Staff Reports
A California Democrat is making waves with a new proposal to crack down on retail theft. And it’s not just any Democrat, it’s Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo, along with a couple of other Democrats and, shockingly, a Republican. They want to make shoplifting a misdemeanor and let the fuzz arrest thieves without needing a warrant if they have a good hunch. Carrillo said she’s tired of people getting away with stealing and wants to put the fear back into those sticky-fingered bandits. She’s calling it the Secured Transactions and Organized Theft Prevention Act, or AB 1990 for short.
California lawmakers have a new solution to deter retail thieves — arresting them https://t.co/zMEoppjHKc https://t.co/zMEoppjHKc
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) April 2, 2024
You see, there’s been a major surge in shoplifting in Cali, and it’s got businesses bailing out of the big cities. Carrillo wants to turn back time and bring back the good ol’ days of “book-and-arrest” to put a record on these crooks. But here’s the kicker, her plan doesn’t mess with Proposition 47, which says that if you steal something worth less than $950, it’s just a slap on the wrist. And she’s not even trying to lump together a bunch of small crimes to make ’em more serious. What’s the sense in that?
Another Democrat, Tina McKinnor, is putting up a stink, saying Carrillo’s plan is just gonna jam-pack the jails with more folks. She’s basically saying, “Let the shoplifters have their fun.” Well, thank goodness for Juan Alanis, the lone Republican on Team Carrillo. He’s all about this bill, saying it’s the real deal.
But wait, there’s more! Those crafty Democrats are at it again with AB 2943, which would slap a three-year prison sentence on anyone caught with stolen goods. They’re really trying to put their foot down. Both of these bills still have a ways to go before they become law, but Carrillo’s bill should get some airtime next week. Let the showdown begin!
