Rampant Retail Theft Pushes Newsom To Call For New CA Crackdown

CALIFORNIA — California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday called for new laws to crack down on property crime and retail theft after countless reports of organized retail crime, car burglaries and smash-and-grabs throughout the state.

Newsom released a framework that aims to expand and stiffen criminal penalties and bolster police and prosecutor tools to combat theft and take down thieves.

He wants the bill to increase felony penalties and prison time, as well as ensure police can arrest suspects of retail theft, even if they don't witness a crime in progress. He also wants to allow law enforcement to combine the value of multiple thefts, create new penalties for organized auto burglary, eliminate the sunset date for the organized retail crime statute, and increase penalties for large-scale resellers of stolen goods.

"Building on California's existing laws and record public safety investments, I'm calling for new legislation to expand criminal penalties for those profiting on retail theft and auto burglaries," Newsom said in a statement. "These laws will make California safer and bolster police and prosecutor tools to arrest and hold professional criminals accountable."

A surge in organized retail crime and thefts throughout the state has prompted some companies to close stores, citing the safety of customers and workers.

Last spring, a Home Depot employee was fatally shot while trying to stop a theft from a store in the San Francisco Bay Area.

"Organized retail theft is a serious crime that not only costs businesses, retailers and consumers, but puts workers and the public at risk," California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement. "The California Department of Justice is committed to tackling these crimes head-on. We appreciate the governor's leadership, and will continue working with his office and our legislative partners to eradicate organized retail crime."

In the fall, Target closed nine stores across four states, including three high-profile stores in the Bay Area.

"We cannot continue operating these stores because theft and organized retail crime are threatening the safety of our team and guests, and contributing to unsustainable business performance," the company said in a statement at the time. "We know that our stores serve an important role in their communities, but we can only be successful if the working and shopping environment is safe for all."

California has the 10th lowest threshold nationally for prosecutors to charge theft suspects with a felony. Under current state laws, shoplifters who steal less than $950 face a misdemeanor charge.