(Nov. 25), more than 80 people stormed another Nordstrom, Retailers and experts from the National Retail Federation say, 'Mob of people' storms, robs California Nordstrom, Walgreens closing 5 more San Francisco stores due to organized shoplifting. The state decriminalized theft such that stealing less than $950 worth of goods was only a misdemeanor, leading to a small fine, frequently far less than the value of the merchandise that was stolen. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, WebIn October, the California Attorney General's Office announced breaking up a major theft ring in the Bay Area in which $8 million worth of merchandise was allegedly swiped from And you will find lots of YouTube videos, where you can watch a single thief, or an entire gang, walk into an SF Walgreens or CVS and empty the shelves. McCray 'LAWLESSNESS': SAN FRANCISCO'S SHOPLIFTING PROBLEM INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATES BUSINESS OWNERS, EMPLOYEES. Defensively reacting to criticism and doing whatever it takes to deflect that criticism. Theyhave cost U.S. retail stores and companies as much as $30 billion a year, according to the FBI. WaPo: FBI resisted Mar-a-Lago raid, DoJ prosecutors demanded it. Erik Ortiz reported from New York and Jacob Ward from San Francisco. The erstwhile Golden City is beset by an ongoing tide of theft that is closing down retail locations and again demonstrating the citys unwillingness to govern itself. WebLONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) With violent smash-and-grab shoplifting costing California businesses millions of dollars annually, Gov. All rights reserved. A governor of a state of nearly forty million, without a realistic vision to grow a better future. Shoplifting has essentially been decriminalized, and retailers that The LAPD is investigating the incident, but neither of the men have been charged or arrested. His rural county in the northernmost part of the state is one of the hardest hit by thieves, where many residents rely on well water. For their part, the stores advise employees not to interfere with shoplifters lest they get hurt. WebPeretz Klein, 68, of Spring Valley was sentenced to 48 months in prison in July and must repay $1.14 million for stealing millions of dollars from the program. That happened again this week as yet another Walgreens has closed its doors permanently. All six men have been arrested and were held The initiative set a threshold of $950 for shoplifting to be considered a misdemeanor, which doesn't prompt law enforcement to make an arrest, rather than a felony, which could incur harsh penalties like jail time. WebEntering an open business with the intent to steal less than $950 worth of property is shoplifting under California state law (Penal Code 495.5). Charis Kubrin, a professor of criminology, law and society at the University of California, Irvine, who researched Proposition 47 and its impact on public safety, found that the initiative had no effect statewide on most crimes through the year after it was enacted, and while there was a modest increase in larcenies and auto thefts, it was too small to reach any significant conclusions. Rail thefts have spiked in Los Angeles County, with thieves climbing aboard cargo trains, breaking into containers and stealing packages, railroad company Union Pacific warned Sunday. Most stores only have one or two security personnel on duty at most so they cant stop them all. California officials are trying to put a stop to a crime that would be odd in most parts of the country. Posted: Feb 28, 2023 / 03:52 PM MST. Famous actor Ray Buffer has reportedly been charged with one count of misdemeanor petty theft in connection with a comic book theft dating back to October 2022. All of us knew it was coming, longtime customer Sebastian Luke told the San Francisco Chronicle. Why wont store employees do anything about this theft? Ahmad Rahmaan, 25, and 28-year-old Tylise Bell, of Los Angeles, are being held in O.C. Sadly, this may have little effect on shoplifting, given that most of these thefts are by individuals, rather than groups, and it will still be up to police and prosecutors to charge these as felonies. Sturdivant says King convinced her to loan her company thousands of dollars, promising a quick return on her investment - one that never materialized. Google Shoplifting in San Francisco and you will find more than 100,000 hits. Track SoCal rain with LIVE Megadoppler 7000 HD. WebCalifornias $950 Theft Law turned shoplifting from a felony offense to a misdemeanor as long as the total stolen does not exceed the value of $950. 10, 2021 4:55 AM PT. Surveillance video appears to show Buffer making his way through a comic book store and helping himself to books by shoving them inside his shirt, according to footage obtained City officials released a midyear public safety report, which, according to police data, showed that overall thefts were down by 9 percent in the first six months of the year compared to the same period last year. Sadly, this is Gavin Newsom. These increases put the spotlight on Californias recent legal change that provides shorter sentences for prisoners, including violent felons, largely because of budgetary issues (California prison costs are among the highest in the country at $81,000 annually per prisoner), and also on Newsoms decision to suspend the states death penalty law via executive order. "And so, thats sending a message that we, the criminals, are winning.". No, theft is not decriminalized under the new law. Theres a referendum (known as prop 20) on the ballot today in California to address this. Thestolen bags were estimated to be worth $25,000, local media reported. by the Board of Trustees of Leland Stanford Junior University. "So its not taken seriously.". So is it any wonder that stores like Walgreens are packing up and fleeing the state? "The statistics are counter to the narrative," Scott said at a news conference, while also recognizing that some crimes may go unreported. In 2020 alone, nearly 650,000 people left California for other states about 210,000 more than moved to California from elsewhere in the U.S. California could be so much better than it is with sensible policy changes that reduce business costs, reduce housing costs, provide reliable water during drought years, prevent wildfires, and. Cities around the country dub themselves the capital of this or that signature product artichokes in Castroville, Calif., earmuffs in Farmington, Maine, spinach in Alma, Ark., fried chicken in Barberton, Ohio. Feb. 23, 2023, at 3:46 p.m. Virginia Passes Law to Crack Down on Organized Retail Theft. Here is everything you need to know about the California $950 Theft Law. And on Monday,about 20 people took roughly $5,000 of merchandise from a Nordstrom store at Grove mall. Most walk in, go about their pilfering, and then walk out, though at least one thief rode their bike into the store and departed the same way, carefully navigating their two-wheeler down a narrow aisle. McBride says Gaga promised a $500,000 reward no questions Honda Civic - Number of Thefts: 38,426 2. Recently, San Franciscos Neiman Marcus was targeted by thieves who had a hankering for designer handbags and hit the purse department hard. They ultimately blitzkrieg a particular location. This is a polity deciding that it is more important to stay its own hand from arresting and jailing criminals than to protect businesses from getting robbed, protect duly employed people from having to watch cretins flout the law and protect neighborhoods from losing retail outlets that they depend on. The video shows one after another, after another, running out, as apparently there were 10 thieves, and they stole over the $950-per-thief misdemeanor limit. San Francisco shoplifting: 4 women bolt out of CVS with stuffed bags in citys latest retail theft. This trend has only accelerated during the ongoing riots, as cops are instructed to disperse looters rather than trying to arrest them. They're affected, too," said Rachel Michelin, the president and CEO of the California Retailers Association, a trade group. All rights reserved. Moreover, a confrontation within the store risks harming not only store staff but also customers, so employees are almost certainly instructed by their managers to do nothing. jails on $200K bail. SAN FRANCISCO A flurry of shoplifters in masks and hooded jackets sprinted from a downtown Neiman Marcus last week and into getaway cars with armfuls of designer handbags a scene captured on video and raising fears that rings of thieves were hitting retail businesses. Only King pocketing and then spending the money. WHITE PLAINS - Seven Rockland residents have been sentenced for stealing millions of dollars from a federal program designed to provide computer technology to underprivileged schoolchildren. On the one hand, there are the legitimate businesses that buy their goods and sell them in legal market transactions. These type of smash-and-grabs I have not seen in my 45 years in law enforcement, said Andrew Scott, who was the police chief in Boca Raton, Florida, from 1998 to 2006. WebCalifornia will allow 63,000 prisoners, out of a population of 115,000, the possibility of early release. Less than half the state supports him. Store employees often don't feel comfortable getting involved, and some retailers have increased security presence but with limited results. Millions of dollars gone: In court documents the sultry swindler claims she has only $11 to her name. In addition, the resentencing would guarantee a lower sentence and would not add more years for the convicted individual. Market data provided by Factset. Erik Ortiz is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital focusing on racial injustice and social inequality. In Fresno, a $500 fine is possible the first time somebody is caught stealing water from a fire hydrant, city spokesman Mark Standriff said. This website is intended to provide general information and you should not rely on this website or its contents as a source of legal advice. An individual must file the resentencing petition within three years since the law was passed and in the original court where the felony theft charge was convicted. Torrance and Valley Village are both in Los Angeles County, and about 32 miles apart. WebIn 2014, California adopted Proposition 47, which made thefts of $950 or less a misdemeanor. The robbers were in and out of the store within a minute, police said. "They care about what's happening in their backyard.". What were witnessing is the further shredding of the fabric of society. Retailers and experts from the National Retail Federation saythefts have gotten more violent amid the pandemic and have moved from cities to the suburbs. A Newport Beach attorney is accused of stealing more than $10 million from business partners and friends to fund a lavish lifestyle in Las Vegas. Progressives in California in recent years have strengthened property rightsto other peoples property. The incident, which remains under investigation, was only the latest to give an impression of lawlessness running rampant in San Francisco's stores, where people have been caught on recordings openly swiping products seemingly without repercussion. The LAPD was also investigating a similar incident in which groups entered several stores in the Beverly Center on Wednesday, grabbed merchandise and ran out. Viral video of brazen thefts has become one of the citys most influential cultural exports. Grab-and-run theft hits Southern Calif. Nordstrom, Thieves rushed into a Southern California Nordstrom store the night before Thanksgiving and ran off with pricey goods, police said, in the latest of a string of organized retail thefts. 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