Home » Bill Seeks to Crack Down on Petty Theft and Shoplifting

Bill Seeks to Crack Down on Petty Theft and Shoplifting

by CC News
A bill introduced by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) seeks to amend Proposition 47 and reduce the threshold amount for petty theft and shoplifting from $950 to $400.

This comes after many local businesses across the state are highlighting product loss, repeat shoplifting crimes, and many businesses have shuttered their doors–you also have viral videos. Many police departments are also highlighting repeat offenders in terms of serial shoplifters and package thieves.

According to the Bill:

AB 23, as introduced, Muratsuchi. Theft: shoplifting: amount.

Existing law, the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act, enacted as an initiative statute by Proposition 47, as approved by the electors at the November 4, 2014, statewide general election, makes the theft of money, labor, or property petty theft punishable as a misdemeanor, whenever the value of the property taken does not exceed $950. Under existing law, if the value of the property taken exceeds $950, the theft is grand theft, punishable as a misdemeanor or a felony.

Proposition 47 requires shoplifting, defined as entering a commercial establishment with the intent to commit larceny if the value of the property taken does not exceed $950, to be punished as a misdemeanor. Under existing law, entering a commercial establishment with the intent to take property exceeding $950 is burglary, punishable as a misdemeanor or a felony.

This bill would amend Proposition 47 by reducing the threshold amount for petty theft and shoplifting from $950 to $400.

The bill would provide that it shall become effective only when submitted to, and approved by, the voters of California.

On December 5, California State Republicans announced in their “California Promise” they would also be addressing Prop 47 and would seek to Restore Pre-Prop 47 Felonies.

The bill, which was to be introduced Assemblymembers Josh Hoover and Laurie Davies has not yet been introduced. They said in their release that they are seeking to increase penalties for serial theft crimes: Reenact the penalties which existed for the crime of committing petty theft with multiple prior theft-related convictions which existed prior to their repeal by Proposition 47 of 2014. This change requires approval by the voters. Joint Authors: Asm. Josh Hoover, Asm. Laurie Davies.


Bill Amending Prop 47 and Cracking Down on Retail Theft Voted Down in Committee

Pleasant Hill Police

Photo by Pleasant Hill Police

In the last legislative session, Assemblymember Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield) introduced a nearly identical bill (AB 1603) which sought to crack down on retail thefts by reducing the threshold to $400.

In March of 2022, the bill failed to pass the Assembly Public Safety Committee in a 2-4-1 vote—voting no included: Isaac Bryan, Reginald Jones-Sawyer, Bill Quirk, Miguel Santiago. Mia Bonta did not cast a vote.
The bill was introduced in January where Salas highlighted Prop 47 more than doubled the amount a suspect can steal before facing a felony from $450 to $950. Consequently, local prosecutors report that numbers of thefts are likely underreported, as business owners are discouraged since the penalty against criminals has been reduced to a misdemeanor.

“Enough is enough, we need to fight back against the criminals who are stealing from our communities,” said Assemblymember Salas. “We have seen the unintended consequences of Prop 47’s weakening of our theft laws and I believe California voters are ready to make their voices heard on this issue again. AB 1603 provides that opportunity and will allow us to take a stand against the theft and criminal gangs who are plaguing our state.”

In 2014, voters passed Proposition 47 (Prop 47), which lowered the crimes of certain thefts and receiving stolen property to misdemeanors when the value of the stolen goods was less than $950. Since its passage, California has experienced a brazen increase in widespread theft, including “smash-and-grab” robberies, which have terrorized cities throughout the state.

Brentwood Police Nab Retail Theft Suspects

Over the past year, the National Retail Security Survey report stated that about 69 percent of retailers said they had seen an increase in organized retail crime activity over the past year. The report also notes that retailers report that gangs have become more aggressive and violent than in years past. Some 65 percent of respondents noted the increase in violence, while 37 percent said organized retail crime gangs were much more aggressive than in the past.

AB 1603 would have fought back against the increase in retail crime by amending the theft provision of Proposition 47 by reducing the threshold amount for petty​theft and shoplifting from $950 to $400, back to its original threshold before the passage of the measure in 2014.

This amendment would become effective upon the approval of California voters as a ballot measure.

Back on March 8, the Assembly Public Safety Committee also voted down AB 1599 which would have repealed Prop 47—this bill was introduced by Assemblymembers Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin) and James Gallagher (R-Yuba City)

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