

California's Proposition 36 Reclassifies Retail Theft as Felony; Three Arrested in San Jose and Four at Shopping Center

Dec 23, 2024, 05:49 PM

California's Proposition 36, which went into effect recently, has reclassified low-level retail theft as a felony, leading to increased penalties for theft and drug-related crimes. Law enforcement has reported several arrests linked to organized retail theft since the law's implementation. For instance, three individuals were arrested in San Jose, and four others were apprehended at a Bay Area shopping center, facing harsher penalties under the new law. Video footage has surfaced showing shoplifting suspects expressing surprise upon learning that their actions are now felonies, with one suspect reportedly stating, "Bitch, new laws," highlighting the law's impact on repeat offenders. Proposition 36 was overwhelmingly supported by voters who sought to address rising crime rates in the state. The law aims to curb the wave of retail theft that has plagued California, with police noting a marked increase in arrests of repeat offenders since its enactment.