The California Senate recently approved a bipartisan package of 15 bills aimed at increasing penalties for organized crime rings, expanding drug court programs, and closing legal loopholes to make it easier to prosecute auto thefts. One proposal in the package would require large online marketplaces like eBay and Amazon to verify the identities of sellers who make a profit of at least $5,000 in a year, in an effort to crack down on the sale of stolen goods. The goal is to address the growing issue of large-scale thefts happening in the state, including shoplifting and commercial burglaries.
Lawmakers are moving quickly to get these bills to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk within weeks, instead of the usual months it takes to deliver bills in California. This urgency is part of a new get-tough-on-crime strategy in an election year, which aims to address the fears of voters while still preserving progressive policies designed to keep people out of prison. Retail theft has become a crisis in the state, with shoplifting rates rising in urban counties, even though they are still lower than pre-pandemic levels. The proposed bills also seek to crack down on cargo thefts, restore district attorneys’ authority to go after thieves, and allow retailers to obtain restraining orders against convicted shoplifters.
One of the bills advanced by Assembly lawmakers, authored by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, targets professional theft rings by expanding law enforcement’s authority to impose harsher penalties on those who steal from different victims and arrest shoplifters using video footage or witness statements. The measure also creates a new crime for those who sell or return stolen goods, mandates online sellers maintain records proving merchandise wasn’t stolen, and requires some retail businesses to report stolen goods data. All the bills will now head to the second chamber before potentially reaching Newsom’s desk in June.
The advancement of these measures further solidifies Democratic lawmakers’ rejection of calls to roll back progressive policies like Proposition 47, which reduced penalties for certain crimes, including theft and drug possession offenses, from felonies to misdemeanors. While Proposition 47 has resulted in cost savings from having fewer people in prison, it has also made it harder to prosecute shoplifters and enabled brazen crime rings to operate. Efforts to reform the measure have failed in the past, prompting a growing number of law enforcement officials, district attorneys, and lawmakers to consider alternative options.
As major national stores and local businesses in California continue to face rampant theft, a coalition backing a potential ballot measure to roll back Proposition 47 has submitted over 900,000 signatures for verification. The initiative aims to address the challenges posed by the current law and its impact on rising crime rates. With the signatures being verified, the future of Proposition 47 and potential legislative changes to address retail theft in the state remain uncertain as lawmakers work to find solutions that balance progressive policies and public safety concerns.
